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Voykit pocket guide · Lebanon
Deir el Qamar
دير القمر
Half a day is enough for Deir el Qamar: see the castle, the church and the square, then move on to Beiteddine or the coast.
Deir el Qamar is a compact hillside village in Mount Lebanon that served as the country's capital for 300 years. Its red-roofed houses, a 500-year-old church built on a Roman temple, a 15th-century mosque and a wax museum fill a relaxed half-day. Most visitors combine it with nearby Beiteddine Palace.
- Country
- Lebanon
- Local name
- دير القمر
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot), Dec–Feb (cold and wet)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- LBP
- Money
- US dollar cash is the backbone of payments: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget US$30–50 (check) · Mid US$60–100 (check) · High US$120+ (check) (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Red Cross ambulance 140 · Civil defence 175
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Meal at a local restaurant | US$8–15 |
| Coffee | US$2–4 |
| Service taxi (shared) from Beirut | US$8–12 |
| Wax museum entry | check |
| Moussa Castle entry | check |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BEY · Beirut–Rafic Hariri International
- About 40 km (25 mi); 1 h by car, check road conditionsAbout 25 mi (40 km); 1 h by car, check road conditions
Typical fares
- Service taxi Beirut → Deir el Qamar
- about US$8–12, 1 h (check)
- Car hire per day
- from US$40 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The village is walkable. For Beiteddine or the grotto you need a car or a shared taxi (service).
See and do
Known for
- Red-roofed stone houses
- Saidet et Tallé church (built on a Roman moon temple)
- Fakhreddine Mosque (oldest in Mount Lebanon, 1493)
- Moussa Castle (a love-story castle)
- Wax museum of Marie Baz
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Beiteddine Palace | Car or service taxi, about 10 min | 15 min |
| Byblos | Car via the coastal highway, about 40 min | 50 min |
| Jounieh | Car, about 30 min | 40 min |
Sleep
- Deir el Qamar centre
- A handful of guesthouses; quiet at night, walking distance to sights.
- Beiteddine
- 5 km (3.1 mi) away; more accommodation options near the palace.3.1 mi (5 km) away; more accommodation options near the palace.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | مرحباmarhaba |
| Thank you | شكراshukran |
| How much? | أديش؟addesh? |
| Yes / No | نعم / لاna'am / la |
| Please | من فضلكmin fadlak |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Roads in Mount Lebanon can be narrow and winding; drive carefully.
- Check opening hours of the wax museum and Moussa Castle before visiting.
- Some sights (Kfarhim Grotto, Mount of the Cross) may be closed or require a guide.
Mount Lebanon is generally safe for tourists, but check your government's travel advice for the country. Roads are winding; drive slowly. Avoid any political gatherings.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Deir el Qamar yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Red-roofed stone houses
- Saidet et Tallé church (built on a Roman moon temple)
- Fakhreddine Mosque (oldest in Mount Lebanon, 1493)
- Moussa Castle (a love-story castle)
- Wax museum of Marie Baz
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Deir el Qamar, revision 5118226 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5118226
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/deir-el-qamar). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.