St George Crypt Museum

Top choice in Beirut


When a bomb fell on the Orthodox cathedral in 1975, the only silver lining was that it revealed these ruins beneath. Though the area is small, an excellent and atmospheric archaeological display outlines elements from different parts of the city's history: Seleucid to medieval, with the highlights being Byzantine mosaic floors and a number of spooky tombs. There are good information panels and a seven-minute documentary giving an informative overview of the cathedral’s history.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Beirut attractions

1. St George Greek Orthodox Cathedral

0.02 MILES

This was built in 1767 and is one of the oldest buildings in the city. In 1975, during the civil war, a bomb fell here and unearthed the ruins of a…

2. Place de l'Etoile

0.06 MILES

Named for the starburst formed by the radial streets of the main square, Place de l’Étoile seems to either be totally empty or rammed with families with…

3. Cardo Maximus

0.07 MILES

The 'cardo maximus' was the principal north–south street of a Roman city, and you can see the evocative remains of Beirut's cardo maximus between the city…

4. Maronite Cathedral of St George

0.09 MILES

The neoclassical facade of this late 19th-century cathedral, next to the Mohammed Al Amin mosque, was inspired by the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in…

5. Al Omari Mosque

0.09 MILES

Built in the 12th century as the Church of John the Baptist of the Knights Hospitaller, this attractive building was converted into a mosque in 1291. It…

6. Mohammed Al Amin Mosque

0.1 MILES

Now the city's major landmark, this huge, striking amber-coloured blue-domed mosque near Martyrs Sq was opened in 2008 and has four minarets standing 65m…

7. Roman Baths

0.16 MILES

The largest outdoor sight in downtown Beirut hearkening back to the days when the city was a centre of Roman law, the baths here underwent a major…

8. Planet Discovery

0.24 MILES

This activity centre and interactive science museum in the Souks shopping arcades is aimed at young children and offers a science museum that's very hands…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "lebanon/beirut/attractions/st-george-crypt-museum/a/poi-sig/1574421/361093",
      "destination": "Beirut",
      "continent": "Middle-East",
      "country": "Lebanon",
      "city": "Beirut",
      "position": "superzone"
    }