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Lebanon - Things to Do in Lebanon in December

Things to Do in Lebanon in December

December weather, activities, events & insider tips

Good time to visit Low Season · Budget Friendly

December Weather in Lebanon

Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance

66°F (19°C) High Temp
55°F (12°C) Low Temp
5.6 inches (142 mm) Rainfall
70% Humidity
⚠ Mountain roads above 1 400 m (4 600 ft) freeze overnight. Ice forms after 16:00. Carry tyre chains. Order a 4×4 taxi. Arrive alive.

Is December Right for You?

Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking

Advantages
  • + Cedar-scented mountains finally get snow caps - perfect day-trips to the Cedars without summer haze, and ski lifts at the Cedars Resort open around 20 December when the pistes hit 20 cm (8 in) depth
  • + Christmas decorations explode across Beirut's Sassine Square and the Achrafieh alleyways - strings of flickering lights, plastic Santas on mopeds, Maronite church bells mixed with Fairuz carols drifting from café speakers
  • + Olive-oil harvest ends in November, so December markets in Tripoli's Tal district overflow with cloudy-green, peppery new oil. Locals bring empty 1 L bottles to fill straight from the producer's churn
  • + Tourist numbers drop 40 % from summer - Baalbek's Temple of Bacchus feels half-empty at 10 a.m. and hotel balconies in Byblos cost a fraction of July rates
Considerations
  • − Rain arrives in theatrical bursts - Sidon's seafront road can flood ankle-deep in 15 minutes, and shared taxis refuse to splash through, so you'll wait 30-45 min until drains catch up
  • − Short daylight - sun slides behind the Mediterranean by 16:45, so coastal hikes to the Pigeon Rocks need to start before 14:00 or you finish in torchlight
  • − Some mountain passes above 1 400 m (4 600 ft) ice overnight. If you rent a small city car, the serpentine road to Bcharre can turn into a toboggan run without warning

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Best Activities in December

Top things to do during your visit

December in Lebanon means crisp air, woodsmoke from mountain chimneys, and a salt-tinged sea breeze. Days are cool and often bright. Temperatures sit between thirteen and nineteen degrees Celsius. Rain is frequent. This is a month for indoor anticipation and outdoor celebration. The early December Beirut International Film Festival draws crowds into restored cinemas. Then focus shifts to Christmas Eve. The pilgrimage to Harissa fills the night with bells and hymns. Locals bundle in wool coats to sip strong coffee on misty corniches. Life turns inward, making shared meals and cultural discoveries feel vivid.

Paragliding Trip Over Jounieh bay

Paragliding Trip Over Jounieh bay

 adventure
★ 5.0 33 reviews from $154

A paragliding trip over Jounieh Bay has a rare view. Launch from pine-scented hills and glide over the deep blue Mediterranean. The miniature cityscape of Jounieh develops below. The white statue of Our Lady of Lebanon stands sentinel on the peak. Clear December air after a morning rain gives startling visibility to the northern coastline.

2-3 hours including preparation and flight. Expensive. Midday.
It turns a postcard into a visceral, silent flight. You feel the chill and hear only the wind.
Insider tip: Book just after noon. The winter sun warms the hillside and coastal winds are most stable.
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Pigeon Rocks Boat Ride Beirut (Raouche Rocks)

Pigeon Rocks Boat Ride Beirut (Raouche Rocks)

 cruise
★ 5.0 29 reviews from $22

A boat ride around the Pigeon Rocks of Beirut places you in the city's geological heart. Weathered limestone arches rise from the steel-gray winter sea. Their caves echo with the crash of seasonal swells. You will smell briny spray and feel cool mist. The small craft navigates narrow channels. The well-known Raouche corniche recedes into a backdrop.

1 hour. Budget. Late afternoon.
It is the best way to grasp the raw power of Beirut's famous landmark, away from the café crowds.
Insider tip: Go in the late afternoon. See the sandstone cliffs turn golden in the low winter light.
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PRIVATE Beirut Historical Walking Half Day Tour

PRIVATE Beirut Historical Walking Half Day Tour

 cultural
★ 5.0 28 reviews from $93

A private historical walking half-day tour of Beirut peels back the 20th century. It guides you through Ottoman-era courtyards, bullet-pocked civil war facades, and sleek modern structures in the downtown Solidere district. This all happens under a pale winter sky. You will hear stories of resilience near the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque. You will feel the uneven pavement of Martyrs' Square.

Half day. Moderate. Morning.
This personalized narrative makes sense of the city's complex scars. It turns a walk into a conversation.
Insider tip: Start at the Sursock Museum. Its serene interior has a contemplative prologue.
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Lebanon Tour Jeita Grotto -Harissa & Byblos Castle, pickup+Guide

Lebanon Tour Jeita Grotto -Harissa & Byblos Castle, pickup+Guide

 guided_experience
★ 5.0 27 reviews from $115

This Lebanon tour connects three essential wonders. See the echoing chambers of Jeita Grotto, where you hear distant water drips. Visit the panoramic spiritual height of Harissa, reached by cable car over pine forests. Explore the stone fortifications of Byblos Castle overlooking a medieval harbor.

Full day. Moderate. Morning departure.
It delivers Lebanon's contrasts efficiently. You get subterranean wonder, elevated faith, and millennia of coastal history in one complete journey.
Insider tip: Wear sturdy, non-slip shoes. The grotto's walkways are wet and the castle's steps are uneven.
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Jeita Grotto, Byblos and Harissa Full-Day Tour from Beirut

Jeita Grotto, Byblos and Harissa Full-Day Tour from Beirut

 day_trip
★ 5.0 23 reviews from $100

This full-day tour from Beirut to Jeita Grotto, Byblos, and Harissa is a curated northern itinerary. Taste the smoky aroma of a charcoal-grilled lunch in Byblos' old port. Feel the profound chill inside the vast lower cavern of Jeita. Witness the sweeping, misty view from the terrace of the Harissa basilica.

Full day. Moderate. Morning departure.
It removes logistical hurdles. You can absorb the atmosphere fully.
Insider tip: In Byblos, skip the obvious harbourfront restaurants. Ask your guide for a family-run place in the souk.
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Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers

Private Lebanese Cooking Class in Beirut with Amal + Transfers

 food
★ 5.0 21 reviews from $142

A private Lebanese cooking class in a Beirut home places you in the tactile world of the Lebanese table. You will crush garlic and mint for toum. You will smell caramelizing onions for rice stuffing. You will roll grape leaves between your fingers, guided by a local cook. The experience ends by sharing the meal you crafted. Taste the bright tang of fresh lemon and the richness of slow-cooked stews.

Half day. Expensive. Late morning start.
It moves beyond restaurant dining to touch the heart of Lebanese hospitality in an intimate setting.
Insider tip: Come with an appetite and curiosity. The best lessons are in the stories shared while the onions sizzle.
This month: The warm, fragrant kitchen is a cozy refuge from December's cooler, rainy days. The hearty dishes you learn are good for the season.
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Where to Stay in Lebanon in December

Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for December travellers.

December Events & Festivals

What's happening during your visit

Early December
Beirut International Film Festival

Independent Arab and European cinema screens in restored Art Deco theatres like Metropolis Empire Sofil. Q&A sessions run in English, French and Arabic. Tickets sell fastest for 20:00 slots. Rainy evenings make indoor screenings even more appealing.

24 December
Christmas Eve Midnight Mass in Harissa

Pilgrims pack the Our Lady of Lebanon basilica perched 600 m (1 970 ft) above Jounieh Bay. Church bells mingle with foghorns from below. Cable cars run until 01:30 to carry worshippers back to the coast. Dress warm - wind chill drops to 7 °C (45 °F) on the plaza.

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Essential Tips

Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid

Insider Knowledge
Hotel balconies face east for sunrise over the snow-dusted Mount Lebanon - ask when checking in. Sunsets disappear behind cloud by 16:45 Shared taxis (service) from Cola roundabout to Tripoli cost the same in December but leave only when full - sit in front passenger seat to speed departure Many Beirut wine bars switch to hot spiced karkade (hibiscus) in December - tastes like mulled wine without alcohol ATMs in mountain towns (Bcharre, Ehden) run out of cash on ski-weekends - withdraw in coastal cities before heading up
Avoid These Mistakes
Booking a convertible rental - December rain and coastal wind make top-down drives miserable. Locals choose compact SUVs for mountain traction Church calendars are irrelevant here. Maronite Christmas lands on 25 Dec, Armenian on 6 Jan. Some museums lock their doors 24-26 Dec. Plan around the closures. Sunset at Raouche rocks is 17:30 on paper. The sun drops behind the horizon by 16:45. Show up at 15:30. Golden hour delivers the shots you want.
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Continue Planning Your Trip

November

Travel guide for November

January

Travel guide for January

Where to Stay in December

Accommodation guide for Lebanon in December

Climate Guide in December

Weather and seasonal patterns for Lebanon in December

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is Lebanon Like in December?

December splits Lebanon into two distinct experiences. Beirut and the coast stay mild — roughly 12–17°C (54–63°F) — with occasional rain and far fewer tourists than the summer diaspora peak. The mountains, the ranges above 1,500m around Mzaar Kfardebian and The Cedars near Bcharre, get cold quickly and see real snowfall by mid-month. Christmas is taken seriously here — Lebanon has one of the Arab world's largest Christian populations, so Achrafieh, Gemmayzeh, and the old harbour at Byblos fill with lights and markets in a way you won't find elsewhere in the region.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Lebanon?

For foreign visitors, it's one of the more practical months — lower prices, shorter queues at Jeita Grotto and Baalbek, and Beirut restaurant tables that don't require a two-week advance booking. The trade-off is rain: Beirut averages around 130mm in December, so a waterproof layer isn't optional. Christmas week (roughly December 22 through January 2) is the exception — domestic travel increases, mountain hotels around Faraya fill fast, and the city's nightlife around Mar Mikhael gets crowded again. Book accommodation for that window at least three weeks ahead.

What's the Weather in Beirut in December?

Expect Mediterranean winter — mild days around 15–17°C (59–63°F), with evenings dropping to 10–12°C (50–54°F). December is one of the wettest months, averaging around 130–140mm of rainfall spread across roughly 10–12 rainy days. A waterproof jacket and light mid-layer cover most situations on the coast; if you're heading up to the Chouf or the mountains above 1,200m, add proper warm layers and shoes with grip.

Can You Ski in Lebanon in December?

Possibly, but don't build your trip around it. The main resorts — Mzaar Kfardebian (the country's largest, at around 1,850–2,465m), Faraya, and The Cedars — typically need a strong snowfall before opening, which sometimes arrives in December but more reliably hits by January. In a good snow year, Mzaar may have a few runs open by late December; day passes run roughly $30–50 depending on conditions and day of the week. Check the Mzaar website or local ski Facebook groups the week before you go, since road access to the upper slopes can close briefly after heavy overnight snow.

What Christmas Events Happen in Lebanon in December?

Byblos (Jbeil) runs one of the better-known Christmas markets along its Crusader-era harbour, usually through most of the month. Jounieh, about 20km north of Beirut, is famous for waterfront light displays that draw evening crowds from the capital. In Beirut itself, midnight Mass on December 24th fills Saint George Maronite Cathedral and Saint Joseph Church in Achrafieh, and the streets around the Downtown tree are worth a walk. The Greek Orthodox community follows the Julian calendar and celebrates Christmas on January 7th, so festivities stretch into early January.

How Crowded Is Lebanon in December?

Low season for foreign visitors, which makes Beirut's restaurants and cultural sites noticeably easier to navigate than August. The exception is the Christmas-to-New-Year stretch, when Lebanese expats return from the Gulf and Europe and domestic tourism peaks — mountain towns like Faraya and Bcharre book out quickly. Outside that two-week window, December has a version of Lebanon that feels less performed and more lived-in.

Is It Safe to Travel to Lebanon in December?

Lebanon's security situation shifted significantly in 2024 and has remained fluid; southern Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs saw serious conflict during that period. Always check your government's current travel advisory — UK FCDO, US State Department, or equivalent — in the weeks immediately before travel, not months before. Beirut's central districts, Byblos, and the northern mountains have historically been more stable than the south and the Bekaa Valley near the Syrian border, but on-the-ground conditions can change faster than guidebook updates.

What Should I Pack for Lebanon in December?

For Beirut, a waterproof shell, a mid-layer (fleece or light down), and sturdy walking shoes handle most days. If you're doing any mountain travel — even a day trip to Bcharre, the Qadisha Valley, or the Chouf — add warm trousers, gloves, and footwear with real grip since ice appears on roads above 1,200m. Beirut's restaurants and bars expect smart-casual in the evenings; the city doesn't dress down much regardless of season.