Restaurant & Snack
Freshly prepared grills, sandwiches, salads and children’s favourites, with indoor and outdoor seating. Meal packages can be pre-ordered for groups.
Plan your visit
Seven halls, a live reptile zoo, a restaurant and free parking — on the road to Jeita Grotto, half an hour from Beirut.
Open now — until 18:00Jeita Grotto Road, Jeita, Keserwan, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon+961 9 222 054WhatsApp
Hours & prices
- Monday – Sunday
- 08:00 – 18:00
- Adults
- $12
- Children (4–12)
- $8
- Children under 3
- Free
- School & college groups (per student)
- $8
Last entry is 30 minutes before closing. Open on public holidays unless announced otherwise on this page. Tickets are sold at the entrance; no booking is needed for individuals and families. Group and school rates are arranged by phone.
Getting here
By car
From Beirut, take the coastal highway north and leave it at the Jeita / Nahr el-Kalb exit, then follow the signs for Jeita Grotto up the valley. The museum is on the grotto road, shortly before the grotto itself — about 30 minutes, traffic permitting.
From Jounieh and the north, head south on the highway to the same Jeita exit; you’re about 15 minutes away.
By taxi
Any Beirut or Jounieh taxi knows Jeita Grotto — ask for the marine and wildlife museum on the grotto road. There is no direct public bus to the museum.
Parking
Free parking at the museum, including two lots that each take three to five coaches.
Make a day of it
Jeita Grotto — Lebanon’s most visited natural site — is a few minutes further up the same road. Most visitors pair the two: caves in the morning, museum and lunch in the afternoon, or the other way round.
Facilities
Everything you need for a comfortable few hours.
Gift Shop
Books, posters, postcards, jewellery, replica specimens and educational toys. Every purchase supports the collection and its programmes.
Live Reptile Zoo
Snakes, lizards, tortoises and crocodilians, alive and under expert care — Lebanon’s first reptile zoo, inside the museum.
Parking
Free on-site parking for cars and coaches, right by the entrance.
Accessibility
Please call ahead if someone in your group uses a wheelchair or needs extra help, and we’ll make sure the easiest route through the halls is ready for you.
Families
The museum was built with children in mind: eye-level cases, live animals and a restaurant that knows what kids eat. Pushchairs are welcome, and the youngest children enter free.
Groups & schools
Since 2002 the Ministry of Education has encouraged every school and university in Lebanon to visit — and they do, from Akkar to the Chouf. We’d love to welcome yours.
Book by phone or WhatsApp; there is no online form. Tell us the date, the size of the group and whether you’d like lunch.
Please bring at least one adult supervisor per 15 pupils. Teachers and supervisors are responsible for their group’s behaviour in the halls.
For the best experience, split large parties into groups of 20–40 and send them in 15–20 minutes apart. Each group needs 30–40 minutes to tour the halls.
Indoor and outdoor dining areas each seat up to 200. Reserve your lunch slot when you book, or pre-order meal packages from the Snack Bar.
Book your group visit
Frequently asked questions
When is the museum open?
Seven days a week. Today’s hours and any exceptions are shown at the top of this page; we recommend arriving at least an hour before closing.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
No. Individuals and families simply buy tickets at the entrance. Only groups and schools need to book, by phone or WhatsApp.
How long does a visit take?
Most visitors spend between one and two hours in the seven halls and the Live Reptile Zoo. School groups tour in about 30–40 minutes per group.
How do I get there without a car?
Take a taxi or shared “service” from Beirut or Jounieh to Jeita Grotto and ask for the museum on the grotto road. There is no direct bus.
Is there parking?
Yes — free parking at the museum, with two lots that each hold three to five coaches.
Is the museum suitable for young children?
Very much so. Cases are at a child’s eye level, the reptile zoo is a highlight, and the restaurant serves children’s favourites. The youngest children enter free — see the price table.
Can I take photos?
Photography for personal use is welcome — please switch off the flash to protect the specimens. For press images or filming, contact us by phone.
Can I combine the visit with Jeita Grotto?
Easily. The grotto is a few minutes further up the same road, so most visitors do both in one day.
Contact
We’d rather talk than email. Call or message us and a person will answer.