National Museum of Beirut Museum

The National Museum of Beirut is Lebanon’s principal archaeological museum, established in 1942 to preserve and display the country’s ancient heritage. It houses the leading public collection of artifacts from prehistoric through medieval periods recovered in Lebanon.

Galleries present artefacts that document continuous habitation in the region - prehistoric tools and burial goods, Phoenician objects and large Roman and Byzantine sculptures and mosaics. The displays include stone sarcophagi, funerary objects and items that highlight Phoenician craftsmanship and trade.

The museum building was founded in 1942 and suffered heavy damage during the Lebanese civil war; substantial restoration and conservation work allowed a major reopening in 1999. Since then it has continued to serve as a focus for archaeological research and public education about Lebanon’s past.

The museum sits in central Beirut, close to the downtown district, and is accessible from the city centre.

• Dates and restoration: Founded in 1942 and extensively repaired and restored after damage sustained during the Lebanese civil war, with major reopening works completed in 1999.
• Collections: Holds the country’s principal archaeological collection, including Phoenician sarcophagi, Roman statues and Bronze Age material from Lebanese sites.

What to See#

• Permanent galleries: Galleries arranged roughly by period with displays for Prehistory, Phoenician, Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic artefacts, each showing finds from Lebanese archaeological sites.
• Temporary exhibition spaces: Temporary exhibition halls hosting rotating shows and special loans, used for thematic exhibitions, educational programs and museum events.
• Conservation and storage: On-site conservation and storage areas that support long-term preservation and restoration of archaeological material recovered from excavations across Lebanon.

• Visit early on a weekday morning to avoid school groups and local tour crowds; mornings are quieter and give you more time to study the key displays.
• Check the museum's official website or social media before you go for temporary closures or guided-tour times-special exhibits and guided tours are announced there and can change.
• Don't rush: spend extra time with the Phoenician-era displays and the sarcophagi sections, which are highlights that many visitors skim past in a single walk-through.