Beirut

Lebanon's capital and one of the oldest inhabited cities on the Mediterranean, Beirut is a vibrant coastal city that has long combined trade, culture, and resilience, once nicknamed the «Paris of the Middle East».

أهم المعلومات

One of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, mentioned as Beruta some 3,400 years ago

Nicknamed the «Paris of the Middle East» during its peak cultural and financial era

Home to the neighboring Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque and St. George Maronite Cathedral

The National Museum of Beirut holds rare Phoenician and Roman artifacts

Pigeon Rocks (Raouché) is one of Lebanon's most iconic natural landmarks

Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, situated on a small peninsula overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. It is among the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, mentioned as «Beruta» in the Egyptian Amarna letters dating to the 14th century BC, and has been shaped over time by Phoenician, Roman, Arab, and Ottoman civilizations.

A City of Resilience on the Mediterranean

Beirut flourished in the mid-20th century as a leading financial, cultural, and media hub of the region, earning it the nickname «Paris of the Middle East», before enduring difficult years during the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990). Despite repeated setbacks, including the 2020 Beirut port explosion, the city has remained a symbol of vitality and recovery, and its historic downtown has seen extensive restoration of its Ottoman- and French-era buildings.

Historic downtown Beirut with its restored Ottoman and French-era architecture
The famous Pigeon Rocks (Raouché) overlooking the Mediterranean
The National Museum of Beirut, home to the region's ancient artifacts
The seaside Corniche, a daily gathering place for residents

Beirut is home to the neighboring Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque and St. George Maronite Cathedral at the heart of the city, a striking symbol of Lebanon's religious and cultural diversity. The city remains an important center for publishing, the arts, and nightlife in the Arab world.