Weekend in Beirut
Trip Overview
This two-day blast through Beirut starts with sunrise espresso on the Corniche and ends with sunset drinks above the Raouche rocks. You'll thread through 5,000-year-old port ruins before lunch, bite into man'ousheh still warm from the oven, za'atar dusting your fingers green, and close both nights under neon bar signs pulsing to 1980s Lebanese pop. The rhythm is brisk yet walkable, no day breaks 12 km, so the August Mediterranean humidity lingers on your skin when you finally fall into rooftop sheets.
Pace
Active
Daily Budget
$90-130 per day
Best Seasons
April, June & Sept, Nov when Beirut weather sits at a breezy 24 °C and humidity drops enough for evening sea-mists
Ideal For
First-time visitors, Food-focused travelers, Nightlife seekers, Couples on a quick escape
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Cliffs, Coins & Cinnamon Rooftops
Raouche & Hamra
Watch fishermen sling lines off Raouche's limestone fins, then zig-zag through Hamra's bookstalls before arak cocktails above the city lights.
Morning
Raouche sea-cliffs at dawn
Reach the Pigeon Rocks before 6:30 a.m.; only surf crashes and backgammon dice click-clack from early anglers. Watch the first sun slice paint the stone peach-pink while the air still carries salt and diesel from passing fishing skiffs.
Lunch
Barbar (Hamra main branch)
Afternoon
American University of Beirut (AUB) Archaeological Museum & adjacent streets
Slip into the cool, tile-floored gallery to study 5,000-year-old Phoenician arrowheads that still shine like fish scales. Step back onto Bliss Street shaded by trees. Duck into retro record shops where Fairuz vinyl crackles on dusty decks and the smell of roasting coffee drifts from roadside roasters.
Bring cash. Card machine is often offline
Evening
Sunset drinks at Iris rooftop, then mezze crawl on Mar Mikhael stairs
Kick off with iris-scented gin while the sky bruises purple above the port cranes. Drop to Mar Mikhael for tawlet-style small plates at Baron's or pickled-turnip sandwiches at the standing-room-only spot beneath the train bridge
Where to Stay Tonight
Gemmayzeh side streets (Small guesthouse like The Grand Meshmosh Hotel)
You can stroll home along graffiti-splashed alleys after 2 a.m. without hailing a cab
See all Beirut accommodation options →Download the 'Allo Taxi' app before landing. Drivers rarely cruise empty in Beirut anymore, pre-book to skip the haggle.
Day 1 Budget: $95
2
Souks, Citadels & Sunset Plunge
Downtown & Zaitunay Bay
Feel Roman bath tiles, argue over gold weight in the souks, then slide into the sea off a wooden platform before diving into Beirut nightlife.
Morning
Roman Baths & Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque
Pass through the fenced ruins downtown. Trace your fingers over warm limestone blocks still scarred with chariot grooves. The muezzin's call bounces off blue-domed mosque walls while pigeons clatter overhead, blending incense from morning prayers with city exhaust.
Modest dress for the mosque. Women can borrow hooded gowns at the door
Lunch
Em Sherif Café (Beirut Souks branch)
Afternoon
Beirut Souks shopping & Zaitunay Bay swim platform
Beneath the souk's latticed roof, goldsmiths hammer bracelets to a metallic pulse. Ten minutes on foot, buy a day pass at the St. Georges Yacht Club: leap off sun-bleached wood into cool, diesel-flecked water while watching tower cranes rebuild the port skyline.
Swim pass sells out on hot Fridays; WhatsApp them the night before
Evening
Sunset arak at Babel Bay, then club-hop to Underground for 90s Lebanese rock
Order arak on ice with raw octopus at Babel's deck; when the moon glints off the rigging, walk 10 min to the bomb-shelter-door club where bass pounds through concrete
Where to Stay Tonight
Same Gemmayzeh base (Return to The Grand Meshmosh or similar)
Short cab ride back, plus the night clerk keeps the door open till 4 a.m.
See all Beirut accommodation options →Carry small dollar bills. Many beach clubs and bars price in USD but hand back change in volatile Lebanese lira.
Day 2 Budget: $110
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Most sights cluster within a 5 km strip along the coast. Walk when sidewalks exist. Otherwise call Allo Taxi or Uber (both take USD). Evening hops between Gemmayzeh, Mar Mikhael and Downtown rarely top $4 if you insist on the meter.
Book Ahead
Iros rooftop table for sunset, St. Georges day-pass on summer weekends, airport taxi voucher if landing after midnight
Packing Essentials
Light layers for humid days/cool nights, modest calf-length pants for mosques, sweat-proof phone pouch for sea swims, small USD notes
Total Budget
$200-240 including accommodation, food, transport and entry fees
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Trade Iris for happy-hour beers at Captain's Cabin, lunch on spinach-filled fatteh at Souk el-Tayeb farmers' market ($6), and crash in a Hamra hostel dorm. Total drops to $60 per day.
Luxury Upgrade
Reserve an early-morning helicopter transfer over Raouche, upgrade to a Four Seasons rooftop suite, keep a private driver on call, and finish with champagne at the newly reopened Mondrian marina, expect $350+ per day.
Family-Friendly
Swap late-night bars for 7 p.m. gelato at Hanna in Minet el-Hosn, pick the kid-friendly Riviera Hotel pool day, and stick to daytime souk walks when crowds thin. Pack floaties for the Zaitunay platform.
Book Activities for Your Trip
Tours, tickets, and experiences in Beirut
Didn't see anything interesting yet?
Browse Viator's full catalog of tours, day trips, food experiences, and private guides in Beirut.
See All Beirut Tours on Viator