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Asia Lebanon Beirut Do & See National Museum of Beirut

Overview

National Museum of Beirut

The guide was updated: 2024-07-31

One of the best archaeological museums in the Middle East, the National Museum of Beirut provides an excellent overview of the region's history. Highlights include the world's largest display of sarcophagi, a line-up of 31 with naturalistic-looking carved faces, a reconstructed Roman tomb, and a collection of bronze Phoenician figurines uncovered at Byblos. The museum is located on the once-volatile Green Line.

Useful Information

Address: Museum Street, Beirut
Opening hours: Tue–Sun 9:30am–3pm, Mon closed
Website: www.instagram.com/nationalmuseumbeirut
Phone: +961 1 426 703

Our travel guides are free to read and explore online. If you want to get your own copy, the full travel guide for this destination is available to you offline* to bring along anywhere or print for your trip.

*this will be downloaded as a PDF.

Price

€4,95

Purchase

The Corniche and Pigeon Rocks

The Corniche and Pigeon Rocks

Walk (or bike) along the Corniche to witness the leisurely flow of life by the Mediterranean; if you head south towards the Raouche neighbourhood, you will eventually come to one of Beirut's most iconic natural sites: the Pigeon Rocks, limestone formations jutting out of the sea. Come at sundown for shisha with a view.

Gemmayzeh & Mar Mikhael Neighbourhoods

Gemmayzeh & Mar Mikhael Neighbourhoods

To discover an edgier, hip side to the city, walk down the thoroughfares of Armenia Street (Mar Mikhael) and Gouraud Street (Gemmayzeh), and soak in Beirut's undeniable cool. There are plenty of attractive brunch spots and swank art galleries around (check out the St Nicholas Stairs in the summer for some al fresco art).

Sursock Museum & Palace

Sursock Museum & Palace

The Sursock Museum of Modern Art occupies the villa once inhabited by its founder, Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock, who instructed successors to turn the building into an art museum. The will was well-executed: the Sursock Museum is now among Beirut's most attractive, with free entry and guided tours. Its namesake palace is closed to the public, but certainly worth a look.

American University of Beirut

American University of Beirut

Founded in the 1860s by an American missionary, the lush, sprawling campus of the prestigious American University of Beirut is a pleasure to stroll around. It offers something of a journey into the city's pre-war days. There is an excellent archaeological museum on-site, along with several art galleries, and many nonchalant feline residents (cats), who famously inhabit the premises.

National Museum of Beirut

One of the best archaeological museums in the Middle East, the National Museum of Beirut provides an excellent overview of the region's history. Highlights include the world's largest display of sarcophagi, a line-up of 31 with naturalistic-looking carved faces, a reconstructed Roman tomb, and a collection of bronze Phoenician figurines uncovered at Byblos. The museum is located on the once-volatile Green Line.

Byblos

Byblos

The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Byblos is a treasured city, reportedly the first to be inhabited by Phoenicians, hosting a sequence of mighty civilisations (from Egyptians to Ottomans) over the following millennia. It's an easy day trip from Beirut to see early settlements dating back to the B.C., the 12th century Crusader Castle, and the ancient Phoenician port.

Temples of Baalbek

Temples of Baalbek

The splendid Roman Temple of Baalbek is among Lebanon's most important archaeological monuments, an ancient place of worship with barely any competition among similar structures in the ancient world. Plan your trip around the Baalbeck International Festival for live music and plays held in the town.

Château Ksara

Château Ksara

The historic winery hidden in the Bekaa Valley east of Beirut makes for a fantastic day trip. Tours of the underground caves are held daily, and on-site dining is available at the adjacent restaurant.

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