Syria Things to Do

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Most Viewed Things to Do in Syria

1.

Omayyad Mosque   Damascus

Omayyad Mosque, Damascus

 92 Reviews  Just in the middle of the courtyard - actually a bit on the side, one of the things that will immediately catch your attention is that tank-looking thing with shiny elborately designed gold and green... 

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2.

citadel   Aleppo

citadel, Aleppo

 65 Reviews  The early 13th century Ayyubid Palace has amazing structures inside the citadel it makes it extra shiney and wonderful. the entrance is stunning I was flabgusted when I saw it its luster of its... 

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3.

Souk El-Hamidiyeh   Damascus

Souk El-Hamidiyeh, Damascus

 20 Reviews  The largest and most popular market in Damascus. Located just beside the citadel, ending in the large Umayyad Mosque plaza entrance. The market is full of people and shops that sells anything from... 

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4.

Christian Quarter   Aleppo

Christian Quarter, Aleppo

 20 Reviews  Jedida means new in Arabic so letterly means new quarter, Mainly resindent are Armenians and Maronite who settled in Aleppo some time ago Christians in Aleppo have a good high life stype mostly... 

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5.

azem palace   Damascus

azem palace, Damascus

 18 Reviews  The Azem Palace (Museum of popular art's and traditions), is a great place to visit. You can go into most rooms which are staged and set up as if being used for their origional purpose. The rooms on... 

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6.

souqs   Aleppo

souqs, Aleppo

 32 Reviews  Is massive khan, Khan It was built in 1574 by the Ottoman governor, al-Gumruk Has more than approximately 250 shops from cloth to whatever you want jewerly leather etc.is like amaze inside but... 

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7.

citadel   Damascus

citadel, Damascus

 8 Reviews  The Citadel is easily recognisable with its massive walls. Unfortunately it was not open for visitors as a major ongoing restoration project is taking place. There are 7 gates (bab) Bab Sharqi Bab... 

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8.

national museum   Aleppo

national museum, Aleppo

 10 Reviews  The National Museum in Aleppo is open and well lit, a sharp contrast to the museum in Damascus. I was allowed photography, also unlike the Damascus Museum. The collection isn't quite so loaded with... 

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9.

Umayyad Mosque   Aleppo

Umayyad Mosque, Aleppo

 26 Reviews  The Great (Omayyad) Mosque of Aleppo was first built in 715 AD, only 10 years after its namesake mosque in Damascus. Much like the Damascus mosque, the site chosen for the construction had been used... 

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10.

hammams   Aleppo

hammams, Aleppo

 13 Reviews  Bath is considered to be the most beautiful bathrooms in all Aleppo, and is located in front of the south tower of the Citadel of Aleppo, built and is due to the early rule of the Mamluks in the... 

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11.

street scenes   Aleppo

street scenes, Aleppo

 26 Reviews  Any visitor to Aleppo is likely to spend most of his or her time along the narrow cobbled alleys of the old city, amid carved stone façades of its palaces, khans and mosques. Old Aleppo is built... 

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Mushabbak Church

by MM212

One of the best-preserved churches in the 'dead cities' of northwestern Syria, al-Mushabbak is located about halfway between Aleppo and Saint Simeon. The church dates from the late 5th century AD and was built to provide an initial stop along the important pilgrimage route to Saint Simeon. As a result, the best craftsmen and architects were provided for the construction, as evidenced by the church's architecture. Mushabbak Church has survived remarkably intact: if a roof, windows and a door were added, the church would be complete. It is located a mere 25 minute drive from Aleppo, only a short detour from the main road. It is thus still an indispensable stop along the route to Saint Simeon. For more on this abandoned Byzantine church, check out my page on Mushabbak Church.Mushabbak Church is among the "Dead Cities" of northwestern Syria, inscribed in 2011 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Apamea

by MM212

Situated one hour north-west of Hama, Apamea is a must see for anyone visiting the region. Founded in 300 BC during the Seleucid period, this city flourished under the Romans and remained important until Crusader times. The city was destroyed in the two major earthquakes of the 12th century and was never rebuilt. The archaeological site is most picturesque, with panoramic views of al-Ghab Valley and Ansariyeh Mountains, and contains one of the longest and best preserved Roman colonnaded roads in existence. Other attractions include the medieval castle built on the site of the ancient acropolis, and a museum exhibiting mosaics excavated in Apamea and housed in an Ottoman-period khan. It is said that Cleopatra and Marc Antony made a stop in Apamea after their marriage. Surely, this is enough of a reason to visit! For additional photos and tips, click on Apamea.Note that Apamea is on the...

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Hama

by MM212

One of the most picturesque cities in Syria, Hama is graced by the Orontes River, beautiful medieval architecture, and less congestion than the largest Syrian cities. The city is most famous for its numerous ancient water wheels, known as Noriahs, whose sound and lazy motion add to the city's charms. Hama, whose history spans 4000 years, was known as Epiphania in the Graeco-Roman world, and as Hamath even earlier. Beyond the city's charms and historic architecture, its location makes it an ideal departure point for discovering western Syria, which is rich in archeological sites and medieval castles. For more, see my Hama page.Note that the Noriahs of Hama are on the UNESCO's "Tentative List" waiting to be inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

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Palmyra

by MM212

Situated in the heart of the Syrian Desert, Palmyra contains one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world. Tadmor, as it is known in Arabic, is Syria's crown jewel of tourist interests. The city owes its existence and historic significance to the natural water springs that irrigate its oasis, whose location in the middle of the unforgiving desert made Palmyra an indispensible stop along the desert trade route. The city reached the height of properity and construction in the 1st - 3rd centuries AD, under the Roman Empire, when the strong Semitic culture was given a Roman veneer. Palmyra's decline began in the Byzantine period and continued well after the arrival of Islam, but it was this early decline that left us with the unmatched splendour we now witness nearly two millennia later.For more, click on Palmyra.Since 1980, Palmyra has been inscribed on the UNESCO World...

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Aleppo

by MM212

Aleppo, Halab in Arabic, Beroea to the Ancient Greeks and Romans, is modern Syria's second city. Like its arch-rival, Damascus, Aleppo claims to be the longest continuously inhabited city in the world. For a time under the Ottoman Empire, Aleppo was Syria's largest and most important merchant city whose location at the end of the Asian Silk Road made it the natural choice for the consulates of Venice, France and Holland. The European presence opened Aleppo to western influences, a fact seen today in its culture and architecture. Enchanting Aleppo captures the imagination with its imposing citadel, mediaeval souk, narrow cobblestone alleys and stone architecture. The old city is incredibly charming, its souk is most fascinating, and its cuisine is the best in Syria. Yet, despite its charms, the city has been completely untouched by mass tourism, which makes a visit to Aleppo all the more...

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Damascus

by MM212

Damascus, Syria's capital and largest city is situated at the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon Mountain range, on the edge of the desert surrounded by the agriculturally rich al-Ghouta oasis. The oasis and the convergence of desert caravan routes allowed the city to flourish and become one of the most important religious, cultural and political centres in the region. Although Damascus suffers from the ailments of large developing cities, the unique old city and its rich architectural heritage are fairly well preserved. As one of the earliest human settlements on Earth, Damascus can be peeled like an onion to reveal the imprint of one civilisation over another. While the 8th century Omayyad Mosque - constructed over the ruins of the Temple of Jupiter and the Church of St John the Baptist - is the city's most notable architectural marvel, many other stunning monuments are hidden within the...

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Bosra

by MM212

A sleepy provincial town at the southern limits of the Hauran region, Bosra was a glorious city in its ancient past. It had been an important trading entrepôt connecting the Levant with Arabian merchants from the Hijaz well before the Nabataeans selected it as their capital city in 70 AD. The Romans annexed the entire Nabataean Kingdom in 106 AD, then made Bosra a Roman Colony and the capital of Provincia Arabia. They proceeded to embellish the city with many grand monuments, built from local black basalt stone, including the magnificent Roman Theatre, one of the most complete to have survived to the present day. This theatre alone makes a trip to Bosra worthwhile, but the vast ancient city itself is also remarkably well-preserved with colonnaded roads, monumental arches, baths, temples, churches, and mosques, spanning at least 1400 years. What makes Bosra even more unique, however, is...

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Krak des Chevaliers

by MM212

The most magnificent of all Crusader castles, and possibly of all mediaeval castles around the world, Krak des Chevaliers, is located 45 minutes west of Homs. Although its origins go back to the 10th century, it was not until the Crusaders occupied it that it was turned into this formidable defence structure. After the departure of the Crusaders, the Mamlukes continued its fortification. Krak des Chevaliers makes a great day trip from Damascus, Hama, or Homs. For more on this fairy tale castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006), check out my Krak des Chevaliers page.

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Maaloula

by MM212

Hidden in a breathtaking deep narrow valley at the foothills of the Anti-Lebanon Mountains, Maaloula has served as a refuge to smaller Christian communities since Roman times. The town's isolation has also preserved Aramaic, the language spoken by Christ, to this day in local churches, and supposedly in the homes of some of its native inhabitants. The town itself is very scenic, with its blue and yellow houses stacked up against high arid cliffs, and makes a wonderful day trip from Damascus, or a stop on the way to other destinations. It is located a mere 10 minute diversion off the Damascus-Homs motorway, about 45 minutes from the capital city. For more, see my Maaloula page.Note that Maaloula is on the UNESCO "Tentative List" waiting to be inscribed as a World Heritage Site.

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Saint Simeon

by MM212

One of the largest churches in Christendom, the Church of Saint Simeon stands in partial ruins in the countryside of Aleppo. It was built in the late 5th century AD by Emperor Zeno on the site of the pillar on which an ascetic Syrian shepherd spent a long period of his life in isolation. The enormous martyrium-church, consisting of four Basilicas laid out in a cruciform plan, each large enough to be a cathedral by its own merit, was a tribute to the influential life of a saint whose inspiration reached the ends of the Christian world. Despite its ruined state, the martyrium of Saint Simeon continues to be one of early Christianity's greatest churches. Saint Simeon is located about 45 minutes north-west of Aleppo. For additional information, check out the page on Qala'at Sema'an, as it is known in Arabic.UPDATE: On the 27th June, 2011, the Dead Cities of northwestern Syria, including...

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Fun things to do in Syria

Top 3 Hotels in Syria

Beit Al Mamlouka  Damascus

 4 Reviews and 83 Opinions  Rooms & Suites Rooms offer exceptional grace and comfort and all give views over either the hotel’s... 

 Hotels in Damascus

Jdayde Hotel  Aleppo

 50 Opinions

 Hotels in Aleppo

Cairo Hotel  Hamah

 4 Reviews and 46 Opinions  Hama's Cairo Hotel is one of the great travellers' hotels of the Middle East. It is nothing much to... 

 Hotels in Hamah

101 Hotels in Syria
 
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Reviews and photos of Syria attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Syria sightseeing.

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Things to Do: Cities in Syria
  1. Damascus Things to Do
  2. Aleppo Things to Do
  3. Latakia Things to Do
  4. Palmyra Things to Do
  5. Busra ash Sham Things to Do
  6. Hamah Things to Do
  7. `Afrin Things to Do
  8. Majdal Shams Things to Do
  9. As Suwayda' Things to Do
  10. Dayr az Zawr Things to Do
  11. Ma`lula Things to Do
  12. Apamea Things to Do
  13. Hims Things to Do
  14. Qanawat Things to Do
  15. Shahba' Things to Do
  16. Tartus Things to Do
  17. Kassab Things to Do
  18. Qal`at as Sim`an Things to Do
  19. Qal`at al Hisn Things to Do
  20. Qal`at Nimrud Things to Do
  21. Saydnaya Things to Do
  22. Baniyas Things to Do
  23. Khirbat Serjilla Things to Do
  24. Al Yahudiyah Things to Do
  25. Qasrin Things to Do
  26. Dar Ta`izzah Things to Do
  27. Jazirat Arwad Things to Do
  28. Safita Things to Do
  29. Al Mayadin Things to Do
  30. `Ayn Ziwan Things to Do
  31. Dayr Quruh Things to Do
  32. Masyaf Things to Do
  33. Ma`arrat an Nu`man Things to Do
  34. Bludan Things to Do
  35. Baniyas Things to Do
  36. Qal`at al Hisn Things to Do

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Popular Regions in Syria

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Questions and Answers

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Q:  Was planning for an overland trip with our own cars from Cairo to Istanbul passing by jordan and syria via the old classical... 

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A: Syria is not somewhere I would be going near right now, really not safe at all. Most governments have strongly advised all their citizens to get out of Syria as soon as... 

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