Things to do in  Beirut

The US State Department currently advises against all travel to Beirut, citing risks including crime, terrorism, armed conflict, civil unrest, and kidnapping. The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office also considers Beirut unsafe and unstable. Sadly, now is not the best time to plan a Beirut vacation.

Beirut is in Lebanon, a small, proud nation with thousands of years of history. But it is close to Syria: in fact, the Syrian border is just a 40-mile (65-kilometer) drive from Beirut. In some historical periods, the name Syria meant an area much larger than modern-day Syria and that sometimes included Beirut.

No day in Beirut would be complete without a feast of delicious Lebanese cuisine and a taste of the city’s buzzing nightlife scene. In between, visit Pigeon Rocks, tour mosques and ruins, or explore art at the Sursock Museum or history at the National Museum of Beirut.

Beirut’s tragic recent history—civil war, a huge port explosion, and economic collapse—can sometimes overshadow its charms. Long known as the Paris of the Middle East, this cosmopolitan city is famous for food, culture, and heritage. Its history dates back to the Phoenicians, long before ancient Rome.

When times are right, Beirut is a wonderful place to visit, with all the charms of Lebanon right on your doorstep: cedars, ski slopes, beach clubs, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and more. Despite its war-torn past, the city itself offers plenty of history, delicious cuisine, vibrant nightlife, and friendly people.

Travel in Lebanon is cheaper than Israel or Jordan but more expensive than Egypt. Elite Beirut hotels such as Le Gray will run to hundreds of dollars, but a cheap hotel or vacation rental can cost under US$50 per night. Budget-conscious travelers can eat falafel and shawarma for very little money.