Best Time to Visit Ra's Bayrut

Spring and autumn: the easy seasons

March to June and October to November are the months we'd pick. In April the days sit around 22°C, and you can walk the Corniche (the seafront promenade) without melting or getting soaked. Rain is rare by May. By June the sea is warm enough for a proper swim.

Ra's Bayrut is the western tip of the city, so this is where you'll find the Pigeon Rocks at Raouche, the AUB campus and Hamra's cafés. Spring suits wandering. Autumn does too, and October still feels like summer in the afternoons. November turns greyer and wetter, but the walks still work.

Fancy a swim? Late May to October is your window. September is a good quiet pick, since it's still warm and the school-holiday rush is over.

Summer: hot, bright and busy

July and August are the hottest months, tied at 32°C by day. Nights stay warm too, and it feels sticky, especially near the water. It doesn't rain at all, so every day is a beach day. Midday is slow. Locals eat late and head out once the sun drops.

This is high season. Lebanese families and people returning from abroad fill the city, and the coast gets crowded. Beach clubs and seafront cafés are lively, but you'll share the Corniche in the evening. If you want sightseeing as well as swimming, go to the National Museum in the heat of the afternoon, when it's cool inside.

Winter: wet and quiet

December to February is the rainy stretch. January is the wettest month, with 120 mm over 13 days, and the days stay around 16°C. It's not freezing, but grey, windy afternoons are common. Sea swimming is off the table.

The upside is space. Hotels are calmer, and cafés in Hamra feel cosy rather than packed. Rain tends to come in bursts, so you'll often get dry spells between them. Museums, bookshops and long lunches work well here. Try a hot bowl of fatteh (chickpeas, yoghurt and toasted bread) on a wet day.

Keen on snow? Lebanon's mountain ski resorts are a drive from the city, usually in the colder months. Check road and snow conditions before you set off.

Events worth planning around

The Beirut Marathon is usually held in autumn, and it closes roads near the seafront. Christmas and Easter are big for local families, and Beirut's Christian and Muslim communities both mark their holidays. Ramadan moves each year, and daytime opening hours can shift, though evenings are lively. Check dates before you book.