Welcome to Lebanon
Welcome to Lebanon! Discover the land where antiquity blends easily with the bustle of modern life; a place where the ancient Phoenicians, Romans, Ottomans, Arabs, and French have all left their mark.
Whether you are seeking luxury and comfort, tranquility or hustle and bustle, nature or nightlife, culture or fun, Lebanon will delight your senses and offer you an unforgettable escape of a lifetime.
Lebanon is a country reborn. Our new infrastructure and investment of hotels in Lebanon, restaurants, shopping complexes, roads, and telecommunications services have a backdrop of pristine coastline and lush mountains. Our year-round comfortable climate and diversity of cultural activities offer visitors more than just a summer getaway. From world-class cultural heritage sites, to modern spas, to ecotourism, there is something for everyone in Lebanon. Welcome.
Explore Nature & Adventure: The blue sky and warm waters of the Mediterranean, the fresh air and rugged mountain peaks, and the pleasant chill of snowmelt-fed rivers make Lebanon a perfect destination for those who enjoy nature and the outdoors. From a leisurely afternoon of snorkeling or diving on the coast to a multiple-day trek through ancient cedar forests and mountains, the compactness of the country makes it possible to explore much of Lebanon's natural beauty and the cultural diversity in a single trip.
Rural Heritage: A rural tour of Lebanon begins on the subtropical coast, ripe with citrus fruits and banana trees. From there, make your way up the Mount Lebanon range, passing characteristically Mediterranean fig and olive trees, growing on rocky, terraced mountain slopes since Biblical times. You can also pick apples, cherries, peaches, and pears right off the trees in late summer and early fall.
Hiking & Trekking: Varied terrain, scenic vistas, and historic environs combine to create unique hiking and trekking opportunities throughout Lebanon. Popular areas for hikes include the Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve near Tripoli, and the Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve, both of which offer good and extensive trail systems. Other areas with spectacular scenery and unique historical and cultural attractions include the Qadisha Valley, Makmel Park, and the remote Aakkar region in the North.
Mountain Climbing: Lebanon is one of the few places in the Middle East to offer a broad range of mountain climbing activities, from relatively easy summit climbs and technical peak ascents, to bouldering and adventure climbing. Limestone mountains, beautiful scenery, and easily accessible climbs welcome climbers to Lebanon.
Nature Reserves: Lebanon's climatic diversity and varied topography have bestowed the country with a unique ecological system that ranges from the subtropical coast to the alpine high mountains of the interior. The country is rich in its biodiversity, and in the last decade special attention has been paid to protecting endangered species and conserving their habitats in specific parts of the country. The more than 20 Nature Reserves and Protected Areas are a testament of Lebanon's focus on conservation and sustainable development. Please note that it is illegal to camp in Lebanon's Nature Reserves and Protected Areas
Skiing & Winter Sports: With six ski resorts catering to skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels, and with kilometers of backcountry Nordic cross-country and snowshoe trails waiting to be explored, Lebanon has something for everyone.
If you are seeking to evade the ski crowds, many outdoor adventure tour operators take groups on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trips. Lebanon's high plateaus are tailor-made for such Nordic pursuits.
Water Sports: With 225km of Mediterranean coastline, as well as numerous rivers throughout the country, Lebanon offers many salt- and fresh-water sporting activities. Lebanon's rocky coastline and underwater terrain make it a unique destination for snorkeling and diving. A 600m deep underwater valley runs from Beirut to the Bay of Jouni©, creating interesting rocky gorges and underwater cliffs and dropoffs for divers to explore. Another popular diving area is at Chikka (near Tripoli), which offers some of the best marine landscapes and flora and fauna off the Lebanese coast.
City Life: Fashionable and trendy, Beirut is the cultural epicenter of Lebanon. The city is bustling with life and oozing with charisma. Beirutis live life to the full, taking in all the city's gastronomic delights, ambience, and leisure activities until the wee hours of the morning. Between the time they leave work and the time they arrive home, a true Beiruti fits in shopping along Rue Hamra, a gallery opening, drinks with friends at a new bar, dinner around 10pm, and a Lebanese espresso, before hitting a nightclub in Achrafiy© around midnight.
Whether it's music and theatre, galleries, shopping, or dining that you're after, there is no end to the choices for those visiting Beirut.
Sightseeing: Beirut's new architecture - which includes contemporary high-rises, as well as Parisian-style buildings constructed in the old tradition with beautiful wrought iron work - blends well with the old. And the old can be very old. Visit the ruins of the Roman Baths near the Grand Serail, the Parliament building, the Al-Omari Mosque, and St. Georges Cathedral. If these sites captivate your interest, take a tour of the local museums. The National Museum and the American University of Beirut Archaeology Museum showcase antiquities from Lebanon's past
Shopping: Shopping is a quintessential leisure activity in downtown Beirut. Lebanese track the European fashion trends closely in both interior design and clothing. Designer garments, jewelry, and accessories are introduced in Beirut first before they spread to the other Arab markets. Rue Hamra is a shoppers' paradise, with everything from stylish everyday wear and shoes to upscale evening wear.
Some of Beirut's home furnishings stores rival cutting edge retailers in Europe and the United States in terms of selection and interesting items.
Lebanon supports its own echelon of fashion and furniture designers, artists, and photographers, whose work can be seen in galleries and shops throughout the city.
Entertainment & Nightlife: Nightlife in Beirut merits a special note. The city is brimming with restaurants, beach clubs, centers for performing arts, music venues, movie theatres, a casino, and a number of discos, pubs, and bars.
Nightclubs and Casino: For late night activities, try your luck at the Casino du Liban or "see and be seen" at one of Beirut's many happening nightclubs. Rue Monot in Achrafiy© is a hot spot for clubs and bars and the latest fad restaurants. Put on all your finery and dance to techno house, hip hop, or Arab Latin music until the wee hours of the night.
Dining: Cosmopolitan Beirut brims with caf©s, pubs, and restaurants catering to a range of local and international tastes. Hotel breakfast buffets typically include juice, coffee, croissants, platters of fruit, yogurt, and a variety of hot and cold entr©es, from omelets to cereal. The stylish restaurant serves up European cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Pain au chocolate, beignets (French doughnuts), and toasted bagels with a variety of fillings are breakfast specialties.
For lunch or dinner, there are numerous outdoor cafes in the beautifully reconstructed Solidre area that revive the weary traveler with crpes, sandwiches, salads, etc.
Whether you are seeking luxury and comfort, tranquility or hustle and bustle, nature or nightlife, culture or fun, Lebanon will delight your senses and offer you an unforgettable escape of a lifetime.
Lebanon is a country reborn. Our new infrastructure and investment of hotels in Lebanon, restaurants, shopping complexes, roads, and telecommunications services have a backdrop of pristine coastline and lush mountains. Our year-round comfortable climate and diversity of cultural activities offer visitors more than just a summer getaway. From world-class cultural heritage sites, to modern spas, to ecotourism, there is something for everyone in Lebanon. Welcome.
Explore Nature & Adventure: The blue sky and warm waters of the Mediterranean, the fresh air and rugged mountain peaks, and the pleasant chill of snowmelt-fed rivers make Lebanon a perfect destination for those who enjoy nature and the outdoors. From a leisurely afternoon of snorkeling or diving on the coast to a multiple-day trek through ancient cedar forests and mountains, the compactness of the country makes it possible to explore much of Lebanon's natural beauty and the cultural diversity in a single trip.
Rural Heritage: A rural tour of Lebanon begins on the subtropical coast, ripe with citrus fruits and banana trees. From there, make your way up the Mount Lebanon range, passing characteristically Mediterranean fig and olive trees, growing on rocky, terraced mountain slopes since Biblical times. You can also pick apples, cherries, peaches, and pears right off the trees in late summer and early fall.
Hiking & Trekking: Varied terrain, scenic vistas, and historic environs combine to create unique hiking and trekking opportunities throughout Lebanon. Popular areas for hikes include the Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve near Tripoli, and the Al-Shouf Cedar Reserve, both of which offer good and extensive trail systems. Other areas with spectacular scenery and unique historical and cultural attractions include the Qadisha Valley, Makmel Park, and the remote Aakkar region in the North.
Mountain Climbing: Lebanon is one of the few places in the Middle East to offer a broad range of mountain climbing activities, from relatively easy summit climbs and technical peak ascents, to bouldering and adventure climbing. Limestone mountains, beautiful scenery, and easily accessible climbs welcome climbers to Lebanon.
Nature Reserves: Lebanon's climatic diversity and varied topography have bestowed the country with a unique ecological system that ranges from the subtropical coast to the alpine high mountains of the interior. The country is rich in its biodiversity, and in the last decade special attention has been paid to protecting endangered species and conserving their habitats in specific parts of the country. The more than 20 Nature Reserves and Protected Areas are a testament of Lebanon's focus on conservation and sustainable development. Please note that it is illegal to camp in Lebanon's Nature Reserves and Protected Areas
Skiing & Winter Sports: With six ski resorts catering to skiers and snowboarders of all skill levels, and with kilometers of backcountry Nordic cross-country and snowshoe trails waiting to be explored, Lebanon has something for everyone.
If you are seeking to evade the ski crowds, many outdoor adventure tour operators take groups on cross-country skiing and snowshoeing trips. Lebanon's high plateaus are tailor-made for such Nordic pursuits.
Water Sports: With 225km of Mediterranean coastline, as well as numerous rivers throughout the country, Lebanon offers many salt- and fresh-water sporting activities. Lebanon's rocky coastline and underwater terrain make it a unique destination for snorkeling and diving. A 600m deep underwater valley runs from Beirut to the Bay of Jouni©, creating interesting rocky gorges and underwater cliffs and dropoffs for divers to explore. Another popular diving area is at Chikka (near Tripoli), which offers some of the best marine landscapes and flora and fauna off the Lebanese coast.
City Life: Fashionable and trendy, Beirut is the cultural epicenter of Lebanon. The city is bustling with life and oozing with charisma. Beirutis live life to the full, taking in all the city's gastronomic delights, ambience, and leisure activities until the wee hours of the morning. Between the time they leave work and the time they arrive home, a true Beiruti fits in shopping along Rue Hamra, a gallery opening, drinks with friends at a new bar, dinner around 10pm, and a Lebanese espresso, before hitting a nightclub in Achrafiy© around midnight.
Whether it's music and theatre, galleries, shopping, or dining that you're after, there is no end to the choices for those visiting Beirut.
Sightseeing: Beirut's new architecture - which includes contemporary high-rises, as well as Parisian-style buildings constructed in the old tradition with beautiful wrought iron work - blends well with the old. And the old can be very old. Visit the ruins of the Roman Baths near the Grand Serail, the Parliament building, the Al-Omari Mosque, and St. Georges Cathedral. If these sites captivate your interest, take a tour of the local museums. The National Museum and the American University of Beirut Archaeology Museum showcase antiquities from Lebanon's past
Shopping: Shopping is a quintessential leisure activity in downtown Beirut. Lebanese track the European fashion trends closely in both interior design and clothing. Designer garments, jewelry, and accessories are introduced in Beirut first before they spread to the other Arab markets. Rue Hamra is a shoppers' paradise, with everything from stylish everyday wear and shoes to upscale evening wear.
Some of Beirut's home furnishings stores rival cutting edge retailers in Europe and the United States in terms of selection and interesting items.
Lebanon supports its own echelon of fashion and furniture designers, artists, and photographers, whose work can be seen in galleries and shops throughout the city.
Entertainment & Nightlife: Nightlife in Beirut merits a special note. The city is brimming with restaurants, beach clubs, centers for performing arts, music venues, movie theatres, a casino, and a number of discos, pubs, and bars.
Nightclubs and Casino: For late night activities, try your luck at the Casino du Liban or "see and be seen" at one of Beirut's many happening nightclubs. Rue Monot in Achrafiy© is a hot spot for clubs and bars and the latest fad restaurants. Put on all your finery and dance to techno house, hip hop, or Arab Latin music until the wee hours of the night.
Dining: Cosmopolitan Beirut brims with caf©s, pubs, and restaurants catering to a range of local and international tastes. Hotel breakfast buffets typically include juice, coffee, croissants, platters of fruit, yogurt, and a variety of hot and cold entr©es, from omelets to cereal. The stylish restaurant serves up European cuisine for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Pain au chocolate, beignets (French doughnuts), and toasted bagels with a variety of fillings are breakfast specialties.
For lunch or dinner, there are numerous outdoor cafes in the beautifully reconstructed Solidre area that revive the weary traveler with crpes, sandwiches, salads, etc.
