In the heart of the Middle East, Lebanon offers tourists an enticing journey between sea and mountains. It may be one of the smaller countries in the region, but it’s no less packed with diverse cultures and landscapes, where even the most selective traveller will be more than satisfied.

Discover a wealth of history, from Byblos to Beirut

Lebanon is jam-packed with magnetic historical sites, starting with the ancient ruins at Baalbek, a treasure of Roman architecture protected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. You may also choose to potter around the paved streets of Byblos, one of the world’s oldest still-inhabited cities, populated without interruption for a staggering seven millennia. If you want a deep dive into the country’s contemporary history, Beirut, the Lebanese capital, is the place to go: its National Museum and Sursock Museum of modern art will delight and fascinate you in equal measure.
Lebanon is an essential foodie destination, too. Its Levantine cuisine is a feast for all the senses, with an assortment of mezze, from creamy hummus to succulent skewers, not to mention delicious pastries like katayef and pistachio-rich baklava. In the big cities, local markets – Souk El Tayeb in Beirut is a gem – will deliver an explosion of flavours and aromas to rouse the palate.

Landscapes of raw beauty

Little-visited, Lebanon’s countryside is a place of untold beauty. Chouf’s mountains, studded with majestic cedars, promise memory-making hiking opportunities where sublime vistas will take your breath away. If the beach is calling, instead opt for the Mediterranean coast where charming seaside resorts – Jounieh and Batroun, to name but two – offer a chance to soak up the sun and live on fresh seafood. Nor should you overlook the plain of the Bekaa Valley, celebrated for its vineyards and fresh produce, or the Qadisha Valley, where monasteries, some ancient, stand among extraordinarily sheer cliffs and cedar forests. In Lebanon, nature expresses itself in all its splendour.