Syria Complete Travel Guide 2027

Where to go in Syria

Most first trips start in Damascus, add a day trip to Maaloula and continue west to Krak des Chevaliers and the coast. With more time, travelers go north to Hama and Aleppo or east to Palmyra with a guide. Here is the country region by region.

Damascus

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Walk Souq al-Hamidiyya to the Umayyad Mosque, visit the Citadel, which reopened in 2026, follow Straight Street into the Christian quarter and see the National Museum. Damascus is also the best place in Syria for street food and sweets. Read our guide to things to do in Damascus.

Old City walking tourDamascus day tour

Maaloula and the Qalamoun mountains

About an hour north of Damascus, Maaloula is built into the cliffs and still speaks Western Aramaic. Visit the convent of Saint Thecla and the monastery of Saints Sergius and Bacchus, and continue to the desert monastery of Mar Musa. Read our Maaloula guide.

A night at Mar Musa

Krak des Chevaliers and Homs

The most famous Crusader castle in the world stands above the Homs Gap, between the interior and the coast. Its walls, towers and great hall are remarkably complete, and it is an easy stop on the way to Tartus.

Damascus, Maaloula and Krak (3 days)

The Mediterranean coast

Green mountains, beaches and fish restaurants. Take the boat from Tartus to Arwad, Syria’s only inhabited island, spend time on the beaches around Latakia and hike in the mountains around Chalma, Slunfeh and Qadmous. Read our Syrian coast guide.

4-day coast camping tripVillage day near Tartus

Hama and Apamea

Hama’s giant wooden water wheels are turning again on the Orontes. Nearby, the Roman city of Apamea has one of the longest colonnaded streets of the ancient world. Read our guide to Hama and Apamea.

Apamea and Shaizar day trip

Aleppo and the north

Aleppo is reopening: the Citadel welcomed visitors again in 2025 and the Great Umayyad Mosque in October 2026, while the old souqs are still being restored. Aleppo is also Syria’s food capital. Read our Aleppo guide.

East and North of Syria (6 days)

Palmyra and the desert

The great caravan city of the desert. The colonnade and theater still stand; the Temple of Bel and the Monumental Arch were destroyed in 2015. Visit only with a guide who follows the situation, and stay on marked paths. Read our Palmyra guide.

Palmyra, Aleppo and Maaloula (5 days)

Map of Syria

Damascus is in the southwest. Maaloula is an hour north, the coast three to four hours northwest, Aleppo about five hours north and Palmyra about four hours northeast across the desert. Tap a number on the map to open that place’s guide.

Damascus is in the southwest. Maaloula is an hour north, the coast about three to four hours northwest, Aleppo about five hours north and Palmyra about four hours northeast across the desert.

Syria’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Syria has six sites on the UNESCO World Heritage List, and all six have been on the List of World Heritage in Danger since 2013:

• Ancient City of Damascus (1979): see our Damascus guide
• Ancient City of Bosra (1980), with its Roman theater in the south
• Site of Palmyra (1980): see our Palmyra guide
• Ancient City of Aleppo (1986): see our Aleppo guide
• Crac des Chevaliers and Qal’at Salah El-Din (2006)
• Ancient Villages of Northern Syria (2011), the “Dead Cities” west of Aleppo

Essential travel information

Three things are different about Syria compared with its neighbors: entry approval, cash and travel insurance. Sort all three before you book flights.

Visa and entry

Most nationalities get a visa on arrival at Damascus or Aleppo airport or at the land borders with Lebanon (Masnaa) and Jordan (Nassib). Many travelers, especially those who fly in, need entry approval arranged in advance through a licensed Syrian agency or tour host. The e-visa is not working yet. Israeli passports and passports with Israeli stamps can be refused. Full details in our Syria visa guide.

Money

Syria introduced a new Syrian pound in 2026, removing two zeros. Foreign bank cards are still unreliable, and local ATMs pay out Syrian pounds only, so bring enough US dollars in cash for the whole trip and change them locally.

Insurance

Standard travel insurance usually excludes countries under “do not travel” advice. Look for a specialist high-risk insurer that names Syria in the policy, including medical evacuation.

Best time to visit

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First-time visitor guide: what to expect

Syria is welcoming and hospitable, and it is also a country recovering from a long war. A few things help first-time visitors.

• Hospitality: you will be offered tea and coffee often. Accepting is polite.
• Checkpoints: expect security checkpoints on main roads. Keep your passport with you.
• Photography: never photograph checkpoints, soldiers or military sites. Ask before photographing people.
• Dress: modest clothing is respectful everywhere; women cover their hair in mosques.
• Booking: hotel booking sites and ride-hailing apps are of little use. Book by phone or through your host.
• Power and connectivity: power cuts are common in many areas; hotels and guesthouses often run generators. Local SIM cards are available.
• Damage: you will see destroyed neighborhoods and damaged monuments. Be thoughtful when people talk about the war.

How many days? Sample itineraries

Seven days covers Damascus, Maaloula, Krak des Chevaliers and the coast. Add three to five days for Hama, Aleppo and Palmyra.

7 days: Damascus, Maaloula and the coast

• Days 1–2: Damascus: the Old City, the Umayyad Mosque, the National Museum and Mount Qasioun.
• Day 3: Maaloula and Saidnaya, or a night at Mar Musa.
• Day 4: Krak des Chevaliers on the way to Tartus.
• Day 5: Arwad island and the Tartus seafront.
• Day 6: Latakia and the mountains.
• Day 7: back to Damascus.

10–12 days: add Hama, Aleppo and Palmyra

• Follow the 7-day route, then go from the coast to Hama and Apamea.
• Continue to Aleppo for two days: the Citadel, the Great Mosque and the souqs.
• With a guide, cross the desert to Palmyra, staying overnight, and return to Damascus via Homs.

Getting around Syria

Most visitors travel by car with a driver or with their host. Distances are manageable, but checkpoints slow journeys down.

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Typical drives: Damascus to Maaloula about 1 hour, to Homs about 2 hours, to Tartus about 3 to 4 hours, to Hama about 2.5 to 3 hours, to Aleppo about 5 hours and to Palmyra about 3.5 to 4 hours.

Flights to Syria

Damascus International Airport has scheduled flights from the Gulf, Turkey and Jordan. Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordanian and Emirates resumed flights in 2025, and more carriers have followed. Many travelers also fly to Beirut or Amman and cross overland. Services can be suspended at short notice because of regional tensions, so book flexible tickets.

Calendar highlights 2027

Religious holidays shape the year in Syria. Islamic dates are expected dates and depend on the sighting of the moon.

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Did you know?

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Syria travel FAQ