A day in Byblos

Hey everyone,welcome back to my blog.

Byblos is one of my favorite cities in Lebanon. It's one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and it's a UNESCO World heritage site. With its port, ruins, sandy beaches and restaurants make it an ideal tourist destination. Byblos was chosen as the second best city in the Middle East for 2012 and as the best Arab tourist city for 2013. 
Watch my vlog A day in Byblos






How to get there?

Transportation in Lebanon is a little bit complicated, but you still have few choices: 
- Rent a car (20 to 50$/day) 
- Uber, Careem or any other taxi ( 25$ from Beirut to Byblos)
- Take the Bus! (Cheapest way, but not so easy, coast 2$ from Beirut to Byblos)
It takes one hour from Beirut to Byblos without traffic.

How to get around the city?

Well, Byblos is a small city and the best way to get around is walking or biking. You can drive in the city but you'll never find the good instagrammable spots. So wear your comfy outfit and take a walk!

Where and what to do

Byblos tour will take 5 hours if you want to see everything and you'll have time to chill on the harbor. 

First stop: Saint John Mark Cathedral

A beautiful Romanesque church built in 1115 A.D situated on The de Port, between the port and the archaeological area. It was restored many times. One interesting feature is its open air domed baptistery on the northern side which dates from the original construction in 1115 A.D.

If you are interested in its history, check this link:

//www.cometolebanon.com/mount-lebanon/medieval-church-of-st-john-marc,

Second stop: The Old Souk 

It is a part of the southeast section of the historic city, near the entrance of the archaeological site, is an old market where tourists can shop for souvenirs and antiques, or simply stroll along the old cobblestone streets and enjoy the architecture. 
You can find many restaurants and open air bars that offer great food and drinks.

Third stop: The Harbor 

It's one of the main attractions of the city, filled with overlooking restaurants and yachts. It's believed to be the oldest port in the world, more than 5000 years old! It was used by Phoenicians to ship their local wine, Cedars of Lebanon and other wood to Egypt to be used in tomb construction and shipbuilding. 

Check my YouTube  Vlog  to see some hidden gems!

Last stop: The Castle

The Crusader Castle is the finest example of a new 12th century type! It houses the Byblos site museum and the famous old beach house! You will find ruins of successive civilizations linked to the history of the Mediterranean region for thousands of years.

If you're interested in History and Palaeontology, you may to your list the Wax Museum and the Fossil Museum.

Where and what to eat?

In my YouTube Vlog I recommended my favorite places to eat in Byblos. Click the link  to know more:

I hope you enjoy your next trip! Find me on Youtube, Instagram and Pinterest to be always updated!

A bientot!