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Travel tips for Syria Syria is on the eastern Mediterranean and borders on Israel and Jordan in the south, on the Lebanon and the Mediterranean in the west, Turkey in the north and in the east shares borders with Iraq.
Syria may be divided up into four geographical zones. Fertile coastal areas in the west, the high plateau and the mountain chain Jebel an-Nusariyah, the fertile plains in the centre of the country and the savannah in the south-east.
On the coast, the climate is Mediterranean with hot summers and mild humid winters. In the interior of the country there is a continental dry climate with significant temperature fluctuations between day and night and the summers and winter. The country has a low rainfall with rain falling mainly on the coast.
The official and national language is Arabic. A few groups in the population speak Armenian and Kurdish. In most big towns the younger population understands English and French.
Keeping the usual vaccinations up to date is recommended. Long clothing should be worn to protect against viruses spread by mosquitoes and an insect repellent should be purchased locally. Medical care is only of a sufficient standard in the larger cities. Visitors should obtain a comprehensive travel and medical insurance. Fruit and vegetable should be peeled or boiled prior to eating and travellers should take a first aid kit.
British citizens need a visa to enter Syria. Passport holders with an Israeli stamp or stamps from other countries border crossing points to Israel will be refused entry. Syria requires documentary evidence from those travelling alone with children. Information on visa regulations is available from the Syrian Embassy as is information for those travelling with children.
Flight connections are on offer from the national airline Syrian Arab Airlines (RB) that flies non-stop from several European airports to Damascus (DAM) and also offers relatively cheap deals for domestic flights for example to Aleppo (ALP), Palmyra (PMS) or Lattakia (LTK). There are also a number of European and Arab airlines such as Lufthansa (LH) or Royal Jordanian (RJ) with good connections. These always involve a stopover.
The heart of Syria is in the capital Damascus. According to historical accounts, Damascus is over 7000 years old and is the oldest and permanently populated town that still exists on earth. The old town is surrounded by roman walls and was added to the UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites in 1979 as it offers an impressive number of historical sights. Of particular beauty are the numerous large Islamic buildings and the wonderfully colourful oriental bazaars.
The most important building is the Umayyad mosque which 3000 years ago was originally a temple to honour a god of the sun and thunder, then a temple to honour Jupiter, then a Christian cathedral and finally a mosque. The 3 different minarets are worth a visit along with the mosque itself that represents the zenith of Islamic architecture with its wonderful mosaics. Directly opposite the mosque is the mausoleum, which was erected in honour of Saladin the conqueror. It is located in a wonderful garden north of the Umayyad mosque and stands out due to its red dome.
The Azam palace south of the mosque is also worth a visit. This was built in 1749 from several layers of black basalt and white limestone. Then there is the Christian quarter in the east of the old town with a collection of historical churches. Besides taking a tour of the city, visitors should also visit the many markets. The damascenes are famous and proud of their handicrafts, as they are considered amongst the best in the Arab world. The secret tip is about 10 km south of the capital city and is the Sayda Zaynab shrine in honour of the prophet Mohamed’s granddaughter. The shrine is embellished with gold, silver, and magnificent chandeliers and is visited by several hundred pilgrims daily from the entire Islamic world.
The Republic of Syria is a paradise fro archaeologists. There are ruins from the crusades, amphitheatres and ruined cities scattered all over the country. Many Mediterranean peoples conquered this area over the centuries and have left their archaeological traces.
About 150 km south of Damascus is the city of Bosra, also a UNESCO World Heritage site. In the old town is the most beautiful roman amphitheatre in the world. It was built in the 2nd century AD for 15,000 visitors. Even today, the Bosra music and theatre festival takes place here.
The city of Aleppo is another of Syria’s treasures: it is the second largest city of the country and was an important trade centre even at the time of the Romans. The roofed bazaar is particularly beautiful and is amongst the largest in the world with an area of more than 12 km². Other sights are the citadel and the Caravanserai as well as the national museum.
Krak of the cavalier should also be mentioned, being one of the most important castles from the crusades in Syria. Building work began in 1031 AD on a hillside 650 metres high between Homs and Tartus. The castle is a masterwork of crusaders architecture. The outer wall is 30 metres thick with 7 watchtowers used for defence.
Those interested in a beach holiday should go to the beaches of Lattakia with its beautiful sheltered coves that also offer plentiful shade. The beaches are well developed for tourists and are visited by local and Arabic tourists.
The most important tourist attraction in Syria must be the antique oases city of Palmyra, that was added to the list of World Heritage sites in 1980. It is one of the most beautiful and impressive cities in the orient and used to be situated on an important trade route, which allowed it to attain such enormous wealth in antiquity. As opposed to the totally overrun Petra in Jordan, Palmyra is a relatively quiet place.