Museums in Beirut: The Best Place to Learn about the World that Was

Are you the kind of traveller who must have a list of museums to visit while exploring a new city? Do you enjoy learning about the history of the place you're visiting in order to gain a better understanding of it? Well, then you must visit the beautiful museums in Beirut, not just to learn about the capital city of Lebanon but also about the history of the world. These museums don’t just showcase artefacts from the recent past, but also introduce people from all around the world to the oldest currency notes and coins used in every nation, and display the remains of beautiful mosaics.

Museums in Beirut: Learn about the Rich Cultural Heritage of the City

Incidents and happenings mould a country in a very different way than it was supposed to grow and develop. Such is the history of Lebanon, which still thrives after the influences of Maronites, Druze, the Crusades, the Ottoman Empire, the French, the civil war, and then the independence. The same rich history is displayed in the museums in Beirut, narrating all that happened from the beginning of time. One must visit these museums to understand the atrocities the people of this country faced from time to time and how they did not just survive but also thrive.

• The National Museum of Beirut
• Beit Beirut
• Mim Mineral Museum
• AUB Archaeological Museum
• Banque du Liban Museum
• Villa Audi Mosaic Museum

1. The National Museum of Beirut

If someone asks you what a well-preserved museum showcasing almost 8000 years of history is, the easy answer is the National Museum of Beirut. This magnificent and beautiful museum displays artefacts and remains of past civilizations that had a life-changing impact on the country of Lebanon. There are 3 floors in the museum and a basement which exhibits the highlights of the museum, an intriguing row of ancient anthropoid Phoenician sarcophagi. Some of the other antiquities displayed in the museum include Byblos, the magnificent Baalback, Tyre, Sidon, and several items that were hidden during the civil war.

Location: VGH8 + 928, Bayrut, Lebanon

Timings: Tuesday – Sunday: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

2. Beit Beirut

This unique museum in Beirut was once just a beautiful building designed by a Lebanese architect. It is also known as the "yellow building" and has been through many atrocities and struggles to survive during the disastrous Lebanese civil war that lasted for 15 years. The building is yet to open completely as a museum, although it has been used as a centre for art exhibitions and cultural events for quite some time. The ground floor exhibits photos of people before the Civil War, and on the second floor, photos of people are displayed during the Civil War. Visitors will also notice that the building is covered with bullet holes.

Location: Damascus Street, Beirut

Timings: N.A

3. Mim Mineral Museum

This private museum in Beirut is home to more than 2,000 different minerals from all over the world. The aim of building up such a precious collection is to promote the knowledge of minerals along with the historical, industrial, economic, and aesthetic world of mineralogy. The museum was set up by Salim Edde inside the campus of Saint Joseph University in 1997. Visiting this enigmatic and charming museum must be on your list of interesting things to do in Beirut, where you will also get to learn about minerals through videos, digital media, and other educational tools available inside the museum.

Location: Innovation and Sport Campus, Saint-Joseph University, Damascus Street, Beirut, Lebanon

Timings: Tuesday to Sunday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. & 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Monday closed.

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4. AUB Archaeological Museum

One of the oldest museums in the Middle East, AUB has stood tall since 1868 in the American University of Beirut. It is known to be a regional museum, showcasing collections from different countries like Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, and Iran. If you are an avid traveller and a history buff, then this museum must be on your list of places to visit in Beirut. There are several displays of artefacts and remains from different time periods like the palaeolithic period, the neolithic revolution, the bronze age, the iron age, and a wide variety of information about the significant Phoenician civilization.

Location: American University of Beirut, P.O. Box 11-0236, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, Lebanon

Timings: Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday are closed.

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5. Banque du Liban Museum

Every museum is an educational tour on the theme it is based on, and so is this charming museum in Lebanon. The museum illuminates the beautiful history of currency by showcasing paper money and coins from past eras. One can study the details of the artefact on a digital display or with a looking-glass. Information about every single note is provided in the museum. There is an equally fascinating collection of foreign banknotes, which are arranged according to the continents. The museum also has a separate section of artefacts from countries on each continent that are no longer in existence.

Location: VFWQ+6H2, Beirut, Lebanon

Timings: Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday closed.

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6. Villa Audi Mosaic Museum

Lovers of mosaics and art will be happy to explore this beautiful museum in Beirut. These ancient structures date from the period between Roman and Early Christian times.It is nothing less than astonishing to see that such old pieces of history are very well preserved by the Audi family, the owner of the museum. The villa has a beautiful and charming ambiance with ample space exhibiting not just mosaics but also old art pieces and other stunning structures. It is one of the kinds of museums that must be one of the places to visit in Lebanon.

Location: Avenue Ashrafieh, Beirut, Lebanon

Timings: Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday are closed.

So, the next time you are in Lebanon, make sure to visit these fascinating museums in Beirut and learn more about the history of the country. The city of Beirut offers many other interesting places to explore, like Byblos, Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, Roman Baths, Martyrs’ Square, and many more. And if a holiday is on your mind, then avail of the Lebanon holiday packages and you will find many hidden gems along with a wide variety of things to do in the delightful city.

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