Where to travel

One of the most vibrant and fascinating cities in the Middle East, the Lebanese capital was once known as the ‘Paris of the East’. It is known for its cafes, fine restaurants, nightclubs, and luxury hotels.

The sights of central Lebanon combine a mixture of beautiful mountain scenery, historic buildings of great antiquity, attractive medieval towns, and one of the finest underground cave complexes in the world.

Southern Lebanon boasts renowned Phoenician cities such as Tyre’s UNESCO Roman ruins and Sidon’s medieval-covered souqs and Sea Castle. Nearby, Echmoun presents unique Phoenician ruins, including the Throne of Astarte.

Northern Lebanon’s highlights include Tripoli’s Crusader castle and souqs, the Greek Orthodox monastery at Deir Balamand and Qadisha Valley.

Towering high over the plains of the Bekaa Valley, the sheer scale and monumental proportions of the UNESCO-listed ruins at Baalbek never cease to impress.

The high plateau of the fertile Bekaa Valley is home to several fine archaeological sites. Highlights include UNESCO-listed Aanjar, Roman temples at Niha and Ksara Vineyard, Lebanon’s oldest winery.

The attractive wooded slopes of the Chouf Mountains are located to the south and east of Beirut and contain the beautiful late 18th-century Beiteddine Palace, the finest surviving example of Lebanese-Ottoman architecture in the country.