Inspiration

Best Day Trips from Beirut

There's plenty to see and do in a city as dynamic and cosmopolitan as Beirut, but Lebanon's most impressive treasures arguably lie outside the capital. Given its central location on the Mediterranean coast, Beirut serves as the ideal base for day trips to surrounding seaside towns and mountain ranges, all less than two hours away by car. Though it takes equal parts courage and patience to be driven through the city's notorious traffic as you head into the countryside, it's worth the stress.
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Photo by Paul Jebara
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    Photo by Paul Jebara

    Byblos

    About 30 minutes north of Beirut is Byblos (Jbeil, in Arabic), one of the world's oldest continually-inhabited cities, first settled by the Phoenicians between 8800 and 7000 BC, and now, unsurprisingly, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore layer-upon-layer of history by strolling through lively Ottoman-era souks towards an imposing 12th-century Crusader castle where a climb to the top provides panoramic views of pine-covered mountains sloping into the sea and the faint outline of Beirut's skyline on the horizon. Head to the port for a sunset that rivals any in the Greek islands.

  • Photo by Paul Jebara

    Batroun

    Further north from Byblos is Batroun, where come summer you'll find beach clubs along the turquoise coast that range from the luxe, like Orchid, to the congenially lax, like Pierre & Friends. Head into town for a sip of local lemonade at Le Garage just east of St. Stephen's church, and to visit sandstone houses of worship and the ancient Phoenician seawall. Nearing completion is the Lebanese Diaspora Museum, a multinational restoration project of nine traditional mansions that will honor the achievements and memories of Lebanese emigrant communities around the world (numbering 8-to-14 million, the diaspora far outnumbers the resident population of just 4.5 million).

  • Photo by Paul Jebara

    Tannourine Cedars Forest Nature Reserve

    The cedar tree has been a symbol of Lebanon since biblical times (and is featured on the country's flag and on the logo of the national airline, MEA). In nature, the majestic cedars cover a fraction of the land that they once did, but the Tannourine Cedars Forest remains the largest and densest nature reserve in the country. Only an hour's drive northeast of Beirut, come for challenging hikes among thousand-year-old trees and alpine views from over 6,500 feet above sea level. Viator offers comprehensive day trips for up to seven guests, including lunch, for $134 per person.

  • Photo by Paul Jebara

    Tyre

    Known as the "Queen of the Seas," Tyre is an up-and-coming hotspot for foreign tourists who were once wary of visiting southern Lebanon, due to its proximity to the Israeli border. Thanks to recent relative stability, there has been a surge of visitors eager to make the 50-mile drive from Beirut to explore impressive Roman ruins, tour a maze of pastel-colored streets in the Old Town, and, in summer, lounge on the sprawling, sandy beach. Following the success of the town's first design hotel, Dar Alma, Tyre could easily turn from a day trip into a tempting weekend getaway.

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  • Photo by Paul Jebara

    Baalbek, Bekaa Valley

    A 90-minute drive into the Bekaa Valley takes you to Baalbek, one of the world's best preserved and largest ancient Roman temple compounds and another UNESCO World Heritage Site. Make the most of a visit by hiring an independent tour guide (they'll be waiting at the site entrance, and charge reasonable fees) to learn about the history of the pilgrims who worshipped here and the purpose of each structure, including the imposing Temple of Bacchus. The energy is as spiritual as it is mysterious, considering that to this day no one quite knows how builders were able to move and assemble stone blocks weighing as much as 300 tons. Don't forget to grab a delicious pastry or two from the Patisserie Al Jawhari nearby.