Sidon, Tyre & Maghdoucheh day trip from Beirut: small-group tour

Crusaders castles, ancient Roman racetracks, and a shrine carved into stone

A full-day guided tour from Beirut visits three ancient Phoenician and Roman sites—Sidon, Maghdoucheh and Tyre—in a small group with hotel pickup and drop-off. The itinerary includes the Crusaders Sea Castle, the old souk with its 14-kilometer vaulted alleys, a soap museum in a 17th-century factory, the Great Mosque, Khan El Franj, Our Lady of Awaiting shrine and cave, Tyre's north harbor, and a UNESCO-listed Roman hippodrome 480 meters long. An English-speaking local guide leads the group and commentary can be customized within the tour schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sidon, Maghdoucheh, and Tyre

• Pickup from Beirut hotel at 8:15 am
• Visit Crusaders Sea Castle in Sidon
• Explore Sidon old souk and markets
• Tour Soap Museum and watch soap making
• See the Great Al-Omari Mosque
• Pass by Khan El Franj
• Visit Our Lady of Awaiting shrine in Maghdoucheh
• Travel to Tyre and see old north harbor
• Walk through Roman hippodrome in Tyre
• Explore Al-Bass archaeological site
• Return and drop off at hotel

The Experience

Pickup happens at 8:15 am from your Beirut hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle. The day opens in Sidon, an ancient Phoenician city inhabited since 4000 BC, starting at the Crusaders Sea Castle—a fortress built on the seafront between the 12th and 13th centuries. From there, the route moves into the old souk, a maze of vaulted alleys stretching 14 kilometers where craftspeople still work in small shops and fishermen sell their catch near the port. The souk holds Debbaneh Palace, a 1721 Ottoman Arab building accessed through a roofed narrow stairway that opens into an internal courtyard.

The Soap Museum occupies a 17th-century factory building (with sections possibly dating to the 13th century) and traces the region's soap-making history through artifacts and a live demonstration of how traditional olive oil soaps are made. The museum also displays clay pipe heads and pottery fragments from onsite excavations. Next is the Great Mosque, originally a 13th-century Crusader compound with its own chapel, recently restored and imposing when viewed from the seaside. Khan El Franj, built by Fakhredine II as a merchant inn, sits nearby—a typical khan with a large rectangular courtyard, central fountain, and covered galleries that once housed the French consulate and served as the city's economic center in the 19th century.

The tour then heads to Maghdoucheh village to visit Our Lady of Awaiting, a Melkite Greek Catholic Marian shrine discovered in 1721. The site consists of a tower crowned with a statue of the Virgin and Child, a cathedral, a cemetery, and a sacred cave believed to be where the Virgin Mary rested while waiting for Jesus. From there, the route continues to Tyre, founded around 2750 BC and the birthplace of Europa and Dido, the founder of Carthage. Travelers see the old north harbor and colorful streets from both sides of the city. The day's final major stop is the Roman hippodrome at the Al-Bass UNESCO World Heritage Site, a horseshoe-shaped structure 480 meters long and 90 meters wide that once seated twenty thousand spectators for chariot racing in the 2nd century CE. The tour ends with hotel drop-off.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Beirut.
• an air-conditioned vehicle for the full day.
• an experienced English-speaking local group leader.
• bottled water.
• and brief explanations at each site.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Lebanon Local Tour

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English and Arabic, so if you're comfortable following commentary in English, a small group keeps the pace unhurried and gives you more time to linger at each stop than a large bus tour allows. The itinerary can be customized within the tour schedule, so you're not locked into a rigid sequence if a particular site holds your attention.

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Top questions

What is the Crusaders Sea Castle in Sidon?

The Crusaders Sea Castle is a 12th- to 13th-century fortress built on Sidon's seafront, marking the start of the tour after hotel pickup. It stands between the Sea Castle and the Land Castle (St. Louis Castle) overlooking the old souk and harbor.

How long are the vaulted alleys in Sidon's old souk?

The vaulted alleys of Sidon's old souk stretch 14 kilometers and still house working craftspeople and fishmongers. The souk has maintained its beautiful Ottoman buildings and commercial role for centuries.

What will I see at the Soap Museum?

The Soap Museum is housed in a 17th-century soap factory building and shows the history of soap making in the region through artifacts, pottery fragments, and clay pipe heads from the 17th to 19th centuries. You'll watch a live demonstration of how traditional olive oil soaps are made and learn about hammam (bath) traditions.

What is the Roman hippodrome in Tyre?

The Roman hippodrome at the Al-Bass UNESCO World Heritage Site in Tyre is a 2nd-century CE structure 480 meters long and 90 meters wide, shaped like a horseshoe. It once seated twenty thousand spectators for chariot racing and is one of the largest and best-preserved Roman hippodromes in the world.

What is Our Lady of Awaiting in Maghdoucheh?

Our Lady of Awaiting is a Melkite Greek Catholic Marian shrine discovered in 1721 in Maghdoucheh village. It includes a tower crowned with a statue of the Virgin and Child, a cathedral, a cemetery, and a sacred cave believed to be where the Virgin Mary rested while waiting for Jesus.

Does the tour include lunch?

Lunch is not included in the tour price. The itinerary allows time at various stops, and you can arrange meals independently or bring your own food.