Beirut/Downtown

Landmarks

• Nejmeh SquareThe recently renovated central square, with the famous clock tower built during the French Mandate.

• Martyr's Squaresynonymous with political demonstrations, Martyr's Square has a very rich history, and is home to the bullet-holed martyr's statue. Occasionally out-door art exhibitions are featured here.

• Solidere DistrictThe French Mandate historic city center, which was destroyed during the civil war, and recently renovated and transformed into a chic high-end shopping and cafe quarter.

• Saifi Village

  address: Quartier des Arts
  This is a newly built neighborhood just east of downtown with traditional architecture and shops featuring design oriented products such as fashion, decor, and furniture. On Saturdays, the Souk el Tayeb, farmer's market is a great place to buy local, organic produce.

Museums and galleries

• Planet Discovery

  phone: +961 1 980650
  address: Omar El Daouk Street
  Children's Science Museum.

• Robert Mouawad Museum

  phone: +961 1 980970
  Army road, Zokak el Blat, Private historic art museum that includes ancient books, pottery, carpets, religious icons, antiques, jewelery.

• Aida Cherfan Gallery

  phone: +961 1 983111, +961 1 983222
  address: 62, Hussein el Ahdab Street, Nejmeh Square Sector.11, Downtown Beirut

• Galerie Epreuve D'Artiste

  phone: +961 1 975030
  address: Quartier des Arts, Saifi Village, Downtown Beirut

Roman and Byzantine structures

• Roman Berytus Columns - A line of five columns, discovered in 1963. These columns, found to the left of St. George Maronite Cathedral, were once part of the grand colonnade of Roman Berytus.
• Roman Exedra - Discovered west of the St. Georges Maronite Cathedral, this semi-circular cultural building was moved in 1963 to Blvd. Charles Helou near the Eastern entrance to the modern port.
• Roman Baths - Behind Bank Street are remains of the Roman Bath which once served the city’s population. Originally discovered in 1968-69, it underwent a thorough cleaning and further excavation in 1995-1997.
• Roman Basilica Colonnade - Found in the 1940s between Nejmeh Square and the Great Mosque, this five column colonnade is part of the Roman Basilica. The columns were later erected across from the National Museum on Damascus Street.
• Byzantine floor mosaics These mosaics came from a Byzantine church of the 5th century A.D. They were moved from Khalde South of Beirut to a site near the National Museum in the 1950s.

Crusader, Mamluke and Ottoman structures

• Medieval Wall - An excavated wall dating from Crusader and Mamluke times can be seen North of Weygand Street along the old Patriarch Howayyek Street.
• Crusader Castle - A large Crusader land castle once stood near the present port area. Excavations in 1995 revealed a large well-preserved section of the foundation wall complete with Roman column drums used as bondstones or reinforcement.
• The Grand Serail - Constructed in 1853 as an Ottoman military barracks, this building was the headquarters of the French governor during the French Mandate. After Lebanon’s Independence, it became the Governmental Palace.
• Ottoman Military Hospital - Just in front of the Grand Serail, this large building was constructed in 1860 as a military hospital. From the French Mandate Period until the 1960s it served as Law Courts. Completely renovated, it now houses the Council for Development and Reconstruction.
• Ottoman Clock Tower - Located near the Grand Serail, this tower was built in 1897 and restored in 1994.

Historic churches

• Cathedral of Saint GeorgesUntil the recent war in Lebanon this Greek-Orthodox church, built in 1767, was the oldest functioning church in Beirut. The decorations on its walls were lost during the war. The cathedral has recently been restored.

• Cathedral of Saint EliasThis mid 19th century Greek-Catholic church with its vaulted interior was once decorated with a marble iconostasis.

• The Saint Louis Church of the CapucinsInaugurated in 1863, this church served the foreign community of the Latin rite in Beirut.

• The Evangelical ChurchChurch built in 1867 by a group of Evangelical Anglo-American missionaries.

• The Maronite Cathedral of St. GeorgeEmir Bechir Street, Downtown Beirut. Built in 1888, the style of this church is neo-classical. The cathedral was completely restored in 2000.

Historic mosques

• Al Omari MosqueOriginally the Crusader Cathedral of St. John (1113-1150 A.D.), the building was transformed into the city’s Grand Mosque by the Mamlukes in 1291.

• Zawiyat Ibn Al-ArraqBuilt in 1517 by Mohammed Ibn Al-Arrak Addimashqi, This building was originally an Islamic law school and continued as an Islamic scnctuary into late Ottoman times. It was rediscovered during the post-war clean-up process in 1991.

• Emir Assaf MosqueThis was built by Emir Mansour ‘Assaf (1572–1580) on the site of the Byzantine Church of the Holy Savior. Located opposite the Municipality Building.

• Amir Munzer MosqueThe Amir Munzer Mosque was built in 1620 on an earlier structure. Also called Nafoura (fountain) Mosque, there are eight Roman columns in its courtyard.

• Majidiyyeh MosqueThis mosque was constructed in the mid 19th century and named after the Ottoman Sultan Abdul-Majid I (1839–1861).

• Downtown Beirut Official Site

  address: Beirut
  Downtown Beirut lebanon is a great site to find anything you want about beirut, lebanon, any restaurant, Bank, insurance, events, doctors and news

• The Music Hall

  address: Center
  One of the most happening nightlife spots in Beirut. Playing jazz, pop, ethnic, belcanto.

• Souks de BeirutA huge mall in downtown featuring high end, international brand stores such as H&M, Diesel, Dolce&Gabbana, etc. There you can also find shops of some of the best watchmakers including Rolex, Omega, Officine Panerai and Jaeger-LeCoultre to name a few. The architecture of the mall is stunning and it's mostly outdoors.

• ABC Beauté

  phone: +961 1 991888
  address: Bab Idriss
  Offering a wide range of international cosmetics and perfume brands, nail bar, professional hairdressers and stylists.

• Al RifaiA store selling nuts and speciality Lebanese sweets

• The Virgin Megastore

  phone: +961 1 999 666
  A four story haven for books, music, movies, and electronics. International and local music/movies are on sale.

• Rooly Booly

• Achrafieh

  phone: +961 1 2 18 18 2
  Toyshop

• Irisrooftop bar, overlooking downtown and the mountains.

• TabooA popular club

• I-BarAn upstairs bar with many events.

• Citrus/Pure

Budget

• Al Nazih Pension

  phone: +961 3 475136
  address: Bld. 3, Rue 62 Chanty, Secteur 29, Gemmayze
  A budget option. The hotel is situated two minutes' walk from Downtown and also very close to the Charles Hellou bus station. All rooms have satellite TV and A/C. Dorm beds are $17, single room $30, double rooms are between 35 and $50. They also have a four bed room for $70. Except the owner to charge you for toilet paper and use of internet. No kitchen and no discount available for longer stay.

• Saifi Urban Gardens

  phone: +961 1 562509
  address: Pasteur Street
  Is arguably the best budget and value for money option in all Beirut, the hostel is a part of an Arabic language school and is involved in a series of artistic and educational activities. Dorm beds 18, 16, $12 (daily rate for a day stay/ for a week stay, for a month stay), single $41, double $45. Internet, breakfast and drinking mineral water are included in the price.
• Talal's New Hotel, Charles Helou st., Beirut (Beirut Port area, opposite Valli & Valli), Tel-fax :+961(0)1 564597 was a favorite for backpackers and budget travelers but at present it is an option to avoid. Reports of staff aggression and violence have recently been reported. The hygiene of the place is very poor.

Mid-range

• Ramada

  phone: +961 1 990 299
  address: Chateaubriand Street Solidere

Splurge

• Etoile Suites Hotel

  phone: +961 1 976 197
  address: Hussain Al Ahdab street

• Markazia Monroe Suites

  phone: +961 1 991 200
  address: Syria Street . Solidere

• Radisson Blu Martinez Hotel

  phone: +961 1 368 111
  address: Ain El Mreysseh

• Le GrayStriving to be the best hotel in Beirut

• Four Seasons Hotel Beirut

  phone: +961 1 761 000
  address: Minet El Hosn

• Grand Hyatt

Internet

• Costa Coffee, just off of Nejmeh Square, offers free Wifi to customers. There is also a Starbucks close by.