Al-Omari Mosque
Al-Omari Mosque
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.

Plan your visit

Are you currently on your trip?
Help us find experiences available for you.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles103 reviews
Excellent
50
Very good
45
Average
7
Poor
1
Terrible
0

Sufia L
Fresno, United States8 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2024 • Family
Our visit to this mosque was mesmerizing. The history behind this mosque is fascinating, and the architecture is beautiful. We loved the beautiful prayer services offered and wished we could have visited it more while in Beirut. We hope this mosque continues to be well mainatined and stands as a testimony of Lebanon's diverse history.

The MOJADADDI Family.
Written April 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kassam11
Lebanon1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
The Omari Mosque is considered one of the monuments of the Islamic conquests at the dawn of the first century hejri – Beirut was conquered in 14 HY / 635 AD – and is, without a doubt, one of the biggest and oldest mosques of the city.

It was dubbed Omari as a tribute to the 2nd Caliph Omar Ibn Al-Khattab; it was also named Al-Tawba (repentance) Mosque and Prophet Yahia’s (John the Baptist’s) Mosque, since various people say that some of Prophet Yahia’s (John the Baptist’s) body parts had been placed inside the Mosque; an iron cage was placed above them by Sultan Abdul Hamid in 1305 HY / 1887 AD, and still exists nowadays.

Under the crusaders’ dominion, it was transformed into a church and, in 583 HY / 1187 AD, the Sultan Saladin liberated the city of Beirut and brought back the Omari Mosque to life. A decade later, the mosque was reconverted into a cathedral by the crusaders who invaded the city; it was conquered for the last time by Muslims, at the time of Mameluks on 22 Rajab HY / July 21st 1291 AD, who introduced to it some modifications.

Moreover, the Omari Mosque was modified several times over centuries; the last modification took place on June 4th 2004 when the mosque was inaugurated in the presence of the Mufti of the Lebanese Republic, Sheikh Mohamed Racheed Kabbani.

For a certain period of time, the Omari Mosque was honored by the presence of some of Prophet Mohamed’s (peace and blessings be upon Him) hair locks which, presented in a chest, were placed in a dome-covered room which was later called “the room of the hair lock”. Beirut’s inhabitants were used to take a blessing from this sacred relic, until the chest disappeared during the Lebanese civil war (1975).
Written June 30, 2009
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LarisaB
New Delhi, India19 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2019
We are a generation in which the friend was righteous and the earth had its sanctity. We gathered early to go to it and come back quickly so that we would be late for our school duties. The words of the parents were holy and respect for our holy ancestors. We learned respect for the neighbor and the right of neighborhood. How sad I am for those generations that did not know and did not enjoy what we lived and enjoyed.
Written August 22, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Shekar T
Mumbai, India114 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018 • Business
this is the best example of beiruts harmony with co existence. a must see location right near beirut souks in downtown.
Written June 7, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

CarolynL6
Melbourne, Australia311 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2017 • Couples
The site is interesting to view from outside as an ancient structure (closed to tourists on day of visit) and particularly peaceful even though it sits in the centre of the city with busy streets surrounding it. The fountain outside was relaxing to sit by and reading the history surrounding the site makes it come alive.
Written November 22, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

WorldCT
Canada463 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2017 • Couples
I liked the way this historic mosque had been renovated and well maintained. Close to another mosque and church which demonstrate well the mosaic and religious tolerance of the country
Written October 21, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Manoul
Beirut, Lebanon764 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2016 • Friends
Before being eclipsed by the Mohammad al-Amin Mosque, the Omari Mosque was Beirut’s central mosque. It takes its name from the caliph Omar Ibn aI-Khattab. It was built on the ruins of an ancient Byzantine church that was in turn built on the ruins of Roman thermal baths. The Crusaders transformed the mosque in 1150 into a cathedral dedicated to St. John, before the Mamluks definitively turned it into a mosque in 1291, becoming the grand mosque of the city during the reign of Sultan Al-Ashraf Khalil.
Written February 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Newytraveller53
Newcastle, Australia607 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2015 • Couples
A great place to visit. Being non-Muslim I was greeted quite happily, given appropriate dress and invited to enter and take photos. No time limit to your stay.
Written January 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Manoul
Beirut, Lebanon764 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Before being eclipsed by Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, this initially used to be the central mosque of Beirut. Named in honor of Umar ibn al-Khattab. I was very surprised by the interior design of this mosque.. The mosque's interior sandstone walls are decorated in Mamluk and Ottoman inscriptions. Inside the mosque, a golden steel cage, a gift from Sultan Abdul Hamid II to Beirut.. It worth a visit.
Written January 12, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Samad Golzari
Tabriz, Iran103 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2012 • Solo
The mosque's dome is unique. I have visited over a thousand mosques. This mosque has a special blue color dome. You can distinguish it from the distance. There are three chandeliers inside. The one in the middle is gigantic. I have never seen any that large. It's also great as you can refresh for awhile in its cold after being exposed to the heat of Beirut.
Written June 29, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Showing results 1-10 of 68
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing

Al-Omari Mosque, Beirut

All Beirut HotelsBeirut Hotel DealsLast Minute Hotels in BeirutHotels near Al-Omari Mosque
All things to do in Beirut
Day Trips in Beirut
RestaurantsFlightsVacation RentalsTravel StoriesCruisesRental Cars