Things to Do in Beirut

The rugged slopes of the Qadisha Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, are home to mountain wilderness, ancient monasteries, the pretty village of Bcharré, and even the occasional hermit. Carved by the sacred river Qadisha and mentioned in the Bible, it’s also known as the Kadisha Valley, Wadi Kadisha, Ouadi Qadisha, and Kadisha Gorge.

When prominent Lebanese poet, artist and philosopher Khalil Gibran died in 1931, his body was interred within the chapel of a nineteenth century monastery on the outskirts of Bsharri according to his wishes. This monastery, set into the rocky slopes on the eastern side of town, now houses a museum dedicated to Gibran.

Besides Gibran’s tomb, the museum collection includes 440 of his original paintings and drawings, as well as private manuscripts and personal belongings from his time living in New York.

Known to locals as Sour, the port city of Tyre in southern Lebanon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular vacation destination for Beirutis. Ruins here date back over 4,000 years and span the Phoenician, Roman, Crusader, and Ottoman eras—and beyond. But white sand and fresh seafood mean Tyre is not just for history buffs.

Along Beirut’s aptly-coined 'museum mile' is a real gem of a collection, housed at the Mim Mineral Museum Beirut (Mim Musée des Minéraux Beyrouth) on the Saint Joseph University campus. Featuring local engineer Salim Edde’s private collection of more than 1,400 minerals, the museum showcases precious stones from around the world, attracting chemists, collectors and enthusiasts alike.

With a tour of the Mim Museum, you’ll see over 300 different minerals from more than 60 countries and learn about mineral formation and history from various interactive screens. The minerals are organized by room, with radioactive elements found in the main exhibit and more precious pieces like gold, silver, emerald, ruby and topaz displayed in the treasure room.

Considered to be one of the most impressive private collections of minerals in the world, the Mim makes for a great stop on a tour of Beirut museums, and is a must-do for those with even a passing interest in precious stones.

Beirut’s Banque du Liban Museum (Musée de la Banque du Liban) opened in 2010 to chart the story of currency throughout history and to increase public awareness of the role of the central bank. After its establishment, the Banque du Liban (which means Bank of Lebanon and is sometimes shortened to BDL) created the nation's fourth currency.

Exhibitions within the museum display banknotes and coins dating as far back as the Phoenician era, while others highlight the current Lebanese pound as a stable monetary system. It may not sound like it, but this is a family attraction that even children can enjoy, with money puzzles and the opportunity to calculate your weight in gold. You can also design your own banknote and get your picture printed onto it.

Take a walk through Lebanon's cultural history on a visit to Hamra Street (Rue Hamra) in Beirut. In the 1960s and 1970s, the neighborhood served as a cultural epicenter for progressive artists and thinkers, its many art galleries and multicultural way of life representing a new era in Lebanese history. Though far more commercial present day, Hamra maintains its energetic atmosphere, and a visit to the neighborhood is highly recommended.

Thanks to a new wave of bars and restaurants and a lasting (and thriving) art scene, Hamra is still one of the most cosmopolitan neighborhoods in the city, and is frequented by tourists, locals and students from the nearby American University of Beirut.

While most of the original art galleries no longer exist, numerous new oneshave taken their place, includingArt Circle, Agial and Zaman. Theaters and music venues also call Hamra Street home, with Metro Madina, Masrah Babel and Democratic Republic of Music offering a range of cultural performances as well as a modern venue.

The 19th-century Beiteddine palace complex stands on a hill above the village of Beiteddine (also written Beit ed-Dine) in Lebanon’s Chouf Mountains. Elegant interiors, landscaped gardens with Byzantine mosaics, and architecture that fuses Arabic and Italian elements make it a national monument. It hosts a well-regarded festival each summer.

Known for the enormous Casino du Liban and the Téléferique gondola lift that runs to Our Lady of Harissa above, Jounieh is a party-friendly high-rise beach town about 11 miles (18 kilometers) north of Beirut. The main attractions here are eating, clubbing, and barhopping, although the old souk has charm, and paragliding is possible.

From Roman relics to rooftop bars, from elegant mosques to designer stores, from bullet-pocked ruins to glitzy restaurants, downtown Beirut (Beirut Central District) is a study in contrasts. Archaeological museums, art galleries, and Mediterranean vistas offer much, but for many the focus will remain on food, drink, and fun in this sophisticated and diverse city.