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Voykit pocket guide · Lebanon
Tibnin
تبنين
Half a day for the three Crusader castles, then move on. Not a base: sleep in Tyre or Sidon.
Tibnin is a small hill town in South Lebanon with three Crusader castles – Toron, Dubieh and Maron – that form part of the Mount Amel Castles UNESCO tentative site. The town itself has few services. Most travellers visit as a half-day trip from Tyre or Sidon, then continue south or north.
- Country
- Lebanon
- Local name
- تبنين
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–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$20–40 (check) · Mid US$40–80 (check) · High US$80+ (check) (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Red Cross ambulance 140 · Civil defence 175
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee (small café) | US$1–2 (check) |
| Meal at a local restaurant | US$5–10 (check) |
| Taxi from Tyre to Tibnin (one way) | US$15–25 (check) |
| Castle entry | Free (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BEY · Beirut–Rafic Hariri International
- About 1.5 h drive; check security situation before travelling south.
Typical fares
- Taxi Tyre → Tibnin
- US$15–25 (check)
- Taxi Tibnin → Marjayoun
- US$10–15 (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
Walking within the town; a car or taxi is needed to reach the three castles, which are spread over several kilometres.
See and do
Known for
- Toron Castle (Qalaat Tibnin)
- Dubieh Castle (Qalaat Chakra)
- Maron Castle (Qalaat Deir Kifa)
- Mount Amel Castles UNESCO tentative site
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre | Car or taxi, about 30 min | About 40 min |
| Sidon | Car or taxi, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Marjayoun | Car or taxi, about 20 min | About 30 min |
| Jezzine | Car or taxi, about 1 h | About 1 h 15 min |
Sleep
- Tibnin centre
- Very limited options; most visitors stay in Tyre or Sidon and day-trip.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | مرحباmarhaba |
| Thank you | شكراًshukran |
| How much? | بكم؟bikam? |
| Where is the castle? | أين القلعة؟ayn al-qalaa? |
| I need a taxi | أحتاج تاكسيahtaj taksi |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Check your government's travel advice for South Lebanon before visiting.
- Castle sites are unstaffed and may be closed without notice; no entry fee known.
- No ATMs or exchange services confirmed in Tibnin – bring cash (USD or LBP).
- Mobile coverage is patchy in the hills; download maps offline.
South Lebanon has a history of conflict and periodic military activity. Check your government's travel advice before visiting. The castles are in open, unstaffed areas – avoid minefields and do not stray from marked paths.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tibnin yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Toron Castle (Qalaat Tibnin)
- Dubieh Castle (Qalaat Chakra)
- Maron Castle (Qalaat Deir Kifa)
- Mount Amel Castles UNESCO tentative site
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- UNESCO tentative list — Mount Amel Castles: whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/
- Wikivoyage: Tibnin, revision 5318628 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5318628
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tibnin). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.