The old souk of Byblos stretches through the lanes behind the harbour, a genuine working market that has been selling to locals and visitors in roughly the same location for centuries. The shops are a mix of artisans selling locally made crafts — jewellery, ceramics, handwoven textiles — and antique dealers with a rotating stock of Lebanese coins, Phoenician glass, Roman-period artifacts (mostly legal reproductions), and miscellaneous Middle Eastern antiques.
The atmosphere is less pressured than in larger Lebanese souks, and the vendors tend to be patient and informative. Among the more distinctive local crafts are pieces made with Phoenician glass techniques and jewellery incorporating ancient coin designs. The souk is also a good place to find za'atar spice mixes and locally pressed olive oil from the surrounding area, which produces some of the best in Lebanon. Walk through even if you're not buying — the architecture of the Ottoman-era shophouses is worth the detour.