Beirut and Lebanon: sea, mountains and great food

Lebanon is small, so you can swim in the sea in the morning and be in the mountains by lunch. Beirut is lively, the food is among the best in the region, and the history goes back thousands of years.

In Beirut

• Walk the Corniche to the Raouché Pigeon Rocks, especially at sunset
• Downtown: Nejmeh Square and the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque
• Cafés and restaurants in Gemmayzeh and Mar Mikhael

Day trips

• Byblos (Jbeil), one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the world, with a pretty old port
• Jeita Grotto, huge limestone caves with an underground lake
• Harissa, reached by cable car from Jounieh, with sweeping views over the bay
• The mountain villages and cedar forests in the north

Food

Start the day with manakish, and share mezze — hummus, tabbouleh, fattoush and grilled meats — in the evening. Lebanese sweets are a must.

Practical tips

• Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY) is close to the city, about 15–20 minutes by car.
• US dollars are widely used alongside the Lebanese pound.
• Check your government's current travel advice for Lebanon before booking.
• April to June and September to November are the most pleasant months.