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Voykit pocket guide · Lebanon
Rashaya
راشيا
Half a day is enough for the Citadel of Independence and the Roman temple ruins; stay overnight only if you want to explore the surrounding Bekaa villages.
Rashaya al-Wadi is a small Bekaa town known for the 18th-century Rashaya Citadel, a national monument that played a key role in Lebanon's independence, and for a 1st-century Roman temple ruin. The town itself is quiet; most visitors come for a half-day stop between Zahle and the Syrian border.
- Country
- Lebanon
- Local name
- راشيا
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot), Dec–Feb (cold, some rain)
- Stay
- 0–1 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 USD 30–50 (LBP equivalent) · Mid USD 50–80 · High USD 80+ (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Red Cross ambulance 140 · Civil defence 175
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Guesthouse room per night | USD 30–50 |
| Shared taxi Zahle → Rashaya | USD 3–8 |
| Meal at a local restaurant | USD 8–15 |
| Coffee | USD 1–2 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BEY · Beirut–Rafic Hariri International
- About 1.5–2 h drive via the Beirut–Damascus highway; shared taxi or private car
Typical fares
- Shared taxi Zahle → Rashaya
- USD 3–8 (check)
- Private taxi Beirut → Rashaya
- USD 40–80 (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
Rashaya is walkable on foot. To reach the citadel, follow the road uphill from the main square; about 10 min on foot. For the Roman temple, ask locally for directions or use a taxi.
See and do
Known for
- Rashaya Citadel (Citadel of Independence)
- Roman temple ruins
- Local gold and silver jewellery souk
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kfar Qouq | Taxi or shared service, about 15 min | About 20 min |
| Zahle | Taxi or shared service, about 30–40 min | About 45 min |
| Aaiha | Taxi, about 20 min | About 25 min |
Sleep
- Town centre near the souk
- Closest to the citadel and the small shops; limited options, mostly guesthouses.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | مرحباmarhaba |
| Thank you | شكراًshukran |
| How much? | كم؟kam? |
| Where is the citadel? | أين القلعة؟ayn al-qalaa? |
| Do you accept dollars? | هل تقبل دولار؟hal taqbal dolar? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- The citadel's opening hours are not consistently posted; check with the local tourism office or your guesthouse.
- Cash only in most shops and for the guesthouse; ATMs are scarce — bring enough Lebanese pounds or US dollars.
- The Roman temple ruin is unmarked and overgrown; you may need a local guide to find it.
Rashaya is generally calm, but the Bekaa region has a higher security risk. Check your government's travel advice before visiting. Avoid travel after dark on rural roads.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Rashaya yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Rashaya Citadel (Citadel of Independence)
- Roman temple ruins
- Local gold and silver jewellery souk
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: Rashaya, revision 5239641 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5239641
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/rashaya). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.