From Cedars to Coast: 14 Days Through Lebanon's Soul
Across Lebanon, ancient ruins tilt toward mountain villages while Mediterranean sunsets spill gold over the coast.
Trip Overview
Two weeks in Lebanon stitches archaeological marvels to living culture. You start at the Roman temples of Baalbek, swing north through cedar forests, dive into Beirut's contemporary art scene, and finish at Crusader castles along the coast. Expect fifteen types of mezze in one sitting, the dawn call to prayer rolling over Tripoli's Mamluk quarter, and fishermen stitching nets as the sun slips into the Mediterranean. The itinerary leaves room for serendipity, a family winery discovered on a back road, a street-corner knefe vendor whose syrup runs down your wrist. Yet still covers Lebanon's full sweep of geography and culture.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$120-180 per day
Best Seasons
April through June and September through November
Ideal For
History enthusiasts, Food lovers, First-time Middle East visitors, Photography enthusiasts, Cultural explorers
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Beirut's Beating Heart
Beirut
Begin in Beirut with a walking tour that peels back layers of history and modern life in Lebanon's restless capital.
Morning
National Museum of Beirut
Start with Lebanon's archaeological timeline, Bronze Age sarcophagi to gilded Byzantine mosaics. The Phoenician child sarcophagi, carved with haunting smiles, open the story of Lebanon's deep past.
Arrive at 9 AM opening to avoid crowds
Lunch
Barbar Hamra
Afternoon
Downtown Beirut walking tour
Walk from Martyrs' Square through reconstructed souks, past Ottoman mosques and bullet-scarred walls. Restored French colonial facades stand beside pockmarked concrete, giving Beirut's recent history a voice.
Evening
Dinner and sunset drinks in Gemmayzeh
Julia's for traditional Lebanese mezze followed by cocktails at Anise
Where to Stay Tonight
Gemmayzeh or Mar Mikhael (Boutique guesthouses like Hotel Albergo or urban B&Bs)
Stay within walking distance of nightlife and restaurants. The location sets you up for the next day's exploration.
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Download the local taxi app 'Careem', it beats street taxis on both price and reliability.
Day 1 Budget: $120
2
Coastal Crusaders and Sunset Fish
Byblos
Spend the day in an ancient port city, then sit down to a traditional Lebanese fish feast right on the water.
Morning
Byblos archaeological site
Walk through 7,000 years of continuous settlement, Phoenician walls, Crusader castle, Roman columns jutting from medieval lanes. History here is stacked like bricks.
Buy the combined ticket that includes the wax museum
Lunch
Feniqia
Afternoon
Old souks and harbor walk
Browse the compact old market for olive-oil and rose-water soap, then watch fishermen gut their catch while sky-blue boats bob in the tiny harbor. Diesel and saltwater mix with the scent of grilled fish.
Evening
Seafood dinner at Chez Pepe
Order the sayadieh (fish with spiced rice) while watching the sunset
Where to Stay Tonight
Byblos old town (Byblos Sur Mer hotel or family-run guesthouses)
Fall asleep to waves and wake up for sunrise over the Crusader castle
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Visit the small fish market at 6 AM to watch the daily catch arrive
Day 2 Budget: $150
3
Cedars and Saints
Bcharre to Ehden
Head into the mountains to Lebanon's ancient cedar forests and the stone villages scattered among them.
Morning
Cedars of God
Walk beneath 2,000-year-old cedars whose trunks are so wide three people cannot link arms around them. Pine and snow scent the air even in summer, broken only by birdsong.
Bring warm layers, even in July it can be cool at 2,000 meters
Lunch
Moussa's in Bcharre
Afternoon
Gibran Museum and Kadisha Valley
Visit Khalil Gibran's former monastery home, its rooms lined with his paintings and manuscripts, then drive the cliff-edge road above the Kadisha Valley where Maronite monasteries grip sheer rock.
Hire a local driver for the valley road, it's narrow with dizzying drops
Evening
Ehden village exploration
Walk through the stone-paved streets, stopping for mountain thyme tea at sunset
Where to Stay Tonight
Ehden (L'Aiglon Hotel or Auberge Beity)
Cool mountain air and traditional stone architecture with modern comfort
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Sample the local Ehden cheese, aged in mountain caves, sharp and nutty on the tongue.
Day 3 Budget: $140
4
Temples of the Gods
Baalbek
Roman ruins that rival anything in Italy rise from the floor of the Bekaa Valley.
Morning
Baalbek archaeological complex
Stand beneath the six remaining columns of the Temple of Jupiter, each granite monolith 20 meters high. The stone glows honey-gold in morning light, and the scale shrinks you. The complex is Lebanon's greatest Roman treasure.
Hire the site guide at the entrance, his stories of Roman engineering make the stones speak.
Lunch
Palmyra Hotel restaurant
Afternoon
Ksara winery tour
Descend into 19th-century caves carved into limestone cliffs where Chardonnay ages in French oak. Chalk and damp earth mingle in the cool tunnels.
Call ahead, groups are limited to 15 people
Evening
Return to Beirut via Zahle
Stop for dinner at Al-Serail in Zahle, famous for riverside dining and arak
Where to Stay Tonight
Back in Beirut - Hamra (Etoile Suites or small boutique hotels)
Central location for tomorrow's southern journey
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Bring your passport to Baalbek, there are occasional security checkpoints
Day 4 Budget: $160
5
Southern Borders and Roman Seas
Tyre
Phoenician harbors and Roman hippodromes at Lebanon's southern edge
Morning
Tyre archaeological sites
Walk the largest Roman hippodrome on earth, once echoing with 20,000 cheering spectators. Purple murex shells still wash up on the same beaches where Phoenicians brewed their famous dye.
Start at the Al-Bass site, then take a taxi to the sea site
Lunch
Fenicia Rest House
Afternoon
Tyre old town and harbor
Thread the narrow alleys of the old city where fishermen patch nets in stone workshops centuries old. Salt spray and diesel drift from boats painted in primary colors.
Evening
Sunset at Tyre Beach
Stay at Rest House for sunset drinks, then dinner at Al-Fanar
Where to Stay Tonight
Tyre beachfront (Rest House or similar beach hotels)
Fall asleep to waves, wake up for sunrise over the Mediterranean
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Reach the small fishermen's harbor at 4 PM when boats slide in with the day's catch.
Day 5 Budget: $130
6
Sidon's Sea Castle and Soap
Sidon
Crusader castle rising from the sea and 14th-century soap factories
Morning
Sidon Sea Castle and Old City
Cross the stone causeway to the Crusader castle that appears to float on the Mediterranean. Inside, waves have polished the stone smooth. From the ramparts, ochre rooftops roll out like a rug.
Check tide times, low tide reveals the full causeway
Lunch
Al-Khayrat
Afternoon
Khan El Franj and soap museum
Explore the 14th-century caravanserai where silk and spices once changed hands. The soap museum shows olive oil becoming the famous olive-oil soap, laurel and oil scenting the air.
Buy soap here, it's authentic and cheaper than Beirut boutiques
Evening
Return to Beirut via coastal highway
Stop at Damour for sunset drinks at beach bars
Where to Stay Tonight
Beirut - Raouche (Raouche Arjaan or similar sea-view hotels)
End the southern loop with Pigeon Rocks sunset views
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Try the local Sidon specialty 'sanioura', sweet semolina cookies with rose water
Day 6 Budget: $125
7
Druze Villages and Mountain Palaces
Chouf Mountains
Druze culture and Ottoman palaces in Lebanon's central mountains
Morning
Beiteddine Palace
Step into the 19th-century Ottoman palace with its intricate mosaics, carved cedar ceilings, and courtyards where fountains splash into geometric pools. Mother-of-pearl inlay glints in every corner.
Visit Friday mornings for fewer crowds
Lunch
Mir Amin Palace Hotel
Afternoon
Deir al-Qamar village
Stroll the cobblestone lanes of this 16th-century village, once Lebanon's capital. The central square with its fountain and emirs' palaces feels lifted from an Ottoman canvas.
Evening
Mountain sunset and traditional dinner
Stay at Beit al-Dine guesthouse for home-cooked Druze food
Where to Stay Tonight
Deir al-Qamar (Beit al-Dine guesthouse or Mir Amin Palace)
Cool mountain nights and walking access to village life
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Ask your hosts about Druze traditions, they often explain their faith over a glass of tea.
Day 7 Budget: $145
8
Tripoli's Mamluk Treasures
Tripoli
Lebanon's northern capital holds the best-preserved Mamluk architecture outside Cairo.
Morning
Tripoli souks and mosques
Navigate the maze-like souks where copper beaters, soap makers, and sweet sellers work in medieval caravanserais. Cardamom coffee and orange-blossom water scent the gold souk.
Hire a guide at the Great Mosque, they know the hidden corners
Lunch
Abu Arab
Afternoon
Crusader Castle of St. Gilles
Climb the 12th-century fortress ramparts for views over Tripoli's red-tiled roofs and the Mediterranean. Warm stone underfoot, you can see Syria on clear days.
Evening
Ottoman mansion stay
Dinner at Beit el-Fan, a restored 19th-century mansion with traditional music
Where to Stay Tonight
Old city (Beit el-Khan or similar Ottoman mansions turned hotels)
Sleep in 500-year-old stone rooms with modern comfort
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Visit the soap khan at 9 AM to see soap makers at work, it's closed afternoons
Day 8 Budget: $110
9
Batroun's Phoenician Walls
Batroun
Ancient sea walls, boutique wineries, and relaxed Mediterranean vibes
Morning
Batroun sea wall and old harbor
Walk the Phoenician sea wall built of massive sandstone blocks, now sheltering a small fishing harbor. Salt spray and morning light spin rainbows in the air.
Lunch
Pépé Abed Fishing Club
Afternoon
Nehme winery tour
Tour a family winery where Syrah grapes terrace down to the sea. Taste wines aged in French oak while the guide recounts Lebanon's 5,000-year wine story.
Book the 3 PM tour for sunset tasting
Evening
Batroun old town walk
Sunset drinks at Colonel Beer then dinner at Locanda a la Grange
Where to Stay Tonight
Batroun old town (Beit el-Batroun or similar boutique guesthouses)
Walking distance to harbor and nightlife
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Try Batroun's famous lemonade, made with local citrus and orange blossom water
Day 9 Budget: $140
10
Bekaa Valley Wine and Ruins
Bekaa Valley
Roman temples and award-winning wineries in Lebanon's agricultural heart
Morning
Anjar Umayyad ruins
Explore the well symmetrical 8th-century Umayyad city with its arcade streets and palace complexes. Black basalt soaks up heat, and the grid plan reads like a Roman map.
Visit early before tour buses arrive
Lunch
Massaya winery restaurant
Afternoon
Massaya winery tour and tasting
Tour vineyards at 1,200 meters elevation, then taste award-winning arak and wines in a traditional Lebanese house. Add water to the arak and it clouds white, releasing anise perfume.
Book the 2 PM tour, includes tapas-style food pairings
Evening
Sunset in the vineyards
Stay for dinner at the winery or return to Zahle for riverside dining
Where to Stay Tonight
Zahle (Grand Kadri Hotel or Chtaura Park Hotel)
Central location for tomorrow's northern route
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Buy wine here, it's 30% cheaper than Beirut and duty-free shops
Day 10 Budget: $165
11
Cedars and Ski Villages
Cedars to Broummana
From ancient forests to mountain villages overlooking Beirut
Morning
Cedars ski village and forest
Walk the cedar reserve where trees older than Christianity tower above. The air is sharp with pine, and snow patches linger even in late spring.
Bring a jacket, temperature drops 15°C from Beirut
Lunch
Al-Chalal
Afternoon
Descent to Broummana
Take the mountain road that threads through pine forests and Druze villages, pulling over at roadside viewpoints where Beirut and the Mediterranean unfurl below like an open atlas. The temperature climbs as you drop 1,000 meters toward the coast.
Hire a driver for the mountain roads, public transport is limited
Evening
Mountain village sunset
Sunset drinks at Al Bustan Hotel terrace, dinner at Mounir
Where to Stay Tonight
Broummana (Al Bustan Hotel or mountain guesthouses)
Cool mountain air and panoramic Beirut views
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Try the local pine nut ice cream, unique to mountain villages
Day 11 Budget: $155
12
Beirut Art and Souks
Beirut
Contemporary Lebanese culture from galleries to gourmet dining
Morning
Sursock Museum and Gemmayzeh galleries
Start at Lebanon's premier modern art museum, housed in a 1912 villa, then drift through converted Ottoman houses turned galleries. War art hangs beside traditional crafts, each room spelling out Lebanon's recent history in paint and thread.
Free on Fridays
Lunch
Tawlet
Afternoon
Beirut Souks and shopping
Browse Lebanese designers in the reconstructed souks, handmade jewelry hammered from war metal, silk scarves dipped in indigo, and contemporary spins on traditional crafts. The architecture stitches old stone to new glass without a seam.
Evening
Mar Mikhael nightlife
Kick off with cocktails at Internazionale, shift to dinner at Karantina, then drift down the street bar by bar.
Where to Stay Tonight
Mar Mikhael (Urban boutique hotels like 1866 or trendy hostels)
Walking distance to nightlife, easy taxi access
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Thursday is the big night out, bars and restaurants are packed until 3 AM
Day 12 Budget: $150
13
Jeita Grotto and Harissa
Jounieh Bay
Underground wonderland and mountain-top pilgrimage site above the bay
Morning
Jeita Grotto
Drop into caverns where stalactites drip like crystal chandeliers and an underground river slides through chambers sized like cathedrals. The air turns cool and damp, dripping water echoing without end.
Closed Mondays, plan accordingly
Lunch
Frem Village
Afternoon
Teleferique to Harissa
Swing up 650 meters by cable car to the pilgrimage site that towers over Jounieh Bay. The Virgin Mary statue shines white against the rock, and the view sweeps from Beirut to the distant peaks.
Go at sunset for golden light over the bay
Evening
Jounieh waterfront
Dinner at Bonita Bay for Italian-Lebanese fusion with sea views
Where to Stay Tonight
Jounieh (Bayview Hotel or mountain guesthouses)
Close to airport for tomorrow, beach access
See all Lebanon accommodation options →The finest shots of Jounieh Bay come from the Harissa viewing platform at golden hour.
Day 13 Budget: $135
14
Farewell Beirut
Beirut
Last-minute shopping and farewell feast before departure
Morning
Hamra street and American University
Stroll through Beirut's intellectual core, bookshops, coffee houses where students trade political jabs, and the AUB campus with its archaeological museum. Morning air carries cardamom coffee and fresh manakish.
Lunch
Barbar for final shawarma
Afternoon
Souk el-Tayeb market
Fill your bag with Lebanese specialties, sumac, za'atar, olive oil soap, and rose water. The Saturday farmers market draws producers from every corner of Lebanon.
Open only Saturdays, if flying out another day, swing by the Wednesday farmers market in Badaro.
Evening
Airport departure
Allow 3 hours, traffic to airport can be unpredictable
Where to Stay Tonight
Airport area (Mövenpick or similar airport hotels)
Early flight departure
See all Lebanon accommodation options →Buy Lebanese wine at duty-free, it's cheaper than in town and tax-free
Day 14 Budget: $100
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Book a driver for mountain runs and longer trips, about $80-100 per day including gas. Lean on the Careem app in Beirut, grab shared taxis for short hops. Buses link major cities but crawl. Renting a car works. Yet parking in Beirut is a headache.
Book Ahead
Reserve a Baalbek guide, the Massaya winery tour, Beit al-Dine guesthouse for summer weekends, and Jeita Grotto tickets online when crowds peak.
Packing Essentials
Pack layers for the swing between mountain and coast, modest clothes for religious sites, sunscreen, sturdy walking shoes, a type C/D adapter, and cash for small vendors.
Total Budget
Budget $2,000-2,500 for 14 days covering mid-range hotels, most meals, transport, and activities.
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Crash in Beirut hostels ($30-40/night), ride inter-city buses ($2-5), eat at local bakeries and street stalls ($10-15/day), ditch guided tours for apps.
Luxury Upgrade
Check into Albergo Beirut and mountain resorts, hire a private driver ($150/day), dine at top tables like Liza and Maaïn, book private winery tours and exclusive guides.
Family-Friendly
Pick larger hotels with pools, skip late-night bars, spend beach days in Tyre and Byblos, keep museum visits short with playgrounds close by, hire a driver who can fit a car seat.
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