Beirut is wonderful, a cosmopolitan Mediterranean city famed for its friendly people, exclusive shops and fine restaurants. The Solidaire quarter of Beirut especially is worth the trip to Lebanon, but there is more, so much more to see in Lebanon, and some of it is outside the capitol and easily done as a day trip. Here’s a sampling.

Jeita Grottos

These world-famous caves are immense and absolutely spectacular. Located about 18 kilometers along the highway north of Beirut in the valley of Nhr el Kalb, Jetta Grotto is formed of two galleries, the lower gallery being opened only in 1958.

For millions of years, water issuing from the roof and flowing down its flanks of the cavern has slowly sculpted these caves into a fantasy palace of magical columns and pillars, a rocky fastnesses of fantastic, caves and galleries, imbued with colors and forms in infinite variety and subtlety.

In 2002, Jeita Grotto was awarded the Sustainable Development in Tourism Prize  by a panel of International Scientific Experts in recognition of the degree of  excellence of its care in the preservation of the environment combined with the economic feasibility of the project and  impact on local economic development.The Upper Gallery may be reached by way of a cable car or on a small local “train.” 

The entrance to the lower grotto is just beside the restaurant and a shopping area. The shops offer a tasteful selection of local crafts and souvenirs. Jeita Grotto is Lebanon’s number one tourist site and recognized internationally for it superb caves. This is not to be missed.

Proceed along the coastal highway north of Beirut to the smaller town of Jbail. The town itself is not much, but where you are heading is to the old quarter  of the town, formerly known as Byblos. Here you will find narrow mediaeval streets crammed with quaint shops and small restaurants. Your eventual destination is the ancient crusader fort which dominates the quarter. The site goes back to prehistoric times and signs of many civilizations are evident there; most obvious, however, are the magnificent Roman ruins which were later plundered in the search for stones to make a Crusader castle. Ramparts, cellars, Roman pillars, acres of ruins, all allow us to imagine the lovely old city of Byblos, one of the world’s oldest continually inhabited towns, dating back at least 7000 years. The 12th century crusader castle which dominates the hill, affords some wonderful views of modern Jbail. From the castle ramparts you can ponder the ruins of no fewer than seventeen civilizations.  The castle must have been deliberately situated to overlook the sea and delight its occupants with a stiff fresh sea breeze from the west.  Nowadays the busiest section is the central narrow shopping street with many little shops selling souvenirs, jewelry, clothing, snacks, and handicrafts and so on.

The Cedars Of Lebanon

This is a dramatic climb into Lebanon’s high mountains toward the snow-capped peaks with their ski hills. At the very summit the roads are closed in the winter months. 

As you make the climb, below you Beirut spreads, masses of white buildings, parks, and trees, especially around the university campus, but here the vegetation is more abundant yet and it seems even greener. In the distance are higher, snow-capped mountains. The road winds along steep ravines and becomes narrow. The valleys are lush and green, but so steeply-inclined that they are uncultivable.