Dates are flexible. This day-by-day plan is provisional until you choose exact travel dates.
Start at Sursock Museum in Achrafieh and allow about 1½ hours for the collection and the mansion’s ornate rooms. Admission is often free, but exhibitions and hours can change; check the museum’s current schedule before setting out, especially if your day falls on a Monday. From there, take a short taxi or walk about 10–15 minutes to Kalei Coffee Co. in Mar Mikhaël for a coffee and pastry (around $5–10). It’s a good place to pause and watch the neighborhood wake up.
Walk about 10 minutes to St. Nicholas Stairs in Gemmayzeh, taking your time among the old stairways, small galleries and side streets. Then taxi to Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque downtown (around 10–15 minutes, depending on traffic). Its blue dome is striking from the outside; if you’d like to go in, check that visitors are welcome at the time, avoid prayer periods, and dress modestly, covering shoulders and knees. Keep roughly 45 minutes for the stop.
Head back to Le Chef in Gemmayzeh for an unfussy Lebanese dinner; budget around $15–25. It’s a relaxed neighborhood choice after a day on foot. A taxi back to Achrafieh typically takes 10–15 minutes, though Beirut traffic can add time. For all the short city hops today, use a reputable ride-hailing app or ask your hotel to call a taxi; walking is pleasant between the nearby Gemmayzeh stops, but stick to well-lit streets after dark.
Allow 1–1½ hours from central Beirut to reach Byblos Archaeological Site, so an early departure gives you time to explore without rushing. Set aside about two hours for the castle and the layered ruins; opening hours and admission can change, so check locally before you go and carry some cash for tickets. Then wander a short distance into Byblos Old Souk for an hour among its stone lanes and small shops. It’s an easy place to browse at your own pace, though some shops may open later in the morning.
Have lunch at Feniqia by the harbor, where you can order Lebanese dishes with a view; budget roughly US$15–30. Afterward, take an unhurried 45-minute stroll around Byblos Harbor, a lovely spot to watch the boats and enjoy the sea air. The site, souk, restaurant, and harbor are all close enough to explore on foot.
Head to the Jounieh Bay waterfront for a scenic pause—allow about 30–45 minutes from Byblos by car, then roughly an hour to enjoy the views. It’s a pleasant way to break up the return to Beirut, which typically takes another 30–45 minutes, traffic permitting. After a full day out, keep the evening easy: have dinner near your accommodation rather than planning another cross-city outing.
Allow 25–40 minutes to reach Jounieh from Byblos, then head to the Téléphérique de Jounieh for the cable-car ride uphill. Budget about 1½ hours including possible waits; the ride is all about the changing views over the bay and coastline. Before setting out, check that the cable car is operating and confirm where to board, as service can be affected by maintenance or weather.
At the top, visit Our Lady of Lebanon and its observation area, then linger at the Harissa viewpoint rather than rushing straight back down. Allow around an hour for the shrine and another 45 minutes for the panoramas. Continue by cable car if it is running, or take a taxi between the hilltop and Jounieh; access and operating arrangements can vary, so check locally. Keep a little flexibility for queues and the walk between viewpoints.
Take a taxi down to Maison du Vin in Jounieh—roughly 20–30 minutes from Harissa, depending on traffic—for a leisurely Lebanese lunch. Expect about $20–35 per person, depending on what you order. Later, settle in at a busy, well-reviewed Jounieh waterfront café for a drink and an easy hour watching the bay; café prices vary, but a coffee or soft drink is usually a modest stop. From the waterfront, allow around 30–45 minutes by taxi back to Beirut, with extra time if traffic is heavy.
After arriving in Batroun, start with an easy wander through Batroun Old Souk. Its compact lanes are good for browsing small shops and taking a coffee break; allow about an hour, more if you want to look around without rushing. Then walk to St. Stephen’s Cathedral, the striking stone church near the old town. Spend 30–45 minutes there, keeping in mind that access to the interior can depend on services or opening arrangements.
Settle in for lunch at Colonel Beer, a leafy, relaxed spot known for its locally brewed beer and casual food. Budget around $15–30 and allow about 1½ hours. Afterward, walk toward the waterfront to see the Phoenician Wall and enjoy a short coastal stroll; the sea-facing views are especially lovely in the afternoon.
Finish at a beachside café in Batroun for a drink and a little downtime by the water. Choose a busy venue, and confirm your pickup with your driver before settling in—taxis can be less predictable along the coast, particularly later in the day. Allow about an hour here, then head back while there’s still time to avoid making the return feel rushed.
Allow 2–2½ hours to reach Beiteddine from Batroun with your prearranged driver, then spend about two hours at Beiteddine Palace. Its courtyards, intricate mosaics and mountain setting make it one of the Chouf’s most rewarding visits. Check current opening hours, admission and access before setting out, and carry some cash for entrance fees and small purchases; keep the driver available rather than relying on finding a taxi in the hills.
Continue about 20–30 minutes to Deir al-Qamar’s historic center for an easy stroll among its honey-colored stone buildings and quiet lanes; allow around 1½ hours, with time to pause for photos. Visit Fakhreddine Mosque nearby—admire the exterior respectfully if it isn’t open to visitors, and dress modestly. Then settle in for a relaxed lunch at a well-reviewed local Lebanese restaurant or terrace in town; budget roughly $15–30 per person, depending on what you order. Ask your driver or accommodation to recommend a spot and call ahead if you have a particular restaurant in mind.
Finish at the Deir al-Qamar viewpoint, allowing about 45 minutes to take in the Chouf landscape without rushing. The return drive to Beirut is roughly 1–1½ hours, but allow extra time for traffic and agree on the pickup point and fare with your driver before exploring; a full-day private driver is the most practical option here, as public transport connections are limited. Check the return route and conditions with the driver, and aim to leave with daylight to spare.
Once you’re settled in Beirut, take a taxi to the Beirut National Museum in Badaro; allow about two hours for its archaeological collection, including the remarkably preserved Phoenician finds. Check current opening hours before you go, as schedules can change. Afterward, stay in Badaro for an easy café break and a little neighborhood wandering. Its leafy streets and casual cafés make a pleasant contrast to the museum; budget around $5–12 for coffee and a light bite.
Take a taxi from Badaro to Hamra Street—usually about 15–25 minutes, depending on traffic—and give yourself roughly 1½ hours to browse bookshops and local stores, stopping whenever a café catches your eye. Later, it’s about 10–15 minutes by taxi to Raouché and Pigeon Rocks. Walk the seafront at an unhurried pace and stay for the changing light over the cliffs; the Corniche is a lovely place to pause, though the path can be busy near sunset.
Return to Hamra for dinner at a lively café or restaurant with shisha. Choose a busy, established spot and ask for an indoor table or a well-lit terrace if you’re dining solo; dinner is typically around $15–30, with shisha extra, so check the menu and current prices before ordering. Use a reputable app-based ride or have the venue call a taxi for your return, and keep your phone and belongings close in busy areas.
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