Things to Do in Lebanon in April

April's 25°C (77°F) days and cool mountain nights create perfect conditions for full-day wine tastings. The vines are just starting to bud, giving you green shoots against the snow-capped Anti-Lebanon mountains. Most wineries harvest their roses for distillation this month, so you'll catch the scent of fresh petals at Château Ksara and Domaine Wardy.

The grotto's underground river runs highest in April from mountain snowmelt, making the boat ride through the lower caverns more dramatic. From the cable car up to Our Lady of Lebanon, you'll see Beirut's coastline through clean spring air, visibility that disappears in summer humidity.

Snow patches still cling to north-facing slopes at 2,000 m (6,562 ft) elevation, but hiking trails are clear and daytime temperatures hit 18°C (64°F). The ancient cedars smell like fresh pine and earth after winter, and you'll have the trails mostly to yourself before summer tour groups arrive.

April evenings at 22°C (72°F) are good for wandering Gemmayzeh's backstreets, not hot enough to wilt the fresh herbs on your falafel, warm enough to sit outside. The post-Ramadan food scene explodes with seasonal specialties like fattoush made with spring tomatoes and mint.

The Mediterranean temperature hits 19°C (66°F), warm enough for swimming if you're brave, good for long walks along the public beach. Roman ruins at Al-Bass have spring wildflowers growing between the stones, and the fishing port smells of diesel engines and fresh-caught sea bass.