Things to Do in Lebanon in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
March Weather in Lebanon
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
67°F (19°C)
High Temp
54°F (12°C)
Low Temp
3.3 inches (84 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Sudden mountain road closures from snow. Check Dahr al-Baidar pass status before driving to Baalbek. Twitter updates fast. Keep chains ready.
⚠ Afternoon thunderstorms can disrupt coastal boat trips. Captains often cancel if winds exceed 25 km/h (16 mph). Ask early. Rebook tomorrow.
Is March Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Wildflowers explode across the Bekaa Valley - the hills between Baalbek and Aanjar turn carpet-green with poppies and almond blossoms, something you simply don't see in summer's baked-brown landscape.
- + You can walk Beirut's Corniche without melting - March mornings hover around 60°F (16°C), good for that 5km (3.1 mile) seaside stroll from Raouche Rocks to the lighthouse while fishermen cast their lines.
- + Hotel rates are still in winter mode - that means the same Achrafieh boutique room that triples in price come June is currently running at shoulder-season rates, and you won't need to book three months ahead.
- + The ski slopes above Faraya are still open (usually through late March) while the coast is already enjoying spring - you can theoretically ski cedar forests in the morning and eat fresh seafood in Byblos harbor for lunch.
Considerations
- − March is Lebanon's mood-swing month - one day you're in sunglasses eating lunch outside, the next you're huddled in a café while horizontal rain lashes Hamra Street. Pack layers and check forecasts daily.
- − Mountain roads can still get sudden snow closures - the Dahr al-Baidar pass linking Beirut to the Bekaa typically sees 2-3 surprise snow events each March, turning that 1.5-hour drive to Baalbek into a 4-hour detour via the coast.
- − Some beach clubs and coastal resorts haven't fully reopened yet - while locals are already swimming, many seasonal restaurants in Tyre and Tripoli remain shuttered until April.
Best Activities in March
Top things to do during your visit
Bekaa Valley Wine Route Tours
March is harvest season for early grapes and the perfect temperature for cellar tours - no summer crowds, no wine-buzz fatigue from 95°F (35°C) heat. The valley's 300m (984 ft) elevation keeps things crisp, and you might catch winemakers bottling last year's vintage. Château Ksara's 2km (1.2 mile) Roman caves stay a constant 60°F (16°C) year-round, making them ideal on a rainy March afternoon.
Booking Tip: Book 7-10 days ahead through licensed wine-route operators (see current tours in booking section below). Most cellars close Sundays; Tuesday-Thursday gives you the winemakers' full attention.
Cedar Forest Hiking Above Bcharre
The last snow patches make the 2,000m (6,562 ft) Qadisha Valley trails memorable in March - you're walking through thousand-year-old cedars with snow-dusted branches. But the trails themselves are mostly clear. The 7km (4.3 mile) loop from the Cedars ski resort down to Hasroun passes three natural springs and offers the kind of views that make you stop mid-hike. March crowds are essentially zero; you'll share the forest with shepherds and the occasional German photographer.
Booking Tip: Hire a local mountain guide from Bcharre's main square - they know which trails are still icy and can arrange transport back uphill. Book the day before. Weather changes fast.
Beirut Architecture Walking Tours
March's mild 64°F (18°C) afternoons are good for the 3-hour downtown circuit that takes you from Ottoman-era Grand Serail through the art-deco jewelry district to the bullet-scarred Holiday Inn - Beirut's open-air museum of 19th-century to brutalist architecture. Without summer's crushing humidity, you can appreciate details like the 1920s wrought-iron balconies on Gemmayzeh's Rue Gouraud or the way afternoon light hits the blue-domed Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque.
Booking Tip: Morning walks (starting 10am) beat the afternoon showers. Licensed guides meet at Starbucks on Rue Monot - just show up, groups form naturally.
Jeita Grotto and Harissa Cable Car Combo
The grotto's underground river runs highest in March after winter snowmelt - that boat ride through the lower caves feels almost cinematic with the increased water volume. Combine it with the téléphérique up to Harissa's Our Lady of Lebanon statue; March visibility is typically 20km (12.4 miles) across Jounieh Bay, something you rarely get in hazy summer. Weekday mornings mean you might have that boat entirely to yourself.
Booking Tip: Visit Jeita first (opens 9am), then Harissa for lunch views. The cable car closes in high winds - call ahead if weather looks sketchy.
Tyre (Sour) Coastal Ruins and Fresh Catch
March is when Tyre's fishermen return to sea after winter storms - head to the old harbor around 3pm when the blue wooden boats unload. You can watch them haul nets right next to the Roman hippodrome ruins, then walk 200m (656 ft) to a grilled sea bream lunch that was swimming an hour earlier. The site's purple-flowering almond trees bloom in late March, framing those UNESCO columns against the Mediterranean in a way that summer visitors miss entirely.
Booking Tip: Hire a local guide at the site entrance - they know which fishermen sell direct and can arrange cooking at a nearby family restaurant. No need to book ahead.
Where to Stay in Lebanon in March
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for March travellers.
March Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
March 19
Feast of St. Joseph
Beirut's Maronite Catholic community lights up the Monot neighborhood on March 19th - think church bells mingling with street food smoke as families set up impromptu grills outside St. Joseph Church. The real scene starts after 7pm when Rue Monot becomes pedestrian-only and aunties hand you maamoul cookies filled with dates. It's religious Lebanon at its most neighborhood-level authentic.
Late March (varies)
Baalbek International Festival Preview Concerts
The official summer festival doesn't start until July. But March sees invitation-only preview performances in the Bacchus Temple courtyard - usually a classical quartet or oud player testing acoustics. These aren't advertised. You hear about them through guesthouse owners or that German archaeologist you meet at the Palmyra Hotel bar. If you're lucky, you'll experience 2,000-year-old Roman stones echoing with live music under March stars.
Packing Checklist
Bookmark this page — your progress is saved between visits
Need the full list with shopping links?
Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Lebanon Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
Download the 'Lebanon Weather LB' app. It's the only forecast that accurately predicts mountain road closures, updated by the Internal Security Forces. Refresh at breakfast. Save a detour.
If the Dahr al-Baidar pass closes due to snow, take the coastal highway to Chtoura, then cut inland via Aley. Adds 45 minutes but saves you from spending the night in a Chtoura gas station. Fill the tank. Coffee is terrible there.
That 'closed for renovation' sign at the National Museum? Check anyway. March is when they quietly reopen wings without updating websites, and guards sometimes let photography students peek in. Smile politely. Bring a student card.
Order your morning coffee 'ahwe merra' (bitter coffee) in Tripoli's old souks. March is when the cardamom harvest arrives, and the spice notes are strongest in first-press beans. Sip slowly. The aroma lingers.
Avoid These Mistakes
Assuming all ski resorts close in March. The Cedars often stays open through Easter weekend. But lifts run limited hours (9am-2pm). Show up at 3pm and you'll find the chairlift operator already home. Arrive early. Pack lunch.
Booking that 'Beirut to Damascus daytrip' you found online. The border crossing at Masnaa has been closed to tourists since 2019, and March weather makes the alternative Masnaa al-Jdeideh route treacherous. Forget it. Stay local.
Wearing open-toed shoes in the Qadisha Valley. March meltwater turns trails into ankle-deep mud streams, and those smooth limestone rocks become ice-rink slippery. Lace up boots. Bring dry socks.
Ready to plan your trip to Lebanon?
Now that you've got the research covered, here's where to go next.
Book Experiences in Lebanon
Top-rated things to do in Lebanon this March
Explore More Activities in Lebanon
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Lebanon.
See All Lebanon Tours on Viator