Introducing this place:

Situated on the West coast of Lebanon is the largest city of Lebanon – Beirut. An interesting fact about Beirut is that it is located right at the midpoint of the Lebanese coastline. Beirut is the country’s largest as well as the major seaport. . According to sources, the metropolis was first mentioned in the ancient Egyptian tale of Tell el Amarna letters. Beirut underwent major renovations after the civil war.

Things and Sports to Do:

• Souk el Tayeb is the Lebanese version of the Western farmer’s market. Initially, this farmer’s market started as a private initiative. Souk el Tayeb takes place in the morning hours mostly between 0700 hours to 1400 hours. What can you get here? Well, you should be able to get jams, products from organic/natural fruits, traditional dishes, etc. in this market.
• The skygate is Beirut’s unique attraction. This helium balloon is tied to the ground and hovers around 500 ft. off the land. One can get a bird’s eye perspective of Beirut from this balloon. You can stay up in it for about 15 minutes daily provided that the weather conditions are good.
• The planet discovery is Beirut’s version of the children science museum. Exhibits in French, English and Arabic are displayed here. A few computers have been provided here. They are equipped with Microsoft e libraries and other softwares for children.
• The Martyr’s square is the most famous square in Beirut. Lebanese nationalists were executed here by the Ottoman’s in the year 1916. A lot of the surrounding area of this square was destroyed and it is currently being renovated. After the assassination of Rafiq Hariri in February 2005, huge crowds of mourners and demonstrators started gathering here.

Sightseeing:

• The Jeitta Grotto caves or caverns are an awesome place to check out in Beirut. These caves are located underground and are simply magnificent in nature. This part of Lebanon makes a magical trip and gives an opportunity to the visitor to become one with nature. This is an awesome geological formation. These caves are situated only 20 kilometers north of Beirut.
• The ancient ruins of Al Omari mosque are usually appealing to the curious traveler. This is one of the oldest surviving mosques in Beirut.
• The Corniche is a great place to take on the sights and sounds of Beirut. One should be able to get wonderful views of the coast as well as that of the pigeon rocks.
• The historical downtown area is yet another great place to check out while you are in the city of Beirut. This particular neighborhood was devastated by Civil war and the entire thing had to be restored. The things that were mostly restored are Al Omari Mosque, St. George’s Greek orthodox cathedral, and St. George’s Maronite Cathedral. Usually, the people of Beirut visit the downtown area to smoke the famous narghile, which is a water pipe flavored with tobacco.
• The Roman baths are yet another site to check out. These baths have been preserved in a park like setting in order to amuze the spectators.
• Ashrafiyeh is one of the neighborhoods of Beirut where the famous Sursock Museum is located. One will be able to see some winding streets as well as some famous old fashioned houses here.

Restaurants and Shopping:

The Al Balad restaurant serves Middle Eastern cuisine and is pretty popular among visitors. Crowds of all ages come to eat here. An interesting thing about this place is that it has got tasty Lebanese cuisine at an affordable price. Popular Lebanese dishes served here are the Fatteh and the Fattoush. The Al Andalus Cafe is supposed to be the friendliest place in Beirut. Here, one can get everything from Lebanese mezza to barbecue. You can also order Italian pasta at this particular place. Prices are pretty reasonable in nature. Prices are between 11 to 20 USD. The next restaurant on the list is the Al Sakhra. The Al Sakhra or rather the rock is a great place to be in. It will definitely satisfy your taste buds. The menu here is Middle Eastern in nature. Prices here range between 31 to 40 USD. Everything ranging from fish to mouth watering mezza could be found here. Few other popular restaurants are the Au Premiere and the La Paillotte. Beirut is a shopper’s Mecca. The city mall is a great place to shop since it has around 120 shops and restaurants. Shops like Bateau Rigolo, a Virgin Megastore are located here.

People and Culture:

Beirut’s population reports do not have the exact details. No population census has been taken since the year 1932. It has been estimated that the population could be somewhere between 938,940 people to about 2,012,000 people. Beirut has about nine religious sects. People here are very religious in nature. Religion plays a vital role in the family issues like marriage, divorce, etc.

Geography and Climate:

The Beirut city is bordered by mountains and has a spectacular coastline. The city is situated between two mountains: Al-Ashrafieh and Al-Musaytibah. The metropolitan area of Beirut is only 67 square kilometers. The city’s coastline has a variety of natural features. Starting from rocky beaches to sandy shores and towering cliffs, one can get it all around here.

The climate of Beirut is Mediterranean in nature. The Mediterranean climate is characterized by a hot and humid summer while the winters here and cool and rainy. The hottest month of the year is August with an average temperature being 29 degrees C. The months of January and February are the coldest months. Temperatures take a nose dive to 8 degrees C during these months.

Economy, Prices and Living Standard:

Beirut is home to the largest seaport. Due to the depth of the oceans floor, large vessels can easily enter the area which facilitates a lot of businesses. The economy gets a daily boost from the tourism industry in Beirut. About one billion dollars have been pumped into the infrastructure so far.