Top Things to do in Lebanon
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Top 10 Hidden Gems Things to do in Lebanon, Lebanon
Discover the best top things to do in Lebanon, Lebanon including Temples of Baalbek, Taste Lebanon - Private Day Tours, Mim Museum - Mineral Museum, Chateau St Thomas, Coteaux Du Liban, Atelier Assaf, Jeita Grotto, Taynal Mosque, Deir Qozhaya, Mleeta.
Restaurants in Lebanon
1. Temples of Baalbek
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,059 reviews
Reviewed By MarieTips - Virginia, United States
One of the most spectacular Roman ruins in the world with a gorgeous mountain background. And basically devoid of tourists which made the visit so pleasant and special. We hired a chauffeur for the day from a company used by the University for safety reasons--one has to be mindful--and drove through the Bekaa valley which was pretty fascinating. We also went to Anjaar--not grandiose like Baalbek but it felt more intimate in a way and is well worth the visit. Important: toilets are on the left, right at entrance gate of Baalbek. Or you will have to wait upon exiting. Then you go to the right to buy tickets at the booth and go through a turnstile entrance (employees barely speak English and told us that toilets were inside the ruins). Guides are available, some speak English well; the one who offered his services had a very strong accent difficult to understand. They only accept "legitimate" parties and, as a principle, refuse people who want to join as a group in order to share the fee. The guy behind us was alone--so that hardly qualifies as a group--and offered to join us and share the fee, as we were just a couple. That was a no go; and it was too much effort to understand the guide, so we passed. However, later on we had and opportunity to converse with another guide whose accent was very good; so it's the luck of the draw. If you travel on a very tight budget, make arrangements with other people before you get to the ticket booth. Otherwise "splurge"...it is their livelihood and there are not that many tourists. But my advice is to inform yourself about the history in advance, so that you can relax and take all your time enjoying this exceptional monument from the past at your own pace and contemplate its breathtaking beauty, as well as take as many photos as you'd like (nobody in the background!!!) without any pressure. We spent at least three wonderful hours there. I'd say that the very minimum time you need to visit is one hour but you'll want to take your time...how often can you access a place like this in an area that is not always the safest?
2. Taste Lebanon - Private Day Tours
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 152 reviews
Founded in 2009 by internationally renown Lebanese chef, presenter and author, Bethany Kehdy, Taste Lebanon is the first and leading culinary and cultural experience in Lebanon. Join us on our daily boutique tours and discover a hidden side to the country’s cuisine, delving deep into its history, and understanding its diverse culture. Catering to each individual’s appetite, you’ll see places even locals might not know - let alone the guidebooks. We offer daily experiences including but not limited to city walking tours, boutique winery tours, urban and rural escapes, religious tours, hikes, cooking classes, and various other a la carte experiences including personal car-for-hire with or without a tour guide. Get in touch with us to learn more about all our turnkey offerings and benefit from over a decade of experience and a trusted name in the industry. It’s been said that food is the best expression of a nation’s heritage and nowhere is this more true than in Lebanon!
3. 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.
4. Chateau St Thomas
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 29 reviews
Established in 1990 by Said Touma and his family on a hill overlooking the Bekaa valley, Chateau St Thomas estate is a vineyard spreading over 65 ha & a wine storehouse for fermentation and ageing. Winery is open from Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4:30pm for winery tour, visit of St Thomas chapel & wine tasting.
5. Coteaux Du Liban
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 24 reviews
Coteaux Du Liban is a small modern-family owned winery located in Zahle and founded in 2000 by Nicolas Abou Khater. The winery aims to produce high-quality wines, reflecting the true identity of Zahle's exceptional terroir as well as the family's passion and philosophy in wine and arak production. Tours and tasting sessions are free upon reservation one day or few hours before the visit.
Reviewed By Andrew11101982 - London, United Kingdom
We had a fabulous experience at the Coteaux du Liban. The owner gave us a fantastic overview of the history of the winery and how her husband had grown the winery up. You could feel his passion coming through her and the impact this has on the wines they produce. She was very hospitable during our visit in spite of us arriving without booking in advance. We tasted some fabulous wines that afternoon, and the whole experience was highly recommended - this is a definite winery to go to in Lebanon, and I would thoroughly recommend to anyone to go. A fantastic tasting all around! I would definitely recommend booking up, as we were lucky the owner was around when we visited, but if you book up then you won't be disappointed!
6. Atelier Assaf
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
Atelier Assaf is an eco-tourism project that sits quietly in the fertile valley of Al Warhaniyeh, in Shouf Caza, and embodies the harmony between nature, culture and art. Surrounded by 10,000 sq meters of virgin nature, the project was initiated by three artists (the Assaf brothers) and is devoted to showcasing a private collection of cultural and environmental art. The Atelier contains a sculpture park and museum, a rural environmental house, and a small botanical garden. We offer guided tours, that can be customised to our guests’ visits, and that aim to: - Introduce the art and process of sculpting – starting with forming in Clay, casting in Resin and Bronze, then Stone carving; - Acquaint with our rural and environmental house and the process of building it using stone and other natural materials; - Familiarise with wild plants and trees - an initiative that is in collaboration with the AUB Nature Conservation Center. Atelier Assaf is now closed and will re-open April 2018.
Reviewed By Roland_leb - Beirut, Lebanon
Very interesting place to visit both for adults and children. Assaf brothers are great hosts. They made an amazing excursion about the local plants (we have even tasted all possible seasonal fruits and nuts (: ), eco-friendly house construction and farming and especially sculpturing. We have seen sculptures of the famous Lebanese of the 20th century in a museum. All of them are made by Assaf brothers in limestone, bronze or resin. At the end we had a coffee break on a chill terrace under the trees. We highly recommend this place for Lebanese and foreign visitors.
7. Jeita Grotto
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,711 reviews
Magnificent underground caverns can be explored by boat and on foot.
Reviewed By CKAbbott - Dubai, United Arab Emirates
We were complete surprised by the wonder and magic of this place, it is a spectacular natural wonder and I would highly recommend a visit. The entry price os USD 12 is more than worth it for a walk through the upper level and a mystical boat ride through the lower level. More people should be taking about this stunning natural wonder.
8. Taynal Mosque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 27 reviews
Reviewed By Myles_Kenton - Jounieh, Lebanon
The mosque is best visited with a guide. It is a moving place to see, especially as it is a dynamic, living place of worship. The simplicity and the architecture made be glad to have had the opportunity to visit it several times. I recommend seeing this place and other with someone who loves Tripoli and who is able to bring the city and its attractions to lfe.
9. Deir Qozhaya
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 48 reviews
Reviewed By gyanfernando - Exeter, United Kingdom
Set in a deep valley this monastery is more or less carved into the rock face. There is a functional church which is partly a cave and there is also a museum with an old printing press once used for printing Syriac or Aramaic A nice lady by the name of Natalie will greet you in reception. Once the formalities are over you take a lift to the accommodation. (They do have a lift!) The rooms are nice as are the bathrooms. Being January, the rooms were well heated. Downstairs was the restaurant which served very good meals plus you could buy your own wine from the shop. If you are religious you can attend the services in the church. If not, the monks won't bother you. When I got up in the morning and walked out for a smoke, the staff served me a Lebanese coffee! The views are stunning and it is all very quiet! Great place! .
10. Mleeta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 69 reviews
Historical place, war museum.
Reviewed By smithy69uk - London, United Kingdom
Visited a few days ago on day trip to south Lebanon from Beirut Museum is very well laid out with plenty to see from the wars over the years with israel Entry was 7000LL and upon entering you get a rundown on the site from a well informed guide You then get a video introduction from Hassan nasrallah before you can view the outdoor museum which consists of captured Israeli tanks/guns etc etc. You can also view bunkers that were used in hezbollah attacks The whole place is perched on the side of a hill that offers stunning unobstructed views of south Lebanon There is also a little snack bar there and a hezbollah souvenir shop If you find yourself in south Lebanon it is certainly worth an hour of your time to visit and try to understand the war of the south , I would certainly recommend a visit
