Trip highlights
- 1Pigeon Rocks Corniche
- 2Beirut National Museum
- 3Mar Mikhael nightlife
- 4Lebanese mezze cuisine
- 5Jeita Grotto day trip
Daily spend
Where you're going
© OpenStreetMap contributors
Want this for your exact dates?
Live hotel prices, real-time flights, and weather for when you're going.
Been before? Re-book the same trip instantly with current prices.
In pictures
Photos: Unsplash
Language preparation
15 min/day for 8 weeks ≈ 672 useful words and phrases
Not a native English speaker?
English is the international travel language — building confidence before your trip makes every interaction easier.
Babbel and italki links are affiliate links — Tripzeeker earns a small commission on sign-ups at no extra cost to you.
Day-by-day plan
Arrival & Corniche at Pigeon Rocks
Tuesday, May 4
Est. spend
$130
per person
🌅 Morning
Arrive at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY)
Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport
A taxi connects the airport to central Beirut in roughly 20-30 minutes depending on traffic and destination neighbourhood.
Pre-arrange a hotel transfer or use a recognised taxi app to avoid fare disputes common with unmetered airport taxis.
☀️ Afternoon
Corniche walk to Pigeon Rocks (Raouche)
Raouche, Beirut Corniche
Beirut's seafront promenade leads to the iconic twin limestone sea arches rising from the Mediterranean, a defining symbol of the city's coastline.
Visit close to sunset for the best light on the rock formations and a lively atmosphere of joggers, fishermen, and street vendors.
🌙 Evening
Welcome mezze dinner
Hamra district, Beirut
A generous spread of Lebanese mezze — hummus, baba ganoush, tabbouleh, kibbeh, and warm pita — served family-style at a Hamra district restaurant.
Pace yourself — mezze is meant to be a slow, multi-course affair, with mains arriving well after the cold and hot starters.
🍽️ Meals
Airport hotel breakfast
Lebanese/International · $10
Corniche street food lunch
Lebanese street food · $8
Hamra mezze dinner
Lebanese · $30
National Museum & Downtown Beirut
Wednesday, May 5
Est. spend
$150
per person
🌅 Morning
Beirut National Museum
National Museum of Beirut
Lebanon's principal archaeological museum, housing Phoenician sarcophagi, Roman mosaics, and artifacts spanning prehistory through the Ottoman era, remarkably preserved despite the building's civil war damage.
Look for the small exhibit on the museum's own wartime history — sandbags once protected the artifacts now on display.
☀️ Afternoon
Downtown Beirut and Martyrs' Square
Downtown Beirut, Martyrs' Square
Rebuilt downtown streets around Martyrs' Square and the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, reflecting the city's layered Ottoman, French Mandate, and modern reconstruction history.
Walk over to the nearby Roman Baths ruins, a free and often-overlooked site tucked between modern buildings.
🌙 Evening
Mar Mikhael and Gemmayze nightlife
Mar Mikhael, Beirut
Beirut's most vibrant nightlife district, lined with bars, rooftop lounges, and live music venues in restored Ottoman-era buildings.
Start the evening early at a rooftop bar for sunset views before the streets fill up later at night.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Lebanese/International · $10
Downtown lunch
Lebanese · $15
Mar Mikhael dinner and drinks
Lebanese/International · $40
Jeita Grotto & Harissa Day Trip
Thursday, May 6
Est. spend
$220
per person
🌅 Morning
Jeita Grotto
Jeita Grotto, Kesrouan District
A spectacular system of interconnected limestone caves about 20km north of Beirut, featuring one of the world's largest known stalactite formations and an underground river crossed by boat.
The upper gallery involves stairs and walking on slippery surfaces — wear comfortable, grippy shoes.
☀️ Afternoon
Harissa cable car and Our Lady of Lebanon
Harissa, Jounieh
A cable car climbs to the hilltop shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon overlooking Jounieh Bay, offering sweeping coastal views regardless of religious background.
Clear days offer visibility across the entire Jounieh coastline — check weather before going up.
🌙 Evening
Seaside dinner in Jounieh
Jounieh marina
A relaxed dinner of grilled seafood and Lebanese wine at a restaurant overlooking Jounieh's marina before returning to Beirut.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Lebanese/International · $10
Grotto area lunch
Lebanese · $14
Jounieh seafood dinner
Lebanese seafood · $35
Final Mezze & Departure
Friday, May 7
Est. spend
$130
per person
🌅 Morning
Mar Mikhael design shops and final souvenirs
Mar Mikhael, Beirut
A relaxed morning browsing local design boutiques, soap makers, and specialty food shops for Lebanese olive oil, za'atar, and arak to take home.
Look for shops selling locally roasted Lebanese coffee with cardamom — a distinctive and easy-to-pack souvenir.
☀️ Afternoon
Farewell mezze lunch
Achrafieh, Beirut
One last leisurely mezze lunch at a long-standing Beirut institution, savouring fattoush, manakish, and grilled meats before departure.
🌙 Evening
Transfer to Beirut–Rafic Hariri Airport
Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport
Allow at least 3 hours before an international flight given variable security line times at Beirut's airport.
🍽️ Meals
Hotel breakfast
Lebanese/International · $10
Achrafieh farewell mezze lunch
Lebanese · $30
Airport food
Lebanese/International · $15
Before you go
📅 Best time to visit
April–June and September–October offer warm but comfortable Mediterranean weather (20-28°C). Summer (July-August) is hot and humid; winter brings rain.
🛂 Visas
Most Western nationalities receive a free visa on arrival at Beirut airport for up to one month. Travelers with passport stamps from Israel may be denied entry — check current entry requirements before travel.
💱 Currency
Lebanese Pound (LBP) alongside widespread US Dollar use — many prices, especially for tourists, are quoted and paid directly in USD. Carry small USD bills for convenience.
🆘 Emergency numbers
police: 112
ambulance: 140
💬 Things you won't find in a guidebook
- US Dollars are accepted almost everywhere in Beirut and often preferred — carry a mix of small denominations.
- Mezze is meant to be shared slowly across multiple courses — don't rush, and order fewer dishes than you think you need at first.
- Mar Mikhael and Gemmayze get busy and loud late at night — arrive early evening if you prefer a calmer atmosphere.
- Check current security advisories before travel, as the political and security situation in Lebanon can shift; areas near the southern border are generally best avoided.
- Tipping 10% is customary in restaurants when service charge isn't already included on the bill.
One thing worth not skipping
A 4-day trip to Beirut, Lebanon without insurance is a gamble. Medical emergencies, cancelled flights, lost luggage — cover yourself before you leave.
Comprehensive cover for 150+ adventure activities, medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and baggage. Recommended for most travellers.
Subscription-based travel medical insurance. Best for longer trips, digital nomads, or frequent travellers. Renews weekly or monthly.
Tripzeeker earns a small commission when you purchase — at no extra cost to you.
Was this useful?
Your rating helps us improve and tells other travellers what to trust.
How useful was this itinerary?
You might also like
Flight price alert
We'll email you when flights to Beirut, Lebanon drop to your target price.
More trips like Beirut, Lebanon in your inbox
Weekly hand-crafted itineraries, hidden gems, and travel tips. Unsubscribe anytime.