Must-see attractions in Beirut

  • The Beirut National Museum, Lebanon.

    National Museum of Beirut

    Beirut

    Located on the former Green Line, this is Beirut's major cultural institution. Its impressive, magnificently displayed collection of archaeological…

  • Celestine, Beirut Mineral Museum exhibit, Lebanon.

    MIM

    Beirut

    Under the St Joseph university, this atmospheric and beautifully designed museum presents an extraordinary collection of exquisitely selected and…

  • St George Crypt Museum

    Beirut

    When a bomb fell on the Orthodox cathedral in 1975, the only silver lining was that it revealed these ruins beneath. Though the area is small, an…

  • Sursock Museum

    Beirut

    This privately owned contemporary-art museum is housed in a 1912 mansion located in one of Achrafiyeh's most attractive streets. After a major facelift…

  • BEIRUT, LEBANON - NOVEMBER 3, 2017 - View of the American University of Beirut. ; Shutterstock ID 762685078

    American University of Beirut

    Beirut

    One of the Middle East’s most prestigious and expensive universities, the AUB was founded in 1866 by American Protestant missionary Daniel Bliss. Spread…

  • Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque in Beirut, Lebanon; Shutterstock ID 658207393

    Mohammed Al Amin Mosque

    Beirut

    Now the city's major landmark, this huge, striking amber-coloured blue-domed mosque near Martyrs Sq was opened in 2008 and has four minarets standing 65m…

  • Luna Park

    Beirut

    Luna Park is a rickety old amusement park, with all the attendant charms and nuisances, at which most Western tourists turn up their noses. Bypass the…

  • The Saint George Greek Orthodox Church, in Beirut Lebanon. A view of the Downtown city Centre, the cathedral and some picturesque local architecture in beautiful Beirut.; Shutterstock ID 151525970

    St George Greek Orthodox Cathedral

    Beirut

    This was built in 1767 and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. In 1975, during the civil war, a bomb fell here and unearthed the ruins of a…

  • Saint George Maronite Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Beirut, Lebanon ; Shutterstock ID 764709994; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Beirut Guides app update

    Maronite Cathedral of St George

    Beirut

    The neoclassical facade of this late 19th-century cathedral, next to the Mohammed Al Amin mosque, was inspired by the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in…

  • Beautiful sunset on Raouche, Pigeons' Rock. In Beirut, Lebanon.Sun and Stones are reflected in water.dense clouds in the sky.; Shutterstock ID 706503574; Your name (First / Last): Lauren Keith; GL account no.: 65050; Netsuite department name: Online Editorial; Full Product or Project name including edition: Beirut Guides app update

    Pigeon Rocks

    Beirut

    These limestone outcrops just offshore are prime selfie territory and a Beirut landmark. They are impressive; one has an archway eroded through it. A…

  • Robert Mouawad Private Museum

    Beirut

    The world would be a poorer place if it didn't host idiosyncratic cultural institutions such as this one. Conceived and funded by jeweller and collector…

  • Place de l'Etoile

    Beirut

    Named for the starburst formed by the radial streets of the main square, Place de l’Étoile seems to either be totally empty or rammed with families with…

  • Aïshti Foundation

    Beirut

    The Aïshti Foundation is a combination of seemingly strange bedfellows. On one hand, it’s a high-end mall aimed at people who have a few grand to spend on…

  • Roman Baths

    Beirut

    The largest outdoor sight in downtown Beirut hearkening back to the days when the city was a centre of Roman law, the baths here underwent a major…

  • Planet Discovery

    Beirut

    This activity centre and interactive science museum in the Souks shopping arcades is aimed at young children and offers a science museum that's very hands…

  • Horsh Beirut

    Beirut

    The large and verdant Horsh Beirut could be the city's version of Central Park, but opening hours are irregular to the point of arbitrary, and it’s manned…

  • Issam Fares Institute

    Beirut

    The IFI holds the distinction of being the only Zaha Hadid-designed building in Beirut. The structure is distinctive in appearance too: it’s a…

  • Al Omari Mosque

    Beirut

    Built in the 12th century as the Church of John the Baptist of the Knights Hospitaller, this attractive building was converted into a mosque in 1291. It…

  • Cardo Maximus

    Beirut

    The 'cardo maximus' was the principal north–south street of a Roman city, and you can see the evocative remains of Beirut's cardo maximus between the city…

  • Banque du Liban Museum

    Beirut

    Banque du Liban Museum is an offbeat little stop for a change of pace. The collection includes coins dating back to 500 BC; some of the retired Lebanese…

  • Sursock Palace

    Beirut

    One of the last remaining Beirut manor houses from the Ottoman era, Sursock Palace stands behind high gates across from the Sursock Museum (the Sursock…

  • Sanayeh Public Garden

    Beirut

    A very well-maintained public park with soothing greenery and water, this has playground equipment for the kids to let off steam, and plenty of paved…

  • Dar El Nimer

    Beirut

    Housed in a gorgeous 1930s villa, Dar El Nimer features rotating art exhibits and an impressive permanent collection including decorative arts, glass,…

  • Beit Beirut

    Beirut

    Conceptualised as a museum dedicated to the memory of Beirut, Beit Beirut started off as the stately home of the Barakat family in the 1920s and was then…

  • Grand Serail

    Beirut

    The Grand Serail, a majestic Ottoman-era building that has been restored to its former grandeur and is now the Prime Minister's base, is a splendid…

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