You can drink in Syria
At the top of the list is probably the number one misconception about Syria. Despite being a majority Muslim country, many Syrians love a drink. In fact, in Damascus there is an amazing nightlife with hundreds of bars, nightclubs and other watering holes. Many restaurants serve alcohol and there are plenty of alcohol shops. You can buy everything from European or local beers to Russian spirits and even French wines. In summer you’ll find plenty of local Syrians heading to beach resorts along the Mediterranean coasts and enjoying a cold beer just like you would see in destinations like the south of Spain or Cyprus.
Syrians are amazingly friendly
Despite what we see in the media, Syrians are actually really lovely people. Just like in any country in the world, the government and geopolitical situation isn’t because of the average person on the street. It can be quite tiring how many people will come up to you to speak, invite you to their house or offer to help you out in whatever way they can. You’ll be greeted with a wide smile everywhere you go, and you’ll have plenty of laughs as well as Syrians, like anyone, love a joke.
Syria is a multicultural country
Despite being in the Middle East, Syrians are not just Muslim. There are dozens of different groups in Syria practicing different religions. Most people who travel to Syria are shocked at how many churches there are and how many Christians are around. Christians in Syria make up roughly 25% of the population and even they belong to dozens of different denominations. Despite the minority who joined extremist groups and have radical views, the vast majority of Christians, Sunni, Shia, Alawite, Druze etc live together, are friends, go out together and even date and marry.
Syrian women are free to dress how they wish
This is a big one! When travelling through Syria you’ll see everything from completely covered conservative women wearing the niqab to short skirts and crop tops. At the beach you can wear a bikini and you’ll probably be shocked at how little attention you’re receiving. At times you could mistakenly think you’re in a European country. Obviously, you’ll see more headscarves than the average country around the world, but a lot less than you were expecting.
Syria is beautiful
Even after a decade of conflict, Syria remains naturally a very beautiful country. Rugged mountains, gorgeous beaches and large expanses of mesmerising desert. Syrians also love getting out into nature to escape the hustle and bustle of city life. Camping and hiking are very popular, as well as having a picnic or just relaxing away from daily life.
Syria is safe
This is probably the most controversial, but the fact is that most of Syria is safe to travel to. The last parts of the Syrian conflict are being played out in the very north of the country, however the rest is completely safe to travel to and you’ll never feel threatened. Just like in the Philippines or Thailand where there are small conflicts going on in a tiny fraction of the country, the rest is ready to welcome tourists and can’t wait to see you.
Intrigued? Or don't believe me?
