Our Lady of Lebanon
The 1908 white-bronze statue and pilgrimage shrine, with a 360° view from the rooftop chapel.
No. 09 — 10
Harissa & Jounieh
Keserwan — Coast
Ride the cable car up to Our Lady of Lebanon for a panoramic view that sweeps the Mediterranean coast.
Sights
Take the Teleferique (cable car) from Jounieh up to the Our Lady of Lebanon statue in Harissa for a panoramic view of the Mediterranean coast.
After Dark
Jounieh's Old Souk area features several waterfront pubs and late-night spots that overlook the bay.
The Itinerary
Top Places to See
The shortlist we always send first. If you have only one afternoon, start here.
Jounieh Téléférique
A nine-minute cable-car ride climbing 600 metres from the bay to Harissa — open since 1965.
Maronite Patriarchal Cathedral
A modern brutalist masterpiece by architect Pierre el-Khoury, on the Harissa hill beside the statue.
Jounieh Old Souk
Sandstone houses and arcades along the harbor — preserved despite the city growing around it.
Insider Notes
Quietly Highlighted
The corners that don't always make the guidebooks but reward the curious.
01
Sunset at Harissa
Time the téléférique for golden hour — the bay below catches the last light beautifully.
02
Notre Dame du Liban viewing platform
The spiral ramp around the statue is the platform — climb slowly and stop at each level.
What to Do
Entertainment & Atmosphere
Where the place comes alive — concerts, festivals, beach clubs, and the best ways to fill an evening.
Casino du Liban
The 1959 grande dame of Mediterranean casinos — gaming floors, cabaret theatre, and Lebanon’s biggest stage.
Jounieh Bay summer nightlife
The "Maameltein strip" still draws Beirutis on summer weekends — bars, clubs, and beach lounges.
Jounieh International Festival
Summer concerts, fireworks over the bay, and a famously raucous waterfront promenade.
The Table
Where to Eat
Tested addresses across categories — from village mountain food to fine modern Lebanese.
Babel Bay
The bay-side outpost of one of the country’s most polished modern Lebanese restaurants.
Chez Sami
A historic seafood villa just south of Jounieh — long lunches of mezze and grilled fish on the terrace.
La Posta
Italian classics with a sea view, in an old stone building above the bay.
To Take Home
Souvenirs Worth the Suitcase Space
Locally made, locally sourced, and small enough to fly with — what to actually buy.
01
Religious icons & rosaries
The Harissa shop alley is the country’s densest concentration of icon painters and metalwork.
02
Olive-wood crafts
Carved Madonnas, crosses, and small boxes from Bethlehem-style workshops near the basilica.
03
Jounieh souk antiques
A handful of old-souk dealers stock mid-century brass, copper, and silverware.
Continue the field guide
