Travel to Syria — everything you need to know

When to go to Syria?

Weather in Syria

Check the weather city by city, starting with Damascus.

What to do in Syria?

For millennia, Syria was one of the richest crossroads in human history, where Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Islamic civilisations met. Its UNESCO-listed sites — the old city of Damascus, the citadel of Aleppo, Palmyra — ranked among the wonders of the ancient world. Since the outbreak of civil war in 2011, the country remains deeply unstable despite the end of major fighting in some areas.

Old city of Damascus

The old city of Damascus, one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1979. Its tangled alleys house the majestic Umayyad Mosque, one of the oldest and largest monuments of Islam, along with khans, hammams and courtyard houses of striking beauty. The al-Hamidiyya souk, its tin roof still perforated by WWI bullets, leads straight to the historic heart of the city.

Highlights : Umayyad Mosque — one of the four great mosques of Islam, Al-Hamidiyya souk — historic covered market leading to the mosque, Azem Palace — masterpiece of Ottoman-era Damascene architecture, Straight Street (Via Recta) — an ancient Roman road still inhabited.

Alep

Aleppo, one of the largest and oldest cities in the Arab world, had before the war one of the most remarkable historic centres in the Middle East, UNESCO-listed. Its medieval citadel, kilometres of covered souks and caravanserais bore witness to a millennium of trading wealth. The old town suffered serious destruction during the 2012–2016 fighting, and reconstruction efforts are underway.

Highlights : Citadel of Aleppo — medieval fortress overlooking the city, under restoration, Great Covered Souks — the longest network of covered souks in the Arab world, Umayyad Mosque of Aleppo — its Romanesque minaret partly rebuilt, Khan al-Wazir — a magnificent 17th-century caravanserai.

Palmyre (Tadmur)

Palmyra was one of the most remarkable ancient cities of the Roman world, an oasis at the heart of the Syrian desert that thrived on the caravan trade between Rome and Persia. Its UNESCO-listed archaeological site was a vast complex of temples, colonnades and necropolises of striking beauty. In 2015, the Islamic State destroyed some of its most precious monuments, including the Temple of Bel, inflicting an irreparable loss on world heritage.

Highlights : Great Colonnade — a 1,100-metre colonnaded avenue, Temple of Baalshamin — partially destroyed by ISIS in 2015, Roman theatre — stage under restoration, Valley of the Tombs — necropolis with impressive funerary towers.

Krak des Chevaliers

Krak des Chevaliers is considered one of the best-preserved medieval castles in the world, UNESCO-listed since 2006. This Crusader fortress, built by the Hospitallers in the 12th century, towers spectacularly over the Syrian coastal plain from its rocky spur at 650 metres altitude. The castle sustained some damage during the civil war but remains in a remarkable state of preservation.

Highlights : Keep — the massive central tower with walls several metres thick, Romanesque chapel — a church turned mosque and later reconverted, Panoramic view — 360° over the Homs plain and the mountains.

Travel budget for Syria

Syria is one of the cheapest countries in the region for the few travellers who go there, due to the catastrophic depreciation of the Syrian pound. The figures below are indicative; the economic situation remains extremely volatile.

Practical tips for travelling to Syria

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