You may have heard of Idlib in Syria before, however if you’ve seen it on the news, then you probably won’t have thought of it ever as a travel destination. Well now many things have changed in Syria, and safe access to Idlib is one of them.
What was the situation in Idlib before?
During the Syrian civil war, Idlib was known colloquially as rebel-held territory. This was a blanket term used for people opposing the Assad regime. The forces here were largely a part of the group known as the Al-Nusra Front. Previously, this group was a part of Al Qaeda in Syria, however they split off and have even fought against Al-Qaeda since.
For years the only access to Idlib has been through Turkey. The Turkish government has also been largely the only country supporting this area of Syria, with most products coming from Turkey, Turkish ID cards used and also the Turkish Lira in circulation. The Assad regime was fighting the forces in Idlib right up until the sudden push that led to the overthrowing of the government, which originated in Idlib.
In short, the situation in Idlib was not thought of as good with battles still occasionally taking place against Assad forces and people have the perception of the place being run by Islamic extremists.
What is the current situation?
We recently took one of the first tour groups to visit Idlib in 14 years since the start of the Syria civil war visiting the main city of Idlib. People are more conservative here, however we’ve been to parts of the Middle East that are way more conservative. People here are extremely friendly and happy (and very surprised) to see foreigners here once more.
Infrastructure is very similar to other parts of Syria with many parts devastated by war, however in the main city there are new hospitals and other buildings that have been built by Turkey. One of the main hospitals was bombed by the Russians in December of 2024 and has already been repaired!
There are refugee camps on the outskirts of the city which we have been told are growing, however this is a common sight in Syria as people return to the country. Overall it is safe, and we felt welcomed!
What is there to see?
Idlib looks a lot like other cities in Syria, however it does have quite a few more amazing murals and artworks around the city celebrating the fall of Assad. You can also find a lot more artwork in support of Palestine, especially in the aptly named Gaza Square.
One thing that will always draw us back to Idlib will be to try the local sweet pastry known as sha’abiyat. Imagine a croissant deep fried in sugar with a soft gooey filling. Honestly, it’s worth going to Idlib just to try this, especially when each one will cost you about $0.80.
Is it safe to go?
Yes, absolutely. Just like with everywhere else in Syria, there will be checkpoints, however these soldiers are very friendly and may even ask to take a photo with you. There is a dress code in Idlib which doesn’t exist in the rest of the country meaning you will have to wear long pants if you are a man, and ladies will have to wear a headscarf and cover their shoulders.
If you’d like to travel to Syria and see the country changing after years of civil war and the Assad regime, now is better time than ever to go! To join us on one of our Syria tours which are on our
website
or send us an email to [email protected] .
