Sursock Museum 🇱🇧

Located on Rue Sursock in Beirut's Rmeil district, the Sursock Museum—officially the Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock Museum—is a striking modern and contemporary art museum. Originally built in 1912 as a private villa for Lebanese aristocrat Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock, the grand building is one of the few remaining villas from its epoch in Beirut. Its remarkable design showcases unique Lebanese architecture enriched by Venetian Italianate and Ottoman influences.

Bequeathed to the city of Beirut upon Sursock's death, it briefly served as a presidential guesthouse hosting foreign heads of state before opening as a public art museum in 1961. When you visit, you will encounter a permanent collection of over 800 artworks spanning the 19th and 20th centuries, featuring paintings, graphic arts, and sculptures by prominent Lebanese and international artists. The museum's diverse holdings also encompass Islamic art and Japanese engravings.

Following a major underground expansion designed by architects Jean-Michel Wilmotte and Jacques Abou Khaled, the complex houses expanded exhibition spaces, a research library, an auditorium, a restoration workshop, a store, and a restaurant. Having survived and been restored after significant damage from the 2020 explosion, this site stands as a resilient cultural beacon.

What to see at Sursock Museum

• Lebanese architecture blending Venetian Italianate and Ottoman styles
• Collection of over 800 19th- and 20th-century paintings, sculptures, and graphic arts
• Diverse displays of Islamic art and Japanese engravings
• Four subterranean levels featuring exhibition spaces, a store, and a restaurant
• Historically significant villa bequeathed to Beirut by Nicolas Ibrahim Sursock

Visiting tips

Be sure to explore the four expanded underground levels beneath the garden to see the modern exhibition spaces, store, and research library.

How long: 1-2 hours · Best time: Morning

How to get there & what’s nearby

Sursock Museum is easy to reach on Beirut’s public transport. For where to stay, the weather and full itineraries, see our Beirut travel guide.