Beirut

A short history

The Roman temple complex at Baalbek, a separate site in the Bekaa valley a couple of hours inland, holds some of the largest and best-preserved Roman ruins anywhere — its columns stand taller than those of the Parthenon, and the stones in its foundation are among the heaviest ever moved by hand. Beirut itself earned the nickname Paris of the Middle East in the mid-twentieth century, for a cosmopolitan mix of cultures, languages and architecture along the coast that has survived a great deal since.

Why travellers love it

It is widely held to have one of the best food cultures in the region, and that is not a small claim in this part of the world. The coastal setting — mountains dropping to the Mediterranean within half an hour — is unlike anywhere else on this list.

Before you go

Read your government's current travel advisory before booking anything, and read it again close to departure. Conditions in the region change, and this is one destination where a guide written months ago should not be your only source — check the advisory, check that your insurance covers you, and be willing to change plans. Beyond that: April to June and September to October are the pleasant months, most nationalities can get a visa on arrival for a short stay, and Baalbek is a long day trip rather than an afternoon.

Highlights

• The Beirut Corniche
• A day trip to the Roman ruins at Baalbek
• Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael
• The National Museum