Things to do while in Lebanon

Eat an ice cream cone in Bcharre while admiring the Qadisha Valley below

Walk aimlessly around Beirut, enter small boutiques, be overjoyed when you find a terrace, order a lemonade or a fresh juice and smile as you watch the city live.

Go house hunting: pay attention to the architecture of the old houses, pick your favourite and daydream about buying it and restoring it.

Collect pictures of the graffitis, tags, and stencils that adorn the city’s walls

Indulge in a chocolate chips cookie from Kitsch

Choose a pleasant, small bar in Gemmayzeh. Enjoy an Almaza (the local beer) while eating the fresh carrot sticks they serve along with drinks. Go there regularly. Quickly you’ll know everyone and feel a little more at home in Beirut. Suggestions of bars: Kayan, Torino or Godot.

Have mezze and seafood at Bab Al-Mina on a sunny Sunday afternoon. The view of the port of Jbeil is unmatched and the clamour of the family meeting for their weekly Sunday get together would bring a grin to anyone’s face.

Take a book to Sanayeh public garden or to the Corniche and pretend to read. When really you’re people watching.

Savour the delicious local fresh fruits and vegetables you just bought at the small corner store.

Have a waffle with maple syrup at Tribeca (in Monot) after a late night out.

Find a group with whom to explore the mountains. The hikes are great, the fresh air a delight and the views always superb.

Stand at the foot of the fence marking the border with Israel.

Read every event poster you might come across. There are a lot of cultural activities, exhibitions and festivals happening each week. It would be a shame to miss one of them.

Explore the entire country. Don’t leave a single region unvisited. Each area is different from the next and deserves to be seen.

Always accept an invitation for tea, who knows which hidden treasure you might stumble upon.