Top Things to do in Lebanon
Top Hotels in Lebanon
Countries
Top 10 Historic Sites in Lebanon, Lebanon
Discover the best top things to do in Lebanon, Lebanon including St. George Church, Domaine de Zekrit, Temples of Baalbek, Baalbek Roman Ruins, Hammam Al-Jadeed, Umayyad Ruins of Aanjar, The Cedars of God, Hadchit, Beaufort Castle, Hasbaya Shehabi Citadel.
Restaurants in Lebanon
1. St. George Church
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 8 reviews
2. Domaine de Zekrit
3. 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?
4. Baalbek Roman Ruins
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 162 reviews
Reviewed By 22jasper - Dunedin, New Zealand
Went Oct19, there were riots but still felt safe so if Lebanon doesnt collapse, Baalbek is astonishing and worth the effort. The journey from Beirut is a potpourri of civil war ruins and arriving in baalbek in a shoddy old minivan just takes your breath away, the magnitude of the site is gob-smacking. Moreso for me than Petra (in an indescribable way) There are quite a few little hotels so dont be put off by google searches yielding nothing. But the Palmyra is a groovy treat for a night. Also check out the unfinished stones hewn from the rock, again the scale is mindboggling. So glad I made the effort (and it truly was an effort during a mini revolution).
5. Hammam Al-Jadeed
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 7 reviews
Hammam Al Jadeed is the largest and most significant bathhouses located in the ancient city of Saida, in the neighborhood known as "Hammam Al Jadeed District". Built in 1720, it was closed down in the late 1940s then re-opened in May 2019 as a heritage and cultural venue.has remarkable ornaments and consists of a large hallway and several small rooms with Ottoman structural design.
6. Umayyad Ruins of Aanjar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 150 reviews
Reviewed By halcatra - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
It is not Baalbeck but it is absolutely charming place to visit. It is not an accident that Anjar is at the Unesco list. I would recommend securing around 1,5h for a walk around the ruins. It is worth taking a guide as you may learn a lot about the history of the place. In the winter season it is quite windy so wrap yourself up.
7. The Cedars of God
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 229 reviews
An ancient grove of cedars, the oldest in Lebanon, makes a beautiful site.
Reviewed By halcatra - Edinburgh, United Kingdom
It is one of five Unesco sites in Lebanon. The Cedars have couple of thousands of years - they are really impressive! In the summer season you can walk around the forest. In winter there is far too much snow and you can see them from outside. It is a shame though it does not change the fact they are still impressively beautiful! There are a lot of souvenir shops around. Some shop assistants are very pushy and it's better to avoid them, but there are some calm and friendly ones as well. You can get nice things with a very good price. We bought magnets for 1 dollar each from an elderly ill gentleman - he was super charming!
8. Hadchit
9. Beaufort Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By JohnNKY - Ludlow, United States
Beaufort castle was built in the 12th century, although it's likely that earlier fortifications occupied this commanding position overlooking the Litani river, the Golan heights, and the surrounding valleys. From here you can clearly see Israel, and the Litani river is a thousand feet below. The castle changed hands several times during the crusades, and was later used by Fakhruddin's forces during the uprising against the Ottomans. When the Ottomans ultimately captured the fortress, they destroyed much of the eastern side and most of the top floors, yet the castle is so incredibly massive that much of it remains in spite of this. The castle's battle history continued into the 20th century, as it was a PLO base for a few years, and then was captured by the Israelis in the Battle of Beaufort Castle. The IDF had a base here until they withdrew in 2000. You can still see some of their bunkers and trenches outside of the walls, and a tunnel carved into the base by the PLO. You can also see the fairly recent damage to the outer keep done by Israeli bombers. It's a peaceful place these days, and mysterious, with many labyrinthine hallways and rooms to explore on several different levels. You have to watch your step in some spots, but overall the castle is quite well-preserved and still very impressive. Rumor has it that there's a secret passage in there somewhere built long ago that leads all the way down to the river, but that the IDF closed it off years ago. Note that there is some restoration going on at the moment, but it doesn't affect visitors much, and that admission is currently free. Take some sunscreen, a flashlight and plenty of water. No special permission is required to get this far south, but if you want to go a couple of kilometers further, to the actual border area, you'll have to get approval from the Army. This is a lot easier than it sounds, and they can actually do your background check at the checkpoint itself, although I'm told that this can take awhile, as much as two hours in a worst case. A better option is to contact Army intelligence in advance. The background check is free, you'll just need your passport. The area south of Beaufort is interesting as well, and worth the hassle of the background check. You'll see Israeli villages up close, UNIFIL troops and vehicles, and even some old wrecked weapon systems. The village of Wazzani contains a restaurant, Hosn al Wazzani, that lies directly on the border, and you can dine with your feet in the Wazzani river after a hot day of castle-climbing.
