Visa
Since the war in Syria began, it has been quite hard to get a visa for Syria. It is now compulsory to be on a guided tour and those wishing to join a tour must submit the required documents and information in advance to ensure that security clearance can be obtained so that you can travel to Syria.
There are extra security measures in place for US passport holders, and as such they should apply at least 1 months before the start of the tour.
To find out more about getting a visa for Syria, head to our Syria visa section.
Getting in and out
By land
The most common way people enter Syria is by land from Lebanon. There are several border crossings available, but the most common one on the Beirut-Damascus highway. Crossings are also available in the north near Tripoli, however these are used more by freight and not tourists so wait times can be longer.
To Turkey
It is possible to cross from Syria to Turkey if you head north of Latakia to a small town Kasab. To cross this border though, you will need a security clearance from the Turkish side.
To Jordan
It is also possible for foreigners to cross into Jordan. This border is more strict however and wait times are said to be much longer than if you were to cross into Lebanon.
It is still not possible for foreigners to cross into other parts of Turkey near Aleppo or to cross into Iraq.
Why visit
Prior to the start of the civil war in 2011, Syria was one of the most visited countries in the Middle East with over 8 million tourists.
Syria in a sense is one of the most perfect tourism countries offering amazing scenery from desert, to mountains to clear blue seas. In addition, if its history you’re looking for then you can find nearly every time period in the country from the Phoenicians, ancient Rome, the Crusaders, Ottomans and many more.
The food alone is another reason to visit with amazing cuisine existing all throughout the country and each region serving up local specialities.
Religion
The majority of Syria is Sunni Muslim, however there are also large groups of Shia Muslim, Alawites and Christians. Clear demographic make ups of the country are difficult to come by since the conflict but estimates put the Christian population at around 20%.
Politics
Since a coup in 1970, Syria has been ruled by the Assad family. First to take power was Hafez Al Assad who was later replace by the current President, Bashar Al Assad who has been in power since 2000.
Ethnicity
Arabs make up the majority of people in Syria, however you can also find Kurdish people in the northeast. Sizeable minority groups of Circassians, Armenians, Turkmens and Assyrians can also be found throughout the country.
Hotels
Syrians take guests and tourism very seriously, meaning that hotels are usually of a very high quality. Mid-range hotels are available however the price difference isn’t much between 5-star and 3-star. Many of the Damascus-style houses in the old town of Damascus have been turned into luxury boutique hotel and make for a very pleasant stay.
Shopping
If you like big markets then Damascus will be the place for you! From spices to jewellery and everything in between you can find it all at the Hamidiyeh Souq in Damascus. Most major cities will also have a big souq to explore, the most famous outside of Damascus is the Aleppo souq which is currently being repaired after it was damaged during heavy fighting.
Souvenirs are present throughout the country at the open tourist sites and they are usually very cheap.
Rules
While you do need to travel with a group on a government-approved program to Syria, travel in the country is surprisingly relaxed. The main rules you have to follow are about not taking photos of anything military and not talking about the government too loudly in public. But it’s actually a very relaxing and place to travel on the whole, and doesn’t feel restrictive at all. Unlike in some places where being on a guided tour is a way for the government to keep tabs on you and make sure you’re not doing things they don’t want you to do, the primary reason behind needing to be on a guided tour in Syria is simply for the safety of travellers.
Dress code
There is no set dress code for Syria. Shorts and t-shirts are fine for both men and women and you will see people wearing extremely relaxed clothing, especially in Damascus and Latakia. You may feel a little more comfortable dressing slightly more conservatively in Aleppo and Hama, however there is no obligation to do so, and this is merely because the locals here also dress more conservatively. But by this we’re not suggesting a hijab, you just might wear long trousers instead of shorts, and women might choose to cover their shoulders if they weren’t elsewhere.
Topics of discussion
When with your guides (both local and western) feel free to talk about anything, just make sure you are in the right setting. Some topics such as the war, the Assad family, ISIS and Israel can be very sensitive, and you don’t know who might be listening in public.
Critiques of the government will not be well received by some people so it’s best to hold off on the tough questions till you’re in a more private setting where you can discuss these at ease.
There are many differing theories on things that happened over the last decade (such as chemical weapons) and many of these can be quite sensitive for many people in Syria as they had to live through it. It is ok to discuss these but be aware that they may have a differing opinion to you based on what you may have seen in the media, and that it’s quite natural that they may take some things personally.
The war (known in Syria as “the crisis”)
Obviously, any trip to Syria is going to involve a discussion about the war. Syrians have had to live through this since 2011 and have witnessed horrific atrocities at the hands of actors like the Islamic State. This has then led to many other problems such as extreme inflation, economic collapse, a refugee crisis and foreign intervention. Many Syrians do not consider all of these problems as a civil war, because of who was involved, and they prefer to refer to this time period (along with all the other issues that came with it) as “the crisis”.
Photography
Photography is absolutely allowed in Syria, however photos of military, both Syrian or foreign, including checkpoints, convoys or anything else, are strictly forbidden. Taking photos of these things can cause big delays for you and your group.
Eating
Syria has amazing food, and it is key to any event in Syria. Syrians typically have long, drawn-out meals and will eat so much food you will fall into a coma. Typically, meals will start with delicious dips and salads with main courses coming out well after you are already full. Pacing yourself is very important with Syrian meals because if you go out with Syrians they will definitely over order!
Nightlife
A lot of Syrians like to party, and as soon as you step foot in Damascus you'll soon learn this. Both Damasucs and Latakia are the centres of liberal progressive Syria, and as such these two cities are full of bars and clubs, ranging from techno to jazz, kareoke to metal. There are also plenty of venues where you can see more traditional Syrian music while enjoying a locally made Rakia or smoking a shisha. You can even do both.
The cities of Homs, Hama and Aleppo are more conservative and also have faced more recent destruction due to the conflict. As such there are very few options in these cities, however, they still both have a few night time options.
When is it best to visit?
Syria can get very hot in July, especially when visiting Palmyra in the middle of the desert. As such it's best to plan your trips around the edges of Summer in the months of April, May, August, September and October.
Another great time to visit is during the Marmarita carnival, which is held anually in the Valley of the Christians in August.
