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Syria 🇸🇾

backpacking Asia Syria 🇸🇾Damascus mosques, Crusader castles and old souqs, reached with cash in hand.

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Backpacking Syria in 2027

A complete guide including when and where to go, costs, transport, itineraries, and practical travel advice.
Traveling in Syria: what to expect

Backpacking Syria
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 19, 2026

Cash is where most travelers in Syria come unstuck. Foreign bank cards generally don’t work at ATMs or in shops, so you arrive carrying every dollar you plan to spend. Bring clean, untorn US$ notes, because worn or marked bills get refused or changed at a worse rate.
What you get for that hassle is serious heritage with almost nobody around it: the marble courtyard of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, the towers of Krak des Chevaliers, the citadel above Aleppo and the groaning wooden waterwheels of Hama. I stood outside Bakdash in Souq al-Hamidiyah while wooden mallets thudded into vats of ice cream, then got handed a cone of stretchy mastic booza rolled in pistachios. The challenges are plain: war damage, daily power cuts, paperwork and a security picture that differs by region and by month.
Next to Jordan, Syria is rougher and cheaper, with far fewer crowds; next to Lebanon, it is slower and more cautious. It suits flexible travelers who can handle patchy infrastructure. If you need card payments and a fixed itinerary, skip it for now.

👉 Get the 📖 Travel Guide of Syria

Damascus and Qalamoun (Damascus, Maaloula, Saydnaya)

Most trips through Syria start in Damascus, and the Old City needs three full days: the Umayyad Mosque at dusk, the covered Souq al-Hamidiyeh, church bells around Bab Touma. Don’t squeeze Maaloula, where some residents still speak Western Neo-Aramaic, into a rushed afternoon. It is about an hour north by microbus or taxi, and pairing it with Saydnaya’s convent makes a calm half day. This suits first-timers who want density without long rides.

Homs and Hama (Homs, Hama, Krak des Chevaliers)

Homs is about two hours north of Damascus on the M5 highway, and whole blocks of its old center are still shells. Use it as a base. Krak des Chevaliers, the Crusader castle an hour west, is the reason to stop; hire a driver from Homs instead of attempting it from Damascus, which burns most of the day on the road. Hama’s wooden waterwheels make a pleasant evening, little more. Castle lovers do best here.

Aleppo (Aleppo, Aleppo Citadel, Saint Simeon)

Aleppo is four to five hours north of Damascus by bus, and it is the heaviest stop emotionally. The Citadel stands, but much of the medieval souq below it burned in the war and is only partly rebuilt, so expect a city under repair. Give it two nights at least. The Church of Saint Simeon, an hour northwest, needs a driver booked the night before. Food-focused and curious travelers get the most from it.

Palmyra (Palmyra, Tadmur)

Palmyra lies about three hours east of Homs across empty steppe with no dependable public transport, so go with a driver who knows current road and checkpoint conditions. ISIS destroyed the Temple of Bel and the Monumental Arch, yet the colonnaded street, theater and tower tombs remain. Modern Tadmur has few services; carry water and food. Worth it for archaeology devotees, a long hot day for everyone else.

The Coast (Latakia, Tartus, Saladin Castle)

Tartus is around three hours from Damascus by bus, Latakia an hour further: humid Mediterranean towns with corniches, fish grills and a looser evening crowd. Saladin Castle, on a forested ridge east of Latakia, beats the scruffy boat trip to Arwad island. The coast saw deadly sectarian violence in 2025, so check local conditions before heading into mountain villages. It suits travelers wanting slower days.
Safety warning

The current risk level for Syria is high. Check the advice before going.
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Why go?What sets this destination apart

People

Strangers in Syria will invite you for tea within minutes, and they mean it. Shopkeepers wave you in to sit, not to buy, and taxi drivers often refuse … read more 👉
Strangers in Syria will invite you for tea within minutes, and they mean it. Shopkeepers wave you in to sit, not to buy, and taxi drivers often refuse your fare once they learn you came from abroad. Humor is dry and self-mocking, especially about electricity and the economy. People ask direct questions about your salary, religion and marriage; answer lightly, as nobody intends offense. I would spend unhurried evenings in Damascus’s old city coffeehouses or on a bench by the Hama waterwheels, where conversations start on their own.

Low cost

Backpacking Syria costs roughly US$25 to 45 a day once you are on the ground, covering a simple guesthouse room, street food and shared transport. Local … read more 👉
Backpacking Syria costs roughly US$25 to 45 a day once you are on the ground, covering a simple guesthouse room, street food and shared transport. Local food is the big saver: falafel, shawarma, foul and fresh flatbread cost very little, and a filling meal rarely goes above a few US$. Fancy restaurants in Damascus charge closer to European prices and are rarely better than the busy local spots. The one place to pay more is accommodation with a reliable generator, because a cheap room without power makes for miserable nights.

Uniqueness

Very few foreign travelers make it to Syria, so you may share Krak des Chevaliers or the Aleppo Citadel with a handful of local families and a caretaker. … read more 👉
Very few foreign travelers make it to Syria, so you may share Krak des Chevaliers or the Aleppo Citadel with a handful of local families and a caretaker. You see a country rebuilding in real time: craftsmen restoring souq stalls, students sketching ruins, cafés reopening next to collapsed buildings. Seeing it can be heavy. Do not expect polished visitor centers or signage. Go early in the morning to the major castles and ruins, when guards have time to unlock side rooms and talk.

⭐ HighlightsUnmissable destinations

  • Umayyad Mosque, Damascus: Shoes off, you cross a polished marble courtyard that turns warm under bare feet by midday, while golden Byzantine-style mosaics glitter on the facade above. Families picnic quietly in the shade of the arcades and kids skid across the stone, so the place feels lived-in rather than museum-like.
  • Krak des Chevaliers: The Crusader fortress rises over the Homs Gap in pale stone, and inside, the air in the vaulted halls is cool and smells faintly of damp rock. Climb to the upper towers and wind pushes hard against you, carrying the sound of village roosters from the valley below.
  • Aleppo Citadel and Old City: A stone bridge climbs over the dry moat to a massive gate, and from the walls you look across a city that is half rebuilt and half broken. Down in the reopened souq sections, the scent of laurel soap stacked in brown cubes hangs between the stalls.
  • Bosra: The Roman theater here is built of black basalt and survived largely intact because a fortress was wrapped around
… read more 👉
  • Umayyad Mosque, Damascus: Shoes off, you cross a polished marble courtyard that turns warm under bare feet by midday, while golden Byzantine-style mosaics glitter on the facade above. Families picnic quietly in the shade of the arcades and kids skid across the stone, so the place feels lived-in rather than museum-like.
  • Krak des Chevaliers: The Crusader fortress rises over the Homs Gap in pale stone, and inside, the air in the vaulted halls is cool and smells faintly of damp rock. Climb to the upper towers and wind pushes hard against you, carrying the sound of village roosters from the valley below.
  • Aleppo Citadel and Old City: A stone bridge climbs over the dry moat to a massive gate, and from the walls you look across a city that is half rebuilt and half broken. Down in the reopened souq sections, the scent of laurel soap stacked in brown cubes hangs between the stalls.
  • Bosra: The Roman theater here is built of black basalt and survived largely intact because a fortress was wrapped around it. Sit high in the seats and a normal voice from the stage carries clearly up to you, which locals love to demonstrate.
  • Norias of Hama: These huge wooden waterwheels on the Orontes creak and moan as they turn, a sound you hear before you see them. Spray drifts onto the riverside paths, and in the evening young men gather on the banks to smoke and watch the wheels spin.
Off the map, Mar Musa monastery in the desert cliffs, the stone ghost town of Serjilla and the island of Arwad off Tartus all repay the detour, and I would pick Mar Musa first for its frescoes and silence.
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🧭 RoutesHow travelers typically move through the country

The 5-Day Damascus Route


One base in the capital, with mosaics, caravanserais and courtyard cafés at your doorstep. Two easy day trips reach an Aramaic-speaking cliff village and a Roman theatre inside a fortress.
  • Umayyad Mosque and its gold mosaics
  • Azm Palace and Khan As’ad Pasha
  • Maaloula’s cliffside convents
  • The Roman Theatre of Bosra

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day Castles and Coast Route


A western sweep that links the capital to Aleppo via Crusader walls and Mediterranean evenings. Drives are short, the seafood is fresh, and the trip ends in the souqs of the north.
  • Sunrise on the ramparts of Crac des Chevaliers
  • Tartus and Latakia by the sea
  • The rock-cut gorge at Saladin Castle
  • Aleppo Citadel

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day Grand Syria Route


The full journey, from black basalt in the south to desert ruins and the limestone hills of the north. Slow stays let you add oasis walks, Bronze Age ports and abandoned Byzantine villages to the big names.
  • Palmyra and its oasis
  • Ugarit and Ras al-Basit
… read more 👉

The 5-Day Damascus Route


One base in the capital, with mosaics, caravanserais and courtyard cafés at your doorstep. Two easy day trips reach an Aramaic-speaking cliff village and a Roman theatre inside a fortress.
  • Umayyad Mosque and its gold mosaics
  • Azm Palace and Khan As’ad Pasha
  • Maaloula’s cliffside convents
  • The Roman Theatre of Bosra

👉 explore this 5-day route

The 10-Day Castles and Coast Route


A western sweep that links the capital to Aleppo via Crusader walls and Mediterranean evenings. Drives are short, the seafood is fresh, and the trip ends in the souqs of the north.
  • Sunrise on the ramparts of Crac des Chevaliers
  • Tartus and Latakia by the sea
  • The rock-cut gorge at Saladin Castle
  • Aleppo Citadel

👉 explore this 10-day route

The 15-Day Grand Syria Route


The full journey, from black basalt in the south to desert ruins and the limestone hills of the north. Slow stays let you add oasis walks, Bronze Age ports and abandoned Byzantine villages to the big names.
  • Palmyra and its oasis
  • Ugarit and Ras al-Basit Beach
  • Apamea and the norias of Hama
  • The Simeon Monastery and the Dead Cities Trail

👉 explore this 15-day route

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Syria

The best time for backpacking Syria is April, May and October, when Damascus and Aleppo sit in the low to high 20s °C, Palmyra is comfortable to explore on foot, and hotels charge their normal rates instead of holiday premiums. Regional differences are sharp: the coast around Latakia and Tartus stays milder and wetter, the desert around Palmyra runs much hotter by day and colder at night, and the mountain towns near Bloudan and Mashta al-Helou work as summer escapes but get snow in winter.
  • Spring (March to May): Highs of 18 to 29°C, green hills around Krak des Chevaliers and wildflowers on the steppe. Foreign visitors peak, though peak here still means small groups. Prices stay normal.
  • Summer (June to August): Damascus hits 35°C or more and the desert passes 40°C. Diaspora families return, Eid holidays fill the coast, and seaside rooms can cost noticeably more. Inland sightseeing is a dawn-only affair.
  • Autumn (September to November): The sea stays warm into October while inland heat fades. Expect the same ruins with fewer people than spring, and olive harvest scenes by November.
  • Winter (December to February): Cold rain, nights near freezing in Damascus and Aleppo, and erratic power that makes heating hit or miss. Rates drop to their lowest.
I would pack a warm layer even in May for desert nights, and book coastal rooms early if your dates overlap Eid.

source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: fair for travelingFEBFebruary: fair for travelingMARMarch: highly recommended for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: excellent for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: highly recommended for travelingOCTOctober: excellent for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: fair for traveling
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💰 Costs (as of 2026)Travel costs in Syria

Backpacking Syria costs about US$25 to 45 a day if you sleep in dorms or basic hotels, eat street food and take intercity buses, and the dollars you bring in cash go further here than in Lebanon or Jordan.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$8 to 15 per nightDorm beds and simple guesthouse rooms in and around Damascus Old City usually cost US$10 to 15. Basic hotel rooms in Aleppo or Hama run US$15 to 25 for the whole room, so a twin room split between two people often works out cheaper than a dorm. Paying in cash for several nights is the usual way to get a lower rate. For comparison, a dorm bed in Beirut costs US$15 to 25.
MealsUS$6 to 12 per dayA falafel sandwich costs around US$0.50 to 1, and a chicken shawarma about US$1.50 to 2.50. A sit-down plate of grills with mezze is US$5 to 10. If you self-cater from a supermarket, bread, labneh, olives and fruit cost US$3 to 5 a day. I would skip the supermarket and eat street food, because it costs about the same and tastes better. Prices are roughly half of what you pay in Amman.
Local transportUS$2 to 8 per dayA Pullman bus from Damascus to Aleppo costs about US$6 to 9, and Damascus to Homs about US$3 to 4. Shared service
… read more 👉
Backpacking Syria costs about US$25 to 45 a day if you sleep in dorms or basic hotels, eat street food and take intercity buses, and the dollars you bring in cash go further here than in Lebanon or Jordan.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Dorm accommodationUS$8 to 15 per nightDorm beds and simple guesthouse rooms in and around Damascus Old City usually cost US$10 to 15. Basic hotel rooms in Aleppo or Hama run US$15 to 25 for the whole room, so a twin room split between two people often works out cheaper than a dorm. Paying in cash for several nights is the usual way to get a lower rate. For comparison, a dorm bed in Beirut costs US$15 to 25.
MealsUS$6 to 12 per dayA falafel sandwich costs around US$0.50 to 1, and a chicken shawarma about US$1.50 to 2.50. A sit-down plate of grills with mezze is US$5 to 10. If you self-cater from a supermarket, bread, labneh, olives and fruit cost US$3 to 5 a day. I would skip the supermarket and eat street food, because it costs about the same and tastes better. Prices are roughly half of what you pay in Amman.
Local transportUS$2 to 8 per dayA Pullman bus from Damascus to Aleppo costs about US$6 to 9, and Damascus to Homs about US$3 to 4. Shared service taxis inside cities cost US$0.20 to 0.50 a ride. Long-distance buses are the cheapest way to cross the country.
ActivitiesUS$3 to 20 per dayWalking the souqs and visiting the Umayyad Mosque costs nothing. Entry tickets to castles and museums usually come to US$3 to 10. The biggest expense is hiring a private driver to reach Palmyra or Krak des Chevaliers, which costs US$80 to 150 for the car for a full day. Splitting that car four ways is the single biggest saving you can make.
MiscellaneousUS$2 to 5 per dayA Syriatel or MTN SIM card with data costs US$5 to 10. Tea or coffee runs US$0.30 to 1, and bottled water about US$0.30. Foreign bank cards mostly do not work, so carry clean US dollar notes and change them as you go.
Total Daily BudgetUS$25 to 45A day with a dorm in Damascus, two shawarmas, a mezze dinner and a bus to Homs comes to about US$25 to 30. Add a share of a driver to Palmyra and the day reaches US$45. A similar day in Jordan costs US$50 to 70.
Prices in Syria move with the exchange rate, so locals often quote big purchases in dollars and small ones in Syrian pounds. The pound has been redenominated by dropping two zeros, and old and new notes circulate side by side. Check which notes you are being quoted in before you hand over cash.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

✈️ The backpacker research shortcutSyria Travel Guide

An offline-friendly backpacking guide with optimized travel routes, ranked highlights, transport advice, and the best areas to stay.
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The digital guide (288 pages) contains:
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✅ Month by month travel advice
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✅ Best areas to stay
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✅ SIM cards, money & practical tips

🌍 Understand the country, not just visit it
✅ Culture & traditions
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where to stay in Syria

True dorm-style hostels are rare in Syria, but budget guesthouses and small family-run hotels are easy to find, with private rooms typically running US$15 to 35 a night. In Damascus, the Old City around Bab Touma and Bab Sharqi has the most character, with courtyard houses and lively cafes and bars within walking distance of the main sights, though street noise carries late into the evening. Marjeh, near Martyrs’ Square, has the cheapest rooms close to transport and souqs but feels grittier after dark, while in Aleppo the area around Bab al-Faraj keeps you near the citadel and old souqs with fewer … read more 👉
True dorm-style hostels are rare in Syria, but budget guesthouses and small family-run hotels are easy to find, with private rooms typically running US$15 to 35 a night. In Damascus, the Old City around Bab Touma and Bab Sharqi has the most character, with courtyard houses and lively cafes and bars within walking distance of the main sights, though street noise carries late into the evening. Marjeh, near Martyrs’ Square, has the cheapest rooms close to transport and souqs but feels grittier after dark, while in Aleppo the area around Bab al-Faraj keeps you near the citadel and old souqs with fewer evening options.

If you enjoy meeting fellow travelers, consider choosing hostels with high ratings for atmosphere. On the other hand, if you prefer having your own space, a hotel might be a better option.

Best hostels in Syria


Best quality hotels in Syria

🚌 Getting aroundGetting around Syria

Intercity “Pullman” buses are how most backpackers get around Syria. They are cheap, run several times a day along the Damascus to Homs, Hama and Aleppo highway, and rarely need booking more than a few hours ahead. Microbuses cover the side trips, and taxis handle the last few kilometers.
  • Intercity Pullman buses: Fares run roughly US$3 to 9. Damascus to Homs takes about 2 to 2.5 hours and Damascus to Aleppo 5 to 6 hours. The better companies have reclining seats and air-conditioning. Pay cash at
… read more 👉
Intercity “Pullman” buses are how most backpackers get around Syria. They are cheap, run several times a day along the Damascus to Homs, Hama and Aleppo highway, and rarely need booking more than a few hours ahead. Microbuses cover the side trips, and taxis handle the last few kilometers.
  • Intercity Pullman buses: Fares run roughly US$3 to 9. Damascus to Homs takes about 2 to 2.5 hours and Damascus to Aleppo 5 to 6 hours. The better companies have reclining seats and air-conditioning. Pay cash at the company kiosk in the bus station, ideally the evening before, and carry your passport, because your details often go on the ticket. The cost that catches travelers out is reaching the station. Damascus’s main bus garages sit on the edges of the city, so budget US$3 to 5 for the taxi and allow 45 minutes.
  • Microbuses (“servees”): These are the cheapest option for short hops such as Homs to the Krak des Chevaliers area or Hama to Masyaf, usually US$0.50 to 2. They leave when full, so a 1-hour ride can come with a 1-hour wait. Start early, carry small notes, and pass your fare forward if you sit at the back.
  • City taxis: Short rides inside Damascus or Aleppo cost about US$1 to 3. Drivers rarely use meters. Agree on the price before you get in, and ask your guesthouse what a fair fare is first so you have a number to quote.
  • Cross-border shared taxis: From Beirut, a seat to Damascus costs around US$20 to 30 and a private car US$80 to 150. The trip takes 3 to 4 hours including the Masnaa and Jdeidet Yabous crossing, and drivers gather around the Cola area in Beirut. Have any border fees ready in clean US dollar notes, because a shortfall can mean waiting while someone finds change.
  • Trains: Skip them. Services are sparse, slow and irregular, and the bus beats them on every route that matters.
Fuel shortages and checkpoints can add an hour or more to any journey, so never plan a tight onward connection. Palmyra and the eastern desert have no dependable public transport. Go there only with a vetted local driver, and only when current security conditions allow.
I would stick to the western highway corridor, travel in daylight only, and buy my next bus ticket as soon as I arrive in each town.
Damascus International Airport (DAM) sits about 25 km (15.5 miles) southeast of central Damascus in Syria, and the cheapest reliable way into town is the airport bus to Baramkeh, with a taxi being the fastest and most common choice.
  • Airport bus to Baramkeh (45 to 60 minutes, roughly US$1 to 3 in Syrian pounds) Catch it outside the arrivals hall and pay cash on board; it runs mainly in daytime and early evening, so don’t count on it after dark.
  • Airport taxi (30 to 45 minutes, about US$20 to 35) Taxis wait outside arrivals, and you should agree the fare before getting in, paying cash in Syrian pounds or US dollars.
  • Ride-hailing (Yalla Go) (30 to 45 minutes, about US$10 to 20) Book through the app once you have a local SIM or Wi-Fi, then meet the driver at the arrivals pickup area and pay cash at the end.
If you land late at night, arrange a pickup through your guesthouse before you fly, since buses stop and taxi drivers at that hour quote higher fares.
⚠️ Prices and routes can change, so take this as a rough guide and ask for local advice when you arrive.
🚀 Don’t waste time on the road.
We’ll generate a route that minimizes unnecessary travel and fits your available days.

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🔒 Safety (risk Level: high)Common concerns and things to watch out for

Safety for solo travelers, including women and LGBTQ+ individuals
Syria is not safe in the conventional sense: most Western governments still advise against all travel, citing outbreaks of armed and sectarian violence, unexploded ordnance, occasional airstrikes and kidnapping risks, particularly in the east and in contested areas. In Damascus and along the western highway to Aleppo, petty crime is low and locals are famously hospitable, but conditions can change quickly, so solo travelers should track local news and register with their embassy. Women traveling alone are generally treated with respect, especially when dressed conservatively, though staring and occasional unwanted attention are common outside the old city quarters. Same-sex relations are criminalized, so LGBTQ+ travelers should stay fully discreet in public and online.


Full official government travel advisory (live updates)
View details 👉
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source: www.gov.uk

✈️ VisaVisa requirements for Syria

Yes, most nationalities need a visa to visit Syria, and many can now obtain one on arrival at Damascus International Airport and the main land crossings from Lebanon and Jordan, with fees varying by nationality and payable in US dollars cash. Some passport holders must still apply in advance through a Syrian embassy or consulate, so confirm your nationality’s rules with the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the nearest embassy before booking.
⚠️ Visa requirements can change over time, so always check the latest visa requirements with the official embassy or government website before you travel.

🎒 What to pack?What to wear and bring

Packing for Syria means planning for big temperature swings: summers in Damascus and Aleppo regularly pass 35°C, while winter nights drop near freezing and power cuts mean heating is unreliable even in decent guesthouses. Bring modest clothing that covers shoulders and knees, since conservative dress earns you more respect and easier entry into mosques, and women will want a light scarf handy. Old city lanes and archaeological sites are uneven stone and dust, so sturdy, broken-in shoes beat sandals. Electricity can cut out for hours, which makes charging gear and a light source more important than in most countries. Pack a basic medical kit too, since pharmacies exist but specific brands can be hard to find.

Apart from this country specific advice, I have also crafted a general packing list that should help on any trip. authorOver the years, I've learned the importance of packing minimally. It's so much easier to jump on the back of a truck or squeeze yourself into the last spot of a minibus without that supersized backpack. If you're headed to a warm destination, leave your winter jacket at home; for colder regions, opt for thin thermal underlayers. Instead of packing your entire wardrobe, bring just three sets of clothes, as laundry facilities are available everywhere.

View the full list 👉

🙋 FAQThings travelers often ask

Trip Planning

Planning a backpacking route through Syria can be tricky — you need to balance must-see places, travel times, budget, and how long to stay in each destination. Our free personalized Syria itinerary planner creates a route based on your travel style, trip duration, and interests, so you can spend less time researching and more time exploring.



Personal tip: I normally search on good rating for atmosphere (for meeting people) and location (for easy exploring). Cleanliness as a bonus.


Travel Essentials

For Syria, make sure routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus-diphtheria, polio) are up to date, and get an adult polio booster because the virus has circulated in the region in recent years. Hepatitis A and typhoid are recommended for most travelers due to food and water risks, and hepatitis B is advised for longer stays or possible medical treatment. Consider rabies vaccination if you will be around stray dogs or far from clinics, and check for any current cholera advice with a travel health clinic 4 to 8 weeks before departure.


vaccination requirements
When I first started traveling, I often spent part of my first day in a new country hunting for a local SIM card. While this can still be slightly cheaper, it also takes time and planning.

These days, it's much simpler to install an eSIM before leaving home. Once you arrive in Syria, you can activate it immediately and have mobile data from the moment you land — which is especially useful for ordering transport or navigating away from busy airports.

There are many providers nowadays, and price differences are usually small. I personally go with Holafly, as it offers excellent network coverage throughout the country and strong global coverage, so you can manage multiple countries from a single app.


HolaFly eSim

Culture & Customs

In Syria, dress modestly everywhere: long trousers for men, covered shoulders and knees for women, and a headscarf for women entering mosques (the Umayyad Mosque lends robes at the entrance). Remove your shoes before entering homes and mosques, accept offered tea or coffee when you can, and use your right hand for eating and passing things. Never photograph checkpoints, soldiers or government buildings, and ask before photographing people, especially women. Avoid discussing politics, religion or the war unless your host raises it, as opinions and losses run deep. During Ramadan, don’t eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight. Women may be seated in family sections of restaurants and should expect conservative attitudes outside Damascus, while public displays of affection are frowned upon for everyone and LGBTQ+ travelers should keep a very low profile.
Trying traditional food is always a great way to experience the culture. Here are some must-try dishes for Syria.
  1. Kibbeh: Torpedo-shaped shells of bulgur and minced meat stuffed with spiced lamb and pine nuts, then fried. Syrian cooks make dozens of versions, and Aleppo alone has a long list, so it is the dish families judge each other’s kitchens by.
  2. Fatteh: Toasted bread layered with chickpeas, garlicky yogurt, tahini and sizzling ghee, topped with pine nuts. It is the classic Damascus Friday breakfast, eaten at specialist shops that open early and sell out.
  3. Kebab Halabi and Kebab Karaz: Aleppo’s grilled minced-meat kebabs, the second cooked in a sour cherry sauce. They show off the city’s reputation as the culinary capital of the Levant.
  4. Muhammara: A dip of roasted red peppers, walnuts, breadcrumbs and pomegranate molasses, sweet, smoky and tangy at once. It originated in Aleppo and turns up on almost every mezze table.
  5. Shawarma: Thin-sliced chicken or meat from a vertical spit, rolled in flatbread with garlic sauce and pickles. It is Syria’s everyday street food, cheap, fast and found on nearly every main street.
  6. Fattoush: A salad of tomatoes, cucumbers, herbs and fried bread with sumac and pomegranate dressing. It balances heavier grilled dishes and shows how much Syrian cooking relies on fresh herbs.
Tap water in Syria is not recommended for travelers: damaged infrastructure, power cuts and cholera outbreaks in recent years mean quality varies widely from place to place. Some locals in Damascus drink it, but many households boil or filter it or buy bottled water. Stick to sealed bottled water, which is cheap and sold everywhere, or use a reliable filter, and skip ice in cheaper places.
The main language in Syria is Arabic. Backpacking is way more rewarding if you know a bit of the local language, so I'd suggest brushing up on the basics just in case your Arabic skills have become a bit rusty.

Want to understand locals better?
The complete Travel Guide for Syria includes 52 essential words and phrases — greetings, thank-yous, ordering food, transport, numbers, and common local expressions you'll actually hear.

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English in Syria is patchy: in Damascus and Aleppo you will find it at hotels, some pharmacies and among university-age locals, but most taxi drivers, bus staff and shopkeepers speak little or none. Guesthouse owners and younger people in the old city quarters are your best bet for directions and help. Outside the big cities, expect almost no English, and Levantine Arabic becomes essential. Learn a dozen phrases such as numbers, “shukran” (thank you) and “addesh?” (how much?), and download Arabic offline in Google Translate before you arrive, because mobile data can be slow.

Money & Payments

The local currency of Syria is SYP (£).
International bank cards do not work in Syria, so ATMs are useless to foreign travelers and you must bring all your cash with you. Cards are accepted almost nowhere, including hotels and restaurants, apart from a few top-end places that may ask for cash anyway. Bring US dollars in clean, undamaged, newer series notes, as torn or old bills are often refused, and euros are a distant second choice outside Damascus. Exchange money at licensed exchange offices or through your hotel, and avoid street changers, who may shortchange you or hand over counterfeit notes. Change modest amounts at a time, because the rate moves and you will carry thick bundles of Syrian pounds. A redenomination dropping two zeros from the pound is being rolled out, so check whether a price is quoted in old or new pounds before you pay.
Tipping in Syria is appreciated rather than strictly expected, and with salaries severely eroded by inflation it makes a real difference to service workers. In sit-down restaurants, leave around 10 percent if no service charge is added, and round up taxi fares to the nearest convenient note. Guides, drivers and hotel porters usually receive a few dollars or the pound equivalent, with drivers and guides on a full-day trip getting around US$5 to 10.

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📸 PhotosWhat it looks like on the ground

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Photographed by: Johan Kruseman

We 💚 feedbackFinal notes for travelers

Syria feels tender right now: exhausted, proud and openly glad to see outsiders again. The best surprise is how normal daily life looks in the old quarters, with evening crowds, juice stalls and loud card games. I would skip any plan built on tight connections and bring a headlamp for power cuts. Hire a trusted local driver or fixer early, someone who reads the security situation daily and opens doors you would never find alone.

✈️ When did I visit Syria?
As part of my trip to Jordan in August 2004, I also visited Syria, which sadly changed for the worse soon afterwards. While my visit dates back, this guide is continuously refined using feedback from locals and current backpackers (last update: 19 October 2026)

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on my own backpacking experience in Syria, supplemented with up-to-date research and feedback from other travelers. Travel details can change, so if you notice anything outdated or incomplete, feel free to let me know.



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Johan, backpacker and founder of TakeYourBackpackHi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.

This site is built on a combination of firsthand travel experience and carefully curated insights from other backpackers. Many guides are based on places I’ve personally visited, while others bring together tips, observations, and practical advice shared by trusted travelers I’ve met along the way.

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