National Museum of Beirut

Situated on the former Green Line, this is Beirut’s important cultural establishment. Its impressive, beautifully exhibited collection of archaeological artefacts provides a wonderful summary of Lebanon’s history as well as the civilisations that influenced this cultural crossroads. Highlights include the most famous, much-photographed Phoenician gilded bronze figurines found buried near the Obelisk Temple in Byblos; a run of human-faced Phoenician sarcophagi along with a frescoed Roman grave, these latter at the outstanding cellar, headquartered in 2016.

MIM

Beneath the St Joseph college, this atmospheric and attractively constructed museum presents an outstanding assortment of exquisitely chosen and introduced minerals. The otherworldly colours and types generated from the planet’s hidden recesses are amazing. Interactive and advanced screens increase the experience. It is very near the National Museum, obtained through the university’s most important glass door.

St George Crypt Museum

When a bomb dropped on the Orthodox cathedral in 1975, the silver lining was that it shown those ruins under. Although the area is modest, an outstanding and atmospheric archaeological screen summarizes elements from various areas of the town’s background: Seleucid to ancient, together with the highlights being Byzantine mosaic flooring and several of eerie tombs. You will find great information panels along with a seven-minute documentary providing an informative summary of the cathedral’s history.

Robert Mouawad Private Museum

The planet could be a poorer place if it did not host idiosyncratic cultural associations like this one. Conceived and funded by jeweller and collector Robert Mouawad to showcase his own glorious and diverse selection of furniture, art, rugs, and antiquities, it’s placed in the former residence of the late Lebanese politician and art collector Henri Philippe Pharaoun, also set in lush gardens. At the time of the study, it had been closed for extensive refurbishment and no date was set for reopening.

Archaeological Museum of the American University of Beirut

On permanent display is its own assortment of Lebanese and Middle Eastern artefacts, such as firearms, weapons, flints, figurines, pottery and jewelry, together with a nice assortment of Phoenician glass and Arab coins dating from as early as the 5th century BC. Turn right once through the primary college entry. Be aware that the museum has been closed during college vacations. Audioguides could be hired for LL3000.

Sursock Museum

This independently-owned contemporary-art museum has been placed in a 1912 mansion situated in one of Achrafiyeh’s most beautiful roads. Following a significant facelift that additional underground exhibition spaces, it is looking very spruce indeed. Temporary exhibitions will be the significant artistic drawcard, but the permanent collection incorporates interesting and diverse pieces from the significant Salon d’Automne exhibits in addition to earlier-20th-century portraits (moustache and fez de rigueur) and arenas. Relax your thighs at the lavish Arab salon.

Aïshti Foundation

The Aïshti Foundation is a blend of apparently strange bedfellows. On one hand, it is a luxury mall targeted at those that have some grand to spend on purses, but it is also a museum, house to mogul Tony Salamé’s world-class assortment of modern art and sculpture (which frequently appears to be commenting on the culture of consumerism to the other half of this building is a temple). The structure is an architectural standout, all crimson zigzagging aluminum made by David Adjaye in the price of US$100 million.

Mohammed Al Amin Mosque

Now the town’s major milestone, this enormous, striking amber-coloured blue-domed mosque near Martyrs Sq premiered in 2008 and has four minarets standing 65m high. Slain former prime minister Rafic Hariri was instrumental in the job and can be buried here. The soaring main hall retains 3700 (man ) worshippers; there is a true community feel here as folks read or tear on the rug between prayer times. The women’s prayer hall is entered on the opposing side.

Planet Discovery

This action center and interactive science museum at the Souks shopping arcades are geared toward young kids and supplies a science museum that is very hands on and participating. There is another art workshop where children can mould paint or clay ceramics (out of 7500LL); they’re supervised, therefore parents occasionally park their children here to navigate some stores. Puppet shows are held at 4pm and 5pm many Fridays to Sundays, and you can find other ordinary events.

Horsh Beirut

Even the big and lush Horsh Beirut would be the town’s version of Central Park, but opening hours are somewhat irregular to the purpose of random, and it is manned by armed guards that appear to pick according to their moods that is admitted and who is not. Should you fancy a calm moment one of the tall pines and flowering trees, then by all means give it a try (the guards are somewhat more prone to allow in European-looking foreigners than locals).

Luna Park

Luna Park is a rickety old amusement park, with the attendant charms and nuisances, where many Western tourists turn their noses up. Bypass the cheesy attractions and head right for the Ferris wheel to get one of the best perspectives of Beirut you can get out an aeroplane. If you do not explore the wheel’s aging mechanisms too tightly (and are not scared of heights), then this might be a favorite Beirut memory.

Issam Fares Institute

The IFI retains the distinction of becoming the sole Zaha Hadid-designed construction in Beirut. The arrangement is distinctive in appearance also: it is a cantilevered, twisted Tetris block that looks much more contemporary in juxtaposition to another stolidly Methodist buildings on AUB’s campus. Offices occupy the flooring, but ride the elevator into the publicly available roof for a few interesting perspectives through the oblong portal.

Al Omari Mosque

Built in the 12th century since the Church of John the Baptist of the Knights Hospitaller, this attractive building was transformed into a mosque in 1291. It had been the city’s fundamental Sunni mosque before building of the neighboring Mohammad Al Amin Mosque, also has a huge congregation. The gorgeous lines of Romanesque stone comparison remarkably with all the soft red rug. You are able to visit out of prayer time.

Sursock Palace

One of the last surviving Beirut manor houses in the Ottoman era, Sursock Palace stands behind substantial gates across in the Sursock Museum (the Sursock family made its fortune trading wheat and cotton in the Levant using the Ottomans). Regrettably, the palace isn’t available for people, but if you are going into the museum, it is well worth checking out the manse, constructed by Moussa Sursock at 1860.

Sanayeh Public Garden

An extremely well-maintained public park with soothing greenery and water, that has playground equipment for the children to let off steam, and a good deal of paved paths ideal for in-line skating. It is possible to rent bicycles at the southern entry, the only one available at a period of study, however, little’uns aside, it is not really large enough to do much riding inside the park.

Dar El Nimer

Housed in a stunning 1930s Grove, Dar El Nimer includes rotating art displays and an impressive permanent collection such as decorative arts, silver, glass and manuscripts spanning 10 centuries in Palestine and the Levant. Check the web site for upcoming literature or music occasions, normally free and nearly always worth viewing.

Beit Beirut

Conceptualized as a museum dedicated to the memory of Beirut, Beit Beirut began away as the stately home of this Barakat family from the 1920s and was subsequently inhabited by snipers from Christian militias throughout the Lebanese Civil War. The construction is occasionally open as a pub area, but exhibitors place the prices and hours.

Pigeon Rocks

These limestone outcrops just offshore are prime selfie land and also a Beirut landmark. They are remarkable; one includes an archway eroded throughout it. A few cafes here do terrible meals but are adequate places to sit and admire the view with a shisha beer.

American University of Beirut

One of the Middle East’s most prestigious and costly universities, the AUB was founded in 1866 by American Protestant missionary Daniel Bliss. Distribute over 28 tree-filled hectares, it’s a genuine oasis in this fume-filled city. The on-site archaeological tradition was founded in 1868, also contains a nice assortment of Lebanese and Middle Eastern artifacts dating back to the early Stone Age. Within the college gate, a guest office could arrange a complimentary tour of the campus.

St George Greek Orthodox Cathedral

This was constructed in 1767 and is one of the earliest buildings in town. Back in 1975, during the civil war, a bomb dropped here and discovered the ruins of a Byzantine church, open as a rewarding museum entered the side of this construction. The church was largely rebuilt following the bomb; one fresco nonetheless conveys bullet holes, as do other people in the chapel behind.