City: Beirut
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Things to do in Beirut, Lebanon: The Best Museums
Often called "Paris of the Middle East", Beirut is a thriving hotspot for shopping, socializing and sightseeing, despite many wars and unrest. The city has been rebuilt several times, with modern architecture sharing space with Ottoman and colonial French buildings. Bustling streets such as Hamra and Ashrafieh provide hopping nightlife while the National Museum and the Gibran Museum give visitors a taste of the city's history. The Corniche is the place for activities like jogging and biking.
Restaurants in Beirut
1. Mim Museum - Mineral Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 307 reviews
mim is a private mineral museum in Beirut, Lebanon. It exhibits more than 1800 minerals, representing some 400 different species from over 70 countries. Created by nature itself, those works of art with their breathtaking aesthetics were formed in earth’s crust millions of years ago. Mr. Salim Edde has built up this collection starting 1997. You can discover pieces originating from a number of renowned collections --both old and more recent-- as well as from the major mining discoveries of our era. The mim collection is now considered to be one of the world's paramount private collections for the variety and quality of its minerals. A didactic circuit, accompanied by screens displaying films and scientific applications of mineralogy, will reveal a world of unsuspected marvels--priceless both from an aesthetic and scientific point of view. Mimodactylus libanensis “mimo”, the fossil of a pterodactyl is featured in a special wing. This one-of-a-kind complete specimen in the Middle-East was found in Lebanon. It is promoted by means of state-of-the-art modern techniques: a hologram, an auto-stereoscopic movie, a full-scale reconstitution and a game “fly with mimo” – an entertainment that delights children and adults. Moreover, mim hosts a thematic exhibition of 200 marine fossils. “Fish’n’Stone” was organized with the collaboration of Mémoire du Temps. Known throughout the world, those fossils were quarried in the Lebanese mountains. The history of the fossil formation is shown through an animation that submerses you in the marine life – a time capsule that takes you in a journey to some 100 million of years ago.
Reviewed By Ana_L_23 - Navan, Ireland
As a Mining engineer, I have visited several museums of this kind in the World, and I have to say, this is the best, so far. Very good collection, excellent way how minerals are displayed, and amazing interactive screens where we can learn everything about the minerals. You can easily spend hours there. Good place to take the kids. And maybe one of the top sites in Beirut.
2. Banque Du Liban Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 112 reviews
Reviewed By AdrijanaZecevic - Belgrade, Serbia
As someone who is broke and has always pushed for more social equality, I have to say, I LOVE what BDL has done. Young, old, married, single, muslim, christian... We’re all gonna be broke! We’ll all have the same income: 0. Isn’t that great?! There’s no wealth inequality if everyone’s poor, right? Ladies, there’s no wage gap if no one has any money either, am I right? Finally, we can all be equal. Riad Salamé is a true social justice hero.
3. Choco Story Beirut
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
ChocoStoryBeirut is a worldwide chocolate museum first founded in Bruges and located in 6 different countries Brussels, Paris, Prague, New York, Mexico and the first ever in Middles East, Beirut, Lebanon. This museum designated for all chocolate lovers who love history and chocolate; to work with chocolate and live the chocolate experience.
4. National Museum of Beirut
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,479 reviews
Reviewed By TravelerMaria22
Fabulous building, beautiful well archived and explained collection, a lot of history on display, friendly staff, great museum shop. One of the best museum I have ever visited.
5. Beirut Art Center
6. Nicolas Sursock Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 251 reviews
Reviewed By 118cathyk - Branford, United States
This beautiful museum of modern art is located in a mansion that had been willed by Nicolas Sursock to the Lebanese people to be used as an art museum. One of the original rooms of the mansion has been restored and the rest turned into a beautiful space to display the paintings and other art. I especially loved the Helen Khan exhibit in the basement of the museum. Highly recommend!
7. Plan BEY
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3 reviews
8. Audi Mosaic Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 25 reviews
Reviewed By Taipan888 - Hong Kong, China
A small little museum next to Sursock museum but completely independent, this used to be the head office of Audi Bank and now host the bank’s private collection of mosaics. Stunning pieces in excellent condition coming from different countries. The building that house the collection is typical of old Beirut houses and is very interesting in its own right. An interesting stop that takes around 30 minutes.
9. The Silk Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By mikePolisCyprus - Polis, Cyprus
Excellent museum where we had a 1 hour conducted tour explaining all the processes in making silk and a lovely selection of famous dresses. All set in lovely gardens and housed in an old stone built silk mill. Shop and refreshments on site
10. Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 39 reviews
Reviewed By simonbR4136TT - Abingdon, United Kingdom
Excellent. A very peaceful museum - no charge and superb displays. Many artefacts from all over the Middle East and very well explained.
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