Explore the Old City of Damascus
A UNESCO World Heritage old city and one of the oldest continuously inhabited urban centers on Earth, with roots stretching back over 11,000 years.
diskover·us
Home › Destinations › Middle East › Syria
Middle East
Things to do in Syria
One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on Earth in Damascus, the ruins of Palmyra rising from the desert, and a country cautiously reopening to travelers since a change of government in early 2025.
Explore Syria on the map →Budget$
Best for8-10 days
CapitalDamascus
VisaVisa on arrival available for most nationalities as of the new government's 2025 policy, including at Damascus International Airport and land crossings from Lebanon and Jordan, typically valid for 30 days; entry is refused to anyone with evidence of travel to Israel.
CurrencySyrian pound (SYP)
LanguagesArabic (official); Kurdish and Armenian spoken in parts of the country
InternetLimited and inconsistent, improving gradually since 2025
Typical lodging$15–$35/night
Driving sideRight
Power & voltage230V / 50Hz (Type C/G varies)
Time zoneUTC+3
Emergency number999 or 112
Dialing code+963
★★★★★ Culture★★★★★ Photography★★★★★ Adventure
Visa rules and emergency numbers can change without notice. Confirm the specifics for your nationality and dates before you travel.
Travel smart
Bottled water recommended. 10–15% expected, often added as a service charge.
Damascus is widely considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with roots stretching back over 11,000 years, and its Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage site holding the Umayyad Mosque, one of the oldest and most significant mosques in Islamic history. Since the fall of the Assad government in December 2024 and the establishment of a new administration in early 2025, Syria has cautiously begun reopening to travelers, with visas now available on arrival for most nationalities, though the country remains in an early and closely watched transitional period after more than a decade of civil war.
When to go
SpringMarch–May
The most comfortable window nationally, with mild temperatures for Damascus and the desert ruins of Palmyra.
SummerJune–August
Very hot, particularly in the desert interior around Palmyra; coastal areas near Latakia stay somewhat more comfortable.
AutumnSeptember–November
Cooling temperatures and clear skies, considered alongside spring as the best overall window.
WinterDecember–February
Mild in Damascus, colder and occasionally snowy in the mountains and higher-elevation areas.
20 things to do
▾
Culture & history
13Visit the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus
One of the oldest and most significant mosques in Islamic history, built on a site with layered Roman and Christian religious heritage before it.
Explore the ruins of Palmyra
A UNESCO World Heritage desert city that was once a major Silk Road trading hub, with monumental colonnaded ruins rising dramatically from the surrounding desert.
Visit the Krak des Chevaliers crusader castle
A UNESCO World Heritage medieval fortress considered one of the best-preserved crusader castles anywhere in the world.
Explore the Old City of Aleppo
A UNESCO World Heritage old city whose historic souks and citadel are undergoing careful restoration after significant conflict-era damage.
Visit the Aleppo Citadel
A massive medieval fortress towering over Aleppo's old city, among the oldest and largest castles in the world.
Explore the ancient ruins of Apamea
A less-visited but remarkably well-preserved Roman city with a colonnaded main street nearly two kilometres long.
Visit the Umayyad Mosque's Damascus souk district
The Al-Hamidiyah Souk, a historic covered market adjoining the Umayyad Mosque, remains a genuinely active commercial hub for textiles and sweets.
Explore the Christian villages of Maaloula
One of the few places in the world where a form of Western Aramaic, the language of Jesus, is still spoken by residents today.
Visit the National Museum of Damascus
Syria's principal archaeological museum, tracing millennia of Mesopotamian, Roman, and Islamic-era history across the region.
Visit the Azem Palace in Damascus
An 18th-century Ottoman-era palace showcasing traditional Damascene courtyard architecture, now housing a museum of arts and popular traditions.
Explore the ancient city of Bosra
A UNESCO World Heritage site holding one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world, built from distinctive black basalt stone.
Visit a traditional Damascene courtyard house
Restored historic courtyard homes in the Old City offer a genuine window into Damascus's traditional domestic architecture, now often converted into boutique guesthouses and restaurants.
▾
Food & drink
6Eat Syrian kibbeh
A dish of spiced ground meat mixed with bulgur wheat, prepared in numerous regional variations, considered a genuine centerpiece of Syrian cuisine.
Try Syrian fattoush
A bread salad of mixed vegetables and toasted pita, reflecting the fresh, vegetable-forward character of Levantine cuisine.
Try Syrian muhammara, a walnut and pepper dip
A spicy dip of walnuts, roasted red peppers, and pomegranate molasses, a distinctive specialty associated with Aleppo's culinary tradition.
Try Syrian baklava and Damascene sweets
Damascus has a genuinely renowned tradition of layered pastry sweets, reflecting centuries of Ottoman-era confectionery craft.
Try Syrian shawarma
Layered spiced meat roasted on a vertical spit, a dish with deep roots in Damascus and Aleppo that has since spread across the world.
Try Syrian maamoul, date-filled shortbread cookies
Delicate shortbread cookies filled with dates, pistachios, or walnuts, traditionally baked for Eid celebrations across the country.
▾
Beaches
1Explore the coastal city of Latakia
Syria's principal Mediterranean port city, historically offering a more relaxed coastal counterpoint to the inland historic circuit.
Common questions
▾Is it safe to visit Syria right now?
Syria remains in an early, closely watched transitional period after the fall of the Assad government in December 2024 and more than a decade of civil war before that; some travelers have visited the main Damascus-Palmyra-Aleppo circuit since the 2025 reopening, but conditions can shift, so checking current government advisories immediately before any trip is essential.
▾Do I need a visa for Syria?
Visa on arrival has been available for most nationalities since the new government's 2025 policy change, including at Damascus International Airport and land crossings from Lebanon and Jordan, typically valid for 30 days.
▾Why is Damascus historically significant?
It's widely considered one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, with roots stretching back over 11,000 years, and its Old City holds the Umayyad Mosque, one of the oldest and most significant mosques in Islamic history.
▾Can I still visit if my passport shows travel to Israel?
No. Syria refuses entry to anyone with evidence of travel to Israel or holding Israeli nationality, a restriction that has continued under the new government.
▾How many days does Syria need?
8-10 days lets you combine Damascus with Palmyra's desert ruins and Aleppo's historic old city, though it's worth confirming current road conditions and security guidance between cities before finalizing an itinerary.
▾How much does it cost to visit Syria's historical sites now?
Where sites are accessible, entrance fees are typically modest, a few dollars equivalent, but this is secondary to the core issue: most governments currently advise against all travel to Syria given the country's ongoing instability. Check your government's latest advisory before considering any trip, regardless of site costs.