I wrote this travel guide in 2023 with tremendous excitement, specifically for all my family and friends who will be visiting Lebanon and Beirut for the very first time to celebrate my wedding! The heart and soul of this guide revolves around Batroun (the wedding venue location), the captivating city of Beirut and Lebanon in general. However, I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm and decided to share this publicly, welcoming anyone with an interest in visiting the country. Brace yourselves for an incredible adventure, as I sincerely hope you’ll find this guide an invaluable companion on your journey!
This post will focus on sights and experiences in Batroun.
Must See Sights and Experiences in Batroun
Batroun is a coastal city in northern Lebanon and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The old city and souk is extremely walkable and no cars are allowed. You will see golf carts, vespas and bikes around (they can be rented).
Beaches
The wedding venue has a private beach and pool but if you are interested in exploring other beaches in the city. There are a number of free and famous ones. Click on the individual image to see the caption / location.
- Highlight: They have food and drinks as well as paddleboards, jetskis and kayaks for rent.
- Location: Blu Bay Beach is a 4 minute walk from the hotel. Entrance is free.
- Highlight: Bahsa Beach is a public, free beach located directly in the old part of Batroun. There are quite a number of restaurants and cafes serving the area. There is a historical landmark called the Maqaad el Meer (The Prince’s Seat Rock).
- Location: It is a 7 minute walk from the hotel. If you are following Google Maps, walk to this pin.
- Highlight: If you are feeling a bit adventurous and don’t mind scaling rocks, Joining beach is not too far from the hotel. It is not a sandy beach and there aren’t many restaurant or food options nearby but if you want spectacular rock formation photos, go there and Fadous.
- Location: It is a 20 minute walk and next to the Fadous sea caves.
- Highlight: Nowhere is amazing, colorful and is free to enter. It’s a lot of fun and a bit more of a party vibe.
- Location: It is an 11-15 minute drive.
- Highlight: A luxurious beach retreat offering stunning views, comfortable lounging areas, a spa, and an infinity pool you can view the mediterannean.
- Location: It is a 45 minute walk or 5 minute drive. Next to Casa De Thoum and White Beach.
- Highlight: A pristine pebble beach with crystal-clear waters, perfect for sunbathing and relaxing by the sea.
- Location: It is a 45 minute walk or 5 minute drive. Next to Casa De Thoum, Kai Beach, and Orchid Beach Lounge.
- Highlight: A hidden pebble beach gem surrounded with a long pool to stare into the mediterranean sea.
- Location: It is a 45 minute walk or 5 minute drive. Next to Casa De Thoum, White Beach, and Orchid Beach Lounge.
- Highlight: A beach club, night club vibe.
- Location: It is a 45 minute walk or 5 minute drive. Next to Casa De Thoum, White Beach, and Orchid Beach Lounge. Although, a bit closer than the rest to Batroun.
- Highlight: Amazing beach and pool club with terrassed pools giving Greek island vibes, offering breathtaking views of the Mediterranean Sea and a tranquil atmosphere.
- Location: It is a 2 hour walk or 13 minute drive. North of Batroun.
- Highlight: Amazing private beach and pool club, live music from time to time, excellent sunset view.
- Location: Soult Beach is a 15 minute walk from the hotel.
Enjoy exploring these wonderful beaches in Batroun!
Landmarks in Batroun
Here are some of the many landmarks to see within the city of Batroun, Lebanon. There are no entrance fees!
- Highlight: Explore the ancient Phoenician Wall, a historical site that dates back to the 4th century BC, offering stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea.
- Highlight: Visit the picturesque Our Lady of the Sea Church, perched on a cliff overlooking the sea, known for its beautiful architecture and serene atmosphere.
- Notes: You can see this in the same trip as the Phoenician Sea Wall and The Prince’s Seat. This is a very small historic church.
- Highlight: Discover Maqaad el Meer, a unique natural rock formation where it is said that the prince of the area used to sit and observe the sea, providing a scenic spot for relaxation and contemplation.
- Highlight: Wander through the narrow streets of Batroun’s Old Souks, filled with traditional shops, cafes, and a vibrant atmosphere, offering a glimpse into the city’s local culture.
- Notes: LOTS TO DO, EAT, SHOP, DRINK!
- Highlight: Admire the grand St. Stephen’s Cathedral, a historic church with its distinctive blue dome, housing beautiful religious artwork and serving as a significant religious site in Batroun.
- Notes: You have to take a photo with the boats in front it from the Batroun lighthouse. It’s gorgeous!
- Highlight: Visit the Batroun Lighthouse, an iconic landmark standing at the entrance of the city’s harbor, providing a picturesque spot to enjoy panoramic views of the coastline.
- Highlight: Explore the Batroun Citadel, an ancient fortress that dates back to the Crusader period, offering panoramic views of the city and the coast.
- Notes: Incredible! It is an hour walk uphill.
- Highlight: Take a stroll along the charming Old Port of Batroun, lined with fishing boats, quaint cafes, and seafood restaurants, immersing yourself in the town’s maritime heritage.
- Highlight: Marvel at the well-preserved Roman Theatre, a historical site showcasing ancient architecture and providing insight into the city’s Roman past.
- Highlight: As you walk around the Old Souk, pay attention to the stones as many of them are part of an old fort on top of which the Souk was built.
- Highlight: Experience wines from one of the highest altitude vineyards in the world. Spectacular view and location for a wine trip. An altitude of 1,800m!
- Notes: This is a 15 minute drive from Batroun, highly recommended.
- Highlight: Highly recommend if you are interested in photography and art. The photographic exhibition at the Nabu Museum focuses on Beirut from 1840 to 1918, showcasing photographs, plans, and maps, along with two stunning panoramic watercolours from 1845. Recently, the museum acquired a special collection of photographs taken by Louis Vignes in the early 1860s, featuring rare panoramic scenes of Beirut and portraits of notable figures from Mount Lebanon’s feudal families in traditional attire. This exhibition offers a unique glimpse into the city’s history and cultural heritage.
- Notes: This is a 15 minute drive that can be easily paired with Rocca Marina Beach Club.
- Highlight: Musée Henry is a house made from 100 demolished traditional houses in Beirut.
- Notes: Entrance fee is approximately $5 USD. You will need to book your visit.
- Highlight: Absolutely gorgoeus historic monastery perched on a high cliff. Worth it for the view alone.
- Notes: This is a 15 minute drive from Batroun. You can pair this with a visit to Nowhere Beach.
- Highlight: Historic village with several Pheonician, Greek and Roman archaelogical ruins. There is a tiny church considered the oldest Chapel-Church dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Lady of the Wind. The medieval paintings that adorn its ancient walls can still be admired to date. There is a historic salt production in this village and a massive beach resort called Las Salinas.
- Highlight: Historic salt production in Lebanon near Anfeh Village. You can pair a trip to Anfeh with a visit to this salt production.
Please note that the entrance fees mentioned are estimates and may vary. Also, it’s always a good idea to check the opening hours and availability before visiting any landmark.
What to Eat
In Batroun
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Batroun Old Souks You will find lots of excellent small eateries, cafes and restaurants in the souks. See what you can find!
- Highlight: Enjoy a unique dining experience at Colonel Beer, a brewery and restaurant located in an old Lebanese house. Indulge in delicious food, paired perfectly with their crafted beers.
- Location: 5 minute walk. Only a couple of steps away from the wedding hotel.
- Highlight: This charming seafood restaurant offers a picturesque setting by the sea. Savor the catch of the day while enjoying the sound of waves crashing against the shore. The view is fantastic.
- Location: 10 minute walk from the wedding venue.
- Highlight: A branch of the meat & fish shop chain. Serving a daily menu of MediterrAsian dishes, adapted seasonally. Dishes feature seasonal goods, local produce and a wide range of exclusive ingredients curated specifically for our market.
- Location: 8 minute walk from the wedding venue.
- Highlight: An old institutional restaurant in the area! 42 years serving fresh fish, pasta, and Lebanese dishes.
- Location: 20 minute walk from the wedding venue.
- Highlight: A popular chain serving traditional manouche and Lebanese food with a modern twist. They also have a wild zaatar manouche that is very tasty.
- Location: In front of the wedding venue.
- Highlight: If you are looking for a quick America-style meal, Crepaway is a local chain serving burgers, salads, sandwiches, pasta, etc.
- Location: In front of the wedding venue.
- Highlight: If you are looking for a quick America-style diner meal, Roadster Diner is a local chain serving angus beef burgers, salads, sandwiches, pasta, etc.
- Location: In front of the wedding venue.
- Highlight: The restaurant inside the Capo Batroun resort partnering with well-known Lebanese Chef Youssef Akiki. Watch this Instagram Reel
- Location: 10 minute walk away from the wedding venue.
Just a bit outside
- Highlight: A popular spot among locals and visitors alike, Pierre & Friends offers a relaxed atmosphere and a diverse menu. Enjoy their wood-fired pizzas, refreshing cocktails, and live music performances
- Location: 5 minute by car, worth the drive! You can pair this with a visit to some of the beach clubs nearby.
Where to Drink
- Highlight: A historic location with some of the best lemonade you will ever have. Make sure not to miss the mini-musuem inside the store.
- Location: Five minute walk from the wedding hotel.
- Highlight: Ranked among the Top 10 Best International Cocktail Bars in the Middle East & Africa (MEA) by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation.
- Location: Three minute walk from the wedding hotel.
- Highlight: Cool rooftop lounge on top of Le Marin Restaurant in front of the famous Bahsa beach.
- Location: Five minute walk from the wedding hotel.
- Highlight: Fantastic restaurant in a branch new beach resort (Capo) to grab a drink. This location won an Architecture Design magazine award!
- Location: Ten minute walk from the wedding hotel.
- Highlight: Fantastic coffee spot for lattes. Open late as well!
- Location: Five minute walk from the wedding hotel.
- Highlight: Cool concept! Window offers your favorite wine cup, to-go! Watch this video for instructions.
- Location: Five minute walk from the wedding hotel.
- Highlight: Experience wines from one of the highest altitude vineyards in the world. Spectacular view and location for a wine trip. An altitude of 1,800m!
- Location: This is a 15 minute drive from Batroun, highly recommended.
- Highlight: Fantastic cocktail bar in a beach resort. It is a
- Location: This is a 15 minute drive from Batroun.
Getting Around Batroun
The wedding venue is located in Batroun. Batroun is extremely walkable. In the old city, you will not see cars because the roads are too narrow for the most part. You can rent a golf cart or a vespa or bicycle at the local merchants. Frankly for the NYC crew, this is unnecessary as y’all are used to walking 10,000 steps a day. Just walk.
Bikes and Private Tours
Routes is innovating the concept of touring in Lebanon and is based in Batroun right in front of the San Stephano hotel. They offer bicycle, kayak, standup paddle, golf cart and hiking tours.
Taxi
Taxis offer the easiest way to get around between neighborhoods. There are two kinds of taxies in Beirut: service and taxi cab. Service is equivalent to Uber Pool without an app. I would highly recommend you use Allo Taxi or Uber. Allo Taxi is highly reliable and reasonably priced. They are way easier to spot than Ubers and have standard cars with standardized colors. The app works very well, you pay in cash (this is why it is cheaper) and you are given the price for your route before you book (like Uber).
Alternative Hotels
If you would like to stay at a different hotel than the wedding hotel for a longer stay, here are a few recommendations:
- Location: <5 min walk from the wedding venue (next door).
- Highlight: Enjoy a relaxing stay with a private beach, outdoor pool, spa, and breathtaking sea views.
- Location: In the middle of Batroun, <10 min walking from the wedding venue.
- Highlight: Immerse yourself in luxury at this hotel offering stylish rooms, a beach club, and a vibrant atmosphere.
- Location:: In the middle of Batroun, <10 min walking from the wedding venue.
- Highlight: Diaspora Village (DV) is a project by Lebanese Diaspora Energy aiming to create a cohesive community hub for the Lebanese Diaspora in their homeland. It offers various facilities including a museum, library, guest house, multipurpose hall, outdoor square, café, gift shop, bakery, studio, and houses for Lebanese diaspora members. DV serves as a gathering place for sharing experiences, organizing events, lectures, and maintaining connections between the diaspora, their homeland, and their countries of residency.
- Location: In the middle of Batroun, <15 min walk from the wedding venue.
- Highlight: Indulge in a tranquil getaway at this elegant villa-style hotel featuring a lovely garden, outdoor pool, and serene surroundings.
- Location: Slightly outside Batroun, <20 min walk from the wedding venue.
- Highlight: Unwind in a beachfront retreat offering comfortable accommodations, direct access to the shoreline, and stunning sunset views.
- Location: You will need a car ride to the wedding venue.
- Highlight: Gorgeous hotel! Experience a cozy and charming stay at this boutique hotel, known for its personalized service and warm ambiance.
Other Useful Places
Need a supermarket? Le Charcutier Aoun is nearby, is a Western-style supermarket, and about a 12 minute walk from the wedding venue.
The closet pharmacy to the wedding venue is Dagher Pharmacy.