Best Time to Visit Lebanon

Spring and autumn are the sweet spots

If you want easy sightseeing, aim for March to June or October to November. Days are warm but not heavy. You can walk Beirut's Corniche (the seafront promenade) without melting, and day trips to Byblos or the Jeita Grotto feel comfortable.

Our two Beirut listings, the city and Ra's Bayrut, share the same pattern. Ra's Bayrut is the western seafront district, so you'd expect the same weather. Don't plan around any difference between them.

Summer is hot, busy and good for the beach

August is the hottest month at 32°C, and the coast feels sticky, especially in the afternoon. Humidity is the real problem, more than the heat. Still, this is when beach clubs along the coast fill up and nightlife in Mar Mikhael and Gemmayzeh runs late.

Many Lebanese living abroad come home in July and August. Flights and hotels get busier, and the mood is lively. If you hate crowds, pick late May or early June instead. The sea is already swimmable, and the city is calmer.

If you plan to hike in the mountains, summer is also a good time to escape the coast. Cedars and Qadisha Valley trails are cooler than the city.

Winter is wet, quiet and cheaper

January is the wettest month, with 120 mm of rain. Expect grey days, heavy showers and a few cosy evenings in a café in Hamra. Beach days are off the table, but sightseeing is quiet. Museums such as the National Museum are a good rainy-day plan.

Winter is low season on the coast. It's high season for skiing, though. If you're travelling with snow-loving friends, the mountains above Beirut get busy at weekends.

Holidays to know about

Christmas and Easter matter here because Lebanon has large Christian and Muslim communities. Both Eid holidays, and Ramadan's fasting month, shift each year. During Ramadan, some restaurants close by day, but evenings are festive. Check the current dates and the security situation before you book, because conditions can change quickly.