Top 5 museums to visit in Lebanon

Top 5 museums to visit in Lebanon

Lebanon is home to some of the world’s best museums, featuring thousands of historical and cultural antiquities, relics, and artifacts. Learn here!


Lebanon is a beautiful country with historical influence, archeological sites, and hundreds of discovered treasures. Hundreds of thousands of tourists visit the country every year to see the picturesque beaches, enjoy delicious food, and explore the local culture.

However, there are various reasons tourists visit museums in Lebanon. First, they want to learn about the history of the country. Second, they want to explore ancient and contemporary artwork and artifacts. Third, they meet new people, take guided tours to learn about the ancient civilizations in the country.

Lebanese museums are of great importance because they exhibit historical, cultural, artistic, and scientific artifacts. Not only do these museums provide visual explorations and informative exhibitions, but they also inspire, teach, and connect tourists with locals. Here are the top five museums to visit in Lebanon. Read on!

1.    The National Museum

The National Museum is the most visited place in Lebanon. It features valuable archaeological items from various excavations within the country. The National Museum is located in Beirut and is famous for its vast collection of prehistoric and ancient artifacts, antiquities, and Mamluk’s period relics.

Besides, the National Museum is a cultural institution that attracts thousands of people from different countries to explore Lebanon’s history and culture and display collections of ancient-times artifacts. Take a guided tour to view the finest collections that showcase the history of various civilizations.

2.    The Robert Mouawad Private Museum

The Robert Mouawad is a private residence, but it is also one of the best museums in Lebanon, featuring crafted collections of oriental and occidental artworks, paintings, artifacts, and sculptures.

Henri Pharaon has made substantial efforts to collect and display archeological relics, antique pieces, and contemporary artworks, making the museum a must-to-visit place for tourists. The private resident was converted to the museum in 2006.

Not only will you see the best collection of antiquities, but you will also learn about Islamic pottery, jewelry items, Chinese porcelain, preserved manuscripts, relics from the prehistoric era.

3.    Sursock Museum

The Sursock Museum is the epitome of Ashrafieh’s beauty. The museum was opened in 1961 and became the cultural hub in the country. However, the civil war broke out in the country and caused significant damages to the museum. The museum closed its doors in 2007 and underwent thorough renovations for over seven years.

The good news is that you can visit the museum and explore the state-of-the-art décor and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere while learning about different forms of artworks, artifacts, and antiquities. The museum hosts numerous art and photography exhibitions throughout the year.

4.    Mim Museum

MIM Museum is a beautiful place in Saint-Joseph University in Beirut. It has displayed thousands of artifacts and antique pieces. However, what makes this museum different from others is Salim Edde’s unique collection of more than 1,600 minerals.

Edde collected these minerals from 65 countries. There are over 300 species of stones and minerals displayed in the Mim Museum. Some of the pieces you will see in the museum are discoveries made during mining.

In addition, the museum also has private collections, including artistic and scientific pieces. So, this place is equally worth visiting for tourists and students of mineralogy and geology. The museum is equipped with large interactive screens that display different relics and information about it, allowing you to get the most out of your visit.

5.    The Modern and Contemporary Art Museum

The Modern & Contemporary Art Museum (MACAM) was first opened in 2013. A Lebanese NGO owns and operates the museum. Although the museum has some collections of ancient artwork, it is famous for modern art, paintings, and sculptures.

Besides, the museum organizes and conducts several exhibitions, giving opportunities to young artists to display their artwork. It also boasts unique pieces, including sculptures made with contemporary techniques. There is a special room for children to eat and play in. So, this place is definitely worth visiting if you want to have a good time.


Final Words

The primary purpose of visiting museums in Lebanon is to see how the staff has collected, preserved, and displayed cultural, artistic, and historically significant objects. Visiting Lebanese museums is an excellent opportunity to educate yourself and explore artifacts, antique jewelry, preserved sculptures, objects, etc.


  • Article based on personal opinion, experience and research.
  • Photos from Unsplash & canva.