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Shaimaa Olwan
Shaimaa Olwan
Syria is a Middle Eastern and Mediterranean country in northwest Asia. It is known for its fascinating nature and contains the most beautiful tourist sites. You should not worry about the climate in Syria, as it is known as “the country of Jasmine,” which enjoys a moderate climate and picturesque nature.
You will also enjoy the deserts scattered in the east and west of the country, where the green mountains will blow away your mind. Between the desert and the coast, you will fall in love with the breathtaking plateaus and plains.
The resorts in Syria are spread over the mountains in many locations. The beautiful coastal resorts, where the sea converges with the forest, are popular tourist destinations. Forests cover the coastal mountains with a green carpet, interspersed with rivers, waterfalls, springs, and beautiful lakes surrounded by forests.
Scenic views, orchards, natural forests, and fresh air characterize the resorts in Syria. The country is also famous for its archaeological locations and monuments, many of which have been preserved and invested in for tourists.
Table of Contents
Water Landscapes and Rivers
Syria has diverse water landscapes, including rivers, lakes, and coastal beaches. Sea and beach resorts in Lattakia and Tartous, where chalets, casinos, hotels, and tourist camps are spread along the Syrian coast. The coast is characterized by the convergence of mountains and forests with the sea and the Ghouta oasis, Al-Hijanah Lake.
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
One of the most famous rivers in Syria is the Euphrates. On its banks, ancient civilizations were built and flourished; the two rivers are why this land is called the cradle of civilization.
Damascus
The city of Damascus is one of the ancient Syrian tourist cities, and it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city includes 125 historical monuments. These landmarks date back to different historical periods and are represented by Islamic, Roman, and Byzantine monuments.
Suppose you are looking for tranquillity, archaeological areas, and nature that will restore your soul, and you like to experience the mixture of old civilizations with the hustle and bustle of the city. In that case, you are heading to the right destination.
Umayyad Mosque
It is the fourth most famous Islamic Mosque after the two sanctuaries of Mecca and Medina and Al-Aqsa Mosque. It is one of the most luxurious Islamic mosques and one of the world’s seven wonders of Islamic buildings.
The Umayyad Mosque is famous for its ceiling decoration, colourful mosaic walls, and marble used in its construction. The mosque is also distinguished by being the first mosque in which the mihrab and the apse appeared due to its building style.
The northern minaret, the oldest of its three minarets, dates back to the era of al-Walid ibn Abd al-Malik. The mosque contains the burial of the body of John the Baptist. The cemetery containing the remains of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi is annexed to the mosque.
Al-Hamidiyah Market
Souk al-Hamidiyah is one of the most famous markets in Damascus. It is beautiful, well-organized, and elegant. It is described as a spacious, magnificent building and an industrial-commercial centre in the heart of old Damascus. It is covered with an iron roof full of tiny holes through which sunrays penetrate during the day. It is paved with black basalt stone. It is a place for gatherings of visitors and tourists from all parts of the world.
The market extends for nearly two miles. The first part is located next to the Citadel of Damascus. It contains many mosques and ancient historical buildings. On its sides are shops of every kind and type on two floors—several sub-markets branch from it. The Hamidiya market continues until the gate of the Jupiter Temple with the famous towering columns to the square in front of the Umayyad Mosque in the heart of the old city.
Tekkiye Mosque
Sulaymaniyah Tekkiye, Or Sultan Suleiman I Mosque, is one of the essential Ottoman monuments in Damascus. It includes a mosque, a museum, a market for handicrafts and heritage, and a school. The most prominent feature of Tekkiye’s is its two slender minarets, which resemble obelisks or two pencils, a style unfamiliar in Damascus until that era.
The hospice includes two sections: the grand Tekkiye, which consists of a mosque and a school, and the smaller hospice, which provides a prayer sanctuary, a large yard with corridors and rooms surrounding it, and multiple domes on top of it. The small hospice was a shelter for strangers and students. Today, it includes the Syrian Military Museum and the market of popular industries.
Damascus Hill
It is a geographical location in Wadi Barada, northwest of Damascus. It is a beautiful and popular location, full of restaurants and cafes. It is a destination for Damascene families that go out for recreation every week.
The Barada River, which branches in an area called the Shadrawan, divides Damascus Hill into seven branches. In late winter and spring, the river covers its plains with an attractive green meadow that attracts tourists.
Aleppo
Aleppo is a city of incredible history, and its archaeological sites are clear evidence and proof. It is considered the most crucial city in the east. The towns and villages of Aleppo contain the charm of old civilizations in its castles, museums, monasteries, churches, mosques, famous oriental markets, many summer resorts, natural places, beautiful gardens, and wonderful forests in the countryside.
In addition to several international hotels, Aleppo has amusement parks and water parks, casinos, cafes, and restaurants. In 2006, it was named the capital of Islamic culture in the Arab world.
The ancient houses transformed into restaurants rich in Aleppian heritage, and excellent hotels have made Aleppo one of Syria’s most beautiful tourist destinations. It also includes many ancient heritage places. Aleppo is famous for its ancient restaurants and delicious dishes, such as kebabs and grilled kebabs.
Aleppo was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986 because of its historical buildings, which date back to the 11th to the 16th centuries. Archaeologists agree that Aleppo is a large museum with the most ancient and magnificent buildings. It includes mosques, temples, inns, and ancient markets, and its architectural consistency made it one of the most prominent landmarks in Syria.
The Great Mosque of Aleppo
It is one of the most important historical mosques in the ancient city of Aleppo. Built in the 8th century and renovated in the 11th century, it has a 45-meter-long minaret, which became one of the mosque’s most prominent elements. A fountain was added to its central courtyard.
The Citadel of Aleppo
It is one of the essential monuments in Syria, located on top of a limestone hill, where the Ayyubids built its main structure in the medieval period during the 12th and 13th centuries. The bulk of the castle was built in the Ottoman era during the beginning of the 16th century. Notably, the remains of a Bronze Age temple were found during the last excavations of the castle, which dates back to the 2ND millennium BCE, as this temple contains a group of inscriptions depicting pagan deities.
Tartous
The best place to attract tourists and the focus of attention for its rural nature, waterfalls, historic buildings, and hospitality that makes you feel at home. Among the best places recommended to visit in Tartous are:
Notre Dame Cathedral
A Catholic cathedral in Tartous was constructed during the 12th century and is described as “the best-preserved religious structure of the Crusades.” The cathedral was famous and in high demand during the Crusades, as it was reported that Saint Peter had previously ordered the construction of a chapel there for the Virgin Mary.
Mirqab Castle
An impenetrable fortress located 5 km east of Baniyas on the Syrian coast. It was built in 1062 CE on a hill 370 m above sea level. It overlooks from the east the mountains of Latakia and from the west over the city of Banias and the Mediterranean Sea, surrounded by mountains, forests, and a massive trench with a stairway that passes over a bridge to the castle’s main entrance. It is located north of Tartus.
Safita
Safita is characterized by its beautiful nature, picturesque views of the mountains and forests from all sides, and charming nature, where relics and archaeological sites are spread throughout Safita and its surroundings. In the city’s centre is a vast castle dating back to the Crusades. One of the enormous towers of that castle still exists today.
Amrit
The historical and archaeological town of Amrit is located south of Tartus. It has terrific tourist facilities and beaches. Amrit is famous for its unique temple dating back to the 5th century BCE. It is carved out of rock and surrounded by water. Amrit is also renowned for the remains of a vast stadium that could host up to 12 thousand people, dating back to the 16th century BCE.
Arwad Island
In history, Arwad was a refuge that the residents of the opposite coast would rush to whenever there were wars or invasions between different civilizations, such as Assyrian, Aramaic, Phoenician, and others. Today, Arwad Island shines in the sea with its natural beauty and captivating simplicity. Its port is decorated with sails, brightly coloured boats, restaurants, and small popular cafes overlooking the sea and Tartous.
Arwad is famous for its Ayyubid tower and old citadel, which have become a museum for the island’s antiquities, maritime traditions, and memories of the Syrian national struggle—their home. The beautiful Syrian island has been inhabited since ancient times.
Arwad, known as Arados, was an independent kingdom in the days of the Canaanites. Many ancient texts discuss its importance in trade, navigation, and naval fleet. Arwad enjoys a unique, enchanting beauty. Once ruled part of the Syrian coast, this maritime kingdom embraces the sea with its unique houses, a small port, and beautiful cafes.
Al-Dawayat Cave
One of the oldest caves discovered in Syria, it is also one of the most important tourist destinations in Syria. Its striking beauty characterizes it, and it is full of magical storms and omens. It was called al-Dawayat because of the small openings in its ceiling illuminating the cave entrance.
The cave is 750 meters above sea level and contains a main hall with an area of 2,400 square meters and a ceiling height of 17 m. The length of the troughs ranges from 50 cm to 9 m, and bright columns rise from the ground. The lengths of the crystal columns range from 8 m to 16 m.
Latakia
Lattakia is famous for its nature’s beauty and its people’s kindness. The province’s charm lies in the many cities, villages, and resorts in the green mountains covered with natural forests, fruit trees, and orchards. Along the Latakia Mountains, Latakia has many monuments, archaeological sites, historical towns, and castles.
Latakia has several short rivers, lakes, many natural water springs and waterfalls, beautiful nature in the mountains and among the forests, and charming nature on the shores of the Mediterranean. Tourist facilities, hotels, and parks are spread throughout all the famous summer resorts.
The main cities of Latakia are Mountainous and coastal. An international airport connects the province to the internal airports of Syria and several other countries in the world, in addition to a train station, advanced tourist trains, and hotel services.
Latakia Forests
The forests are in the Al-Bayer area, north of Lattakia. It is the largest area covered by forests in Syria. This region is characterized by incredible beauty and good residences. The forest’s trees rise tall, and natural springs flow in fantastic and enchanting scenes. The Al-Farnaq forests extend into the arms of the Syrian coastal mountains.
Ras Al-Basit
A distinctive sandy beach in the form of a natural peninsula to the north of Latakia, near its border with Iskenderun. It is characterized by the picturesque scenery from meeting the mountains with the sea.
Um El-Toyour
A village located 30 km north of Latakia in Ras Al-Basit has a population of about 2000 people. The village’s beach extends for 12 km. The southern part is sandy, and the northern part is rocky and rushing to Ras al-Basit. The area was declared a nature reserve to preserve migratory birds and forests.
Kessab
Kessab is a tourist town and a summer centre. It is 60 km north of Latakia, the farthest from its tourist sites. Kessab overlooks vast areas of green forests and is considered one of the wealthiest areas of Latakia, with hotels and cafes.
Blue Beach
A resort and hotel facility in the province of Latakia, located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea in a beautiful touristic area close to the city centre and the markets.
Ugarit
The ruins of the ancient Syrian city of Ugarit were discovered on an archaeological hill called Ras Shamra, 3 kilometres from the northeastern edge of the present-day city of Latakia—an archaeological ancient town. Excavations have shown that the site of Ras Shamra includes about 20 archaeological settlements dating back to the year 7500 BCE. However, with the advent of the second millennium BCE, the settlement on the site almost doubled.
Mishqita
Mashqita is a Syrian resort and town in Lattakia, 23 km north of the city. It enjoys beautiful nature and overlooks seven lakes. It is located on the road between Lattakia and the famous Kessab resort. A group of resorts and villages surrounds it.
Saydnaya
It is a Syrian city considered one of the oldest Christian cities in the Arab East. Its name means “Our Lady” in Aramaic. The city is located 1,450 meters above sea level. It is famous for its natural beauty and Christian sanctuaries, which are renowned worldwide. Sednaya prison is also located near the city.
Palmyra
Palmyra is an ancient Semitic city in the Levant region. It is 243 km from Damascus and 150 km from Homs in the east. The city is known for its archaeological monuments, which date back to the 2nd millennium BCE.
Palmyra was also included in the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1980, as it contains many monuments dating back to the Neolithic era. It also contains Aramaic, Arab, Greek, and Roman monuments, in addition to several important buildings, including the Senate, the court, the Temple of Bel, which dates back to 32 CE, the Temple of Baal Shamin, which dates back to the second century BCE, the Temple of Nabu, the Great Colonnade of Palmyra, and funerary temples.
Al-Hosn Castle
It is located near Homs. It is considered one of the most beautiful archaeological castles in the world. The castle is regarded as one of the best-preserved fortifications in the east. It consists of two concentric castles, the outer of which is surrounded by a defensive wall reinforced with semi-circular towers. The upper inner castle consists of massive towers overlooking the outer castle from above the slope on which it was built. The castle was registered on the World Heritage List.
Palmyra Castle
One of the most prominent landmarks of the archaeological city of Palmyra is a trench surrounding it, held to prevent attackers from entering. Thus, the only entry into the castle was a tire-based bridge over the trench in front of the main entrance.
Castle of Saladin
One of the castles of the Syrian coast mountains. It was built on a high peak surrounded by forests and breathtaking scenery. For a long time, it was called the Citadel of Sahyun. Today, it bears the name of Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi Castle in memory of the Kurdish Islamic leader Salah al-Din al-Ayyubi. In 2006, the castle was registered on the World Heritage List.
Funeral City
She was known as Wadi Al-Maqabir, or the valley of tombs. The 50 monuments were built in the form of towers up to four floors. Other tombs are located north of the city, as the tombs were underground.
Temple of Bel
The temple was a large rectangular area. The exterior wall is about 205 meters and includes a gate, and the interior room is in the region’s middle. Bel is a Babylonian Accadian god, representing the Lord of the Lords in Babylonian belief. The temple altar was built by the end of the second century BCE. The lobby consists of six columns.
The Syrian Coast
The Syrian coast on the Mediterranean is in northwest Syria. It forms the governorates of Tartous in the south and Latakia in the north. It is internationally known for its beautiful nature. It has picturesque summer villages, clean air, forests, mountains covered with greenery, springs, streams, rivers, and natural and artificial lakes formed behind several dams. There are also several small uninhabited islands off the Syrian coast.
Bosra
Bosra al-Sham is a small city in southern Syria. It is 40 km from Daraa, about 140 km from Damascus, and around the sea, about 850 meters. Bosra is one of the world’s most important Romanian archaeological cities and has been contrary to many civilizations.
Bosra was more than a significant capital and centre of the Roman Province in the east. It was also a religious capital and a commercial capital of several civilizations. UNESCO registered Bosra as a world heritage site.
Its distinguished location greatly impacted its prestigious status among the cities of the ancient east. It played an essential civil and commercial role. The most important feature of it is its theatre, which was designed in the style of Roman theatres.
Its essential monuments are the central arch, the underground market, and the Temple of the Nymphs.
Apamea
One of the ancient Syrian cities is located 55 km northwest of Hama. Next to it is an ancient fortress that bore its name, known today as Qalaat al-Madiq. The city has very ancient roots, as it was an important cultural centre in the region. Apamea’s historical status dates back to the Hellenistic, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic eras.
Castle of al-Madiq
It was situated west of Apamea, with a majestic view overlooking the area. It was one of the many castles deployed across the Syrian coast. The castle was believed to be an Acropolis, and then, in the Roman covenant, it became a military site.
The castle’s design puts it on the list of the most distinguished, as it is beautiful. The design follows the Arab fortress model. The Arab construction of the castle is due to the restoration orders of Nour al-Din Zanki.
The village inside the castle consists largely of the remains of tiny houses once inhabited. The castle is an excellent fence in an irregular polygon, with many installed square towers and a large door with two watchtowers guarding the castle entrance.
Khan Apamea Museum
An Ottoman archaeological Khan and museum are located 226 m above sea level south of the castle of al-Madiq. They were built in the early 16th century CE, during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Sulaiman Khan I. The Khan plan is a vast courtyard surrounded by several rooms based on large stones and half-cylindrical docks; it is classified as a distinctive, luxurious building.
Rusafa
Rusafa is located north of the Syrian desert southwest of Raqqa. It contains many essential facilities and buildings, including its vast wall, churches, basilica, cathedral, palaces, famous substantial underground water tanks, and adjacent aqueducts dating back to the Roman and Byzantine eras.
Dura Europos
The city of Dura-Eupopos is located southeast of Deir ez-Zor. It extends on the western plateau of the Euphrates River. It is an ancient Syrian city with the world’s first home church and a synagogue whose paintings are considered the most beautiful. It was initially a Babylonian city, but after Syria fell into the hands of the Persians, it followed the Persian empire.
Maaloula
A Syrian city located northwest of Damascus and about 1,500 meters above sea level, its name means a high place with fresh air, according to the Syriac language, which the inhabitants of Maaloula still speak. It is famous for its sacred Christian monuments and other important ancient monuments dating back to the 10th century BCE. Its inhabitants, Christians and Muslims, still speak the Aramaic (Syriac) language, the language of Christ, besides Arabic.
Marmarita
A town in Homs Governorate is about 850 meters above sea level and varies in height due to its location on the hills and mountains. It is a resort known for its natural beauty.
Masyaf
A Syrian city located southwest of Hama rises about 450 meters above sea level. The city is surrounded by a group of mountains, taking a middle position between the coastal mountains and the interior plains of Syria. It is famous for its high wind speed, and fishing is one of the most famous activities in this city.
Assad Lake
An artificial lake was formed behind one of the most significant Arab projects, the Euphrates Dam, located on the Euphrates River in the Raqqa Governorate. It is a vast lake well used for irrigation and agriculture, and a hydroelectric station generates electric power on its bank. It is a tourist destination for its peaceful surroundings and tranquillity that tourists enjoy on their way to visit nearby archaeological sites.
Religious Tourism
Syria is the cradle of monotheistic religions. It has been considered an important meeting place for several faiths since the beginning of history.
Christian Shrines
Syria is very rich in Christian sanctities, including churches and monasteries that are the oldest in the world, essential places and towns in Christian history, such as Maaloula, churches such as the Mariam Church, the Monastery of Our Lady, the Church of Saint Ananias, the Church of St. Nasiriyah, St. Jacob Church,
There are also the Chaldean Church, St. Ephrem Church, Syriac Church, St. George Church, St. George’s Patriarchal Monastery, Our Lady of Sednaya Monastery, Cherubim Monastery, St. Elias Shwaya Monastery, Mrs. Belmana Monastery, St. Musa Monastery, the Patriarchate of Antioch and the rest of the east, and many more throughout Syria.
Islamic Shrines
In Syria, there are many essential mosques and historical shrines, including the Umayyad Mosque and the mosques of Ahl al-Bayt, including the Sayyida Zainab Mosque in Damascus, the Sayyida Ruqayya shrine, and the shrine of the Prophet Abel. There are also critical historical mosques of Prophet Mohammed’s companions in Damascus and other regions of Syria.
Medical Tourism
It is known as one of the objectives of visiting Syria of all kinds, from treatment in sanatoriums or specialists to hospitalization with sulfur and mineral water. Syria is full of an abundant number of mineral springs. Among tourist attraction centres, there are these mineral springs that include the Spring of Life, located 45 km south of Damascus in the village of Jabab in the Daraa governorate, as well as the Ras Al-Ain Springs, which contain a group of sulfur and mineral water springs in the city of Ras Al-Ain, which belongs to the Al-Hasakah governorate.
Some places of therapeutic mineral and sulfur water springs in Syria include the Baqin in the Damascus countryside, Al-Nabain in Lattakia Governorate, and Drikish in Tartous Governorate springs of mineral water. As for sulfur water, there is the Abu Riah in the Homs Governorate and the Sukhna in the Homs Governorate.
Chabab Spa
A resort designed to receive convalescents, patients, and hospital seekers, it also provides treatments and relaxes souls from the pressures of daily life.
Syrian Cuisine
Syrian cuisine is ancient and diverse, derived from its nature and history. Each city and region has its distinct food, including Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Hama, the cities of the Syrian coast, the Syrian Jazira region, Deir Ezzor, Raqqa, the Badia, and the mountainous regions in Latakia, Sweida, and the Damascus countryside. This is what makes Syrian cuisine very rich in dishes and appetites.
In ancient times, major religious cuisines prevailed in Syria: Roman cuisine, based on bread, meat, and beer; Quine-Phoenician cuisine, based on vegetables, olive oil, and wine; and Eastern Jewish cuisine, based on cereals.
With the advent of Christianity, Syrian cuisine developed into the Christian kitchen, which is today known in Syria as the fasting kitchen. Since the 16th century, new types of food from the Sephardic Jewish and Andalusian cuisines have entered Syria, such as tabbouleh and moussaka.
The original, innovative Syrian food allows one to wander between the many different appetizers, main dishes, and desserts. These include Syrian grills, the well-known Aleppo kebab, the special kibbeh of Aleppo, meat with dough, Shami and Aleppo mafia, Syrian pastries, Damascene ice cream, and Aleppo beans.
The great advantage of Syrian cuisine lies in its diversity and richness, from the most famous Syrian desserts and sweets to fish and seafood in Lattakia, Tartous, and Arwad, to Mahashi and Yabraq, to the distinctive okra, kebabs, and eggplant kebabs in the Euphrates cities of Deir Ezzor and Raqqa, to the famous Arab mansaf in As Suwayda and Daraa, to the great variety of sweets, salads, delicious Syrian appetizers, and original and distinct main dishes according to regions.
What distinguishes Syrian cuisine is its many ancient, renewable, and authentic dishes, appetizers, many types of salads, grills, kibbeh, and drinks such as black raspberry syrup, Qamar al-Din syrup, tamarind, and yoghurt. These are all famous and well-known all over the world.
There are dishes of Turkish origins, such as Barak, a type of Mahshi consisting of grape leaves stuffed with rice and meat. Yalanji, a different kind of Mahshi, consists of grape leaves stuffed with rice and some vegetables.
Communications and Internet in Syria
Communication companies in Syria have experienced remarkable development and a great spread as they have multiplied and offered telecommunications and Internet services. The internet speed in Iraq is acceptable, and prices are low. Internet is also available at airports, stations, restaurants, and some high-end areas.
The official currency in Syria
The currency in Syria is the Syrian Pound; however, it is locally known as Lira.
Facilities
The tourist infrastructure is available in the many cities and resorts of Syria, which include five-star hotels, many international hotels, tourist villages, multi-class hotels, restrooms, massive high-end restaurants, beautiful parks, natural camping locations, a large number of tourism companies, airline offices, and tourist services. Syria is famous for its cinemas, theatres, nightclubs, and cultural clubs in all cities and regions.
Syrian ports in the Mediterranean, such as Latakia and Tartous, are the most renowned in the region. The tourist congestion is generally in Damascus and the Syrian coast, Homs, and Aleppo, especially the resorts in the countryside of Damascus and the resorts in the mountains and forests of the coast, which attract tourists from all over the world.
Transportation
You can move within Syria using many public transportation methods. The various Syrian cities are connected throughout the country with modern roads and highways, railways and trains covering all Syrian governorates, and several airports for domestic and international airlines and cruises. Check the following:
Flights
There are many domestic flights in Syria through which you can travel between the major tourist cities in the country.
Buses
Syria has many public buses and cars, which are helpful for moving between provinces and cities. Bus stations and road services are continuously developed, and highways are maintained to ensure a safe and comfortable trip for everyone.
Railways
Syria has many different railways, which provide a way to travel within Syrian cities and are low-priced.
Taxis
Taxi is the most common way in Iraq to get around the cities, as it is the most convenient and fastest way.
