Lebanon offers a unique blend of ancient history, Mediterranean beaches, and vibrant culture. From Roman ruins at Baalbek to the bustling streets of Beirut, cedar forests, and mountain villages, this small country packs incredible diversity. Experience world-class cuisine, historic sites, and warm hospitality in one of the Middle East's most fascinating destinations.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Cedar Wood Crafts
Handcrafted bowls, boxes, and decorative items made from Lebanese cedar wood. The cedar is Lebanon's national symbol and these pieces make meaningful gifts.
Price: $10-50
Where: Byblos Old Souk, Tripoli souks
Hand-painted Pottery
Traditional Lebanese pottery with geometric and floral patterns painted by hand. Plates, tiles, and vases reflecting Byzantine and Ottoman design influences.
Price: $15-80
Where: Saifi Village, Byblos, Chouf villages
Silk and Embroidery
Intricately embroidered table runners, cushion covers, and garments reflecting Lebanon's rich weaving tradition from the Chouf and Bekaa regions.
Price: $20-120
Where: Souk el Ahraj Tripoli, Saifi Village Beirut
Lebanese Sweets Box
Beautifully packaged boxes of knafeh, baklawa, maamoul, and other traditional Lebanese pastries. Tripoli's sweets are considered the finest in the country.
Price: $10-30
Where: Abdul Rahman Hallab (Tripoli), Patchi (Beirut)
Aleppo-Style Laurel Soap
Traditional olive and laurel bay oil soap bars made in Tripoli following centuries-old recipes. Natural, fragrant, and long-lasting with skin-conditioning properties.
Price: $5-20
Where: Khan el Saboun (Tripoli Soap Khan), Souk el Attarine
Phoenician-Inspired Jewelry
Silver and gold jewelry incorporating ancient Phoenician motifs including the God's Eye, Tanit symbol, and cedar tree. Made by Lebanese artisans in Beirut.
Price: $30-200
Where: Saifi Village, Hamra boutiques, Byblos
Lebanese Art Prints
Prints by contemporary Lebanese artists depicting Beirut street scenes, cedar landscapes, and cultural themes. Support local artists recovering from recent crises.
Price: $20-100
Where: Sursock Museum shop, Marfa Gallery Beirut
Lebanese Arak and Wine
Bottles of arak (anise spirit) or Bekaa Valley wines from producers like Ksara or Chateau Musar. Excellent quality at very reasonable prices compared to export markets.
Price: $15-60
Where: Goodies (Gemmayzeh), Relay supermarkets, winery cellar doors
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Souk el Tayeb
Beirut's beloved farmers' market where producers from across Lebanon sell seasonal produce, artisan cheeses, olive oil, honey, and homemade preserves. A wonderful place to discover Lebanon's culinary diversity.
Where: Saifi Village, Beirut Central District
Hours: Saturday 9AM-2PM
Souk el Ahraj
One of Lebanon's best-preserved traditional markets specializing in fabric, textiles, and raw materials. Narrow covered alleys lined with merchants selling silks, cottons, and traditional dress materials.
Where: Old Souk district, Tripoli
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8AM-6PM
Khan el Saboun
The historic soap khan (caravanserai) in Tripoli's old city dedicated to the trade of traditional laurel and olive oil soaps. Watch soap being cut and packaged in this 14th-century Mamluk building.
Where: Old Souk, Tripoli
Hours: Monday-Saturday 8AM-5PM
Byblos Old Souk
Charming souvenir and artisan market in one of the world's oldest cities. Shops sell cedar wood crafts, fossils, jewelry, and local food products amid ancient stone alleyways.
Where: Old City, Byblos (Jbeil)
Hours: Daily 9AM-7PM (reduced hours winter)
Sidon Gold Souk
Traditional gold market in Sidon's medieval old city. Merchants sell 18-karat and 21-karat gold jewelry in Lebanese and Arabic designs at competitive prices.
Where: Old City, Sidon (Saida)
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9AM-6PM
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Saifi Village
Beautifully restored heritage buildings housing Lebanese designer boutiques, galleries, and home décor stores. The pedestrian-friendly streets have a European village feel with excellent cafes and restaurants nearby.
Best for: Lebanese designer fashion, art, unique gifts
Hamra Street
Beirut's main shopping boulevard lined with international brands, local shops, bookstores, and cafes. Best for everyday shopping and people-watching in one of the city's most lively districts.
Best for: Everyday shopping, books, electronics, fashion
Gemmayze and Mar Mikhael
Beirut's hippest area with independent boutiques selling vintage clothing, local art, design objects, and specialty food products in restored Ottoman-era buildings with atmospheric street art.
Best for: Vintage, local designers, art, specialty food
Tripoli Old City
Lebanon's finest traditional market district with separate souks for gold, soap, spices, fabrics, and sweets. The best place for authentic Lebanese souvenirs at local prices in medieval Mamluk-era khans.
Best for: Traditional crafts, sweets, soap, gold
Beirut Souks
Modern shopping complex in downtown Beirut with over 200 local and international brands in architecturally striking surroundings. Lebanon's answer to a luxury mall with outdoor pedestrian areas.
Best for: International brands, air-conditioned shopping
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
ABC Ashrafieh
Beirut's most popular mall spread across multiple floors in Achrafieh with international fashion brands, a large supermarket, food court, and cinema. Often packed on weekends with Beirut's fashionable crowd.
Hours: 10AM-10PM daily
Beirut Souks
Open-air and covered shopping district in downtown Beirut blending contemporary retail with traditional souk atmosphere. Features luxury Lebanese and international brands in beautifully designed urban spaces.
Hours: 10AM-10PM daily
Le Mall Dbayeh
Large modern mall north of Beirut on the coastal highway featuring H&M, Zara, electronics stores, extensive food court, and multiplex cinema. Popular with families from Greater Beirut.
Hours: 10AM-11PM daily
City Centre Beirut
Large mall in the southern suburbs with a wide mix of fashion, electronics, and furniture retailers alongside a hypermarket. Features indoor entertainment options and family-friendly dining.
Hours: 10AM-10PM daily
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected in traditional souks (Tripoli, Sidon, Byblos) but fixed prices apply in malls and branded shops
Start at 50-60% of the asking price in souk stalls — work up to an agreed middle ground
Be friendly and patient — Lebanese merchants appreciate conversation and relationship-building
Showing genuine interest while being willing to walk away is the most effective negotiating strategy
USD is widely accepted alongside Lebanese pounds — having cash in both currencies gives flexibility
Gold prices are generally fixed by the international market but workmanship fees can sometimes be negotiated
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Antiques and archaeological items cannot be exported from Lebanon — purchase only certified reproduction pieces. Original artefacts require Ministry of Culture export permits.
Tax Refund: No formal VAT refund scheme for tourists currently operates in Lebanon
Duty Free: Travelers can bring in 200 cigarettes, 1 liter of spirits, and reasonable personal gifts duty-free
Shipping: International shipping available from Beirut through DHL, FedEx, and Lebanese post — note that fragile items like ceramics should be professionally packed