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Lebanon’s Heritage & Historical Sites in 360° Street View
A Detailed Virtual Guide for Travellers Arriving at Qlayaat Airport
Qlayaat Airport (René Mouawad International Airport – IATA code KYE) is opening a new chapter for travellers to northern Lebanon. Whether you are planning your first visit or returning to explore more of the country, Google’s official 360° Street View collection offers an excellent way to discover Lebanon’s rich heritage before you even land.
In 2018, Google used its Trekker technology to capture high-quality panoramic imagery of 41 special locations across Lebanon. Below you will find detailed descriptions of the 12 most important heritage and historical sites included in that collection. Each entry includes historical background, what you can see, and approximate travel time from Qlayaat Airport.
These virtual tours are perfect for deciding which sites you want to visit during your stay in Lebanon.
1. Jeita Grotto
Jeita Grotto is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the Middle East and one of Lebanon’s top tourist attractions. Located in the Nahr al-Kalb valley, about 18 kilometres northeast of Beirut, this vast limestone cave system stretches approximately 9 kilometres in total length, making it the longest known cave system in the region.
The grotto is divided into two main sections: the upper cave and the lower cave. The upper gallery can be explored on foot along a well-lit pathway that reveals thousands of stalactites and stalagmites of extraordinary size and beauty. One of the most famous formations is a stalactite measuring over 8 metres in length. The lower cave, which contains an underground river, is explored by boat when water levels permit. The constant temperature inside the caves remains around 16°C throughout the year.
Discovered in 1836 by an American missionary, the caves were later used as an ammunition store during the Lebanese Civil War. Today they are carefully managed as a major tourist site with cable cars and a small train connecting the different levels.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 2 hours 15 minutes by car via the coastal highway.
2. Baalbek & Temple of Jupiter
Baalbek, known in antiquity as Heliopolis (“City of the Sun”), is home to one of the largest and most impressive Roman temple complexes in the world. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1984, the site still leaves visitors in awe with its monumental scale and exceptional state of preservation.
The Temple of Jupiter was the largest Roman temple ever constructed. Although only six of its original 54 Corinthian columns remain standing, each column rises to a height of 22 metres and has a diameter of nearly 2.5 metres. The precision of the stonework and the sheer size of the individual blocks (some weighing hundreds of tons) continue to puzzle engineers and archaeologists. Next to it stands the Temple of Bacchus, often considered the best-preserved Roman temple of its size anywhere. Its richly decorated interior and exterior sculptures are remarkably intact.
Baalbek was an important religious centre for centuries, first under the Phoenicians and later under the Romans, who transformed it into a major sanctuary dedicated to Jupiter, Venus and Mercury. The site also includes the Temple of Venus and extensive courtyards and propylaea.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 2 hours 30–45 minutes via the Bekaa Valley route.
3. National Museum of Beirut
The National Museum of Beirut is the most important archaeological museum in Lebanon and a must-visit for anyone interested in the country’s long and complex history. Housed in a beautiful early-20th-century building designed in the Egyptian Revival style, the museum stands on what was once the Green Line that divided Beirut during the civil war.
The collection spans more than 5,000 years of history, from the prehistoric period through the Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic eras. Highlights include the famous Phoenician anthropoid sarcophagi, the Ahiram sarcophagus (which bears one of the earliest known inscriptions in the Phoenician alphabet), Roman mosaics, gold jewellery, and a large number of statues and everyday objects. Many of the most valuable pieces were carefully protected in concrete during the civil war and were only revealed again when the museum reopened after extensive restoration.
The museum offers an excellent overview of Lebanon’s role as a crossroads of civilisations.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 2 hours to central Beirut.
4. Moussa Castle
Moussa Castle is one of the most unusual and personal heritage sites in Lebanon. Located in the Chouf mountains near Deir el-Qamar, this stone castle was built almost single-handedly by Moussa Abdel Karim Al-Maamari over a period of more than 60 years, beginning in the 1950s when he was still a teenager.
Moussa used traditional techniques and local stone to create a fairy-tale-like structure complete with towers, courtyards, narrow staircases and multiple rooms. Inside, visitors find an extensive collection of traditional Lebanese tools, weapons, pottery, furniture and folk objects that illustrate rural life in past centuries. The castle also contains a small museum of historical artefacts and wax figures depicting scenes from Lebanese history and daily life.
The story of one man’s lifelong dedication to building his dream castle makes this site particularly memorable.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes.
5. Château du Liban (Black Castle)
Also known as the Black Castle, Château du Liban is a striking hillside fortress that combines elements of Ottoman and European architecture. Perched on a strategic location with commanding views of the surrounding landscape, the castle has a dramatic appearance, especially when seen against the sky.
Although less famous than some of the Crusader castles, it forms an important part of Lebanon’s architectural heritage and offers an atmospheric setting for visitors interested in the country’s more recent historical layers. The dark stone construction and elevated position give it a distinctive character that stands out among Lebanon’s many fortifications.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 2.5–3 hours.
6. Nicolas Sursock Palace
The Nicolas Sursock Palace is one of the finest examples of early 20th-century residential architecture in Beirut. Built in 1912 by the wealthy Sursock family in the elegant Achrafieh neighbourhood, the mansion reflects a blend of Venetian, Ottoman and Lebanese influences.
The palace is characterised by its beautiful arcades, painted ceilings, marble floors and carefully designed gardens. After serving for many years as a private residence, it became part of the Sursock Museum complex, which focuses on modern and contemporary Lebanese art. The building itself remains a significant heritage site that illustrates the lifestyle of Beirut’s elite during the late Ottoman and French Mandate periods.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 2 hours to Achrafieh, Beirut.
7. Roman Bath Vestiges
The Roman Bath Vestiges in downtown Beirut are among the most important archaeological discoveries made in the capital in the 20th century. Unexpectedly uncovered in the late 1960s during construction work, these baths provide valuable insight into the urban life of ancient Berytus (the Roman name for Beirut).
The remains include several bathing rooms of different temperatures (frigidarium, tepidarium and caldarium), hypocaust heating systems, and sections of mosaic flooring. Although the complex is relatively compact, it is remarkably well preserved and allows visitors to understand how public baths functioned as important social centres in Roman cities.
The site is located close to other Roman remains in the city centre and can easily be combined with a visit to the National Museum or the reconstructed downtown area.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 2 hours.
8. Saint Louis Castle (Sidon Sea Castle)
The Sidon Sea Castle, also known as Saint Louis Castle, is one of Lebanon’s most recognisable coastal landmarks. Built by the Crusaders in the 13th century on a small rocky island just off the shore of Sidon (Saida), the fortress is connected to the mainland by a narrow stone causeway.
The castle was constructed on the remains of earlier Phoenician structures and later modified during the Mamluk period. Its thick walls, towers and strategic position allowed it to control the harbour and protect the city. Today visitors can walk along the ramparts, explore the interior chambers and enjoy panoramic views of the Mediterranean and the old city of Sidon.
The combination of sea, stone and history makes this one of the most photogenic heritage sites in Lebanon.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 2 hours 45 minutes to 3 hours along the coastal road.
9. Tyre World Heritage Site
Tyre (Sour) is one of the oldest and most important cities of the ancient Phoenician world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1984. Once a powerful maritime city-state that founded colonies across the Mediterranean, including Carthage, Tyre still preserves significant archaeological remains from several historical periods.
The most impressive monuments include the Roman hippodrome (one of the largest in the Roman world), the necropolis with its elaborate tombs, the monumental arch, and sections of the ancient harbour. The site also contains remains of Phoenician, Hellenistic and Byzantine structures. The combination of archaeological importance and a beautiful coastal setting makes Tyre a highlight for any cultural itinerary in Lebanon.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 3 hours 15–30 minutes.
10. Beaufort Castle
Beaufort Castle (Qalaat al-Shaqif) is one of the most dramatically situated Crusader castles in Lebanon. Built on a steep rocky outcrop high above the Litani River in southern Lebanon, the fortress commanded a key strategic position for centuries.
Originally constructed by the Crusaders in the 12th century, Beaufort changed hands multiple times between Crusader, Ayyubid, Mamluk and later forces. Its massive walls, towers and underground chambers still convey a strong sense of its military importance. The panoramic views from the top of the castle are among the finest in the region, stretching across the surrounding valleys and hills.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 3.5–4 hours.
11. Al Mezher Heritage House
Al Mezher Heritage House is a well-preserved example of traditional Lebanese domestic architecture. These historic houses typically feature thick stone walls, arched windows, internal courtyards and carefully crafted wooden details that reflect the climate and lifestyle of past centuries.
Visiting such a heritage house allows travellers to understand how Lebanese families lived, worked and socialised before modern times. The interiors often display traditional furniture, kitchen utensils, textiles and tools that illustrate everyday life in rural or small-town Lebanon.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Approximately 2.5–3 hours depending on the exact location.
12. Byblos
Byblos (Jbeil) is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Archaeological evidence shows that people have lived here for more than 7,000 years. Over the millennia the city was an important Phoenician port, a centre for the export of cedar wood and papyrus, and later a Crusader stronghold.
Today visitors can explore the ancient harbour, the Crusader castle (built with stones taken from earlier monuments), Roman columns and theatre remains, the medieval souks, and several churches. The old town is particularly atmospheric in the late afternoon when the light softens over the stone buildings and the Mediterranean.
Because of its relatively short distance from Qlayaat Airport, Byblos is one of the most convenient major heritage sites for travellers arriving in northern Lebanon.
View in 360° Street View:
Distance from Qlayaat Airport: Only about 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours along the scenic coastal road.
Planning Your Visit from Qlayaat Airport
René Mouawad International Airport (Qlayaat) provides an excellent starting point for exploring Lebanon’s heritage. Many of the sites listed above can be visited as day trips or combined into multi-day itineraries. Northern sites such as Byblos are particularly convenient, while destinations further south or inland (Baalbek, Tyre, Beaufort) require more travel time but reward visitors with some of the country’s most spectacular historical monuments.
Use the 360° Street View links to explore each location virtually, then plan your real-world itinerary once you arrive in Lebanon.
Would you like me to add estimated entrance fees, best time to visit, or nearby restaurant recommendations for any of the sites?
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