My boyfriend is from Beirut so we took a trip to see his family. I was pleasantly surprised how much there is to do and see. I ate so much amazing mediterranean food including salad, hummus and falafel.
Places to See
- Beirut
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- Inhabited since 3,000 BC (top 10 oldest cities in the world)
- Cedars of God
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- The Cedars of God is over a 2 hour drive from Beirut
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- Entrance fee to help keep preserved
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- Shops in the area for souvenirs build out of Cedar wood
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- Wood was exploited by Phoenicians and other empires to build merchant ships due to the strength of the wood
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- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Rooftop bars
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- Capitole Restaurant and Bar in Downtown Beirut
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- Iris in Biel – Downtown Beirut
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- Spine – Beirut
- Mount Lebanon
- Beach & Pool resorts
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- La Siesta is about 10 minutes from the city of Beirut. It costs about $27 per person to get in, but you get access to a private beach and pools.
- La Siesta is about 10 minutes from the city of Beirut. It costs about $27 per person to get in, but you get access to a private beach and pools.
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- Orchid costs about $29 per person to get in and you also get a private beach, pool and towel service.
- Lady Mary – Harissa – Our Lady of Lebanon
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- You can do the Lady Mary and the Jeita Grotto in one day for $12 USD. The cableway transports you from the grotto to the top of the mountains for a great view from Harissa.
- Jeita Grotto
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- The limestone caves were on my bucket list to see. There were two parts of the grotto which you can’t bring your phone (of course I snuck mine): the upper and lower. The upper part you get to walk through and the lower part you take a small boat through.
- The limestone caves were on my bucket list to see. There were two parts of the grotto which you can’t bring your phone (of course I snuck mine): the upper and lower. The upper part you get to walk through and the lower part you take a small boat through.
- Byblos
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- Byblos is an amazing, beautiful coastal city. It only takes about 30 minutes from Beirut. If you are looking to buy souvenirs, Byblos is the place to do it!
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- Oldest continuity inhabited city in the world from 5,000 BC (second oldest city overall dating back between 8,800 BC – 7,000 BC)
- Paradise Waterfalls Bakkline
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- Here I go chasing waterfalls again. These are a little over a hour from the city of Beirut. When we got there we were a little confused because there’s two parts. One part is surrounded by a restaurant and the other is a pool that you have to pay to get into. If you have the time and it’s a nice day I would recommend bringing a swim suit and spending the day there.
How I Got There
I used my Chase bonus points and only paid about $100 for my ticket PHX>LHR>BEY then back to Phoenix. Review the best credit cards here.
I chose the Chase Sapphire Reserve. Check out my post here for the benefits.