Travel Guide to Beirut, Lebanon [with Sample Itinerary]

Read our Beirut travel guide to help you have an idea with your next journey to this wonderful capital in the country of Lebanon.

Nicknamed as “The Paris of the Middle East”, Beirut is a popular tourist destination in Lebanon. Its French influences made it more attractive to tourists. And upon going here, you will be able to learn and observe its lively cultural and intellectual life. If you want to explore more of this Lebanon’s capital, we encourage you to visit it that’s why we made this travel guide for you.

Beirut Travel Guide: Places to Visit in Beirut, Lebanon

1. National Museum of Beirut

A must when visiting Beirut. Valuable and historical finds have all been brought to this museum. All of the art treasures found in Lebanon in the past few thousand years are here! Altar reliefs from the Greek period, bronze statues, sarcophagi, ancient Egyptian statuettes, and a lot more. Highly recommended for history and art lovers!

Suggested Tour: Beirut: City Sightseeing Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour

2. Zaitunay Bay

Located directly at the marina of Beirut, this is one of the most beautiful places in the country with excellent bars and restaurants. It is recommended to visit in the evening. You can walk along the jetty and observe the expensive yachts. In the end, you’ll find a nice little restaurant and you can enjoy the view.

3. Mim Museum – Mineral Museum

This is a very unique museum. It provides very good explanations, including an interesting comic about the creation of fossils. The variety of colors and shapes of the rocks are indescribable, one cannot escape the amazement of what nature itself produces.

4. Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque

This mosque is very impressive. Not only because of its size and structure but also because it is right next to a Christian church. Here you can see that peaceful coexistence works. It is impressive from the outside, but much more from the inside. And as usual, when visiting a mosque, remember to wear proper clothes before you enter.

5. Pigeon Rocks in Raouche

Practically one of the symbols of the city. This rock formation is particularly recommended especially at sunset.

6. American University of Beirut

Even if you don’t want to study, you should definitely take a look at this great facility with beautiful old buildings and trees. Everyone has access to the site, which is huge. It is a beautifully maintained campus with benches to linger. You won’t notice the hustle and bustle of the city when you’re here.

7. Gemmayzeh Street

Gemmayzeh is another of Beirut’s nightlife districts, like restaurants after bars after cafes. It gets very lively, especially in the evening. If you’re looking for something to have fun, this is the place you should go to.

8. Beirut Souks

The modern Souq of Beirut was built on the remains of the traditional Souq that was destroyed during the civil war and looks more like a state-of-the-art shopping center. It is built very bright and open, all major international brands and many more are available. You don’t necessarily have to shop here, even strolling is fun, you can see many different people and you can just enjoy the atmosphere.

9. Hamra Street

If you want to “immerse” yourself in Beirut, you should not miss the highly lively Hamra street. There are lots of shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, hotels, people, and cars. Might probably the “real Beirut”. Anyone who wants to shop will find all possible shoe and textile shops here. You can spend an hour just wandering around this street.

10. Corniche Beirut

It is a very nice promenade by the sea of Beirut. There’s always something going on at the Corniche. There are tourists here, but many locals also use the area for a walk along the sea. From here it is also not far to Pigeon Rock.

Beirut Travel Guide: Sample Weekend Itinerary to Beirut, Lebanon

Day 1 – Weekend Guide to Beirut, Lebanon

Mim Museum – Mineral Museum
American University of Beirut
Zaitunay Bay

Day 2 – Weekend Guide to Beirut, Lebanon

National Museum of Beirut
Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque
Hamra Street
Corniche Beirut
Pigeon Rocks in Raouche

Day 3 – Weekend Guide to Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut Souks
Gemmayzeh Street

Beirut Travel Guide: Where to Stay in Beirut, Lebanon

*All prices are subject to change.

Where to Stay in Beirut, Lebanon if you’re a Backpacker

Napoleon Hotel

Napoleon Hotel’s luxurious rooms are all air-conditioned and equipped with cable TV and a fully stocked minibar. The marble bathrooms feature sunken tubs, separate showers, and hairdryers. Guests can enjoy cocktails to the tunes of a string quartet at the piano bar.

Price: Starts at $30 per night for Standard Double or Twin Room, add $3 for taxes and charges, $12 for breakfast (optional), but it offers a free cancellation.

Talal Hotel

Price: Starts at $14 per night for Standard Double or Twin Room, includes taxes and charges, free breakfast, and it offers a free cancellation. Breakfast at Talal Hotel can be enjoyed in the lounge with its sofas and bright wall painting.

Price: Starts at $37 per night for Budget Double Room with Shared Bathroom, add $4 for taxes and charges, and it’s partially refundable.

Alaamira Furnished Apartments

Alaamira offers fully furnished studios and apartments with 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms and living rooms. All units have ACs, flat-screen TV, and a small kitchen equipped with a fridge, stovetop. Some units include a balcony.

Price: Starts at $43 per night for One-Bedroom Apartment, add $4 for taxes and charges, $5 for breakfast (optional), but it offers a free cancellation.

Where to Stay in Beirut, Lebanon if you’re on a Budget

Viccini Suites

Viccini Suites offers self-catering apartments with a kitchenette and private balcony. The air-conditioned apartments at Viccini come with free Wi-Fi and a seating area with LCD TV. The apartments have marble floors and are decorated in light colors.

Price: Starts at $50 per night for Exclusive Suite, includes taxes and charges, and it offers a free cancellation.

Mar Mikhael Heritage Apts

Mar Mikhael Vintage Apts features accommodation with free WiFi, a flat-screen TV, and a kitchen. Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport is 9 km away.

Price: Starts at $50 per night for Apartment-Split Level, includes taxes and charges, and it offers a free cancellation.

Silver Apartments

Silver Apartments is a self-catering accommodation. Wi-Fi access is available at an added fee. Accommodation will provide you with a flat-screen TV, air conditioning and a balcony. Rafic Hariri Airport is 15 minutes by car.

Price: Starts at $55 per night for One-Bedroom Apartment, add $6 for taxes and charges, and it offers a free cancellation.

Where to Stay in Beirut, Lebanon if you want Luxury

M"ovenpick Hotel Beirut

This luxurious resort in Beirut’s center features 4 indoor and outdoor pools, 5 restaurants, and an expansive spa. Free Wi-Fi is available. The bright guest rooms at the M"ovenpick Hotel Beirut have modern interior design. They include a flat-screen TV, a spacious seating area, and views of the sea, the city or the courtyard. A range of relaxation and recreational options are on offer at the Essential Spa & Health Club, including tennis courts, massage services, and a sauna.

Price: Starts at $255 per night for Classic King Room, add $28 for taxes and charges, $33 for breakfast (optional), but it offers a free cancellation.

Sofitel Beirut Le Gabriel

Sofitel Beirut Le Gabriel is a luxury full-service hotel with a range of upscale amenities tailored to suit business and leisure guests alike. The spacious rooms and suites come with modern furnishings. Each is fitted with cable TV, air conditioning, Bose sound system, minibar, and coffee machines. Free WiFi is available throughout. Guests can also relax in the indoor swimming pool, workout in the fitness center, and enjoy gourmet French and Lebanese cuisine.

Price: Starts at $350 per night for Junior Suite, add $39 for taxes and charges, $25 for breakfast (optional), but it offers a free cancellation.

Le Gray

Le Gray features a stylish design and a neon-lit, top-floor bar with 360-degree panoramas oversea, city, and mountains. All rooms have free Wi-Fi. This hotel houses spacious rooms featuring luxury fibers and soft hues. They all feature black-tiled bathrooms with a tub and luxury amenities. For a relaxing break from busy Beirut, Le Gray’s wellness center offers massages and beauty treatments. Indigo on the Roof Restaurant serves international cuisine with a Mediterranean twist and an impressive wine wall.

Price: Starts at $350 per night for Deluxe Double Room, add $39 for taxes and charges, $38 for breakfast (optional), but it offers a free cancellation.

Beirut Travel Guide: List of restaurants that you can try while in Beirut, Lebanon

1. Em Sherif Restaurant

Operating hours: 12:30 PM – 4:00 PM / 8:30 PM – 12:00 AM (Sun-Sat)
Address: Rue Victor Hugo, Beirut Lebanon

2. Ferdinand

Operating hours: 5:00 PM – 01:00 AM (Sun-Sat)
Address: Mahatma Gandhi Street Hamra, Beirut Lebanon

3. Babel Bay

Operating hours: 12:00 PM – 11:30 PM (Sun-Sat)
Address: Zaitunay Bay, Minet El Hoson, Beirut Lebanon

4. Appetito Trattoria

Address: Hamra Mahatma Gandhi Street Hamra, Beyrouth, Beirut 1103 Lebanon

5. Abd El Wahab

Address: Abdel Wahab El Inglizi Ashrafieh, Beirut Lebanon

And that’s our Beirut travel guide for you! We hope we’re able to give you enough insights about this city. Have you been here? Or are you planning to go here? Share with us your experience!

Are you on Pinterest? Pin these!

About the Writer

Hi there! I’m Fatima. My first major travel was in 2016 in the beautiful city of Cebu. After that, I got interested in traveling. Now I enjoy learning languages and other country’s cultures. My goal is to visit at least one country each year and to share my experiences with other people through writing or blogging. Witness my journey by following me on Instagram.