Sidon

Sidon (Arabic: Saida صَيْدا) is a city in Lebanon. The people (population: 100,000) are largely Sunni Muslims. The main attraction of Sidon is its Sea Castle, built by the Crusaders in the 13th century.

Get in
Take a bus or a car for a 1-hour drive from Beirut. A minibus from Beirut's Cola station costs 2000 L.L. per person. The buses arrive in the centre of the city, nearby the Sea Castle and other sights.

Get around
Getting around in Sidon as in all Lebanon is best by taking a taxi. Cabs provide two services: 1. A taxi ride with a fare charge of 5000 L.L. around 3.25 $ and 2. "Service" is the word you use to permit other passengers to board and then the charge is 2000 L.L. around 1.25 $

Buy
In the old souks, facing the Sea Castle, you can buy traditionally made soap.

For traditional sweets, go for the locals' favorites: (Seaside road),  (Eastern Boulevard),  (Siti Nafissi street).

Eat
The following restaurants offer traditional Lebanese food:, ,.

For quick and cheap snacks: and Abu Rami's Falafel.

Local restaurants and chains:, and.

International chains are also available, such as: McDonald's, and.

Drink
Due to its more conservative nature, alcoholic drinks are not offered in the city's restaurants, cafes or supermarkets. However, delicious chunky fruit cocktails, julabs, Amar El Dine, tamarind juice and other types of traditional fruit juices are offered in the city's "juice shops".

Stay safe
It has sometimes been unsafe to visit the Ein el-Helweh Refugee Camp due to armed conflict, so check current conditions if you want to go there. The rest of the city is normally safe.

Go next

 * Tyre — an important coastal city located more south.