Visit: January 2019. Byblos is a good place to start a Lebanon WHS trip. I arrived at night, after an easy 45min drive from Beirut airport. Be aware that the same trip during the day can take 2-3 times longer due to heavy traffic in and around Beirut. To add another bonus, accommodation in Byblos was also cheaper and I could park my car in front of the hotel, close to the core zone.

The site opened at 8am and I must say I really liked it. As usual, I was the first visitor on site and enjoyed unspoiled views over the area. I can’t add much about what to see within the archeological zone. It’s a mix of remains from different cultures and times with the Crusader Castle as the dominant feature. It took me around 2 hours to see it all.

Outside the ticketed zone there is a tiny fort at the harbor and a roman street with columns in the new part of the town. They are both within walking distance. The “old souq” is very small and rather a zone for restaurants. The town is very touristy, so you won’t have trouble finding food or an ATM.

From Byblos you can easily reach several TWHS (Batroun, Tripoli) and the Qadisha Valley.