Things to do in Tyre
And where to stay, the best time to visit, what a day costs, and the traps to skip.
Best time to visit Tyre
• a note or something on ✦ an occasion worth the trip
Spring is the best all round window: warm, ruins comfortable, sea swimmable by May, beach huts opening.
Summer beach season at full strength, hot and humid. Do ruins early, beach after. Turtle nesting runs roughly May to August.
Early autumn: warm sea, no crowds, excellent light on the ruins and pleasant harbour evenings.
Winter: mild, wet and rough seas, beach huts dismantled. Archaeology and old town only, with short days.
What's on
- Sea turtle nesting season, Tyre Coast Nature Reserve roughly May to August
Loggerhead and green turtles nest on the reserve beaches. Obey closures and signs absolutely.
- Tyre International Festival July in some historic years
A summer festival held in Tyre in some years, irregular for a long time. Do not plan a trip around it.
- Our Lady of Mantara feast period, Maghdouche early September
Pilgrims visit the Mantara shrine above Sidon around its September feast period.
Best things to do in Tyre
Al-Mina Archaeological Site
A colonnaded Roman street to the sea, with baths, mosaics and an arena on the old Phoenician island site.
Al-Bass Archaeological Site
A triumphal arch over a Roman avenue lined with hundreds of sarcophagi, plus the aqueduct that fed Tyre.
Tyre Hippodrome
A vast stone Roman hippodrome for 20,000 spectators inside Al-Bass, among the best preserved in the world.
Tyre Old Souks
A working Ottoman era market of lanes, food stalls and small shops between the harbour and the ruins.
Tyre Harbour
A working fishing harbour of painted boats and nets, best early for the catch and again at sunset.
Christian Quarter
Painted lanes, traditional houses and small churches in the old Christian quarter by the harbour.
Crusader Cathedral of Tyre
Foundations and granite columns of a 12th century Crusader coronation church near the Al-Mina site.
Tyre Lighthouse
The lighthouse at the harbour end, reached by the best short sunset walk in the old town.
Where to stay in Tyre
Old Town and Harbour
first trip, couples and walkers
Walk to the souks, harbour restaurants, Christian Quarter and Al-Mina, with the best small stays in town.
South coast and Al Hosh
families, beach and drivers
Resort and city hotels with pools and parking, a short drive to the reserve beaches and Al-Bass.
Central Tyre
budget and passing through
Functional cheap hotels on the main commercial streets, close to services and the souks.
Think twice about
- Border area south toward Naqoura
Closer to the border with Israel, with military presence and the highest risk in the area. Do not go.
- Palestinian refugee camps around Tyre
El Buss, Rachidieh and Burj el Shemali are not sightseeing stops. Do not enter refugee settlements as a visitor.
- Fields, damaged buildings and unofficial ruins south of the Litani
Landmines and unexploded ordnance are a named risk south of the Litani River, often unmarked. Stay on roads and official sites.
Best restaurants in Tyre
Le Phenicien Sea Food Restaurant
Tyre's splurge seafood house on the harbour since 1973, built on mezze and the catch of the day.
Al Fanar Restaurant and Auberge
A harbour front Lebanese seafood restaurant by the lighthouse, made for long lunches facing the port.
Aurelia Restaurant & Lounge
A polished Mediterranean and Italian leaning restaurant and lounge, the change of pace in Tyre.
Cloud 59
A long running seasonal beach resto-pub on the reserve sand, for swimming, seafood and sunset.
Restaurant Tony
A tiny fisherman's restaurant by the marina, a few tables, the owner serving the day's catch.
Tavolino Pub
A cosy cocktail pub in a 200 year old old town space, Tyre's best loved small nightspot.
Baroud Restaurant
An early morning foul and hummus breakfast in the old souk, cash, quick and entirely local.
Abou Deeb Restaurant
A long hours everyday Lebanese spot for shawarma, falafel, fried chicken and grills.
Outdoor things to do in Tyre
Tyre Coast Nature Reserve
A Ramsar protected reserve of dunes, springs and turtle nesting beaches running south from Tyre.
Tyre Beach
Lebanon's finest free public sandy beach, wide and shallow, with seasonal huts renting beds and shade.
Turquoise Beach Resort
A simple family beach resort south of Tyre with bungalows, a pool and terrace dining by the sea.
Ras el Ain Springs
Artesian springs among groves south of Tyre, the historic water source for the Roman aqueduct.
Sidon Sea Castle
A 13th century Crusader castle on an island off Sidon, the headline stop on the Tyre excursion north.
Audi Soap Museum
A historic soap factory museum in Sidon's old town, showing traditional olive oil soap making.
Our Lady of Mantara
A hilltop Marian shrine and cave above Sidon, where tradition holds Mary waited during the Sidon preaching.
Holy Grotto of Qana
A quiet pilgrimage grotto near Tyre tied by Lebanese tradition to the wedding feast at Cana.
Best hotels in Tyre
Dar Alma
Tyre's best stay, a small sea facing boutique guesthouse in a historic house in the old town.
Rest House Tyr Hotel & Resort
Tyre's largest hotel, a resort with pool, gardens and private beach, comfortable and a little dated.
El Boutique Hotel
A small sea view boutique hotel in the old city with a terrace, restaurant and praised rooftop.
Asamina Boutique Hotel
A beachfront boutique hotel on the harbour front row, with a terrace and modern rooms.
Platinum Hotel
A conventional city hotel with sea view balconies, a pool and parking, near the Al-Bass site.
Dar Camelia
A small old town bed and breakfast with a garden and continental breakfast, a short walk to the sites.
Murex Hotel
A functional budget hotel on the main commercial street, a cheap and central base with no frills.
Is Tyre expensive? What a day costs
| Budget | LBP 2,700,000 a person |
|---|---|
| Classic | LBP 6,700,000 a person |
| Splurge | LBP 15,700,000 a person |
A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room
What to book ahead
- Turquoise Beach Resort: a few days ahead
- Dar Alma: weeks ahead
- Rest House Tyr Hotel & Resort: a few days ahead
- El Boutique Hotel: a few days ahead
- Asamina Boutique Hotel: a few days ahead
- Le Phenicien Sea Food Restaurant: a few days ahead
- Cloud 59: a few days ahead
- Restaurant Tony: a few days ahead
- Book Dar Alma and El Boutique Hotel ahead in season, and reserve Restaurant Tony and Le Phenicien for weekends.
- Reserve Cloud 59 on summer weekends and arrange a private driver for the Sidon loop a few days ahead.
Is Tyre safe?
- Do not travel to Tyre now. Southern Lebanon carries risks of armed conflict, terrorism, kidnapping, landmines and unrest.
- Tyre is in the South Governorate, south of the Litani River, where airstrikes and an Israeli military presence continue.
- Airstrikes in southern Lebanon continued after a June 2026 cessation of hostilities, many with no warning.
- In a future safe window, stay on roads and official sites because of unexploded ordnance, and keep departure plans ready. Emergency: police 112, ambulance 140.
Tyre travel tips: tourist traps to skip
- Agree the fish, weight and total price before seafood is cooked, at every tier.
- Do not assume cards are accepted. Tyre runs on cash, mostly United States dollars.
- Do not enter the closed conservation zone of the reserve, a marked turtle nest, or any refugee camp as a sightseeing stop.
Getting around Tyre: public transport and more
- Walk the old town, harbour, souks and both archaeological sites, with Al-Bass a 20 to 30 minute leg.
- Take taxis south to the beaches, reserve and Ras el Ain, and agree the fare and currency in advance.
- Beirut is about 80 km north via Sidon, roughly 1.5 hours by road in normal traffic.
Who Tyre suits
| Solo travellers | Good |
|---|---|
| Groups of friends | Good |
| Couples | Good |
| Bachelor parties | Not ideal |
| Families | Good |
| Bachelorette parties | Not ideal |
Make Tyre your trip
Swearby drafts the days from places people swear by. Swap any stop, then invite the crew by text, even friends without the app. Vote on dates, track costs as you go, and everyone gets one number at the end.
Get Swearby on the App Store