With a rich cultural heritage and many ancient buildings still standing from key eras throughout the country’s history, Lebanon has no shortage of places of interest for those who enjoy sightseeing excursions. No less than five regions within the country have been given World Heritage Site status, making Lebanon one of the world’s top destinations for the viewing of historic artefacts and constructions.
 Aanjar
In the same vein as Byblos, Tripoli and Baalbeck, Aanjar is an ancient city where visitors embarking on walking tours are rewarded with a plethora of fascinating and historic sights. The greater part of the city’s ruins were discovered accidentally in 1949 and since then, it has become such a place of interest that it has been accredited with World Heritage Site status. The ruins cover a massive 114,000 square metres and are set within seven metre high fortified walls which in themselves are of significant historical interest.
 Baalbeck
Situated in the Békaa Valley, the city of Baalbek dates back to Phoenician times and is a World Heritage Site. It was originally used as a centre for worshipping the god Baal, who was known as the Phoenician Sun God. The city is home to some stunning temples and remains, many of which date back to Roman times and constitute some of the finest examples of Roman architecture in the world. Visitors will find ample opportunity to get their cameras out and get some quality snaps; that is when they’ve gotten past their amazement at how ancient civilisations were capable of such amazing feats of engineering.
 Byblos
Said to be one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Byblos is now a modern port city but it rests upon the foundations of the ruins of many previous civilisations dating as far back as the Stone Age. Visitors to the city can get a true sense of Lebanese history via its varied selection of buildings and constructions. Take the time to make a self guided tour of the city and you’ll undoubtedly come across a variety of fascinating ancient sights, many which are well worth getting the camera out for.
 Tripoli
Tripoli is an ancient city that dates back as far as the Mameluke era (14th to 15th centuries) and is home to a variety of fascinating sights. Many of the city’s small districts or quarters feature aspects of trades from yesteryears and with many classical buildings also still in existence, it’s easy for visitors to get a feeling for what the city once was many years ago. The picturesque Taynal mosque makes it onto the list of must-see places in Tripoli as does the fascinating Crusader Castle. The Hammam en-Nouri meanwhile is the closest thing you’ll get to seeing an old fashioned Arab style bath house and while this building is greatly in need of renovation, it’s still well worth a visit.
Tyre
The city of Tyre is most famous for its attack by Alexander the Great which subsequently led to the collapse of Phoenician control in the area.
Top Things to Do
 Go skiing in Faraya Mzaar
From mid-December through until April, the Faraya Mzaar ski resort (situated 1850m to 2465m above sea-level) is a hive of snow sporting activity with skiers and snowboard enthusiasts arriving to make use of its 42 slopes of varying difficulties. Over 60kms of the resort’s runs are illuminated, allowing for night skiing and making this without doubt, the most popular ski resort in the country. If you are a winter sport fan and are bored of the regular Alpine resorts, then Faraya Mzaar in Lebanon is the ideal place to take a ski holiday.
Take a hot air balloon ride over Beirut
For a reasonable fee, which has been known to change without notice, visitors can get an entirely different perspective over the city and its surroundings while enjoying the thrill of a traditional hot air balloon ride. As the balloon soars high above the city, views available include the Corniche, downtown Beirut, popular landmarks such as the Phoenicia hotel and more distant destinations such as the Jounieh gulf.
Visit the Beirut Corniche
The focal point of human activity and interactivity in Lebanon’s capital city is the Corniche area which stretches along the seafront north and west of the city and travels as far down as the Rafiq Hariri beach. Regardless of the time of day, the Corniche buzzes with life however if you really want to see it at it’s busiest then you should take a trip down there of an evening when you’ll get the chance to partake in some fascinating people watching. Lebanese citizens from all walks of life can be found along the Corniche, some just using it as a thoroughfare en route to another destination while others just hang around watching and enjoying being watched. The Corniche is the place to head if you want to catch a true sense of everyday Lebanese life.
 Visit the National Museum
Situated in Beirut, the National Museum gives visitors an insight into the history of the county via a large and varied collection of artefacts that include some from as far back as the middle-oriental cultures of the prehistory and others from the more recent past. Some 100,000 objects comprise the museum’s collection, many of which were lost during the war and have been painstakingly sought out from around the world and returned to their country of origin. This museum is fascinating introduction to the rich and varied history and heritage of the country of Lebanon.
Visit the souks in Tripoli
Souks are covered markets that are famous throughout Lebanon but especially so in the city of Tripoli where there are perhaps more than in any other city. If you enjoy shopping for souvenirs and knick-knacks then these markets are the place to head and if you’ve a list of gifts to get for family and friends back home, then equally you’d be in the right place. Souks at Attareen, Bazerkan, Haraj, Kameh, Nahhasin and Sayyaghin are among the most popular that the city has to offer.
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