Half-Day Beiteddine Palace & Deir elQamar Tour from Beirut

Four hours through two centuries of Mount Lebanon's rulers and their palaces

A half-day tour from Beirut to Beiteddine Palace and the village of Deir elQamar, with hotel pickup, air-conditioned transport and a guide in English, French or Arabic. The morning covers the Cavaliers section and presidential palace at Beiteddine, then moves to Mussa palace's three-level weapons gallery, and ends with a walk through Deir elQamar's tight medieval streets past a 14th-century mosque and cathedral. Lunch is available as an add-on at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Visit Beiteddine Palace and Deir elQamar

• Drive southeast of Beirut
• Explore Beiteddine Palace sections
• Learn about Lebanon’s history
• Visit Mussa Palace and guns museum
• Walk old streets of Deir elQamar
• See 14th century Mosque and Cathedral

The experience

A short drive southeast of Beirut lands you at Beiteddine Palace, where the tour opens with the Cavaliers section and the presidential palace, then the mosaics sellers' quarter. Your guide walks you through the 18th and 19th centuries: the Emirs who ruled Mount Lebanon, the Ottoman and French periods, the palaces themselves, and the mulberries and silk factories that shaped local life. The Druze heritage of the region threads through the stops.

Mussa palace comes next: three levels of a private gallery documenting Lebanese village life, plus a substantial weapons museum. The collection is displayed in detail, and the palace itself was built as one man's realized vision. From there the tour moves to Deir elQamar, once the capital of the Emirs. You walk the old tight streets of this well-preserved town, where a 14th-century mosque stands in the middle of a historical square next to a cathedral. Local bread called Kerben is available to try if you want it.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as is the air-conditioned vehicle and all entry fees. The guide speaks English, French or Arabic depending on your choice at booking. The whole outing runs four to five hours, so it fits a morning without consuming the rest of your day.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• driver and guide in English, French or Arabic.
• all entry fees and taxes.
• air-conditioned vehicle throughout.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (8 to 90 years) · Child (1 to 7 years)

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, French 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 yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by DAVE LEBANON DMC

Is this one for you?The morning departure means you finish by early afternoon and keep the rest of your day free in Beirut. Dress smart casual for the palaces and the village walk.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and Arabic.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (1 to 7 years).

What exactly is inside Beiteddine Palace that the tour covers?

Beiteddine Palace opens with the Cavaliers section and the presidential palace, then the mosaics sellers' quarter. The tour focuses on the palace as a window into the 18th and 19th centuries, the lives of the Emirs who ruled Mount Lebanon, and the customs and duties of that era.

Is there a weapons museum included, or is that a separate stop?

Mussa palace, the second major stop, houses a three-level private gallery that includes a substantial weapons museum alongside displays of traditional Lebanese village life. It is part of the tour itinerary.

What do you actually do in Deir elQamar?

Deir elQamar is a moderate walk through the old town's tight medieval streets. You pass a 14th-century mosque standing in a historical square and a cathedral next to it. The village is well preserved and was once the capital of the Emirs.

Can I add lunch to this tour?

Lunch is available as an optional add-on. You choose it at checkout if you want it included.