Things to Do in Lebanon

From the Roman temples of Baalbek to the ancient port of Byblos - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Lebanon holds some of the best-preserved Roman ruins anywhere in the Middle East, a food and nightlife culture in Beirut that has repeatedly rebuilt itself through difficult periods, and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world in Byblos. Regional and domestic conditions have varied considerably in recent years, so checking current travel advisories for your specific route matters here more than in most nearby destinations.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

🏛️

Baalbek

A Roman temple complex with some of the largest and best-preserved columns from antiquity anywhere in the world, including the Temple of Jupiter's six surviving columns, still among the tallest Roman columns standing today.

📍 Baalbek

🚉 Lebanon has no working passenger railway: buses from Beirut's Charles Helou station run to Baalbek in about two hours through the Bekaa valley, and shared taxis do it faster.

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Beirut

Lebanon's capital, repeatedly rebuilt through decades of conflict, with a downtown district, a well-regarded restaurant and nightlife scene, and a Corniche waterfront promenade along the Mediterranean.

📍 Beirut

🚉 There is no metro; buses and shared service taxis cover the city, and the Corniche, Gemmayzeh and the National Museum are the fixed points most visitors navigate between.

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Jeita Grotto

A two-chamber karst cave system north of Beirut, with an underground lake navigable by boat in the lower cavern - a finalist in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign.

📍 Jeita, near Beirut

🚉 The caves are 18km north of Beirut with no direct bus - take a service taxi towards Jounieh and change, or drive; a cable car and small train link the two grottoes on site.

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Byblos

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with a Crusader-era castle overlooking a small fishing harbor and layered ruins from Phoenician, Roman and medieval periods.

📍 Byblos

🚉 Buses from Beirut's Dora roundabout run up the coast to Byblos in about an hour, dropping you a 10-minute walk from the crusader castle and the old harbour.

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Cedars of God

A small, protected forest of ancient cedar trees in the mountains, the last significant remnant of the cedar forests referenced throughout the Bible and ancient texts - the cedar remains Lebanon's national symbol.

📍 Bsharri, Mount Lebanon

🚉 The grove is above Bsharri, three hours from Beirut by road with only irregular buses - most visitors hire a car or a driver, and the road can close after snow in winter.

Mark Lebanon, get the stamp

🇱🇧LEBANONVISITED

🇱🇧LEBANONLIVED

🇱🇧LEBANONWISHLIST

In MyPassportStory, every country you mark - visited, lived in, or still on the list - becomes a stamp like these in your own travel passport. Add the cities you stopped in, draw the route between them, and turn the whole trip into a shareable passport-style image.

Open MyPassportStory

Planning questions

How many days do you need in Lebanon?

A week would traditionally suit Beirut, Baalbek and Byblos together - though current regional conditions should be checked before planning any specific itinerary.

What's the best time to visit Lebanon?

April-June and September-October have traditionally been the most comfortable months - but check current travel advisories for your specific route before relying on seasonal guidance alone.

Is Lebanon good for a first-time visit?

Conditions vary meaningfully by region and change over time - check your government's official travel advisory carefully before planning any visit, and stay informed of the current situation for your specific route.

Do I need a visa to visit Lebanon?

Many nationalities can get a visa on arrival for short tourist stays, though this is secondary to checking current entry conditions. Check the official visa information for your nationality: general-security.gov.lb.

What are some things to do in Lebanon on a tight budget?

Under normal conditions, Lebanese street food (manakish, shawarma) is inexpensive and excellent, and walking Byblos's old port and Beirut's Corniche costs nothing - but checking current safety and access conditions matters more than budget planning here.

Can I rent a car in Lebanon, and what licence do I need?

Check your government's travel advice first, as parts of the country carry serious warnings and the situation changes quickly. On driving: a foreign licence is accepted alongside an International Driving Permit for visits of up to three months, and the minimum age is usually 23. Beirut traffic is dense and lane discipline is loose, while the mountain roads are steep and poorly lit. Fuel supply and generator-dependent infrastructure have been unreliable in recent years, which is worth planning around. Official information is published by the Ministry of Tourism at mot.gov.lb.