Martyrs' Square, Beirut Plaza

Address: Martyrs’ Square (formerly Place des Martyrs), Beirut, Lebanon

Hours: Public square - open 24 hours

Martyrs’ Square (Sahat al-Shuhada) is a central public square in downtown Beirut, Lebanon, that commemorates Lebanese and Arab nationalists executed by Ottoman authorities in 1916. The square functions as a civic space and a focal point in the capital’s urban core.

A memorial monument occupies the square and the area has long been used for public gatherings, demonstrations and official ceremonies. The square was heavily affected by the Lebanese Civil War and has been part of post-war reconstruction efforts in Beirut’s central district.

Martyrs’ Square stands at the heart of Beirut’s downtown district, adjacent to major shopping streets, government buildings and transport routes in the city centre.

• Commemoration: The monument at the centre commemorates Lebanese nationalists executed by Ottoman authorities during World War I and is a focal point for public commemorations and demonstrations.

In central Beirut. Easily reached on foot from many central neighbourhoods; served by local taxis and city buses. The square is adjacent to the main downtown thoroughfares.

• Visit at early morning to feel the square's quieter dignity and to see vendors setting up.
• Look for the marble plaques and small memorials embedded around the square that recall different episodes of Lebanon's 20th-century history.
• Avoid political demonstrations; they recur and can become tense very quickly.