Coast & Mountains
Cedars, waterfalls, sea caves and villages worth the drive.
Selected scenic destinations across Lebanon. Verify road conditions. Sample status.
Updated: 2026-07-01Al Shouf Cedar Reserve - Barouk Cedar Forest
Lebanon's largest cedar forest: 400+ hectares of ancient trees and easy-to-moderate mountain trails.
Beiteddine Art Festival
Lebanon's landmark summer festival of music, opera and dance in a candlelit palace courtyard.
Deir Mar Youhanna & the First Arabic Printing Press, Khenchara
The Metn monastery that ran the Middle East's first Arabic-script printing press, with a museum of old presses.
Beiteddine Palace
A 200-year-old emir's palace of carved arcades, mosaics and hammams above the Chouf valleys.
Cedars of God (Arz el Rab)
Ancient UNESCO cedar forest above Bcharre, some trees over a thousand years old.
Deir el Qamar Historic Village
A honey-stone 16th-18th-century town, once Lebanon's capital, with palaces, a mosque and old souk.
Horsh Ehden Nature Reserve
Lush cedar, fir and wildflower reserve on the slopes above Ehden, laced with waymarked trails.
Deir el Qalaa Roman Temple & Monastery
Roman temple ruins beside an 18th-century Maronite monastery, high above Beirut.
Nabu Museum
Striking rust-steel museum of antiquities and modern Arab art on the North coast.
Jeita Grotto
Two vast limestone caverns: walk the upper galleries, glide the underground lake by boat.
Babel Dbayeh
Upscale progressive Lebanese mezze and seafood on the Dbayeh highway.
Citadel of Raymond de Saint-Gilles (Qalaat Sanjil)
Hilltop Crusader-Mamluk fortress crowning Tripoli's old city.
Rafaat Hallab 1881
Historic Tripoli sweets house famous for knefeh and Arabic pastries.
Gibran Khalil Gibran Museum
Poet-painter Gibran's tomb and 440 artworks in a hillside former monastery.
The Silk Museum, Bsous
A restored 1901 silk factory tracing Lebanon's silk-making heritage
Temple of Eshmun (Bustan el-Sheikh)
Lebanon's best-preserved Phoenician sanctuary in a riverside grove.
La Maison de la Forêt – Bkassine
Community ecolodge inside Bkassine's famous pine forest, with wooden bungalows, an adventure park, trails and a restaurant.
Al Chalouf
Terrace restaurant perched above the Jezzine waterfall.
Waves Aqua Park & Resort
Lebanon's biggest water park, with a wave pool, lazy river and seven hillside slides.
Monastery of Our Lady of Hamatoura
Cliff-clinging monastery reached by a steep hike
Cedars International Festival
Star-studded summer nights under the Cedars of North Lebanon
Chaghour Hammana Waterfall
A 120 m spring waterfall tumbling through the Hima Hammana reserve, roaring at the snowmelt.
Baatara Gorge Waterfall (Balaa Sinkhole)
A 255 m waterfall plunging through three natural stone bridges into a limestone chasm.
Al-Bass Archaeological Site & Roman Hippodrome
One of the world's largest Roman hippodromes, plus a UNESCO necropolis and triumphal arch
Chouwen Lake Hike
Forest trail plunging to an emerald pool in the wild Adonis River canyon.
Grand Sofar Hotel
Majestic 1892 casino-hotel, a Belle Époque ruin from Lebanon's railway golden age.
Jezzine Waterfall
Lebanon's tallest cascade, plunging about 90 m off the edge of Jezzine town.
Al-Mina Archaeological Site
Seaside Roman-Byzantine city: mosaic streets, colonnades, baths and a submerged harbour
Afqa Grotto & Waterfall
The source of the Adonis River bursts from a giant cliff cave at 1,200 m.
Tyre Public Sandy Beach & Coast Nature Reserve
Lebanon's longest sandy beach, a Ramsar reserve where sea turtles still nest
Qana Grotto & the Cana Reliefs
Hillside grotto and rock-cut carvings near Tyre linked by tradition to Jesus's first miracle at Cana.
La Suite Oceana Beach Resort
Large adults-focused beach resort amid banana groves on the Damour coast.
Kimantra Spa, Dbayeh
Top-rated wellness spa with a Moroccan hammam and massage rituals.
Balamand Monastery
A hilltop Greek Orthodox monastery founded by Crusader Cistercians, overlooking the Koura coast.
La Maison des Sources
A 200-year-old stone guesthouse in the cedar village of Ain Zhalta
Adonis Valley (Nahr Ibrahim)
A mythic river gorge of waterfalls, natural pools and cliff-perched villages.
Le Télégraphe de Belle-Vue
Acclaimed terrace restaurant and winery above Bhamdoun's vineyards, with Mediterranean sunset views.
Mar Sarkis, Ehden - Watchful Eye of Qadisha
Cliff-edge monastery on a Canaanite temple site, with a sweeping balcony over the Qadisha Valley.
Riachi Winery & Distillery
Lebanon's oldest family winery-distillery in Khenchara, making arak, gin, whisky and wine since 1839.
Abdel Rahman Hallab & Sons 1881
Tripoli's legendary 'palace of sweets' since 1881.
Jabal Moussa Biosphere Reserve
UNESCO reserve of oak forest, endemic peonies and ancient Roman stairs above the sea.
Our Lady of Mantara Shrine (Maghdouche)
Hilltop Marian shrine with a holy grotto and sweeping sea views.
Mansouri Great Mosque
Tripoli's grand Mamluk mosque, the first built after 1289.
RPM Karting
Lebanon's biggest go-kart track in Mtein, with karts for all ages and a kids' zone.
Saydet el Hosn - Our Lady of the Fortress
Hilltop pilgrimage church crowned by a white Virgin statue, with 360-degree views over the north.
Monastery of Saint Anthony of Qozhaya
Ancient cliffside monastery that held the Middle East's first printing press.
Beit Chabab — Bell Foundry & Pottery Village
Lebanon's last church-bell foundry and old pottery traditions in a Metn hill village.
Diman - Our Lady & the Summer Patriarchate
Cliff-top Maronite patriarchal residence and painted church gazing over the Qadisha Valley.
Hasroun - The Rose of the Mountain
Red-roofed highland village on the lip of the Qadisha Valley, wrapped in orchards and old stone lanes.
Beit Al Samak
Family-run fish house on Saida's corniche with an open kitchen.
Mtein Historic Square
A vast old stone square ringed by 17th-century emir palaces, off the tourist trail.
Jamil Molaeb Museum
Artist-built museum of paintings, sculptures and mosaics in an Aley-district village.
Mounir
Four decades of Lebanese mezze and grills on forest terraces with a sea view.
Al Halabi Restaurant, Antelias
Beloved family-run Lebanese institution famed for its garlic-free hummus.
Bkerzay
Eco-village in the Chouf hills with pottery workshops, gardens, a pool and olive-grove trails.
Ahwak Community Café
Cozy community café near Sahet al-Nour, a hub for coffee, cake and culture.
Khan al-Saboun (Soap Khan)
17th-century soap caravanserai perfumed with handmade olive-oil soap.
Bikfaya Old Town & Mar Abda Church
Red-roofed heritage village around a 16th-century church, a beloved Matn summer resort.
Al Shouf Cedar Reserve - Ain Zhalta-Bmohray Cedar Forest
The reserve's northern cedar forest with gentle family trails and a shaded picnic-and-camp meadow.
Khan al-Khayyatin (Tailors' Khan)
Graceful 14th-century arcade of tailors in the old souks.
Moukhtara — Joumblatt Palace
The 19th-century Jumblatt seat with springs, gardens and a museum in Moukhtara.
Deir Mar Lishaa (Saint Elisha Monastery)
A monastery built into the cliff face, cradle of the Lebanese Maronite Order.
Great Omari Mosque of Sidon
Sidon's oldest mosque, a Mamluk conversion of a Crusader building.
St. Michael Winery, Maasser el Chouf
Micro-winery and table at the foot of the Shouf cedars
Château Cana - Winery Tour & Tasting
Boutique Mount Lebanon winery in a quiet pine valley at Ras el Harf
Ameen Rihani Museum
Heritage-house museum honoring the pioneering Lebanese-American writer.
Baabdat Old Village
A forested old Matn village strung with centuries-old churches, cool and crowd-free.
Sidon Sea Castle (Qalaat al-Bahr)
A 13th-century Crusader fortress on a tiny island off Saida's old city, reached by an ancient stone causeway.
Moussa Castle
A whimsical stone castle, a lifelong labour of love hand-built by Moussa al-Maamari, filled with moving folk-life dioramas and an arms museum.
Mir Amin Palace Hotel
A 19th-century Chehab palace turned heritage hotel above Beiteddine
Corniche El Mina & Fishing Port
Breezy seaside promenade and old harbour on Tripoli's coast.
Al Sakhra Cliff House
Cliff-top Lebanese institution over Beirut since 1936
Abou Deeb, Jal el Bahr (Tyre Seafront)
Beloved family eatery on Tyre's Jal el Bahr seafront, famous for shawarma sandwiches and fresh seafood.
Deir al Oumara Hotel & Soufrat al Oumara
Heritage hotel and Lebanese table in an 1827 house in Deir el Qamar
Abou Jihad
Three generations of premium Lebanese mezze and charcoal grill in Jal el Dib.
Souk Aley Historic Promenade
Palm-lined boulevard of cafés, antique shops and cool mountain air in the heart of Aley.
Steak Bar Sushi
Playful steak-and-sushi fusion on a leafy Naccache terrace.
Baytna Restaurant, Barouk
Home-style Lebanese mezze under 200-year-old stone arches in Barouk.
Al Baba Sweets
Legendary Saida sweets house famed for senioura, knafeh and karabij.
Deir Mar Chaaya Monastery & Farm, Broummana
A hillside Maronite monastery above Broummana with an organic farm and petting zoo open to visitors.
Rachid Karami International Fair (Oscar Niemeyer)
Oscar Niemeyer's vast modernist fairground, a UNESCO site.
Le Mortier
Family-run Ehden institution serving homemade mountain Lebanese food since 1977
Tyre Old Souk
Atmospheric covered market of stone lanes behind the port, full of spice, sweets and seafood stalls.
Locanda Corsini
Lebanese-Italian villa restaurant on the pine ridge above Bikfaya
Salt Fish
Mediterrasian seafood gastro-bar and hand-roll counter in Naccache.
Animal Encounter
Wildlife rescue and education center in the hills of Aley with guided animal tours.
Café Fahim
One of Lebanon's oldest coffeehouses on Tripoli's historic Tell Square.
Debbane Palace
18th-century Ottoman-era mansion turned museum in old Saida.
Zaarour Cliffs, Lake & Dry River Hike
An easy loop on Mount Sannine's slopes past a lake, cliffs, a dry river and a centennial walnut tree.
Khan el-Franj
Ottoman caravanserai with a serene arcaded courtyard and fountain.
Dhour el Choueir Summer Resort
A classic 1,200 m pine-forest hill resort with an old souk and famously cool air.
Falougha Lakes & Springs
Freshwater mountain lakes fed by springs, ringed by pine-and-oak walking paths above Beirut.
Baakline National Library (Grand Serail)
A public library inside Baakline's restored 1897 Ottoman serail.
Silver Shore
Seaside seafood institution on the El Mina corniche since 1946.
Chez Fouad Seafood, Anfeh
A relaxed seaside seafood restaurant on Anfeh's coast with a pool and evening bonfires.
Black Horse
Ranch-style Lebanese restaurant in Amioun with valley views and grills.
Sidon Soap Museum (Audi)
Old soap factory museum tracing Levantine olive-oil soap-making.
L'Os
Historic Jezzine table since 1964, known for frog legs and forest views.
Abey Heritage Village & Druze Emirs' Trail
An old Aley-district village that was a Druze religious capital, with Tanukhi emir residences and shrines.
Jezzine Cutlery Workshops & Old Souk
Artisan workshops for Jezzine's famous firebird-handled cutlery in the old souk.
Abou Fadi
Beloved El Mina seafood spot, king of Tripoli's spicy samke harra.
Fizz Zone
Lebanon's largest indoor trampoline and inflatable park, in Antelias.
Qadisha Grotto (Kadisha Cave)
A colourful stalactite cave at the source of the Qadisha River, a short walk from the Cedars.
Bhamdoun Old Souk
Historic mountain souk on the old Damascus road, the heart of a legendary summer resort.
Temple of Astarte at Afqa
Roman-era sanctuary of Venus and Adonis beside the sacred spring.
Souk el Gharb Ridge & Pine Woods
Pine-clad hill town on a ridge with sweeping views over Beirut and Saint George Bay.
Shallalat Al Barouk
Riverside Barouk restaurant beside the springs near the cedar reserve.
Marie Baz Wax Museum
Over 40 wax figures retell 500 years of Lebanese history inside a Deir el Qamar palace.
Saida Rest House
Seafront restaurant serving fresh fish beside the Sea Castle.
Mount Sannine Summit & Panorama
A 2,628 m Metn summit with a 360° panorama from Beirut to the Bekaa and an ancient hilltop church.
Qadisha Valley Hike (Holy Valley)
Descend the UNESCO Holy Valley past cliff-hugging monasteries and rock hermitages.
Tyre Christian Quarter & Old Fishing Port
Cobbled lanes, blue-shuttered houses and fishing boats around a photogenic harbour
Deir el-Natour Monastery, Enfeh
Crusader-era Greek Orthodox monastery on the Enfeh sea peninsula
Deir Qannoubine (Our Lady of Qannoubine)
Rock-cut valley monastery that was the Maronite patriarchs' seat for centuries, deep in the Holy Valley.
Qammoua Highlands & Cedar Forest
Remote Akkar plateau of ancient cedars, hairy oaks and firs, one of Lebanon's largest wild forests.
Lebanon by Kite - North Coast Kitesurfing
Kitesurf school on the windy Anfeh–Tripoli coast
Tyre International Festival
Concerts and heritage nights inside Tyre's Roman ruins
Al Shouf Cedar Reserve - Maasser el Shouf Cedar Forest
The reserve's oldest cedar grove above a 'zero-pollution' village, on a scenic heritage trail.
Maqam El Nabi Ayoub (Shrine of Job), Niha
A hilltop Druze shrine to the Prophet Job above Niha in the Chouf
Ras el-Chaqaa Cape (Face of God)
Dramatic white cliff and old road tunnel on Lebanon's north coast
Jannet Yahchouch Hike & Swim
Descend the Adonis gorge to waterfalls, tunnels and a clear river swim.
Baskinta Literary Trail
A 24 km mountain path linking 22 landmarks tied to Baskinta's poets, at the foot of Mount Sannine.
Karam Wines — Jezzine's Mountain Winery
South Lebanon's first winery, high in the Jezzine mountains, with year-round tours and tastings.
Amioun Rock-Cut Tombs & Saint John's Church
Cliffside church built into ancient rock tombs
Anfeh Coves & Salt Marshes
Lebanon's 'Little Greece': blue-and-white chalets, rocky swimming coves and ancient salt pans.
Palm Islands Nature Reserve (Jazr al-Nakhil)
Protected islands off El Mina, open for summer boat trips.
Deir el Qamar Street Festival
Crafts, food and music in a historic Chouf village
Tyre Lighthouse (Al-Manara)
Early-1900s stone lighthouse on the rocky tip of the Tyre peninsula, a favourite sunset spot.
Ehdeniyat International Festival
A mountain-town summer festival of concerts, theatre and art in leafy Ehden.
Bois de Boulogne Pine Forest (Bolonia)
A towering pine forest near Dhour el Choueir made for cool family walks and picnics.
Btekhnay Pine Forest & Endowment Hima
A pine-cloaked upper-Metn village above Hammana, home to Lebanon's first endowment Hima nature reserve.
Broumana High Street
The Matn's ridge-top summer strip of rooftop bars, clubs and late-night terraces.
Zephyr Lounge
Sleek Dbayeh lounge for craft cocktails and late-night energy.
Fortress of Niha (Shqif Tayron)
A cliff-carved medieval fortress hidden above the Bisri valley in the Chouf.
Lazy B Beach Club
Green, music-free beach retreat around a natural creek in Jiyeh.
Laguava Resort
Boutique beach resort with bungalows on the untouched sands of Rmeileh.
Nabeh el Safa Springs, Ain Zhalta
Cool mountain spring with shaded riverside family restaurants at the gateway to the Shouf cedars.
Ramlieh Forest Eco-Lodge (Auberge Beity)
Community forest eco-lodge in the Aley hills offering zip-lining, rope courses, guided hikes and a local-food cafeteria.
Jabalna Ecolodge
Pine-forest ecolodge above Qoubaiyat in Akkar, with wooden bungalows, a kids' playground, forest hikes and a lookout restaurant.
EcoVillage, Dmit Valley
A sustainable Chouf farm with cabins, workshops and river lagoons
Marina Del Sol, Enfeh
Longtime beach resort on the Enfeh–Chekka coast
Tomb of Hiram (Qabr Hiram)
Monumental Persian-era limestone sarcophagus on the Tyre–Qana road, named after Tyre's legendary king.
The Bar Dbayeh
Easygoing Dbayeh cocktail bar with sunset sea views.
Ras El Ain Phoenician Springs
Ancient artesian wells in stone reservoirs that have watered Tyre since Phoenician times
Ain Wazein Grotto
A little-known Chouf cave of stalactites, halls and water-carved passages.
Janna Sur Mer
Tropical-style beach resort with pools and swim-up bars in Damour.
Sarafand (Sarepta) Coast
Quiet fishing town and beaches on the ancient Phoenician glass-making site between Sidon and Tyre.
Le Phenicien
Bustling harbourfront seafood house on Tyre's old fishing port