Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon packs mountains, coastline, and Roman ruins into a small footprint: the cedar forests that gave the country its emblem, Beirut's rebuilt seafront corniche and lively nightlife, and Baalbek's colossal Roman temple columns among the best-preserved in the world. The food, mezze spreads of hummus, tabbouleh, and grilled meats, shared slowly across a long table, reflects a culture that treats hospitality as central. Economic and political instability in recent years has affected travel logistics, so current conditions are worth checking closely.
Main destinations
Food & drink to try
Hummus
Chickpeas blended with tahini, lemon and garlic, pooled with olive oil at the centre.
Tabbouleh
Parsley salad with only a little bulgur, sharp with lemon, tomato and mint.
Kibbeh
Bulgur shells around spiced lamb and pine nuts, fried, baked or eaten raw.