Syria

Understand

History Syria was known as Aram in ancient times, and was one of the great civilizations of the Fertile Crescent. Some of the oldest still-inhabited cities in the world are in Syria, like Aleppo and Damascus. Later, Damascus was the capital of the Umayyad Caliphate during the early days of the Islamic Golden Age, and Aleppo was one of the most important cities for the Silk Route in the Ottoman Empire. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, following World War I, France was given a League of Nations mandate over Syria. Shortly following its independence after World War II in 1945, Syria participated in the first war against the newly independent Israel in 1948. It participated in subsequent wars with the Israeli state in 1967, as a result of which it lost most of the Golan Heights, and 1973. The President of Syria between 2000 and 2024 was Bashar al-Assad, who replaced his father, Hafez al-Assad, soon after his death. Having studied to become an ophthalmologist (eye doctor) in Damascus and London, Bashar was groomed for the presidency after the 1994 car accident of his elder brother Basil. Consequently, he joined the army and became a colonel in 1999. Bashar's modernizing credentials were somewhat boosted by his role in a domestic anti-corruption drive, and he began his rule with increased openness. Bashar's position as head of the Syrian state rested on his presidency of the Ba'ath Party and his role as commander-in-chief of the army. Assad's regime and the Ba'ath Party owned or controlled most of Syria's media. Criticism of the president and his family was not permitted, and the press (both foreign and domestic) was heavily censored for material deemed threatening or embarrassing to the government. A brief period of relative press freedom arose after Bashar became pre

See

Ancient cities such as Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra, Crac des Chevaliers and Bosra including Medieval souqs. In Hama there are the Al Aasi Water Wheels in a river (نواعير نهر العاصي). Al Hosn Castle in Homs. Qala'at Samaan (Basilica of St Simeon Stylites) about 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Aleppo and the oldest surviving Byzantine church, dating back to the 5th century. This church is popularly known as either Qalaat Semaan (Arabic: ‏قلعة سمعان‎ Qalʿat

Getting there

Entry requirements As of April 2025, Syria offers visas on arrival for all nationalities except for Iran and Israel. Visas are needed for most individual travelers. These are available in 6-month (single/multiple entries), 3-month (single), and 15-day (land borders only) versions. Jordanian, Lebanese, Malaysian, and Mauritanian citizens do not require visas. If entering Syria by air in Damascus, a visa fee will be charged. The fee ranges between US$40 and US$350, depending on citizenship. The full list of fees can be found here. This fee is not charged at land borders. There are rumors that the Syrian government is planning on requiring foreigners to be part of organized tours to receive visas in the future, but as of April 2025 that hasn't been implemented. The information below may not be entirely accurate given the changing political situation, but it may still be relevant for travelers who want to acquire their visas in advance. Getting visas in advance is expensive and confusing. Americans are required to apply in advance at the Syrian embassy in Washington DC, even if they live elsewhere, and pay US$131 or €100. Most other travelers, though, can get them anywhere, a popular choice being Istanbul (Turkey), where they are generally issued within one day for €20 (Canadian citizens) or €30 (EU citizens). A "letter of recommendation" stating that your consulate has "no objection" to your visit to Syria may be required. The visa issued must have two stamps and a signature. Otherwise, the visa is considered invalid, and you will be turned back at the border. It is necessary to keep the blue arrival form, as travelers must submit it upon departure. Official policy says that if your country has a Syrian embassy or consulate, you should apply for your visa in advance. Mo

Getting around

By taxi The taxis (usually yellow, always clearly marked) quickly get around Damascus, Aleppo, and other cities. All licensed taxis carry meters, and it is best to insist that the driver put the meter on and watch it stay on. Most drivers expect to haggle prices with foreigners, and the pricing may be horrible. Other options include taxi apps (Yallago being the most popular one), which probably are cheaper, and private cab services (which advertise prominently at the airport), which charge substantially more. Arabic would be helpful: most taxi drivers do not speak English.

By car

Visitors can rent cars at various Sixt, Budget, and Europcar locations. Cham Tours (formerly Hertz) has an office next to the Cham Palace Hotel, which offers competitive rates starting at about US$50 per day, including tax, insurance, and unlimited kilometers. Sixt Rent a Car at the Four Seasons Hotel has rates starting from US$40 per day all-inclusive). If you have never driven in Syria before, take a taxi first to get a first-hand idea of what traffic is like. Especially in Damascus and Aleppo, near-constant congestion, a very aggressive driving style, bad roads, and highly dubious quality of road signs make driving there an exciting experience, so err on the side of caution when traveling. The only road rule that might come in handy is that, as opposed to most of the rest of the world, in roundabouts, the entering cars have the right of way, and the vehicles already in the roundabout have to wait. Aside from that, motorists are pretty free to do as they please. If you have an accident in a rental car, you must obtain a police report, no matter how small the damage or clear it is who is at fault – otherwise, you will be liable for the damage. Police (road police No:115) probably will