Bosra, Syria: The Roman Theater, the Citadel and the Ancient City

Is Bosra worth visiting? Yes. Bosra, or Bosra al-Sham, in southern Syria has one of the best-preserved Roman theaters in the world: a 2nd-century theater for about 17,000 spectators, built of black basalt and later wrapped inside a medieval Ayyubid citadel. Around it lies a whole ancient city of colonnaded streets, Nabataean and Roman gates, one of the oldest mosques in Islam and a Byzantine cathedral. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1980. Visitors are returning: Syria’s state news agency reported more than double the number of tourists in the second half of 2026 compared with a year earlier. This guide covers what to see, how to get there from Damascus and what to know before you go.

Before you go, read our honest answer to is Syria safe to visit?, our Syria visa guide and the complete Syria travel guide.

Bosra at a glance

A short history of Bosra

Bosra was the northern capital of the Nabataeans, the people who built Petra. When Rome annexed their kingdom in AD 106, Bosra became the capital of the new province of Arabia and was renamed Nova Trajana Bostra. It grew rich on the caravan and pilgrimage routes between Damascus, Arabia and the Red Sea.

In the Byzantine period Bosra was the seat of an archbishop, and in Islamic tradition it is where the young Prophet Muhammad, traveling with a caravan, met the Christian monk Bahira. Under the Ayyubids, the theater was enclosed in a great fortress guarding the road to Damascus, which is one reason it survived so well.

The Roman theater and the citadel

The theater is Bosra’s great sight. It was built in the 2nd century, seated about 17,000 people and is still almost complete.

• The stage building: a tall facade of white Corinthian columns against the black basalt walls.
• The seating: climb to the top rows for the view over the stage and the town.
• The acoustics: a voice on the stage carries to the back rows.
• The citadel: towers, vaulted halls and passages added around the theater from the medieval period, now part of the visit.

Restoration work has been carried out at the theater, the citadel and other landmarks in recent years, according to SANA.

The ancient city

Bosra is not just a theater: a whole ancient city of black stone spreads out north and east of the citadel, and people still live among the ruins.

• The colonnaded street and the columns of the exedra, near the Central Baths.
• The Nabataean Arch and the Roman gates of the city.
• The Byzantine Cathedral, built in the 6th century, whose central plan influenced later churches and mosques.
• The Hajj pool, a huge reservoir that served pilgrims on the route to Mecca.

Bosra in early Islam

Bosra holds a special place in Islamic history, and several of its sites are linked to it.

• The Mosque of Umar (al-Omari): built by the Umayyads in 721, one of the oldest surviving mosques in the world.
• The Mabrak Mosque: the “Camel Kneeling” mosque, built where tradition says the Prophet’s camel knelt.
• The Monastery of the Monk Bahira: the ruins linked to the story of Bahira and the young Muhammad.

How to get to Bosra

Most visitors reach Bosra by car with a driver or with a tour from Damascus, because public transport is limited.

• From Damascus: about 140 km, roughly two hours by road south through the Hauran.
• From Jordan: Bosra is close to the Nassib–Jaber border crossing, so it can be the first or last stop on an overland trip.
• Day trip: Bosra works best as a full day from Damascus, leaving early and returning before dark.
• Checkpoints: keep your passport and visa with you.

Tips for visiting

• Check official advice. The US, UK, Canada and Australia advise against all travel to Syria. Read our Syria safety guide, and go with a guide who follows the situation in the south.
• Start early for soft light in the theater and cooler walking.
• Bring cash in Syrian pounds for tickets and small purchases.
• Dress modestly, especially for the mosques.
• Stay on paths and don’t climb on damaged structures.

Travel with a local guide

Simsem’s hosts in Syria run day tours and multi-day heritage journeys from Damascus:

See every host and tour on our local guides in Syria page.

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