Things to do in Syria

Damascus

The Souq al-Hamidiyya, a broad street packed with tiny shops, is entered through columns from a Roman temple built on a site that had been occupied by an even older temple. The souqs themselves smell of cumin and other distinctive spices and you can find passages dedicated to everything from leather and copper goods to inlaid boxes and silk scarves.

At the end of Souq al-Hamidiyya stands the great Umayyad mosque; this building with three minarets is an architectural wonder. It was an Assyrian temple, then a Roman temple to Jupiter, a church when Rome converted to Christianity, then a mosque and a church together, and finally a mosque until now. All the symbols are still pretty much there and some Christian drawings can still be very clearly seen on the walls inside. The mosque contains the grave of John the Baptist (for Muslims, prophet Yahya) inside the main lounge. Women are asked to be to cover their hair, arms and legs. Abayas(full-body covers)are provided with the entrance ticket price of 50SP. It is one of the most sacred sites of Islam, and it welcomes foreign tourists, who are allowed to walk around the prayer area.

At the other end of Souq al-Hamidiyya is a fort-like section of the extant city wall that is the Citadel (but make sure to visit Aleppo's Citadel for a truly amazing experience).

Nearby, you can visit the Mausoleum of Salah al-Din, known in the west as Saladin, the chief anti-crusader. There's a great statue of him on horseback right next to the citadel, which will make you gasp.

The Azzam palace (150 SP, students: 10 SP) includes a museum trying to describe the life of royal families.

The October War Panorama is out in the suburbs but accessible by minibus or taxi. It's about US$7 to get in and well worth it. It was built with the help of the North Korean Government and the influence shows. There is an exhibit of military hardware outside. English-speaking guides are available.

Mausoleum of Saiyeda Zeineb This magnificent golden domed is where the body of Bibi Sayyeda Zainab, granddaughter of the Prophet Mohammed, is laid to rest. Her shrine is located at the outskirts of Damascus.

View the city from Mount Qasioun is a must-do activity in Damascus as it offers a panoramic view. The peak is accessible at any time, although the view is perhaps most spectacular at night when the whole city is lit up and the minarets of mosques are bathed in green light. The Umayyad Mosque in the old town is particularly impressive when viewed from the mountain. There is a wide range of food and refreshment available on the peak from stalls to fancy restaurants that serve good local cuisine and alcohol. Check the price before you get too comfortable though- it is a well-known scam for local cab drivers to take you to their 'favorite' cafe, where you'll end up paying anything up to 500SP for a cup of tea.

Visit a restaurant in old Damascus. There are many restaurants in the old quarter each with their own unique character, but perhaps the most famous (and touristy) is "Beit Jabri", although "Al-Khawali" is considered by many to be the best dining experience in the old city. Another restaurant in the old city, Narcissus Palace, located close to Maktab Anbar, would offer an enlightening experience. Every night, a singer and band play old Arabic music and create an amazing atmosphere in the restaurant. A good idea, when considering these restaurants, is to go for breakfast, and then go sightseeing. The breakfast is very cheap, the bill will amount to 1000 SP for about four people.

Bathe in a Hammam, i.e., a Turkish bath. The Nur-al-Din Bath (between the Azem Palace and Straight Street) and the Bakri Bath (first street on the right after entering the Old City at Bab Touma) are two baths that are familiar with Western tourists. A visit to either costs about 500 SP, and includes towels, soap, scrub, a massage and a tea. The price is typically composed of bath entry (300 SP), scrub (50 SP), sauna (100 SP), massage (100 SP) and extras such as tea or soap. Nur-al-Din is for men only, Bakri might be able to accommodate women or mixed groups upon prior arrangement. Bakri Bath: for women each day except Friday 10 - 5PM

Relax at a Hooka cafe "Narjelah" Hooka cafe's are popular in Damascus and are easy to find. When visiting the old city, you'll get a more cultural or traditional experience. You'll probably find a crowd of tea-drinking, backgammon-playing men all smoking hooka. In the modern city, most cafe's cater to a younger crowd and are a big part of the night life offering a huge variety of flavored tobacco ranging from double apple which is the most common, to cappuccino. In almost every major restaurant, hookas are available, including the restaurants in the old city.

Aleppo

The citadel sits on a hill in the centre of the city and is visible from almost anywhere. Usage of the Citadel hill dates back at least to the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, but the current structure dates from the 13th century. There are tours daily. It costs 150 SP to enter or 10 SP with a student card, as of November 2007. Once inside, there are no signs or explanations of the site so a guidebook is handy. There is a café inside the Citadel, but it is probably destroyed. The Citadel is considered a major battleground between the Assad Regime (which currently holds it) and the Islamic Front. It should be avoided at all costs.

The Souq: There are multiple souqs in the city including a covered section. Almost all of them are closed. The souq is a major target for sniper fire from both sides and civilians are often targeted. Do not go to the souq without a guide.

Bimaristan Arghan is a beautiful mental hospital turned into a museum. Entrance is free and you can wander around and look at exhibits, which include old medical equipment, herbs, biographies of famous Arab scientists and other interesting artifacts. The main attractions, however, are the courtyard and two separate spaces reserved for the mentally ill. [CLOSED]

Saint Simeon's basilica (Qalaat Sam'aan): Located 30 miles outside of Aleppo this is an old church that was dedicated to the famous hermit, St Simeon the Stylite. This church was built around the pillar on which Simeon lived and prayed and became a major centre of pilgrimage. It is currently used by the Islamic Front for tunneling activities in the fight against the Assad regime. It should be considered highly dangerous.

The Great Mosque: There are many mosques in the city but this is the largest and most ornate. In April 2013, the main minaret was blown up. The Islamist rebel group al-Nusra is considered to be responsible but because of fighting, but rebels say it was destroyed by regime tank fire. No investigation has been completed due to local fighting conditions. It should not be considered safe to visit.

At this time, if you find yourself in Aleppo, leave it immediately, traveling only with bodyguards or under cover of night. All open areas are susceptible to mortar, rocket, and sniper fire. Walking alone will make yourself a target.

Lattakia

Lattakia region is known for its diversity of landscapes, from the green mountains to the sandy beaches, with many important archeological sites like the Saladin Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006) and the ruins of Ugarit close enough to see on a day trip from Lattakia.

Ruins of Ugarit. The ancient Phoenician city which lays claim to developing one of the first written alphabets in the world. Located about 20km north of Lattakia, it can be reached by an organized tour from a hotel in the city, or, for those who are confident in their bargaining skills, can be reached by taxi, but it is important to arrange for joey to come pick you up in the taxi to wait (for a fee), since the road near the Ugarit entrance is not heavily trafficked by taxis for the return trip.

In the city center, the American street attracts the young and fashionable at night. Also the Zira'a quarter and around the university are hip upcoming parts of the city.

Swim

Free public beach near Al Siwar.. The free public beach at the bottom of the cliff below Al Siwar Restaurant is neither particularly clean nor safe due to the debris in the sand. edit

Free public beach near South Corniche Park. Rough rocky beach with debris on the sand. From the park, walk on the trail toward the water, crossing the active train tracks. There are other swimmers as well.

Resort hotels in the north (Le Meridien, Cote d'Azur Cham). These allow non-guests to use their beaches for a charge. Further north, the beaches at Ras ibn Hani and the black-sand beach at Ras al Bassit are nice, but difficult to get to without one's own transportation.

Afamia, there are two options here on this beach. Rotana Afamia is a luxury resort with clean sand, private pools, boats, jet skis, lunch buffet, hotel. Afamia Beach is immediately next door with private cabins, snacks, crowded beach, average clean sand.

Palmyra

Temple of Bel
Roman Colonnade
Funerary Towers
Hypogeum of Three Brothers
Arab Castle

Take a camel ride.

Camel race. If you visit Palmyra around October/November time you might be lucky enough to be there for the week of camel racing. This is an exciting day out, especially if you can get a lift in one of the many vehicles traveling round the track, alongside the camels. There is a camel beauty competition and racing with and without riders - although it is recommended that you do go with someone who can explain what's going on.

Evening in the desert. Spend an evening in the desert, in a bedouin tent with traditional music, food and wonderful hospitality - just ask at your hotel or your tour group leader. After the ruins, this is definitely the highlight of any trip to Palmyra. A drive away from the ruins is a natural sulphuric water lake (take care as at certain times of the year it is pretty dried up!) and a camp site nearby.

Sunrise and sunset view. Go to just outside of Palmyra and go for a walk up to the top of the sandstone cliffs at sunrise or sunset - truely stunning! You can take a taxi to Palmyra castle or walk there.

Hike and trail run: This loop is from the center of town up to Palmyra castle to view the sunrise or sunset. The first half of this loop is on and sidewalks and paved roads. The second half, descending from the castle is on a trail going through the Great Colonnade.

Run laps: The route is relatively short. Run it several times to get more distance in. It is on a wide and well lit sidewalk. It was suitable even for a night run in December as it got dark early.