Lebanon gets its name from the mountains that rise from the coastal plain, to the east of Beirut. Qurnat as-Sawda', in the north of the Lebanon Mountains, is the country's highest peak; at 3,083 meters above sea level.

The coast was colonized by the seafaring Phoenicians, in around 2500 BC, and Phoenicia became one of the richest and most important provinces of the Persian Empire; after the Persians conquered Nebuchadnezzar II's Babylonia; in 539 BC.

Lebanon's modern development as a country can be an attributed to the cohesive polices of the French who arrived in 1920. The French went along with the Maronite's beliefs in Mount Lebanon, and established the Lebanese Republic in 1926. Lebanon gained full independence when the last French troops withdrew in 1946.

Once considered the Paris of the East, Lebanon fell off the tourist map when it disintegrated into civil war in 1975. The word is slowly getting out that travel to Lebanon is now not only possible but surprisingly free of hassles. Lebanon packs a lot into its modest borders: ancient cities, Roman ruins, luxurious ski resorts, bucolic charm and Islamic architecture are just the start.

One can never be weary of Lebanon because there is so much variety in a country only 10,452 km or 4,180 miles square. In a little less than an hour’s drive from the coast one reaches heights of over 2,000 meters or 7,000 feet without leaving the road. There is fine skiing at a time when the Mediterranean is warmer than the North Sea is in summer.

Lebanon today offers accommodation to suit all budgets, and the Ministry of Tourism publishes an annual hotel guide which lists most of the hotels in the country. Outside Beirut, however, hotels are few and far between, particularly in the South. Visitors are advised to check reservations through a Lebanese representative at home before departing.

Lebanon has fabulous trekking opportunities in its mountains and gorges. It's usually a relatively short distance between villages, so planning overnight stops is not a problem if that's the kind of hiking which appeals to anyone. There are 6 main ski resorts in Lebanon, offering varying degrees of difficulty. Equipment hire is available at all resorts, and the cost is reasonable.

There aren't many sandy beaches on the Lebanese coast; much of the swimming is from rocks or artificial platforms built on jetties. Of the sandy beaches, the best can be found in the far south of the country, just south of Tyre. There are also beautiful beaches near Byblos and at Chekka, near Tripoli. The rocky bathing sites often make good snorkeling spots; water-skiing, windsurfing and sailing are all popular too.

The best time to visit Lebanon depends on the needs of the visitors. For sun worshippers, the time to come to Lebanon is the summer season from June to mid-September. The weather is hot and dry, though humid on the coast.

As mentioned above, to many people's surprise, Lebanon is becoming increasingly popular as a winter sports destination. It has a number of ski resorts and the ski season runs from December to May. During May, the weather on the coast is warm enough for swimming and the country is carpeted with flowers. If your luck is running, you can catch the end of the ski season, sunbathe on the beach and get fresh flowers in your room. Autumn is also scenic: by October the most oppressive heat is over and it's a pleasant time to visit.

Now we talk briefly about the major attractions in Lebanon , we start with the capital city .

Beirut:
Beirut commands a magnificent position, thrust into the Mediterranean. Behind the city are towering mountains, visible when the traffic haze settles down. The Corniche seafront boasts beaches, restaurants, theatres and a dazzling variety of shops and restaurants.

Beirut has suffered greatly from Lebanon’s 16-year civil war, but following an impressive and ongoing process of reconstruction, the city is once again one of the most popular tourist and business destinations in the Middle East. The so-called ‘Green Line’ which, during the war, divided the city into East and West, has now gone, and two competing centers have grown up several kilometers apart.

One is Hamra in West Beirut, where the American University is located along with the majority of hotels. The other is Ashrafieh in East Beirut, home to the Université St Joseph and an increasing number of smart shops and expensive restaurants.

Beirut’s Central District, known as Solidere (the company in charge of the reconstruction programme) is seeing a spectacular number of modern buildings and office blocks springing up everywhere. After massive landfill, two new marinas, a new seaside promenade and a green park are also planned. While many of the new buildings look modern, Beirut’s old souks (covered markets) are being reconstructed in an authentic way. The Turkish bath at Al-Nouzha provides another glimpse of the old Beirut.

Lebanon’s only museum, the Beirut National Museum, has been rehabilitated and is constantly updating its interesting collection. On the western tip of Beirut, Raouche is an increasingly popular district with a lively seaside promenade. Its famous landmark, the Pigeon Rocks, are huge formations standing like sentinels off the coast.

Byblos
The ancient city of Byblos, about 40km up the coast from Beirut, is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Major attractions points in the city include the Wax Museum , St John Church , and the local souq (market). Byblos has a great beach with some underwater ruins. There are only a couple of hotels in Byblos, but plenty of places to eat.

Tripoli
The country’s second city, Tripoli is Lebanon’s most Arabian city and retains much of its provincial charm. Its history dates back to the eighth century BC and the town centre, though surrounded by modern housing developments and beach resorts, has preserved its character.

There are two parts – the port area and the city proper – which are divided by acres of fragrant orange plantations. Tripoli’s old medieval centre at the foot of the Crusader castle has a number of interesting mosques, including the Great Mosque, Taynâl, Al-Muallaq Burtasiyat Madrassa and Al-Qartâwiyat Madrassa. The old souks provide interesting shopping. Tripoli is famous for its sweets and traditional olive-oil-based soap. The port area, known as Al Mina, has numerous seafood restaurants and fish markets; most hotels can be found in the modern beach resorts along the coast.

Tyre (Sour)
Tyre was founded at the start of the third millennium BC and, today, still bears impressive traces of its ancient origins. Tyre’s archaeological sites are divided into three areas: area one is located on what was the Phoenician island and contains ruins of the large district of civic buildings, public baths and mosaic streets; area two contains an extensive network of Romano-Byzantine roads and other installations; area three is most notable for containing one of the largest Roman hippodromes ever found.

Bcharré
Bcharré to the northwest, is best known as the birthplace of the famous Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran, author of The Prophet, and there is a Gibran museum. The town is also a gateway to the mountainous region, famous for its many cedar trees.

Baalbek
This city boasts one of the best-preserved temple areas of the Roman world still in existence. It is, in fact, a complex of several temples behind which soar the columns of the Temple of Jupiter. In addition to the Castle or ruins, the recently restored Ummayad Mosque of Baalbak was also the site of a school.

One of its more illustrious pupils was Salaheddine el 'Ayoubi - the still venerated Saladin - who very nearly ejected the Crusaders from the Levant during the late 12th century. The Mosque, restored by the Harriri Foundation in 1996-99, was built on the same plan as the great mosques of Damascus and Aleppo.

Sidon
Sidon, on the coast 48 km south of Beirut, is one of the famous names in ancient history. But out of the Lebanese cities, this is the most mysterious, for its past has been tragically scattered and plundered. In the 19th Century, treasure hunters and amateur archaeologists made off with many of its most beautiful and important objects, some of which can now be seen in foreign Museums.

Beiteddine
Beiteddine, in the Chouf Mountains, is the site of the palace built by the Amir Basheer in the 19th century. The courtyard and state rooms are well worth a visit .

Zahle
Zahle is known as "Arouss El- Beqaa", the bride of the Beqaa, and is much appreciated for its healthy climate and good food . The main attraction, however, is the Bardaouni River, which flows out of Mt. Sannine through a wooded gorge shut in between tall perpendicular rocks .

Zahle is the home of the Mezza and of Arak, so in this pleasant spot one can enjoy a typical Lebanese pastime: the long leisurely lunch. A walk in the hills overlooking Zahle, leads you to Iron and Bronze Age towns. In Wadi El Arayesh are Byzantine and Roman sarcophagi. (Albawaba.com)