There’s so much to do in Lebanon!

Fortunately, it is very easy to go around given its small size and availability of public transport. A lot can be covered in a short time!

Transportation

Inter-City: There are 2 main bus stations;

-Charles Helou to go to cities North of Beirut such as Jounieh, Byblos, Batroun, Tripoli etc.

-Cola to go to cities South of Beirut such as Chouf, Baalbek, Sidon, Tyre, Beiteddeen etc.

The buses run every 15 minutes so there is always a running bus.

Private Taxi: If you are in a group of more than 3, I would recommend ordering a taxi because the shared price would be cheaper than bus tickets for each person combined.

There is a fixed rate so you can always call the taxi company to check their rate and it is based on the destination and the type of vehicle you choose.

Within the City:

For short distances; use a Service. It is a shared taxi (red car plate) for about 2000LL/2USD per person. It is important to inform the driver that you want to ride a Service because sometimes they would take you as a private taxi ride which costs a lot!

For longer distances, ask a local around you on which minivans to take to get to your destination. It doesn’t have a clear sign so it’s best to ask around.

Lebanese people are extremely friendly and helpful!

Places to Visit

1. Beirut

– Mar Mikhael: Known as the bar district and also popular for their colored stairs that were covered by Vogue as one of the most creative staircases in the world! Although the color has faded, they still look pretty instagrammable.

– Down Town:  It is the central district also known as Centre Ville. Stroll around the commercial and cosmopolitan area then head down towards Al Abed Clock Tower,  continue towards the Marty Square then the former Byzantine church which currently serves as a mosque called Mohammed Al Amin. Continue towards the North of Beirut to visit the pretty Saifi Village and further up to Sursock Palace.

 

Do visit Souk El Tayeb on Saturdays between 9a.m. to 2p.m. where you will find loads of fresh organic products, food, vegetables, drinks and what not.

– Hamra – I’ve stayed in this neighborhood twice and it is a central and busy location with many stores, cafe, restaurants, and souvenir shops.

– Burj Hammoud – One of my favorite place to visit! This is where Armenians fleed during the genocide and continued their settlement to date.

It has a completely different vibe than other parts of Beirut.

– Corniche: Take a stroll along the seaside and walk towards Zaytouna Bay where you will find restaurants, yachts and surrounded by high rise modern buildings.

– Raouche Rock – This is found in every guidebook but I don’t find it special. You will eventually drive by as you go around Beirut but it is not a must stop/visit.

– Gemmayze – Another hip district that’s perfect for a stroll with many boutiques, chic cafes, and restaurants. The Original Em Ali (Gluten Free Saj) and Tibliyet Masaad (The best Shish Tawouk Sandwich) is also located there!

2. Baalbek –  The colossal Roman structure is pretty impressive.

Visit Baalbek if you have at least 4 days in Lebanon. It’s a 5 hours journey by bus, definitely worth the trip but not a must visit if you are crunched on time since there isn’t much to do within Baalbek itself.

3. Byblos – It is a coastal town and one of the oldest cities in the world! A good few days in Byblos is recommended to enjoy walking along the alleyways of the old souk, visit Byblos Castle and drive towards the east to visit Baatara Gorge Waterfall, however, it’s best visited after the rain to actually see the waterfall.

4. Chouf – It’s a historic region located in the South East of Lebanon with many beautiful sites to visit.

– Deir al Qamar

– Beit Ed Deen was built in the 19th Century with inlaid marbles and mosaics. Every part of the palace is impressive!

– Mousa Castle – Every single brick in this castle tells a story. This castle was built single-handedly by a man and took about 60 years to complete.

5. Tripoli – Tripoli will take you back in time when Lebanon used to be the

Everything is pretty much walking distance so you could walk around these spots starting from the bus stop.

– Abdulrahman Hallab & Sons for their famous sweets but their Lahm baajine (meat pie) is my favorite.

– Sultan Abdulhamid Clock Tower – A gift to the city of Tripoli that was built by the Ottomans. There’s a nice park by the clock tower to unwind.

– Citadel of Raymond Saint Gills – For a 360 view of Tripoli.

– Mansouri Mosque – It is also known as the Great Mosque of Tripoli that was built around the 13th Century.

– Souk Haraj – A bustling souk that sells almost everything.

– Khan Al Saboun – Perfect place to get natural products as a souvenir. They even have soap made out of gold!

– Khan Al Khayateen – There are several Khan’s in Tripoli which used to be a caravansary. There are various caravansaries and each one has its specialty. This one is specialized in textiles so you will find many tailors too!

– Port of Tripoli – Enjoy a seafood meal by the port.

6. Ksara Winery – Highly recommended en route to Baalbek for a free tour and wine tasting.

7. Akoura – So I’m not quite sure on what’s there to offer in Akour but it is a  mountainous village and has these pretty ponds!

8. Jounieh – Known for the popular site; Harissa aka Lady of Lebanon. It also offers a magnificent view of the coast. There’s a cable car that goes up and down the statue but you could also access it by driving up to the church. If you’re tight in cash, skip the cable car.

9. Mleeta – It is also known as Museum for Resistance Tourism. It felt surreal walking through the set up of a war camp with sound effects, bunkers, tunnels and surrounded with real military stuff!

10. Nightlife – Here are my favorite spots in Beirut other than the bar district in Mar Mikhael

• AHM
• Encore
• O1NE
• The Grand Factory

11. Faraya- If you happen to visit Faraya, check out the Roman ruins of Faqra Archeological Site. It’s not worth driving only for the site, but worth a visit if you’re in the area.

 

 

 

Food

With endless great restaurants, little time and limited tummy space, I’ve narrowed down my favorite restaurants that guarantee a happy belly!

1. Barbar – It is a chain restaurant that can be found in several locations in Beirut. They’re famous for their chicken shawerma and lahm baajine.

2. Tibliyet Masaad – THE BEST SHISH TAWOUK SANDWICH I HAVE EVER TASTED! I loved it so much that I bought 5 boxes to take home.

3. Abu Abdullah – A great place for breakfast. I especially love their fattah awarma.

4. Em Nazih – A great hippie cafe located in a really cool hostel in Gemmayze.

5. Noy – A must try Armenian restaurant if you go to Burj Hammoud. Their manti was exceptional!

6. Manghal – Another authentic Armenian restaurant that will leave you drooling for more.

7. T Marbouta – Delicious food and reasonably priced. My favorite would be Kebba Kushari!

8. The Original Em Ali – Popular for their organic and gluten-free saj! I recommend the rocket and cheese topping!

Currency

Lebanon uses Lebanese Lira and US Dollar.

1USD = 1,500 LL

Accommodation

Here are some cheap accommodation options located in Hamra District. I prefer to use Airbnb if I’m alone because it’s a lot cheaper than hotels/hostels.

Talal Hotel (Hostel) – 15 USD/Night

Hotel Embassy – 35 USD/Night

Napoleon Hotel – 40USD/Night

Use the reference link here and earn 15USD! 😀