Syria · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Syria
These are our favourite places across Syria, from the souks and courtyard restaurants of Damascus to castles, waterwheels and the Mediterranean coast. Spots marked unconfirmed may have closed or changed since the war, so check before you go.
Places to Visit in Damascus
Arts and Culture
- Umayyad Mosque (Old City)
One of the oldest and grandest mosques on earth, with golden mosaics and a vast marble courtyard. - Azem Palace (Old City)
An eighteenth century governor's palace of striped stone courtyards, fountains and painted rooms. - Mausoleum of Saladin (Old City)
The small garden tomb of the great sultan, tucked beside the Umayyad Mosque. - Chapel of Saint Ananias (Bab Touma)
A quiet underground chapel where Saint Paul is said to have been baptised. - National Museum of Damascus (Shukri al Quwatli Street)
Treasures from Ugarit, Mari and Palmyra, plus the painted synagogue of Dura Europos. - Khan Asad Pasha (Souq al Bzouriyah)
A spectacular Ottoman caravanserai crowned with domes around a central courtyard. - Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque (Old City)
A shimmering mirrored shrine visited by pilgrims from across the Shia world. - Citadel of Damascus (Old City)
The medieval fortress at the western edge of the souks, now used for exhibitions and events. - Maktab Anbar (Old City)
A grand nineteenth century Jewish quarter mansion with carved courtyards and a cultural centre. - Takiyya al Sulaymaniyya (Shukri al Quwatli Street)
An elegant Ottoman complex by Sinan, with a craft market in its old madrasa. - Damascus Opera House (Umayyad Square)
The city's main venue for orchestral concerts, theatre and Arabic music nights. - Chapel of Saint Paul (Bab Kisan)
Built into the old city wall where Saint Paul is said to have escaped in a basket. - Mariamite Cathedral (Bab Sharqi)
The seat of the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate, one of the oldest churches in the city. - Sayyida Zaynab Mosque (Sayyida Zaynab)
A major pilgrimage shrine south of the city, with a golden dome and mirrored interior.
Shopping and Markets
- Souq al Hamidiyah (Old City)
The great covered market leading to the Umayyad Mosque, its iron roof pierced by shafts of light. - Souq al Bzouriyah (Old City)
The spice and sweets market, fragrant with cumin, rose water and dried fruit. - Souq al Harir (Old City)
The old silk market, still selling fabrics, scarves and tablecloths. - Al Hamra Street (Shaalan)
A busy modern shopping street for clothes, snacks and people watching. - Souq al Khayatin (Old City)
The tailors' market, good for cloth, buttons and everyday local shopping.
Cafés
- Bakdash (Souq al Hamidiyah)
Pounded ice cream rolled in pistachios, a Damascus ritual for well over a century. - Al Nawfara Café (Old City)
A historic café by the steps of the Umayyad Mosque, long home to the city's storytellers. - Al Rawda Café (Abu Rummaneh)
A classic city café where older Damascenes play backgammon over tea.
Things to Do
- Straight Street (Old City)
The biblical street running from Bab al Jabiyah to Bab Sharqi past spice shops and a Roman arch. - Hammam Nur al Din (Souq al Bzouriyah)
One of the oldest working bathhouses in the city, for a steam and scrub the old way. - Bab Sharqi (Old City)
The Roman eastern gate, the starting point for evening walks through the Christian quarter. - Souq Sarouja (Sarouja)
An old Ottoman quarter outside the walls, once called little Istanbul. - Old City walking route (Bab Touma)
Getting lost between Bab Touma, Straight Street and the mosque is the best free activity in Damascus.
Nature and Outdoors
- Mount Qasioun (Muhajireen)
The mountain above the city, where families gather at dusk to watch Damascus light up. - Tishreen Park (Mezzeh)
A large green park where Damascene families picnic on Fridays.
Restaurants
- Naranj (Straight Street)
A grand Old City restaurant known for elegant Damascene mezze and grills. - Beit Jabri (Old City)
A restored courtyard house serving simple Syrian dishes under the lemon trees. - Sweet shops of Al Midan (Al Midan)
A street of sweet shops famous for fresh pastries, especially busy during Ramadan.
Stays
- Dama Rose Hotel (Shukri al Quwatli Street)
A big central hotel near the Barada river, practical for families.
Events
- Damascus International Fair (Airport Road)
The revived annual trade fair, with concerts, food stalls and huge crowds of local families. - Ramadan nights in the Old City (Old City)
After iftar the souks fill with families, sweets and music until late.
Places to Visit in Maaloula
Arts and Culture
- Convent of Saint Thecla (Maaloula)
A cliff side convent in the village where a form of Aramaic is still spoken. - Monastery of Saint Sergius (Maaloula)
An ancient monastery on the ridge above the village, with one of the oldest altars in Christendom.
Places to Visit in Saydnaya
Arts and Culture
- Our Lady of Saydnaya Convent (Saydnaya)
A fortress like convent on a rocky hill, a pilgrimage site for Christians and Muslims.
Places to Visit in Aleppo
Arts and Culture
- Citadel of Aleppo (Old City)
One of the largest and oldest castles in the world, towering over the city. - Great Mosque of Aleppo (Old City)
The Umayyad mosque whose fallen minaret is being carefully rebuilt stone by stone. - Khan al Wazir (Old City)
A grand Ottoman caravanserai with striped stone and carved window frames. - Madrasa al Halawiyah (Old City)
A former Byzantine cathedral turned medieval school, with ancient columns inside. - Al Adiliyah Mosque (Old City)
An elegant sixteenth century Ottoman mosque near the souks. - Armenian Cathedral of the Forty Martyrs (Jdeideh)
A historic Armenian church restored after war damage, at the heart of Aleppo's Armenian life. - National Museum of Aleppo (Baron Street)
Finds from ancient Ebla, Mari and Tell Halaf, guarded by giant basalt statues. - Bimaristan Arghun al Kamili (Old City)
A fourteenth century hospital where music and fountains were used to calm patients.
Shopping and Markets
- Souq al Saqatiyah (Old City)
The first of the old covered souks to be restored, alive again with butchers and spice sellers. - Khan al Shouneh (Old City)
A restored khan near the citadel selling laurel soap, textiles and crafts. - Aleppo laurel soap sellers (Old City)
Buy the city's famous olive and laurel oil soap directly from family makers.
Things to Do
- Bab al Faraj Clock Tower (Bab al Faraj)
The city's Ottoman era clock tower, a landmark meeting point by the old walls. - Jdeideh quarter (Jdeideh)
Old mansions, churches and lanes in the historic Christian quarter, slowly being restored. - Bab Antakya (Old City)
The western gate into the souks, where the old road to Antioch began.
Nature and Outdoors
- Aleppo Public Park (Aziziyeh)
A large shady park where families stroll and children play in the evenings. - Citadel at sunset (Old City)
Watching the walls glow gold from the cafés around the moat is a perfect evening.
Restaurants
- Restaurants of Aziziyeh (Aziziyeh)
A lively district of Armenian and Aleppan restaurants for kebab with cherries.
Places to Visit in Saint Simeon
Arts and Culture
- Church of Saint Simeon Stylites (Saint Simeon)
The ruined Byzantine basilica built around the pillar of the famous hermit.
Places to Visit in Hama
Things to Do
- Norias of Hama (Orontes River)
Giant wooden waterwheels that groan and turn as they lift river water. - Al Muhammadiyah Noria (Orontes River)
The largest of the city's waterwheels, a striking sight close to the old quarter. - Kilaniyah quarter (Old City)
Vaulted lanes and old stone houses, among the few that survived 1982.
Nature and Outdoors
- Four Norias at Bab al Nahr (Bab al Nahr)
A group of wheels by riverside parks where families picnic in the evening. - Citadel Hill Park (City centre)
A green hilltop park on the site of the old citadel, with views over the city.
Arts and Culture
- Azem Palace of Hama (Old City)
A graceful Ottoman governor's house with courtyards and a small museum of local life. - Great Mosque of Hama (Old City)
Rebuilt after 1982 on a site that was once a temple and a church. - Hama Museum (City centre)
A small museum with finds from Apamea and the surrounding region. - Shaizar Castle (Shaizar)
A ruined castle on a ridge above the Orontes, north west of Hama.
Restaurants
- Halawet el jibn shops (City centre)
Hama is the home of this sweet cheese roll, made fresh every morning.
Places to Visit in Apamea
Arts and Culture
- Apamea (Qalaat al Mudiq)
A Roman city with a colonnaded street almost two kilometres long, visit only if advice allows.
Places to Visit in Musyaf
Arts and Culture
- Musyaf Castle (Musyaf)
The medieval stronghold of the Assassins, rising from the town centre.
Places to Visit in Wadi al Nasara
Arts and Culture
- Krak des Chevaliers (Qalaat al Hosn)
The finest crusader castle in the world, with towers, halls and views to Lebanon. - Monastery of Saint George (Al Humayrah)
An important Orthodox monastery with an old chapel and famous feasts.
Things to Do
- Marmarita village (Marmarita)
The liveliest village in the valley, busy with families on summer evenings. - Qalaat al Hosn village (Qalaat al Hosn)
The village wrapped around the castle walls, best explored on foot.
Events
- Feast of the Cross (Al Humayrah)
Bonfires and celebrations across the valley each September. - Feast of Saint George (Al Humayrah)
Pilgrims gather at the monastery for this spring feast.
Nature and Outdoors
- Mishtaya hilltop (Mishtaya)
A high village with views across the valley at sunset. - Valley spring walks (Marmarita)
Easy walks between orchards and springs in the cool hills.
Shopping and Markets
- Roadside fruit stalls (Wadi al Nasara)
Apples, cherries and figs straight from the orchards in season.
Places to Visit in Safita
Arts and Culture
- Safita Castle Tower (Safita)
A crusader keep that is still a working church, with views to the sea.
Places to Visit in Latakia
Things to Do
- Latakia Corniche (Seafront)
The seafront where the whole city walks at sunset. - Al Shaikh Daher Square (City centre)
The busy central square for shopping, snacks and evening strolls.
Arts and Culture
- Ugarit (Ras Shamra)
The Bronze Age city where one of the first alphabets was found. - Saladin Castle (Al Haffah)
A castle on a forested ridge with a famous needle of rock. - Roman Tetrapylon (Old Town)
A four sided Roman arch left from ancient Laodicea. - Latakia National Museum (Seafront)
A small museum in an old khan near the sea, with finds from Ugarit.
Nature and Outdoors
- Blue Beach (Shatee al Azraq)
The city's favourite beach strip, busy with families in summer. - Ibn Hani Bay (Ras Ibn Hani)
A quiet headland with sea views and ancient remains.
Bars and Nightlife
- Seafront cafés of the corniche (Seafront)
Cafés and lounges where young people gather late into summer nights.
Places to Visit in Slenfeh
Nature and Outdoors
- Slenfeh (Slenfeh)
A cool mountain resort among pine forests above the coast.
Places to Visit in Kassab
Nature and Outdoors
- Kassab (Kassab)
An Armenian village in the hills, check advice before going near the border.
Places to Visit in Tartus
Arts and Culture
- Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa (Old City)
One of the best preserved crusader churches, now a museum. - Amrit (Amrit)
Phoenician ruins with a temple in a sacred pool south of the city.
Things to Do
- Arwad Island (Arwad)
Syria's only inhabited island, reached by a short boat ride. - Tartus Old City (Old City)
Houses built inside the walls of a crusader fortress.
Nature and Outdoors
- Tartus Corniche (Seafront)
A long promenade, busy with families on summer evenings.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Abu al Ezz (Souq al Hamidiyah, Damascus)
A rooftop restaurant near the souk with traditional dishes and music in the evening. - Al Khawali (Old City, Damascus)
A refined courtyard restaurant in an Ottoman house near Straight Street. - Hammam al Bakri (Bab Touma, Damascus)
A neighbourhood bathhouse in the Christian quarter, popular with locals. - Havana Café (Salhiyeh, Damascus)
A historic café that was once the meeting place of writers and politicians. - Beit Al Mamlouka (Bab Touma, Damascus)
A boutique hotel in a restored seventeenth century courtyard house. - Talisman Hotel (Old City, Damascus)
A lavishly decorated courtyard hotel with a small pool inside the Old City. - Four Seasons Hotel Damascus (Shukri al Quwatli Street, Damascus)
The best known large hotel in the city centre, with reliable power and space. - Beit Zaman (Old City, Damascus)
A small courtyard guesthouse in the old lanes near Straight Street. - Abu George (Bab Sharqi, Damascus)
A tiny, crowded bar in the Christian quarter that has long been a local institution. - Bars of Bab Sharqi (Bab Sharqi, Damascus)
A cluster of small bars and pubs where young Damascenes gather in the evenings. - Ghraoui (Bab Sharqi, Damascus)
A historic Damascus chocolatier famous for candied apricots and fine chocolates. - Baron Hotel (Baron Street, Aleppo)
The legendary hotel of Agatha Christie and Lawrence, closed for years and worth checking on. - Beit Wakil (Jdeideh, Aleppo)
A boutique hotel in a carved stone mansion in the Christian quarter. - Dar Zamaria (Jdeideh, Aleppo)
A courtyard hotel in an Ottoman house near the old churches. - Abu Abdo al Fawwal (Old City, Aleppo)
A famous breakfast spot for foul, hummus and fresh bread. - Sissi House (Jdeideh, Aleppo)
A restaurant in a restored stone mansion known for classic Aleppan dishes. - Hammam Yalbugha al Nasiri (Old City, Aleppo)
A grand medieval bathhouse facing the citadel moat. - Sheraton Aleppo (Bab al Faraj, Aleppo)
A large modern hotel close to the old city, practical for groups. - Cairo Hotel (City centre, Hama)
A simple, long running hotel that was a favourite with independent travellers. - Orient House Hotel (City centre, Hama)
A small hotel near the river with a traditional feel. - Riverside restaurants by the norias (Orontes River, Hama)
Grilled meats and mezze to the sound of the creaking wheels. - Al Wadi Hotel (Mishtaya, Wadi al Nasara)
A large hotel in the valley, a practical base for the castle. - La Table du Crac (Qalaat al Hosn, Wadi al Nasara)
A restaurant with a terrace facing the castle walls. - Cote d'Azur de Cham Hotel (Shatee al Azraq, Latakia)
A long running beach hotel north of the city. - Afamia Rotana Resort (Shatee al Azraq, Latakia)
A resort on the beach strip, popular with Syrian families. - Fish restaurants by the port (Port area, Latakia)
Grilled sea bream and fried small fish, bought fresh and cooked to order.