Beirut, Beiteddine & Deir El Qamar small-group tour with lunch

See three distinct Lebanese landscapes in one day without navigating them yourself

A small-group tour of Beirut, Beiteddine Palace and Deir El Qamar with a professional guide, hotel pickup and an air-conditioned vehicle for eight hours. The itinerary moves through downtown Beirut's Nejme Square, Martyrs' Square and the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, follows the Mediterranean corniche past Pigeon Rock, then travels inland to the 19th-century palace and the hillside village of Deir El Qamar with its 15th-century church. Lunch at a local restaurant and entry to historical sites are available as add-ons at checkout. Gratuities are optional.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Beirut, Beiteddine, and Deir El Qamar

• Visit Nejme Square
• See Martyrs' Square
• Walk Zaitunay Bay promenade
• View Pigeon Rock formations
• Stroll Al Manara Corniche
• Pass by abandoned Holiday Inn Hotel
• Visit Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque
• Visit Al-Omari Grand Mosque
• Visit Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George
• Explore Beirut Souks shopping district
• See Roman Berytus baths
• Tour Beiteddine Palace
• Visit Deir al-Qamar village
• See Fakhreddine Mosque
• Visit Church of Saidet et Tallé

The experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and moves through downtown Beirut's central squares and religious landmarks. Nejme Square, ringed by the Parliament building and two cathedrals, anchors the morning. The 1930 Rolex clock tower there is a recognizable city icon. From there the route passes Martyrs' Square, named after the 1916 Ottoman executions, and reaches the Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, the largest in Lebanon, with its four 65-meter minarets and light blue tile domes. The Al-Omari Grand Mosque, originally built in 635 AD and damaged during the Civil War, stands nearby. The Greek Orthodox Cathedral of Saint George, the oldest church in the city, completes the religious circuit.

The afternoon shifts to Beirut's waterfront and then inland. Al Manara Corniche, the city's main seaside promenade lined with palms, leads to Pigeon Rock, the two massive rock formations at Beirut's western tip. The guide also points out the abandoned Holiday Inn, a war landmark from the 1975 civil conflict, and the Roman Berytus Baths, the largest outdoor archaeological site downtown, which now hosts performances and concerts. Beirut Souks, a commercial district with over 200 shops and 25 restaurants, offers a stop for browsing or refreshment.

The final leg travels to Beiteddine Palace, built between 1788 and 1818 by Emir Bashir Chehab II and later used as the president's summer residence. Parts remain open to the public. From there the route reaches Deir El Qamar, a hillside village five kilometers away, known for its stone houses with red tile roofs and its role as the birthplace of the Arab world's first municipality in 1864. The Fakhreddine Mosque, built in 1493 with an octagonal minaret, and the Church of Saidet et Tallé, a 15th-century site built over the ruins of a Phoenician temple, anchor the village's religious heritage. The guide speaks English or Arabic. Lunch at a local restaurant and entry tickets are optional at checkout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned vehicle for the full eight hours.
• professional guide in English or Arabic.
• lunch at a local restaurant (if selected at checkout).
• entry to historical sites including Beiteddine Palace and Deir El Qamar churches and mosques (if selected at checkout).

Options for this experience

3 options

Guided tour, lunch not includedGuide in English or Arabic · 08:30Please note this option does not include lunch or tickets, so you pay for those yourself. Pickup is included.

Guided tour with lunchGuide in English or Arabic · 08:30Please note this option does not cover tickets, so you pay for those yourself. Lunch is included in the tour price. Pickup is included.

Guided tour with lunch and ticketsGuide in English or Arabic · 08:30Tickets to historical sites are included in the tour price. Lunch is included in the tour price. Pickup is included.

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday and FridayDeparts at 08:30

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Infant (under 4): free

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Arabic

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 11 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Lebanon Tours Online

Is this one for you?Choose the option with lunch and tickets if you want to move through the sites without stopping to arrange meals or buy entry separately. Pick the tour alone if you prefer to eat on your own schedule or skip the paid attractions. The small-group format keeps the vehicle under capacity and the pace manageable for anyone comfortable with a full day of stops and walking.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 12 years); Infant (under 4): free.

What's the Holiday Inn site actually like when you get there?

The abandoned Holiday Inn is an untouched war landmark from the Lebanese Civil War, standing empty for decades as a reminder of the 1975 conflict. It was a luxury hotel built in the early 1970s and became a focal point during the "Battle of the Hotels," when over 25,000 combatants fought for control of the city's major hotels. The guide explains its role in that period as you view the exterior.

Can I pick the tour without lunch, or does it always include a meal?

Lunch at a local restaurant is optional. You can book the guided tour alone, or add lunch and entry tickets to historical sites at checkout. Gratuities are your choice either way.

How far is Deir El Qamar from Beirut, and how much time do you spend there?

Deir El Qamar is located five kilometers outside Beiteddine Palace, in the Chouf District of Mount Lebanon, roughly an hour's drive from downtown Beirut. The full tour runs eight hours from pickup to drop-off, with the village visit as the final stop before returning to your hotel.

What makes Deir El Qamar worth the drive inland?

Deir El Qamar is a hillside village with a distinct character: stone houses with red tile roofs, a 15th-century church built over the ruins of a Phoenician temple, and a 1493 mosque with an octagonal minaret. The village was the first in the Arab provinces to establish a municipality in 1864 and was rebuilt by French forces after an 1860 civil war destroyed it. It offers a sharp contrast to Beirut's urban and waterfront sites.

Is the tour physically demanding, or can anyone join?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You travel by air-conditioned vehicle between sites and walk at your own pace through the squares, mosques, churches and village streets. There are no strenuous hikes or climbs required.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the air-conditioned vehicle, and a professional guide in English or Arabic are included in every option. Lunch at a local restaurant and entry to historical sites are add-ons you select at checkout. Food or drinks beyond what you choose are not covered.