What's on in Byblos (Jbeil), Lebanon through the year

Busy — Christmas and New Year, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: The harbour shuts down (15 Nov – 15 Mar (usually)), Christmas and New Year (20 Dec – 6 Jan)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: The harbour shuts down (15 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

• Festival

  Holy Week

  20 Mar – 10 May · usuallyClosures

  Byblos is a Christian town and Holy Week is its serious season, with processions out of the old churches and the port restaurants opening properly for the first time since autumn. Source ↗

Still on: The harbour shuts down (15 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Holy Week (20 Mar – 10 May (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in May.

Still on: Holy Week (20 Mar – 10 May (usually))

Busy — Swimming season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Swimming season

  15 Jun – 31 Oct · usuallySea warm enoughCrowded

  The pebble coves either side of the port are in use from mid-June, and the beach clubs south towards Amchit charge for a lounger from then. Late September is the quiet reward. Source ↗

Peak crowds — Swimming season, Diaspora summer

• Season

  Diaspora summer

  1 Jul – 31 AugSchool holidaysCrowdedBook early

  Lebanese families back from abroad fill the coast road and the old souk in the evenings, and the port restaurants stop taking walk-ins. It is the loudest and most expensive Byblos gets. Source ↗

• Festival

  Byblos International Festival

  15 Jul – 20 Aug · usuallyMusic festivalCrowdedBook early

  Concerts staged on the old harbour with the Roman columns behind the stage, running for a handful of nights in high summer. Rooms in town go months ahead and the port closes to traffic on show nights. Source ↗

Still on: Swimming season (15 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))

Peak crowds — Swimming season, Diaspora summer

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Swimming season (15 Jun – 31 Oct (usually)), Diaspora summer (1 Jul – 31 Aug), Byblos International Festival (15 Jul – 20 Aug (usually))

Busy — Swimming season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Swimming season (15 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))

Busy — Swimming season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in October.

Still on: Swimming season (15 Jun – 31 Oct (usually))

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Season

  The harbour shuts down

  15 Nov – 15 Mar · usuallyOff-season shutdownClosures

  Most of the restaurants around the old port close or drop to weekends only and the souk is half shuttered. The crusader castle and the ruins stay open and you will have them to yourself. Source ↗

Busy — Christmas and New Year, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year

  20 Dec – 6 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  Christmas and New Year are public holidays and the diaspora flies home: flights into Beirut fill, hotels and chalets charge peak rates, streets are strung with lights and restaurants and clubs sell out for New Year's Eve. Source ↗

Still on: The harbour shuts down (15 Nov – 15 Mar (usually))