Portemilio Resort enjoys an ideal central location, making it the perfect base for sightseeing and exploring the country. With our resort as your starting point, you can easily embark on exciting adventures to discover the rich cultural heritage, breathtaking natural landscapes, and historical sites that Lebanon has to offer. Whether you’re interested in exploring ancient ruins, vibrant cities, picturesque mountains, or serene coastal towns, our convenient location ensures that you have easy access to the diverse attractions that await you across the country.
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Jounieh District
Between Beirut and Byblos is the coastal town of Jounieh, which has a spectacular bay with mountains rising just behind it. Jounieh is known for its seaside resorts and cafes, restaurants and bustling nightlife, as well as its old stone souk, ferry port, and cable car (Le Téléphérique), which takes passengers up the mountain to the shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Harissa. Also worth a visit is the Lebanese Heritage Museum and in the summer, the Jounieh International Festival is among the most popular in Lebanon, featuring world-class entertainment and a fireworks display rivaling any other in the country.
Casino Du Liban
Casino du Liban is the most famous Casino in the Middle East located in Maameltein, Jounieh in Lebanon and is 22 km north of Beirut. With an area of about 35,000 square meters, the casino has around 400 slot machines and 60 gaming tables. Casino du Liban boasts a rich and prestigious history. Many prominent public personalities have visited the casino over the years; among them the late King Hussein of Jordan, the Shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, Prince Albert of Monaco, Aristotle Onasis, Omar Sharif, Elizabeth Talyor, and many others. The casino also hosted the Miss Europe pageant for six years.
Mzaar Ski Resort
Mzaar Ski Resort is widely known as the Middle East’s largest ski resort. With a legacy of ski culture and mountain energy and a spirit of adventure, Mzaar resort has driven locals and tourists to call it home. Beyond its 20 chairlifts, 50 runs and 8,000 acres of terrain, Mzaar is home to an entertainment scene with eclectic restaurants, boisterous bars, topping the list of things to do. Everyone will find no shortage of way to create lasting memories during a day, weekend or vacation.
Harissa
A huge, 15-ton bronze statue of the Virgin Mary, known as Our Lady of Lebanon or Notre Dame du Liban/Harissa, with her arms outstretched adorns the bluff high above Jounieh. It was made in the late 19th century in Lyon, France, and inaugurated in 1908. Inside the statue’s base there is a small chapel. Among other churches of various denominations, it is worth mentioning the Byzantine-style, Melkite Greek Catholic Basilica of St. Paul, located to the south. The Papal Embassy, as well as the residences of four Eastern Catholic cardinals church, are in the vicinity of Harissa and Our Lady of Lebanon. The site was visited by both Pope Jean Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI.
Jeita Grotto
The two magnificent Jeita grottoes burrow deep into the earth within a beautiful green valley as cavities that are as old as the Stone Age. A river flows between the rocks inside the mountain and feeds the source of Nahr al-Kalb (the Dog’s River). Time and limestone water have sculpted fascinating stone draperies and natural wonders into puzzlingly-gorgeous shapes, some of which grow downwards and others upwards, defying gravity. The lower cave, discovered by American missionary Reverend William Thomson in 1837, was opened to the public in October 1958. The tunnels and vaults of the upper cavern were discovered in 1958, and opened in January 1969.
Byblos (Jbeil)
Byblos is one of the top competing for the “oldest continuously inhabited city” Its ancient inhabitants did not call it Byblos, but rather “Gubla” and later “Gebal.” Around 1200 BC, the Greeks gave the city the name Byblos, which is Greek for “Papyrus,” since it was famous for its papyrus trade. Winner of the Golden Apple award for excellence in tourism in 2014, Byblos (Jbeil in Arabic) is today a very charming city distinguished for its gorgeous ancient harbor, seaside fish restaurants, ancient souks, and charming residential neighborhoods, which date back to the Middle Ages, as well as an absolutely enormous wealth of historic sites and ruins. Byblos was chosen as the Arab capital of tourism for the year 2016 by the Arab Council of Tourism.
Batroun
Batroun is a major tourist destination in North Lebanon. The town boasts historic Maronite and Greek Orthodox churches. The town is also a major beach resort with a vibrant nightlife that includes pubs and nightclubs. Citrus groves surround Batroun, and the town has been famous (from the early twentieth century) for its fresh lemonade sold at the cafés and restaurants on its main street. Biking along the Batroun coastline is also a major activity namely in late summer days. In 2009, the Batroun International Festival was born. It began hosting leading local and international artists. The festival takes place usually in July and/or August of each year in the old harbor area.
Tripoli
Tripoli is the largest city in northern Lebanon and the second-largest city in the country. Situated 85 kilometers (53 miles) north of the capital Beirut, it is the capital of the North Governorate and the Tripoli District. Tripoli overlooks the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and it is the northernmost seaport in Lebanon. It holds a string of four small islands offshore, and they are also the only islands in Lebanon. The Palm Islands were declared a protected area because of their status of haven for endangered loggerhead turtles, rare monk seals and migratory birds.
Saida
Saida, or Sidon, has a fascinating and unique history. One of the most powerful Phoenician city states, it made a name for itself the world over with its expert glass manufacturing and the invention of purple dye, which has ever since been synonymous with royalty. As with most ancient city-states in the region, Saida has seen quite a number of conquests in its time, as evidenced today by its Roman ruins and the Crusader castle that overlooks the harbor, among many other historic buildings. Later came the Mamluks and the Ottomans, of course, and finally in the 17th century the unprecedented Fakhreddine II, who seems to have left his trace all over Lebanon and beyond, but made Saida his home and the seat of his government.
Tyre (Sour)
Tyre juts out from the coast of the Mediterranean and is located about 80 km (50 mi) south of Beirut. The name of the city means “rock” after the rocky formation on which the town was originally built. The adjective for Tyre is Tyrian, and the inhabitants are Tyrians. Today Tyre is the fourth largest city in Lebanon after Beirut, Tripoli and Sidon, and houses one of the nation’s major ports. Tourism is a major industry. The city has a number of ancient sites, including its Roman Hippodrome which was added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1979.
Beirut Downtown
Downtown, also called Beirut Central District (BCD) or Centre Ville, is known to be Beirut’s most prestigious and high-end shopping district. Home to a majority of the city’s high-end local multi-brand boutiques as well as international luxury brands. The area is a wonderful place to walk around on foot as you’ll find car-free streets, and stopping for a quick lunch is definitely a must as there are plenty of restaurants around. A key landmark in Downtown is Beirut Souks. They sustained severe damage during the Lebanese Civil War and were rebuilt by Solidere according to the ancient Greek street grid, maintaining the historic landmarks and pre-war street names, as well as a beautifully modern cinema complex and of course cafes and restaurants.
Baalbeck
Baalbek is an ancient Phoenician city located in what is now modern day Lebanon, north of Beirut, in the Beqaa Valley. Inhabited as early as 9000 BCE, Baalbek grew into an important pilgrimage site in the ancient world for the worship of the Phoenician sky-god Baal and his consort Astarte, the Queen of Heaven (the name `Baalbek’ means Lord Baal of the Beqaa Valley). The center of the city was a grand temple dedicated to Astarte and Baal and the ruins of this early temple remain today beneath the later Roman Temple of Jupiter Baal