Some of the Best Places in Lebanon for Sightseeing
In this post we review some of the best places in Lebanon for sightseeing and give our assessment of how worthwhile they are to go and see.
– Bcharre: Cedars of God
The Cedars of God is one of the last remaining forests of the once abundant cedars of Lebanon and is the location of some of the oldest remaining cedar trees alive. The site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1998 and is a protected area.
These trees were exploited throughout the centuries by the many different civilizations that called Lebanon home. This led to the almost annihilation of the Lebanese Cedar.
At the entrance of the forest is a dead Cedar tree which has been carved by Lebanese sculptor Rudy Rahme. This is called the Lamartine tree, and is really a work of art.
During the winter the forest gets covered with a blanket of snow and becomes a truly remarkable spectacle to see.
– Tyre: Al Bass and Al Mina Archaeological Sites
Al Bass and Al Mina are two Roman archaeological sites with some interesting ruins. They are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Unfortunately due to the war in 2006 and a general lack of maintenance the sites are not as spectacular as they could be. However, saying this, there is still something incredible about walking on the same road as someone else did thousands of years ago.
Al Bass in particular has some lovely ruins, there is a paved road leading to the Triumphal Arch. And just past this is a row of columns looking into the Hippodrome which is apparently the best preserved in the world. This set of ruins we felt was much more spectacular than the Al Mina site.
But do not dismiss the Al Mina site. This is also something worth seeing if you are into history. The site includes a paved road with mosaics, and lined with columns on each side. There is also a rectangular arena on the site.
One major gripe we had is that you are walking around both sites with no information about what anything is. There is no sign boards or descriptions to tell you what you are looking at which is a shame. Regardless, we both enjoyed the ruins, even in the stifling heat and humidity, and it’s something that should be seen if you are going to the south of Lebanon.
– Sidon: Sidon Sea Castle
This castle was built by the Crusaders in the 13th Century. In the outer wall you can see where the old Roman columns were used in the construction of the castle to fortify it.
Inside the castle there is a beautiful vaulted room which has two winding staircases. Both of these staircases lead up to the roof. From the roof you get good views of the city of Sidon itself.
The castle is well preserved and is worth seeing. However be extremely cautious when going up to the roof as there is no handrails or balustrades and you definitely don’t want to fall off!
When you leave the castle, be sure to visit the old souqs which are just across the road and get a flavor of what the traditional markets are like.
– Jeita Grotto, Jeita
Jeita Grotto is in a word….breathtaking! Really, we did not expect to see something so amazing and glorious. The grotto is made up off two caverns, the Upper Grotto and the Lower Grotto. (Due to the fact that there are no cameras or photography allowed in here we were unable to take pictures so we have had to use stock photos).
The Upper Grotto allows you to walk about 750m into the cave system using man-made footpaths and walkways. We were constantly in awe at the amount of geological wonders here. There were countless stalactites, stalagmites, columns, mushrooms, curtains; basically you name it Jeita has it! The chamber has a height of 120m at one point and you can look down into the underground river far below.
The Lower Grotto is smaller but is also very impressive. You are taken by boat into the cavern along the underground river and it really is amazing. To consider that places like this can exist and are discovered accidentally is astounding. It makes you wonder how many places like this exist around the world without ever been seen by humans.
– Byblos
Byblos, also called Jbeil, is to the north of Beirut and is home to a vast archaeological site. In the site you come across pre-historic ruins, Roman ruins, Crusader, and Phoenician ruins, all in the same vicinity. The castle on the site was built by the Crusaders in the 12th Century and features a small museum inside.
Walking around the historic quarter you come across open air bars which are nice to sit and relax with a beer as the sun goes down after strolling around the town and the archaeological site. Also in this area are plenty of unique souvenir shops selling fossils and other mementos.
Byblos is definitely a stunning looking town and one that has often been selected as one of the Arab world’s best cities, and when you go there you will quickly see why.
– Pigeon Rocks, Raouche, Beirut
The Pigeon Rocks is a rock formation located in the sea at the Beirut Corniche. It’s possible to get boat trips through the arch in the rocks, although these are done by unregulated guides. It is easy to miss this landmark as parking is almost impossible to find along the corniche, especially in the area that offers the best view of the rocks. (To get a really good view of the Pigeon Rocks book a window seat on your incoming flight as they often come in low past these when landing at the airport).
From a little further down you can walk down the cliffs to get a closer view of the rocks. But be aware that this area is unfortunately full of rubbish! Even though the views of Beirut are lovely from down here, the whole experience is hugely let down by the trash on the land and in the sea.
This area could be so much nicer with a little cleaning up. And it certainly deserves some care and attention. It’s still a nice thing to see but we really felt disappointed about the lack of care in the area.
– Our Lady of Lebanon, Harissa
Our Lady of Lebanon (Lady Mary) is a large statue located in Harissa overlooking Jounieh and Beirut. From this vantage point you get incredible views of the surrounding areas and the coastline of Lebanon. Where the sea, sky, and city merge into one beautiful picture. It is possible to walk up the spiral stairs to the very base of the statue itself.
To get to Harissa you can take the gondola, (or telepherique), from Jounieh up the mountain. This is a little nerve racking at first but like most of these experiences you quickly get used to it and just sit back and enjoy the views.
Be aware that this is a religious site and you will need to show respect here, and cover your shoulders if they are bare.
Our Lebanon Travel Guide
- For our Lebanon Travel Guide with information for people looking to travel to Lebanon please click here.
Related Articles about Lebanon
- For planning on doing some Walking in Downtown Beirut please click here.
- For what to expect when Eating and Drinking in Lebanon please click here.
- If you are looking for Accommodation in Lebanon please click here.
- To see how to experience the Mountains of Lebanon by ATV please click here.
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