South Governorate · Lebanon
Tyre travel guide
Tyre is a city in South Governorate, Lebanon, home to about 160,000 people.
- Best months
- March to May and October
- Nearest airport
- HFA53 km · Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport
- Currency
- LBPLebanese pound
- Time zone
- Asia/Beirut
- Language
- Arabic
Things to do
What to see and do in Tyre
See
Although frequently eclipsed by the grandeur of Beirut and the bustling souq of Sidon, Tyre is a beautiful and enjoyable city in its own right. However its small size and distinctive position in the deep south of the country mean that most tourists never get this far. The city's main draw is the astonishing ruins of old Tyre, including the world's best-preserved Roman Hippodrome, have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage site since 1984. Enjoying the beautiful beaches and excellent local cuisine is also a favorite pastime for both locals and visitors.
- Al-Bass Tyre necropolis
- Tyre Hippodrome
- Hot Spring Ruins
- Tyre lighthouse
- Al Gamal
- Chamaa Castle
Do
The souq situated next to the Christian district, is a lively and atmospheric marketplace. Although it does not have the splendour of the large and tourist-driven souq in Sidon, it offers good prices on everything from souvenirs to fresh fish caught that morning. The beach is known throughout Lebanon as being the cleanest and most beautiful in Lebanon, with families from around the country flocking there in the summer. During the summer months (May–September) there are a large number of beach cafes which operate from the huts. Prices can be expensive, but it is a perfect spot for sunbathing and enjoying the impressive waves.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of Tyre to stay in
Perhaps the best-known place for visitors to stay is the Resthouse hotel on the beach. The beach and the pool is exclusively only to the hotel's guests although others can use them too by paying a small fee - this fee is mostly to keep 'unwanted people' off the premises. At the beach you can order drinks, narghile, rent a sun chair or perhaps attend a diving course.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Tyre
2 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Dar Alma | 1.1 km | |
| Platinum Hotel | 1.6 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Tyre
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Tyre are March to May and October. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; January is the wettest, with about 181 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Tyre: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport (HFA), about 53 km from the city centre in a straight line; Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY, 67 km) and Damascus International Airport (DAM, 123 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
The cheapest way of getting into Tyre is by private bus. Large, air-conditioned buses go from Cola Junction, Beirut, throughout the day for approximately US$4 and take about 2½ hr. Privately run minibuses also go frequently throughout the day and late into the evening from Cola Junction, Beirut and from the bus station in Sidon. They take a variety of routes and will often stop and start throughout the journey to let passengers on and off.
Getting around
Without a doubt the best way to get around Tyre is on foot. The beachfront and main roads are all within 5-10 min walk from each other. The Al Bass Archaeological site is slightly further away and a taxi may be the easiest option to get there. Taxis are pretty cheap and some are even comfortable to travel in. Some are the registered yellow taxis that operate throughout the country, but many are private cars, often in varying states of repair (from virtually new to over 40 years old in some cases).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
HFA · Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport
BEY · Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport
DAM · Damascus International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Tyre
Drink
Next to the port you can find several minimarkets who could sell all kind of alcohols. In summer you can experience one of the best sensations by taking a beer and a narghile on the beach at AL Jamal sea side or at the sandy side next to rest house hotel where you can find several hut restaurants in addition to the amazing bar in the rest house beach. At night you can take a drink at ALbadawe cafe, Nocean, Fanar, Skandar, Tyros and several restaurants found on the corniche side.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Tyre: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Tyre?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Tyre are March to May and October. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; January is the wettest, with about 181 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Tyre?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Uri Michaeli Haifa International Airport (HFA), about 53 km from the city centre in a straight line; Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport (BEY, 67 km) and Damascus International Airport (DAM, 123 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Tyre?
Lebanese pound (LBP).
Nearby
Destinations near Tyre
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.