The Republic of Lebanon (Arabic: لبنان) is a small country (10,452km² in area) with 3.7 million inhabitants) within the Middle East region with its capital being Beirut. It has a long coastline on the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and shares a long land border with its much larger neighbour Syria to the north and the east, a much shorter (and currently "hot") border with Israel to the south.
Lebanon is a country with a long and rich history. Phoenician, Egyptian, Greek, Persian, Roman, Arab, Crusader, and Ottoman ruins are scattered about the country and the most important of them are easily accessible. Byblos, Beirut, Tyre and Sidon are among the oldest continuously populated cities in the world. There are Roman baths in Beirut, as well as the Cardio Maximus - to name a few. Byblos is also rich in Crusader ruins and for a small fee you can view them (they are located near the bazaar). There are a lot of ancient mosques, synagogues, and churches in Lebanon. Also be sure to visit the Place des Martyrs (Martyrs' Square) in Beirut, a statue erected in memory of the Lebanese nationalists who were hanged by the Ottomans for revolting during the first World War.
The people of Lebanon comprise a wide variety of ethnic groups and religions, with the majority split between Christians (Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Greek-Catholic Melkites, Armenians, Protestant etc), Muslims (Shi'a, Sunni, Alawites) and Druzes. The most recent demographics study, conducted by Statistics Lebanon indicate that Muslims make up 54% of Lebanese population, 40.5% are Christians, and approximately 5.5% are Druze. Other groups include a large number of Syrian refugees (between 1,200,000 and 1,600,000 as of spring 2015) and Palestinian refugees in the country (over 250,000).
People are very easy-going and welcoming. Asking someone on the street for directions is easy, since most of them will do their best to help you. Political and religious questions may be sensitive topics of discussion.
Lebanon is populated by very open and educated people, especially in places like Beirut, Mount Lebanon and some of the larger cities. Attitudes and behaviors tend to be more conservative in the Bekaa Valley and rural north and south.
Lebanon and Beirut were once called the Switzerland and Paris of the Middle East. The recent wars have diminished this status, but the Lebanese have learned to adapt. Their pursuit of happiness and fun overshadows their financial capabilities and political problems.
Lebanon has a number of both Christian and Islamic holidays. Holidays that are observed by the Lebanese Government are indicated in bold:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Epifany & Armenian Christmas (January 6)- Christian religious observances.
St. Valentine's Day (February 14)
St. Maroun's Day (February 9)- Christian religious observances.
Prophet's Day (March 9)- Islamic religious observances
Annunciation- Christian religious observances.
Good Friday- Christian religious observances.
Easter (A Sunday in March or April)- Christian religious observances.
Labor Day (May 1)- most businesses and schools closed.
Liberation of the South (May 25)
St. Elias's Day (July 20)- A lot of fireworks and festivals.
National Army Day (August 1)
Assumption Day (August 15)
Ramadan (variable)-Islamic religious observances
Eid el Fiitr (variable)-Islamic religious observances
All Saints day (November 1)- Christian religious observances.
Ashouraa- Islamic religious observances
Independence Day (November 22)- All businesses and schools closed.
Eid il-Burbara or Saint Barbara's Day (December 4)- Christian religious observances.
All in all, Beirut, Lebanon's capital city, is a vibrant metropolis with enough diversions that any city lover would look for, ranking it among the Middle East's top tourist destinations. Being perched on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, Beirut has a climate that is perfect for year round visits, as it experiences all 4 seasons.
Beirut has something to offer most tastes, from roadside à la Parisienne coffee shops to rooftop open air cafes, as well as a variety of shopping venues.
Many cities in Lebanon have Westernised names which are significantly different from their Arabic names; the Roman versions of the Arabic names are given in parentheses below.
Beirut - the capital and largest city , Claim as oldest continuously inhabited city in the world
Baalbek - a Phoenician and Roman archaeological site, including the biggest temple all over the Roman Empire
Byblos (Jbeil) - another city with plenty of remains, castles and museums , another city that Claim as oldest continuously inhabited city in the world
Jounieh - known for its seaside resorts and nightclubs
Sidon (Saida) - plenty of medieval remains
Tripoli (Trablus) - still unspoilt by mass-tourism
Tyre (Sour) - has a number of ancient sites, including its Roman Hippodrome which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Zahle - capital of Bekaa Valley
Lebanon is a country with a long and rich history. Phoenician, Egyptian, Greek, Persian, Roman, Arab, Crusader, and Ottoman ruins are scattered about the country and the most important of them are easily accessible. Byblos, Beirut, Tyre and Sidon are among the oldest continuously populated cities in the world. There are Roman baths in Beirut, as well as the Cardio Maximus - to name a few. Byblos is also rich in Crusader ruins and for a small fee you can view them (they are located near the bazaar). There are a lot of ancient mosques, synagogues, and churches in Lebanon. Also be sure to visit the Place des Martyrs (Martyrs' Square) in Beirut, a statue erected in memory of the Lebanese nationalists who were hanged by the Ottomans for revolting during the first World War.
The people of Lebanon comprise a wide variety of ethnic groups and religions, with the majority split between Christians (Maronite, Greek Orthodox, Greek-Catholic Melkites, Armenians, Protestant etc), Muslims (Shi'a, Sunni, Alawites) and Druzes. The most recent demographics study, conducted by Statistics Lebanon indicate that Muslims make up 54% of Lebanese population, 40.5% are Christians, and approximately 5.5% are Druze. Other groups include a large number of Syrian refugees (between 1,200,000 and 1,600,000 as of spring 2015) and Palestinian refugees in the country (over 250,000).
People are very easy-going and welcoming. Asking someone on the street for directions is easy, since most of them will do their best to help you. Political and religious questions may be sensitive topics of discussion.
Lebanon is populated by very open and educated people, especially in places like Beirut, Mount Lebanon and some of the larger cities. Attitudes and behaviors tend to be more conservative in the Bekaa Valley and rural north and south.
Lebanon and Beirut were once called the Switzerland and Paris of the Middle East. The recent wars have diminished this status, but the Lebanese have learned to adapt. Their pursuit of happiness and fun overshadows their financial capabilities and political problems.
Lebanon has a number of both Christian and Islamic holidays. Holidays that are observed by the Lebanese Government are indicated in bold:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Epifany & Armenian Christmas (January 6)- Christian religious observances.
St. Valentine's Day (February 14)
St. Maroun's Day (February 9)- Christian religious observances.
Prophet's Day (March 9)- Islamic religious observances
Annunciation- Christian religious observances.
Good Friday- Christian religious observances.
Easter (A Sunday in March or April)- Christian religious observances.
Labor Day (May 1)- most businesses and schools closed.
Liberation of the South (May 25)
St. Elias's Day (July 20)- A lot of fireworks and festivals.
National Army Day (August 1)
Assumption Day (August 15)
Ramadan (variable)-Islamic religious observances
Eid el Fiitr (variable)-Islamic religious observances
All Saints day (November 1)- Christian religious observances.
Ashouraa- Islamic religious observances
Independence Day (November 22)- All businesses and schools closed.
Eid il-Burbara or Saint Barbara's Day (December 4)- Christian religious observances.
All in all, Beirut, Lebanon's capital city, is a vibrant metropolis with enough diversions that any city lover would look for, ranking it among the Middle East's top tourist destinations. Being perched on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, Beirut has a climate that is perfect for year round visits, as it experiences all 4 seasons.
Beirut has something to offer most tastes, from roadside à la Parisienne coffee shops to rooftop open air cafes, as well as a variety of shopping venues.
Many cities in Lebanon have Westernised names which are significantly different from their Arabic names; the Roman versions of the Arabic names are given in parentheses below.
Beirut - the capital and largest city , Claim as oldest continuously inhabited city in the world
Baalbek - a Phoenician and Roman archaeological site, including the biggest temple all over the Roman Empire
Byblos (Jbeil) - another city with plenty of remains, castles and museums , another city that Claim as oldest continuously inhabited city in the world
Jounieh - known for its seaside resorts and nightclubs
Sidon (Saida) - plenty of medieval remains
Tripoli (Trablus) - still unspoilt by mass-tourism
Tyre (Sour) - has a number of ancient sites, including its Roman Hippodrome which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Zahle - capital of Bekaa Valley
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