Syria Travel Guide

Syria Travel Guide, climate:
Best: Spring [March-May] and Autumn [Sept-November].
Worst: June-August [really excessive heat, up to 45C/110F], December-Feb [cold and wet] and Ramadan [Muslim fasting month, Sept 24 - Oct 22 '06; Sept 13 - Oct 11 '07; Sept 1 - Sept 29 '08].

Length of Stay:
Minimum worthwhile stay, not including flights/border crossings: a week to see the star attractions.
Recommended: 2 weeks to get a fuller, more relaxed picture of the country with plenty more worthwhile 'smaller' sights available.

Festivals Guide:
n.b. Ramadan is not a very good time to travel in Syria as fasting folk may be slow to work or ill tempered, though the last day is cue for serious partying. Ramadan dates as above.
April last 2 weeks, Hama, Spring Flower Festival. Colourful and lively, backed by the sound of giant, gushing waterwheels.
end April/early May, Palmyra Festival. Folk music and dancing in the Roman theatre by night, camel racing and more by day.
July, Cotton Festival, Aleppo.
September [odd numbered years], Bosra Festival of Music and Dance, held in the stunning Roman amphitheatre.
end September, Silk Road Festival, in Damascus, Palmyra, Aleppo.

Activities Guide:
Biking: excellent around Palmyra, the Dead Cities and Krak des Chevaliers but beware poor road surfaces, untamed town traffic and wild drivers.
Trekking: superb, best places as for biking, above.
Riding: camel and horse travel at Palmyra.
Skiing: not in Syria but plenty of the white stuff next door in Lebanon from Dec - April. Pick up a package in Beirut or head for The Cedars.
Beach Life: limited but if you are not too finicky Shaati al Azraq could fulfil your bathing needs. Lattakia is an unusually liberal and laid-back town.

Syria Star Guide:
Monuments *****
Shopping and Souvenirs ****
Walkability ***
Food Quality and Variety ***
Value for Money ****
Hotels ***
Beaches **
Wildlife *
Landscape ****
Local People *****
Architecture ****
Safety ****
Nightlife and Clubbing *
Health Problems ***
Museums ***

Syria Money:
A few ATMs exist in Damascus and posh places accept credit cards but a fistful of US dollars is very useful in this country, especially for souk haggling or low end hotels. Traveller's Cheques are useable but can be inconvenient to change.
Why Travel to Syria?
Syria is knee-deep in thousands of years of history thanks to its 'cross-roads of cultures' Mid-East location.
In addition to the vast collection of ancient relics from past civilizations Syria offers a colourful, non-threatening look at a current, welcoming and unspoilt Islamic culture [despite US statements to the contrary].
Tourism has been limited in Syria so locals are sincerely friendly and hospitable, unlike some neighbours that have already overdosed on visitors.
Landscapes are attractive from the eastern deserts to the green and rocky Mediterranean coast while the climate - at the right time - is terrific.
Food is excellent, travel is cheap and
Syria is a natural addition to a Turkish, Lebanese and/or Jordan trip.

Downside:
- The life of pedestrians is not easy in towns, with crazed, inconsiderate traffic and poor sidewalks. Driving standards? woah, don't let's go there! [metaphorically speaking].
- Tourist infrastructure is erratically supplied - in other words snacks and cold beers are not always available, the hotel selection may be poor or non-existent in some areas and transport facilities can be tricky.

Where to travel in Syria:
***Damascus. Syria's capital has a gem of an old city, packed with gorgeous Islamic architecture, a low-hassle souk [market], excellent museums and good eateries, though the suburbs are a concrete wasteland. Damascus Pictures and more information.

***Aleppo, Syria's second city, is not far behind Damascus in terms of interest and things to do. Aleppo Pictures and more information.

***Palmyra. Magnificent Roman ruins in a desert setting overseen by an Arab fortress. It's situated more or less between Damascus and Aleppo, though the modern town of Palmyra is nothing to shout about. Palmyra Pictures and more information.

**Hama. Famed mainly for its massive ancient waterwheels, Hama is an excellent base for travel out to varied sights such as Beehive houses, Apamea's Roman columns and castles including the spectacular Crusader edifice, Krak des Chevaliers. Hama Pictures and more information.

**Bosra. A possible day trip from Damascus, Bosra hosts an interesting mix of architectural styles, built mainly of black basalt blocks on Roman remains. The highlight is a superb Roman theatre embedded in an Arab fortress. Bosra Pictures and more information.

***A dip into Lebanon:
Many of Lebanon's excellent sights, including the capital, Beirut, are a lot closer to Damascus [127kms/80mls] than most of our Syria recommendations so it makes sense to travel briefly around Syria's little neighbour while you're in the vicinity.
Lebanese visas are sometimes available at Syria border crossings [though not vice-versa. i.e. no Syrian visas are supposed to be obtainable on the Lebanese side], though it's a volatile area so you won't know for sure till you get there. For more information see Damascus Pictures page.