Location
Area
Syria At Glance
Capital : Damascus
Syrian Is often described as the largest small country in the world because of its wealth of ancient civilizations. Modern man is indebted to this land for much of his thought and learning. Therefore it is properly said that every cultured man belongs to two nations -his own and Syria.
We begin 8000 years ago, with the founding of the world`s oldest continuously inhabited cities, Damascus and Aleppo. Traces of the world`s oldest civilizations are found at the sites of Mari, Ebla, and Ugarit, city-states that conducted trade with ancient Mesopotamia. At Ugarit, archaeologists have discovered a fragment believed to contain the oldest alphabet in the world.
The area comprising modern Syria has witnessed a long succession of historic dynasties: Hellenistic conquerors founded the cities of Latakia and Apamea, the nomadic Nabateans from Petra settled in the south, imperial Romans established their Provincial Arabia, and the Byzantines left a legacy of basilicas throughout the land.
Syria was a major crossroads on great historical trade routes: the Silk Route which connected the great empires of China with the ancient Mediterranean world, and the pilgrimage routes which still connect the Muslim world with Mecca.
An area of intense Christian activity, Syria is home to major sites mentioned in the Bible: the Ananias chapel, St. Paul`s window, and the Street Called Straight. Modern inhabitants of Maalula still speak a dialect of Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus Christ.
The Umayyads, Islam`s first dynasty, established at Damascus the capital of an empire that extended from Spain to Persia. Major battles of the Crusades were fought on Syrian soil, and imposing Crusader castles still dot the Syrian landscape.
World War One ended 400 years of Ottoman dominance, and began a brief period of French occupation. On April 17, 1946, Syria was first established as an independent nation state.
Population
Language
Religion
Climate
March – May and September – November: Sunny, warm and clear, with temperatures reaching 25°C in the daytime. These are the best times to visit Syria.
December – February: Cold and rainy, with snow on rare occasions.
June – August: Hot and clear, with no rain, and temperatures occasionally reaching 40°C or above.
Time
Nov – Mar : GMT + 2 Hours.
Apr – Oct : GMT + 3 Hours.
Business Hours
Religious and Public Holidays
Electricity
Entering Syria
Road: From Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq and Jordan.
Air: Damascus and Aleppo International Airports both handle regular flights from Europe, Africa and Asia. Charter flights may be arranged to Bassel Al Assad Airport in Lattakia.
Sea: Two major seaports of Tartous & Lattakia. No regular ferries available.
Money
Festivals
Food & Drinks
Vaccinations & Health
Souvenirs
Car Rental
Useful Information for Travelers
Social Conventions: While many Syrians do dress in Western style, most Syrians are quite conservative about dress. As with anywhere, take your cues from those around you. A handshake is the most appropriate greeting in most occasions, although some ultra-conservative people do not shake hands with members of the opposite sex. In such cases, an appropriate greeting is to smile, nod slightly, and place your right hand over your heart. Giving small gifts is appropriate, especially if invited to an Arab home for a meal. Smoking is common and is acceptable in private homes and in public places throughout the country.
Photography: As a general rule if you want to photograph people it is always better to ask first. Most importantly, do not take pictures of any government installations, buildings, or anything else that might be considered off-limits to visitors.
Social Conventions: While many Syrians do dress in Western style, most Syrians are quite conservative about dress. As with anywhere, take your cues from those around you. A handshake is the most appropriate greeting in most occasions, although some ultra-conservative people do not shake hands with members of the opposite sex. In such cases, an appropriate greeting is to smile, nod slightly, and place your right hand over your heart. Giving small gifts is appropriate, especially if invited to an Arab home for a meal. Smoking is common and is acceptable in private homes and in public places throughout the country.
Photography: As a general rule if you want to photograph people it is always better to ask first. Most importantly, do not take pictures of any government installations, buildings, or anything else that might be considered off-limits to visitors.
Safety: Crime and theft are virtually non-existent in Syria, making it a very safe place to travel. Furthermore, Syrians are modest and not aggressive, so travellers to Syria are unlikely to encounter people whose intentions are less than honest and friendly. Because the Middle East is highly politicized, Syria is often portrayed unfairly in international media as an unsafe, terrorist country. Travellers who look beyond this and travel to Syria to see for themselves are always pleasantly surprised to find that Syria is a fascinating, safe and hospitable place.