Sidon

Sidon's Sea Castle, built by the Crusaders in the 13th century on a compact island just off the Mediterranean coast, is the centrepiece of this Lebanese city's walkable historic centre, which also holds a concentration of churches and a lively café and restaurant scene. The third-largest city in Lebanon and capital of the South Governorate, Sidon sits roughly equidistant between Beirut and Tyre, with mountains visible inland.

• Population163,554
• Nearest water from center2.5 km
• Nearest mountain from center2.4 km
• UNESCO within 50 km1