Beirut

Beirut needs 3 days: the rebuilt center and the Corniche facing the Mediterranean on one, and the Gemmayze neighborhood (nightlife) on another, with trips to Baalbek for the rest. April-June avoids humid summer heat. Prices are moderate, though volatile due to the country's economic instability. It was nicknamed the «Paris of the Middle East» for its nightlife and architecture, and its recent history of civil war and reconstruction coexists with a cultural and food scene that remains one of the most vibrant in the region.