Old Sidon & Historic Tyre Tour: Crusades Castle & Ruins

Two thousand years of Mediterranean history in a single drive south

A private tour of Saida and Tyre in southern Lebanon takes you to two ancient seaside cities in one day, with hotel pickup and an air-conditioned minivan. You start at the Crusades sea castle in Saida, walk the old souks and visit a traditional soap factory, then drive south to Tyre to explore the Roman-era hippodrome, sea ruins and fishermen's port. The guide speaks English, French or Arabic, and the tour runs 7 to 8 hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Old Sidon and Historic Tyre

• Drive highway to Saida
• Visit Crusades sea castle
• Explore old busy souks
• See traditional soap factory
• Walk wooden craft street
• Drive south to Tyre
• Visit Roman hippodrome
• Explore sea ruins and port
• Walk restored neighborhoods
• Enjoy local seafood restaurants

The Experience

What makes a seven-hour drive worth the time? Two cities that sit on opposite ends of Lebanon's ancient trade routes, each one a different layer of the same story. You start in Saida at the Crusades sea castle—a sandstone fortress that rises from the water and still guards the old busy souks where the butcher sits next to the pastry shop and wooden craft vendors line the narrow streets. The traditional soap factory is there too, the kind that has been working the same way for centuries. From there you drive south along the coast to Tyre, where the Roman-era hippodrome still sits near the water, and the sea ruins and restored neighborhoods give you a sense of what a major port looked like when Rome ran the Mediterranean.

The minivan is air-conditioned and the driver handles all the navigation, so you spend the day looking instead of planning. Hotel pickup and drop-off mean you don't arrange transport to the start. Your guide speaks English, French or Arabic—you choose at booking—and knows both cities well enough to point out the details that make the difference between a ruin and a story. Lunch is available at restaurants around Tyre if you want it; the seafood and mezze are strong enough that many travelers build the meal into the day.

The highway to Saida is smooth, and the drive between the two cities gives you a sense of the southern coast without the stop-and-start of a city tour. Children from age 1 are welcome, and infant seats are available if you need one. The tour requires a minimum group size to operate, so book early if you have a specific date in mind.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• air-conditioned minivan transport.
• a live guide in English, French or Arabic.
• entry to the Crusades sea castle and access to the old souks, soap factory and neighborhoods in both Saida and Tyre.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by DAVE LEBANON DMC

Is this one for you?The 7 to 8 hour commitment means you see two full ancient cities in one day instead of splitting them across separate trips, but it also leaves little room for a long lunch or a second destination—book this one when you want depth in the south and nothing else that day.

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Top questions

What is the Crusades sea castle in Saida, and what will I actually see there?

The Crusades sea castle is a sandstone fortress that rises from the water at Saida's seafront, built to protect the city during the medieval Crusades. You'll walk around the castle itself and explore the old souks—the busy market streets—where traditional shops, craft vendors and the soap factory sit close together, giving you a sense of how the city has worked for centuries.

How long does the drive take between Saida and Tyre?

The drive south to Tyre is smooth and takes part of the tour's 7 to 8 hours, but the exact time depends on how long you spend at each stop. The highway itself is lovely, and you'll have time to see the coast as you travel.

What is there to do in Tyre besides the Roman hippodrome?

Tyre has the Roman-era hippodrome near the water, sea ruins to explore, a fishermen's port where you can walk and watch the boats, and restored neighborhoods that show what the city looks like today. Restaurants around the city serve fish, seafood and a variety of other foods if you want to eat there.

Is lunch included, or do I need to arrange it myself?

Lunch is not included in the tour, but many restaurants around Tyre serve seafood and mezze, and you can choose to eat at one of them during the day. Your guide can recommend places.

Can I bring my young child on this tour?

Children are welcome from age 1, and specialized infant seats are available if you need one. Children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the tour.

What language does the guide speak?

Your guide speaks English, French or Arabic—you choose which language when you book the tour.