Tyre
Lebanon ·
Description
Tyre was the greatest Phoenician maritime city, founder of colonies across the Mediterranean including Carthage and Cadiz. Alexander the Great besieged it for seven months in 332 BC, eventually building a causeway that turned the island city into a peninsula. Roman and Byzantine remains, including a 480 m hippodrome that could seat 20,000, survive along with an extensive necropolis.
Why It's a World Heritage Site
UNESCO recognized Tyre for its direct and tangible association with events of outstanding universal significance and as the primary city of the Phoenicians.
UNESCO Criteria
Frequently Asked Questions
About 80 km south of Beirut, reachable by car or organized tour in 1.5 hours.
The hippodrome at Al-Bass site, then the coastal area with the colonnaded Roman road.
Yes, Tyre has some of Lebanon’s best beaches near the archaeological sites.
Usually quiet, much less touristy than Byblos or Beirut.
Yes, Sidon (Saida) is on the way back to Beirut and has a Crusader sea castle and souks.