Byblos

Byblos is a small city along the Lebanese coast, about 35km northeast of Beirut. It has a beautiful historic core and an ancient harbour. The archaeological area of Byblos includes a 12th century crusader castle and ruins of ancient temples and Bronze age settlements. Byblos has been settled for over 7000 years and has seen Phoenician, Greek, Roman and Crusader periods. It has been a UNESCO world heritage site since 1984.
Byblos is the most picturesque coastal city in Lebanon and attracts a large number of tourists every year. As a consequence, restaurants in the historic core are quite expensive.
From the entrance of the old town, visitors walk through a souq in a pedestrian area past souvenir shops and reach the entry point to the castle and the historical area. From here a narrow toad leads further down to the harbour of Byblos.
How to get to Byblos
Byblos can be reached by car (35 km, about 40 minutes), bus or shared taxi from Beirut. It can be easily visited as a daytrip from Beirut. On the way back to Beirut in the evening there are frequently traffic jams along the coastal road.
Accommodation
There are a number of mid-range hotels in Byblos itself and near Byblos. Alternatively visitors can spend the night in Batroun, which is about 20 minutes by car north of Byblos.