syria tourist visa for pakistani

How to get a Syrian Visa – A Helpful Guide

If you plan to visit Syria, you will most likely need a visa.

This blog explains everything you need to know about the visa process.

Hi, we’re Rach & Marty!

We’ve visited every country in the world and want to help you get the most out of your travels!

Whether you need an expertly planned itinerary , some experienced hints and tips , or just craving a delicious food adventure , we’ve got you covered!

We may earn affiliate commissions from websites we link to, at no cost to you. Click here for details.

Post updated in Jan 2024

The requirements for obtaining a Syrian visa have changed in the past years, so if you have any updated information, feel free to comment below so we can keep this blog up to date.

How to Get a Syrian Visa:

Who needs a visa for syria.

Currently, most nationalities require a visa for Syria unless you hold a passport from one of the following countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mauritania, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Syria visa for U.S. citizens:

Visa for Syria is now also possible for US Passport Holders. The process can take up to 4 weeks, and US Passport holders must travel as part of an organised tour.

Israelis and anyone with proof of travel to Israel:

Israeli passport holders are not permitted to travel to Syria. If you have proof of travel to Israel in your passport, you will be denied, too.

This includes entry or exit stamps from Egypt or Jordan, which show that you’ve crossed the land border into or out of Israel.

There are two options for how to travel to Syria – independently or with a travel agency. The visa process depends on which option you choose.

How to Get a Tourist Visa for Syria – What you will need:

• Security clearance from the Ministry of Tourism.
• Copy of your passport.
• A completed application form if you are applying from the embassy.
• If you apply via a travel agency, personal details must be provided: full address, occupation.
• A visa fee is to be paid at the embassy or at the border.

How to get a Syrian Visa when travelling on a tour

If you book a tour through a travel agency, they will apply for security clearance in Syria for you. All you need to do is email them your passport copies, personal details, and occupation.

Please note the process is different if you are a journalist. The process takes about two weeks (if you are lucky, you might get it in a week). It can take up to 4 weeks for US passport holders.

Your travel agency will notify you once the security clearance (a background check) is received. You can then obtain your Syrian visa at the border or the airport if you fly into Damascus.

Fee for Syrian Visa at the border:

• Australians and New Zealand is 130 USD
• European passport holders pay 50 – 100 USD (Slovak passport was 70 USD)
• Americans 160 USD 
• British 140 USD

When you leave Syria, you must also pay an exit fee of 2,500 SYP, around 5 USD.

You cannot get your visa at the border if you don’t have security clearance.

How to get a Syrian Visa when travelling independently

Getting a Syrian visa is more complicated if you wish to travel to Syria independently.

In 2018, you could get a Syrian visa by paying 300-400 USD to a tour operator, crossing the border alone, and obtaining your visa at the border. At this stage, however, it seems that travel agencies cannot supply this security clearance for independent travellers.

You might be lucky to get it; in this case, you can also obtain your visa at the border.

You must obtain your visa from the Syrian Embassy before you go. The process varies from embassy to embassy. But generally speaking, if they accept your application, they will apply for the security clearance on your behalf.

The security clearance costs 60 USD. We know of travellers who could get their visas from the embassy in Berlin or Cairo, but it also depends on your nationality. Many others have been denied.

To learn about the local Tour Operator we recommend for travel in Syria, read our post— Everything You Need to Know About Travelling to Syria .

Our post describing what it’s really like to travel to Damascus gives you our first impressions of the country and how we felt in this city. Also, Syrian food has to be one of our top 10 favourite cuisines.

Don’t miss these 9 Syrian foods ; we love how fresh and tasty this food is.

If you’re planning on travelling to Lebanon, I highly recommend you visit the ancient ruins of Baalbek.

Our detailed guide about how to get from Beirut to Beirut using public transport has everything you need to know to have a fantastic day.

If you have successfully obtained a Syrian visa somewhere, please comment below. It might help other travellers.

Need some information about applying for other visas in Africa? Check out our Visa Guide .

Travel Planning Resources

✈️ Flights : We use Skyscanner to book cheap flights worldwide.

🏨 Accommodation :  Booking.com is our preferred platform for booking hotels and accommodation.

🏥 Travel Insurance : We recommend Heymondo ( Get 5% off Heymondo)  & SafetyWing

🚌 Transportation : Trainline is the best website to reserve trains. We use Omio to book transport worldwide. For travel in Asia, we use 12Go.  

🚘 Car Rental : We use DiscoverCars to book rental cars worldwide.

👫 Group Tours :  G Adventures OR compare multi-day tours worldwide with Tourradar .

📸 Day Tours & Trips :  GetYourGuide  & Viator are the only two platforms you need.

📚 Lonely Planet: The Best Range of Travel Guides & Ebooks , and FREE Shipping! (use code RACHELDAVEY10 for a 10% discount)

🎒 Luggage :  Osprey Farpoint 40L Backpack  or  Samsonite Luggage Range.

🛄 What to Pack:  Don’t forget your Universal charger and a good  power bank .  To help you pack the essentials, here is our ULTIMATE Packing List for all Travellers .

🐶 Become a House Sitter:  Join Trusted Housesitters and enjoy FREE accommodation worldwide. Use our invite to receive 25% off your new membership.

💰 Send Money Anywhere: WISE  &  Revolut  are the best online accounts that let you send money, get paid, and spend money internationally. Both are so easy to use and way cheaper than any bank transfer.

📶  Stay Connected: Airalo eSIM allows you to get connected the moment you land at your destination, and you can avoid those expensive data roaming charges. We LOVE this product! Use promo code NOMAD15 for 15% off ALL eSIMs (new Airalo users only) OR use NOMAD10 for 10% off ALL eSIMs (for existing Airalo users)

✅ Check out our Travel Gear  and  Travel Resources for more valuable tips to save you money!

Tasty Food Adventures

10 Popular Foods From Mongolia – A Mongolian Food Guide

What to Eat in Georgia – The Ultimate Food Guide

15 Best Phuket Restaurants – A Food Guide for Phuket Town

5 Delicious Food from Greece Recipes to Cook at Home

See all Food Adventure blogs

Expert Travel Guides

Eneko Island – The Best Beach in the Marshall Islands

16 Best Things to See and Do in Tallinn

Poland Best Cities To Visit – Our 9 Favourite Cities

Masouleh – A Beautiful Rooftop Village in Iran

See all our Travel Guides

Trusted Hints & Tips

7 Cheap and Easy Meals for Travellers

The 2 Best Travel Insurance Companies for 2024

Airalo eSIM Review – PLUS eSIM Code for Discount

Teach English Overseas: Best Job to Earn Money to Travel in 2024

See all our expert Hints & Tips

9 Must-Try Food in Syria

How to Travel to Syria in 2024 – Everything You Need To Know

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Post Comment

How to travel to Syria in 2024: Need to know

By Joan Torres 356 Comments Last updated on April 12, 2024

Wanna travel to Syria with Against the Compass?

Join a group of like-minded travelers in our next scheduled tour in Syria on:

M ay 29t h to June 5th , 2024

Syria had been in my plans for a very long time and, finally, they started to make it easier for travelers. Well, not that easy, but definitely easier.

Since 2018, I have visited Syria 6 times, visiting places like Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Krak de Chevaliers, Hama, Busra, Palmyra and everything along the Syrian coast, including the island of Arwad.

Syria is pretty epic.

On the one hand, I got to visit ancient, marvelous sites that were a real blessing to my eyes.

And, on the other hand, it was a very enriching experience as well, since I met loads of Syrians who told me their side of the story, plus I was able to witness one of the worst humanitarian crises in the 21st century, visiting hair-raising places that require a lot of cold blood, if you don’t want to breakdown into tears, making you empathize with the many beautiful Syrians.

Long Live Syria.

This guide contains everything you need to know for traveling to Syria , including plenty of tips regarding visas, safety, transportation and much, much more!

Why visit Syria with Against the Compass?

Here are the reasons why we believe Syria is a mind-blowing country to travel to, as well as my honest reasons why you should join one of our Syria tours.

In this travel guide to Syria you will find:

Table of Contents

• Syria tours
• Why travel to Syria
• Recommended books
• How to get a visa
• Travel Insurance
• How to get in

Is Syria safe?

• How to move around
• Money in Syria

Responsible tourism and ethics

• Taking photos
• Don’t get off the beaten track
• Where to stay
• More information

🗺️ How to sign up for a tour in Syria

Unfortunately, independent travel in Syria is practically impossible nowadays, so the easiest – and only – way to travel to Syria is through a tour with a valid operator.

More on that in the visa section of this post.

Check this documentary on our Syria tours!

Upcoming group tours for Syria

Against the Compass has several scheduled group expeditions in 2024

• May 29th to Jun 5th, 2024 (8 days). APPLY NOW
• Aug 11th to 17th, 2024 (7 days, Marmarita Carnival). APPLY NOW
• Sep 15th to 27th, 2024 (13 days). APPLY NOW
• Oct 13th to 20th, 2024 (8 days). APPLY NOW
• Dec 23rd to 30th, 2024 (8 days). APPLY NOW

How to join an individual tour or a smaller group for Syria

Do you wish to join a small group, but you can’t travel on any of the above dates?

No problem, just shoot me an email ([email protected]) indicating:

• How many people you are
• How many days do you want to spend in Syria
• Which dates

And we will try to find other travel partners you may travel with. Otherwise, know that we can also organize private, tailored trips .

📰 Why should you visit Syria now?

This is a very good question, one I have been asked a lot recently.

The truth is that reasons vary.

First of all, in the last couple of years, I have been traveling all across the Middle East , so visiting Syria, one of the most fascinating countries in the region, had been on my travel plans for a very long time.

Another even more important reason is that Syria is a great country, home to one of the oldest civilizations ever, so visiting Syria from a tourism perspective is a must-do.

However, most people asking that question tend to refer more to the ethical aspect of traveling to Syria , as this is a war zone from where many people have been forced to escape in order to save their lives.

Well, I want you to know that I fully understand why someone would not want to visit a post-war zone because, truth be told, destroyed buildings and misery are not pleasant things to see.

Nevertheless, the first thing you need to know is that I travel to learn and become wiser and, yes, I am interested in visiting a post-war zone, because this is living history and I wanted to see it with my own eyes, and not through a biased newspaper.

I also think that traveling to Syria with the sole objective of empathizing with the locals is a good thing and, as long as you are absolutely respectful about the crisis, there is nothing wrong with it.

But in the end, we should ask Syrians what they think about it and I can assure you that, since Syria used to be a major touristic destination, today Syrians are very happy to see that tourists are coming back because this is a real sign of recovery.

For more information, read the Responsible Tourism section of this article.

Read about my experience in Aleppo

📚 Recommended books for traveling to Syria

Syria travel guide by bradt.

There are no updated guidebooks of Syria, but Bradt Guides has the only exclusive  travel guide to Syria , updated as of 2010.

Still, it is a good source and a nice introduction to the country

The Rise of the Islamic State by Patrick Cockburn

A must-read book. Written by one of the world’s top experts on the Middle Eastern conflict. In this book, Cockburn gives a very comprehensive explanation of the origin of DAESH, with many references to Syria.

A very useful book to understand the complexity and origin of the conflict.

🪪 How to get a tourist visa for Syria

BREAKING NEWS Americans can now travel to Syria Since March 2023, Americans are finally allowed to apply for a tourist visa

Last updated information 2024

Getting a Syrian visa nowadays is pretty straightforward but that’s something you can’t do alone because the Ministry of Tourism dictates that all travelers who want to get a Syrian tourist visa must book a tour with an operator .

For that, Against the Compass is a licensed and valid tour operator that can help you obtain a visa for Syria.

Join one of our groups, and you will automatically get your visa for traveling to Syria.

We have several scheduled group expeditions over the following months:

How to get a Syrian visa directly from a tour operator

The first thing you must know is that travel agencies will not issue a tourist visa for Syria but a security clearance (a background check), which you need to show at customs.

Consider it as a Letter of Invitation.

This is what the security clearance looks like. Usually, it includes several random people:

With your security clearance in hand, you will be able to purchase a Syrian tourist visa at the border.

The problem, however, is that nowadays, travel agencies are not allowed to issue a security clearance unless you book a tour with them.

How much does the security clearance cost

It’s always included in the total tour package, so it really depends on what tour you book.

How long does it take to get the security clearance?

2 weeks as an average, but you may get the approval in just 2 days.

How long is it valid for?

The security clearance has a 90-day validity, starting from the day you receive it.

How much does the tourist visa for Syria cost?

These are the latest visa fees updated in 2024 .

Note that prices tend to fluctuate based on the exchange rate but, as an average:

• European passport holders: 75 USD
• Canadian passports: 100 USD
• British, Australian, and Argentinian passports: 150 USD
• US passport holders: 200 USD

Try to bring the exact amount for the visa. Otherwise, they will give you your change in Syrian Pounds, using the official bank rate.

You will also have to pay an exit fee of 2,000SYP.

Can Americans get a visa for Syria?

Yes, since March 2023, American passport holders may travel to Syria.

Their visa application takes 4 weeks.

Which Tour Operator do I recommend for traveling to Syria?

I recommend Against the Compass, which only works with the best and most knowledgeable local guides.

As mentioned, we have several group trips a year and by the way, we also organize private tailored trips (from 2-day trips to Damascus to multi-day trips across Syria).

Learn more about Syria expeditions in this video:

🚑 Travel Insurance for Syria

Like in Iran, because of all the sanctions, most travel insurance companies don’t cover for travel in Syria.

The one which does, however, is IATI Insurance .

• They have loads of different plans for all types of travelers: from families to backpackers
• Covers senior citizens too
• Readers of this blog can get an exclusive 5% discount .

🛫 How to get to Syria

How to travel to syria by land, 1 – how to travel from beirut (lebanon) to damascus.

Traveling to Damascus from Beirut is the easiest way to travel to Syria.

Beirut is only 115km from Damascus and the journey takes 2 to 4 hours, including the customs process.

If you book a Syria tour with Against the Compass, we will take care of your transfer from and to Beirut, no problem.

In the unlikely case you were traveling to Syria independently, know that there is no bus service but locals travel in shared taxis.

They leave from Charles Hélou bus station, which is in a very central location, in Gemmazyeh.

Shared taxis from Beirut to Damascus run all day long and I went there at 3pm and waited for no more than 15 or 20 minutes.

The cost per person is around 20USD.

If you go by yourself, you will pay 100USD.

Beirut to Damascus border crossing : Very straightforward.

On the Lebanese side, they barely check your passport and, on the Syrian side, they take around 20 minutes, as long as there are no people, of course.

First, they check your security clearance, then you purchase your visa at the bank counter and give your receipt to the immigration officer.

You only get a stamp, not a visa sticker.

After getting your Syrian visa and resuming your journey, you will go through several checkpoints, but you shouldn’t experience any problem.

Read: A travel guide to Beirut

2 – How to travel from Tripoli to Tartus

You can also travel to Syria from the border north of Tripoli.

Shared taxis to Tartus cost around 12 USD and they leave until 8pm from this statio .

It is only a 65km journey, so it should be fairly quick.

3 – How to travel from Amman (Jordan) to Syria

The border is finally open but the journey from Amman is longer (200km) and the border crossing takes more time.

If you want to enter Syria from Amman, pick-up may also be arranged.

4 – How to travel from Turkey to Syria

Today, that border is not possible to cross legally.

How to travel to Syria by air

Damascus has an international airport but there are a few things that you may wanna take into consideration before booking your flight.

• The airport doesn’t have many connections, only with a few Middle Eastern cities such as Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, or Baghdad.
• The only airlines operating in Syria are Cham Wings , Syrian Air , and Iraqi Airways , airlines the tickets of which can’t be purchased online, but you must book them at the respective office in cash.
• Due to the situation in Syria, the airport in Damascus shuts down pretty often, so the chances of your flight being canceled are relatively high.

This is why I strongly recommend flying to Beirut instead.

Read: Lebanon – A 2-week itinerary

⚠️ Is it safe to travel to Syria?

Along with the visa, safety is the other big question mark for anyone traveling to Syria.

Look, the war is practically over in West Syria (the city of Idlib is the last actual war zone) and cities like Aleppo and Damascus are perfectly safe.

You see children roaming around and everything seems just fine now.

Moreover, the Old City of Damascus is full of military checkpoints where they check your bag and look at anyone who seems suspicious, so there is a high level of security and nothing has happened for a long time now.

Actually, I was in Damascus for Christmas and, for the first time since the beginning of the war, the streets of the Old City of Damascus (and Aleppo as well) were filled with Christmas lights and celebration.

The atmosphere was full of joy, happiness and both Muslims and Christians were celebrating such an event with very big enthusiasm (there is a huge Christian community in Damascus).

This can only mean that even the Syrians themselves believe the city is safe.

Long story short: I personally think that Syria is safe to visit but it will depend on where you go.

For a better understanding, read my analysis: Is Syria safe to visit?

Read: Is it safe to travel to Iraq

Which parts of  Syria are safe to travel?

Read my 100% safe travel itinerary for Syria .

Damascus, Homs, Aleppo , Latakia, Tartus, Krak De Chevaliers, and also Palmyra.

Still, keep in mind that this is a post-war zone, which means that it is highly unstable and things could change overnight.

The people – The Syrians

Language spoken in syria.

Levantine Arabic is the official language.

You should know that many English-speaking people left the country but you will always find someone who does. In any case, try to learn some Arabic before traveling to Syria.

Religion in Syria

Around 65% of the population are Sunni Muslims but, like in Lebanon , in Syria, there are many different religions, including a large Christian population. Bashar Al-Assad is Alawite, a Shia branch.

How do Syrians feel about tourism?

According to the UN, around 500,000 Syrians have been killed, nearly 5,000,000 escaped from the country and several more million who are still in the country need humanitarian assistance.

We are talking here about one of the worst humanitarian crises in the 21st century .

Like I said at the beginning, many people are skeptical about traveling to Syria, claiming or thinking that it may be disrespectful to all the people that have been affected somehow.

Well, what I think is that, before making any judgment, we should ask the actual Syrians living in Syria what do they think about it.

When visiting Syria, I have never talked to a single Syrian who was not happy at seeing a foreign tourist.

The ones who spoke English approached me, asking a lot of questions and showing their gratitude for visiting their country.

They don’t hesitate to talk to you about the crisis, the problems that it has caused, etc.

Hello, how are you?

Well, alive, thank God! – A random Syrian told me

However, I thought that wandering around Damascus as a tourist would be like being a celebrity. I mean, people were extremely nice and kind but it was not like when you travel in Pakistan , for example, where everybody stops you in the street to talk to you.

The main reason was that most people thought I was a journalist and the second was that Syrians have always had great international exposure, so seeing foreigners is something they are actually used to, with the only difference they haven’t seen many since 2010.

Long story short: Syrians are happy to see tourists.

🛺 Transportation: how to travel around Syria

Note: This info refers to 2018 when traveling in Syria independently was allowed.

You can travel around Syria by local buses and shared taxis.

I took the bus from Damascus to Aleppo , which takes more than 7 hours.

The reason is that the section of the road from Homs to Aleppo is not totally Government-controlled, so after Homs, they turn right and make a huge detour to get to Aleppo.

Update 2022: Today, the direct road from Damascus to Aleppo that goes through Idlib is finally under the control of the Government.

There is not much to say here, other than the roads of Syria are full of military checkpoints, which is what you may expect.

Your driver will keep your passport and he will handle everything for you, so don’t worry about that.

I also took the bus from Homs to Damascus and it was a very similar story.

From Aleppo to Homs I took a local shared taxi.

Seriously, buses run normally, smoothly and without any problem

In Damascus, this is the main bus station to go to Homs and Aleppo.

The station at Aleppo is quite far from the city center but you will see plenty of taxis just outside.

As per safety , the truth is that many people were being overprotective with me, always taking care that I was feeling safe and comfortable, so you should not worry about that. Most people taking the bus to Aleppo are from the army by the way.

💻 Internet and connectivity in Syria

Wi-Fi – Internet works relatively well across the country. The hotels I stayed at had a good connection and you can also connect in most relatively good cafés and restaurants.

Mobile – I bought Syriatel and, for 7,000SYP, they gave me 2GB and some calls but, of course, prices may change. They only asked for my passport. I recommend you go to the official store. There is one next to Merjeh Square, right here: 33.513185, 36.29777 .

Get a VPN for traveling in Syria

You should always use a VPN when you travel, especially when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks.

Your connection will be much safer. 

Moreover, you will be able to access content which is typically censored in Syria. 

I recommend ExpressVPN – Extremely easy to use, fast and cheap. 

If you want to learn more about VPN, check: Why you need a VPN for traveling .

💰 What you need to know about money before traveling to Syria

Remember to get travel insurance for Syria IATI Insurance is one of the very few that covers travel in Syria + COVID-19 5% discount if purchasing via this link

In Syria, they use the Syrian Pound (SYP) , a currency that has been fluctuating like crazy for the past 10 years.

Before the crisis, $1 equaled 50SYP.

In 2018, during my first visit, $1 equaled 490SYP.

Today, you can exchange $1 in the black market for up to 13,950SYP .

As a consequence, Syria is suffering from massive inflation and the problem is that most salaries haven’t increased accordingly.

Exchanging money in Syria

You can exchange both Euros (€) and USD ($) but USD can be exchanged at a better rate.

If you bring 100 USD notes, keep in mind that they only accept the new ones with the blue line.

If you have Syrian Pounds left when you leave, you can exchange them for Lebanese Pounds or USD in most exchange offices in Beirut, at the official bank rate, which means that it won’t be so good.

Where can you exchange Syrian Pounds?

The best is to exchange at the exchange offices you find before reaching the border. With our groups, we always exchange in a Lebanese town named Chtoura .

ATMs and credit cards in Syria

Because of the foreign sanctions, in Syria, you can neither pay by credit card nor using ATMs. You must bring all your money in cash.

Update 2024: Due to the current financial crisis, the same rule applies to Lebanon. If you are traveling to Syria from Lebanon, you must bring enough cash for visiting both countries.

How much does it cost to travel to Syria?

These are the prices of the most typical things:

• Lunch in a local restaurant: 50,000 to 80,000SYP
• Food in a nice restaurant with wine: 150,000 to 250,000SYP
• Breakfast (like hummus or ful): 35,000SYP
• National Museum: 25,000SYP
• Aleppo Citadel: 2,5000SYP
• Bus from Damascus to Aleppo: 50,000 to 70,000SYP
• Budget Hotel in Damascus: $35 to $45 for a private room
• Mid-range hotel in Damascus: $60 to $90 for a private room
• Taxis within cities: 40,000 to 60,000SYP
• Local shared taxi Aleppo to Homs: 100,000 to 150,000SYP

Syria is a post-war zone, where millions of people have lost their houses and relatives, much like Haiti , so please, be a sensitive tourist.

Don’t say war but crisis or situation instead

You will see that many Syrians themselves don’t really use the word war but they prefer to say other less harsh words.

Don’t take selfies with damaged buildings

Seriously, this is one of the most disrespectful things you could ever do and you would actually be an asshole if you did it.

Empathize with the locals

When you are in an area full of destroyed buildings be polite to the people, say hello , shake hands and just be nice with them.

Collaborate with the local economy

In Homs and Aleppo , you are likely to see small businesses open among all the ruins. Do buy things from them.

In Homs, I saw one small bakery shop in the practically destroyed souk; I couldn’t resist buying one kilo of sweets there, which I gave to a young boy that was looking for something among the trash.

Read: A travel guide to Iraqi Kurdistan

Are the Syrian cities really destroyed?

This seems to bring a lot of confusion, so let me explain it to you:

Only the outskirts of Damascus are destroyed, as there was a bloody battle there. That area is off-limits to tourists.

The Old City and the new part of town remain intact.

A percentage of the Old City is destroyed, as well as some areas from outside the city.

Most of Aleppo isn’t damaged but some very important sites from the Old City, like the Great Mosque, are gone.

Nowadays, however, the city is being rebuilt and people are slowly coming back.

One of the most affected cities by the war.

Approximately 40% of the city is destroyed and that includes its bazaar, one of the liveliest and most important souqs in all the Middle East .

The Temple of Bell was destroyed by ISIS but Palmyra is a massive archaeological site and many of its wonders can still be seen.

📸 Taking photos when you travel in Syria

You can take photos of everything except for one thing: military stuff.

Yes, it is very obvious but the problem is that there is military stuff everywhere, especially in Damascus.

In Damascus, it happened a few times that I took a picture of some cool building or whatever, from relatively far away, and didn’t realize there was a checkpoint right next to it.

Of course, the soldiers approached me but, after quickly checking my passport and my camera, very kindly, let me continue.

In Damascus Old City, there are checkpoints everywhere, so pay attention before taking any photos.

🧭 Don’t get off the beaten track in Syria, not yet

As of 2024, this section still is highly relevant.

Seriously, don’t.

Don’t do it because you are going to ruin it for everybody.

Syria just started opening to tourism, so stick to the main touristic areas.

I am telling you this because there was a German guy who went to the outskirts of Damascus to take photos of some destroyed buildings and he was put in jail for a week.

That was back in 2018, when independent travel in Syria was allowed.

Since then, booking a tour is required in order to get a visa for Syria so, even if you wanted to get off the beaten track, you would not be able to.

🏨 Accommodation: where to stay in Syria

Since the crisis, the Government of Syria has introduced a dual pricing policy in all hotels, in which foreigners pay more than the locals.

This has increased the rates substantially but you can still find many affordable options.

Where to stay in Damascus

Budget – Green Hotel – Single rooms cost 15USD and double 30USD. It was very clean, there was a heater, good Wi-Fi and the guy from the reception spoke English. It was here, just outside of the Old City: 33.510168. 36.298925 .

Boutique Hotel –  Beit al Mamlouka – A small hotel at the heart of the old city.

Top option –   Beit al Wali – One of the best hotels in the city.

Luxury – Four Seasons – Crazy expensive, but the best hotel in Syria. Note that it’s not managed by Four Seasons anymore, even though they kept their name.

Where to stay in Aleppo

Mid-range – Aleppo Palace – Good, affordable option in Aleppo, with great views of the new part of town. It’s located right next to the I Love Aleppo sign.

In Aleppo, you can also find a Sheraton.

Where to stay in Homs

New Basman Hotel – One of the few options in Homs is this hotel that offers basic but comfortable rooms.

Where to stay in Al Mishtaya

Al Mishtaya is a Christian village near Krak de Chevaliers and the place where we stay when I bring groups into Syria.

They have a pretty good brand-new hotel named Vila Rosa Hotel .

Where to stay in Palmyra and Busra

Today, you can’t stay in any of them because there are no hotels.

🍲 The food and alcohol in Syria

In the last few years, I haven’t traveled to many countries that are famous for their food, but Syria definitely is.

Being an olive-oil-rich Mediterranean country, the ingredients used in their cuisine are fresh and similar to the ones we used in Spain, Italy, France, and Greece.

The food is actually pretty much the same as in Lebanon, with their own regional variations, of course.

From the classic hummus to kibbeh (local steak tartar), different sorts of grilled meat or a typical dish of Aleppo consisting of meatballs in cherry sauce, the food in Syria is so varied. 

For me, however, breakfast is the best part, as they always serve different variations of hummus and ful deep in super tasty olive oil and vegetables.

As per alcohol, you should know that Syria has a large Christian population, so alcohol is easily available, especially in the Christian district of the Old City of Damascus, where there is a street filled with bars and many liquor shops.

You can actually buy a $1 beer and drink it in the street!

❗ More information for traveling in Syria

📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.

All guides and articles for traveling in Syria destination

• Travel Guide to Aleppo
• Syria Itinerary
• Is Syria Safe?

Travel guides to other countries in the Middle East

• Iran Travel Guide
• Palestine Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Oman
• Travel Guide to Lebanon
• Iraq Travel Guide
• Travel Guide to Saudi Arabia
• Yemen Travel Guide

You will also like our Libya travel guide and Haiti travel guide .

You will also be interested in: Where in the Middle East is safe? and The most beautiful places in the Middle East .

I hope this Syria travel blog will help you to plan your trip. I will try to keep it updated but, if you have more updates, please let us know in the comments section. Thanks 🙂

356 comments

Hi, before the war Syria was known as not being particularly female travelers friendly, do you think that has changed? Would you recommend going there as a solo female traveler? Thanks love your blog!

Hello Iris. When it comes to the local culture and openmindedness, I tried to compare it with other Middle Eastern countries and, to be very honest, I didn’t see much difference versus Palestine and Jordan, 2 countries where females can now travel easily.

In Damascus, you see loads of women without hijab and there is actually a large Christian population and, in their district, you find very openminded people, like in any European capital.

But in any case, I would like to get in touch with a girl who has been there recently, to see what kind of advice she could give and what she thinks about it 🙂

Thank you for your quick reply! 🙂 We are trying to see if we can go in a few weeks, but we might not get the visa in time… Although I might come back, because your article made me put Damascus high on my bucketlist! 🙂

i will go in june as a solo female, i will let you know 😉

So how did your solo trip go?

Hi. I`m curios as well, did any of you ladies manage to travel there and have any insight in how it is to go as a woman?

Hey, I’m Jude I’m 22 and I live now in Syria, for sure solo female travelers are welcome here as well . The people here are very open minded and friendly, specially if you are a foreign tourist because we love to have tourists here again. We have a mix of different religions and cultures here in Syria, so everybody takes care of your space and freedom . if you have any question email me, I’d love to help anyone to visit Syria.

Hello, I am working in Saudi Arabia and I am planning to visit Syria (Damascus) by road in November, 2019. Please guide me is it possible to travel by car to Syria. and safe for tourism. How much money is required for 2 days stay. My final destination will be Palestine. Looking for your reply. regards, Zahid ur Rehman

Could you send me your email id

Hey Jude, Do you know any budget and confortable hotel with private room near the old market or the big mosque, I think it’s safiest to stay inside the old city of Damascus

I want to visit damishq syria. Is it safe for visit?

Can you share your email so I can ask you more specific questions about travelling to Syria as a tourist? 🙂 – Austin and Abigail

Hi! In January I have a plan to travel from Beirut to Damascus – would be great to have a contact with you;) Greetings Dawid

Hello Jude, I am hoping to Travel to Syria in the next few months. I have a lot of questions and would love the opinion of a local, as it is quite difficult to get accurate information about the country! If you are not comfortable putting your email address up, please email me. My email address is [email protected]

I would love to hear from you!

Hi Jude, I am planning to go to Damascus as well. How is the trip from Beirut to Damascus? And how about prices, hotels and food? Thank you! Patricia

I need some more info on traveling to Syria. Would also like to include them in my “postcards from the world” to encourage people to visit. Regards, karen

Hey guys, I’m sorry that I couldn’t reply to all your comments in recent months due to the recent pandemic, hope you’re all fine. Please if you have any question or you want to talk about Syria and/or want a guide or a tour contact my email. [email protected]

Hello Jude, probably I will work in Damascus pretty soon so how are things there for the living on these days?, thank you

Hi Jude thank you for being so welcoming. I am not sure if people can visit Syria without a formal tour group. Please can you tell me if we can visit without a tour group? Thank you. Carmel

Hi! My boyfriend is from Syria (we live in Austria). I would really love to visit his home. Do you thibk. I can travel alone from Amman to Damascus? How’s it going to be thete for me? Thanks for your answer! Cheers, Michaela

Hi Jude, are you living in Syria? My husband and I are in Turkey and trying to apply for a visa to travel in March/April but we need a reference, contact details of someone in Syria to put on our form. Are you able to help?

Hello Jude I’m Cecilia from Philippines I am planning to visit Syria can you help me ? Actually I have to meet my bf in Aleppo it is a little complicated his situation hoping for your response in my gmail address Thanks ( below my name and my gmail

Hi Jude, I’m planning a trip around the beginning of April and would love to have a chat with you :). How can I reach you?

Email? Please?

Hello my name Is Luisa and I am in Syria now. Everything went well. My travel guide Is Sawsan Joumaa and She Is very helpful and good. She only brings me in safe places and She Is Always with me. I am really very happy.

any contact to this travel guide, i will need one..

Hi Luisa, I write to you because probably I will work as humanitarian in Damascus very soon and I need to know all about how is living in Damascus in November 2020.

Ciao. Io mi trovo in Siria e vi posso assicurare che ci sono più donne in vesti succinte qui che sul lungomare di Bari.

Ciao Luisa per caso ti trovi ancora in Syria? Vorrei potere avere qualche consigli su una possibilità di viaggio in Syria a settembre 2021.

Actually I find Syria far more liberal than Jordan. I mean, don’t even compare. Just as an example, while women in Jordan have to follow a complicated sitting protocol in public transportation, in Syria it’s just like in any western country. Syrian women dress in whatever way they wish, in ways which wouldn’t be acceptable in Jordan. These are just two examples.

I stopped reading when I saw — “No. Unfortunately, US passport holders cannot get a visa for Syria.”

Fck that. It’s 2022. They need to grow up…

The day the US Government lifts sanctions against Syria, Americans will be allowed to travel to Syria

Yes i am syrian i live in syria we are not like other middle eastren countries so for sure you can come and you are always welcome

hey syrian guy, can u help me out? i need to talk to you just about the country and i want syrian friend and i am from saudi arabia.

I am educationist from India and heritage management expert.I wish to visit Syria with my son next month for 5 days.Can anyone guide me.Thanks in advance.

Im looking forward to travel to Syria average soon

Hello Iris My name is Nour, i am a Syrian citizen, regarding your question: Syria has been a secular country for more than 50 years, any female (a foreigner or Arab) is welcomed to Syria, make sure you and any other tourist will be totally safe during your stay in Syria. Regards from Damascus

Syria was especially safe for women, I traveled all over the place alone. I was in my mid 50s but many much younger women remarked how safe Syria felt for them. There is a lot of mythology and down right lies spread about all aspects of life in Syria before the war. Arab men do not have sex before marriage as a rule, so they will show an interest but no more so than European men, just be cautious like anywhere else, you might travel. If you are that worried maybe you shouldn’t visit there, Syria had next to no visitors prior to the war regardless of what people might tell you. This was because it was one of Britain’s prohibited countries. Britain resented the fact that Syria invaded Lebanon and that it chose not to cooperate with the capitalist system, being socialist. There was a bright side to this for people who did visit though, and that was the price was the price for everyone, unlike in many of the surrounding countries, particularly Egypt.

Help me please !!!!! I am from syria and I need help to get out of my country……but it is so hard…..please …..is there anyone who can help me ??!

عم تشحد سفرة؟؟

Are you okay?

I traveled to Syria 2008, I was so beautiful and want to revisit hopefully in Spring. I am trying to decide from Lebanon or Jordan since I have family in both place. I want to travel to Axcelê, Syria near Jandaris I have a lot good friends there and I would be staying with them and hopefully when the situation gets better I would like to have a house there. I just love it there and my heart is there.

Hy..my name is ali i am from syria.. Yes actually it changed a lot after social media nd tiktok nd all…u can move freely in some state like (tartous-latakia-damascus) But in other u states u should wear hijab(hair cover) nd not wearing shorts.. U can also roam without hijab but its better to wear cuz ppl will stare at u nd all…

Yes are they fighting in Homs I have a friend there who is a doctor and he’s wanting me to help him leave Syria and come back home to United States but his agent is wanting $1250 fee to start his documents to get him home. I don’t have that kind of money and he can’t get his Money from the states until he gets home and this agent won’t help him And I can’t is there any other way he can get home. He said he’s afraid for his life and it scares me. If you could help me I really would appreciate your help. Thank you Sherry

Yes my name is Sherry could you Joan answer my question above in my email I wrote on October 29, 2020. I don’t know what to do cause I don’t have the money to pay the agent and too I don’t know if it’s a scam or he’s telling me the truth please could you help me. Thank you Sherry

hi Sherry, this article/blog refers to traveling to Syria for touristic purposes. For political or your kind of issues, I think you should contact your embassy.

This is a tourism related article but I’m sure it’s a scam. Did you know this person in real life before he “needed” the money. Is he a friend from the US? If not, I guarantee it’s a scam. If you want to help Syrians, then go to your local Middle Eastern shop and buy Abou Rashed baklavas Chami soap, both of which are made in Syria and provide employment to Syrian people. Don’t send this fake doctor $1250.

Quite the contrary, Syria was known as being really women friendly at least until the mid 2000s but the war began at the end of 2006, I remember the pro-Israeli protests by the Kurds in Qamishli, so the later years might have been more difficult. I found Syria much friendlier than Jordan but for women much the same. In 2006 I noticed lots of the students at Irbid university, Jordan, near Syria were wearing black veils; though they weren’t in the town itself.

I was in Syria 22 years ago with a friend as two female traveller’s in their 30s. Not once did I feel in danger, quite the contrary. We felt perfectly safe and welcome. Syrian people have got to be some of the most hospitable on earth. (She and I felt the same way in Turkey: perfectly safe with the exception that in Turkey, everyone tries to see you rugs!)

I was in Syria the years 2009 – 2010 – 2011. I visited Damascus, Tartus, Palmyra. Syrian people are kind, giving, helpful. A wonderful experience. Not much restrictions as people believes, a peaceful country even though in 2011 the conflict really started. Travelling from Syria to Lebanon or Lebanon/Syria, the best option always have been in taxi. My recommendation for the ladies, to dress without showing too much skin😊 to avoid attention. I love Syria! I love Beirut too! ❤ Will Be back one day soon😊

Very nice travel guide. GOOD JOB !!!

Having been to Syria twice before the war I fully support your reasons for going. It’s people definitely deserve the income that tourism can offer. I know you caution about the security situation but I think it’s especially important to do so about Aleppo. Areas held by extremists border on the city and there have been mortar attacks and some kind of chemical weapon attack on the outskirts. The situation in Idlib will almost certainly only be solved militarily though I guess in this case the govt will keep tourists well away. I agree with you about the rest of the country but it’s important to appreciate the situation around Aleppo. Thanks again for another great article. Unfortunately I won’t have a chance to go back there until next year but will definitely go.

Fantastic information, muchas gracias Joan! I visited Syria with a group from Ireland last June 2018, I fell in love with the country, it’s people and culture. I hope to return in May this year, thank you again for this updated information.

Oh, that’s great! Which places in Syria did you visit? And are you planning to go to different places in May?

Hola again Joan! We spent 3 days in Damascus, visited the Old City, Ummayyad Mosque, the Souk etc, the Palestinian camp, which was pretty much destroyed, then onto Ma’aloula and up to Aleppo. Hoping to visit Tartous/Latakia and Palmyra on the upcoming trip. Thanks again for your excellent report!

Hi Caroline,

Would you mind if I asked what tour you used? Looks like you had a great time. Thank you 🙂

Hi Meg, our group went with Mithra Travel both visits, our guide, Lamis was/is exceptional. I would definitely use them again, highly recommended. Caroline

Hi Joan, I’d like to ask you, how about the relations between Syria and Israel? You write about crossing the borders between Lebanon and Syria, and Jordan and Syria. But how about Israel and Syria? I guess that the border between Israel and Syria is also closed, but anyway, do you know more about it? And how the Syrians think about Israel and the Jews? I know that Israel makes some air raids against the Iranian bases there (at least it is what the news say). Does it have an effect to the opinion of the local Syrians about Israel?

Hi Krasen! The border between Israel and Syria is definitely closed and it will be for a long time. I don’t know if it used to be open during the pre-war but I seriously doubt it. I didn’t talk to any Syrian (in Syria) about Israel but I did talk to Syrians living in other parts of the world and their opinion towards Israel / Jews is the same as Lebanese, Jordanians and, basically, any other Arab.

Hey we hate isreal and isrealies and we love jews and any israrli stamp on your passport will perminatly ban you from syria (thats the law) From syria

Hi! We will travel to Syria in this summer. In the visa application form we need a reference and we have to show our invitation letter. How does it work actually? Is it just formality? Maybe, can you help us?

An LOI can only be issued by a valid tour operator and it is a big responsibility. Then, a friend could also invite you but it is a long process that requires great paperwork, and shouldn’t be asked to random Syrian people on the internet.

Hi Joan. Loved your post. I have soon-to-be relatives in Syria. Would writing a LOI for me put them under any kind of scrutiny or hardship? I want to travel there this winter, and I will be visiting them, so I don’t want or need a tour. But I don’t want to cause any problems for anyone either. Thanks!

Hi Cynthia, I am not sure if an LOI written by them would be valid. You should ask the embassy but for people from Syrian origin and relatives, getting the visa should be easier.

Hi Kristof,

My name is Lotte Beckers, I’m a journalist for the Belgian newspaper De Morgen. I’m working on an article on traveling to Syria (I also spoke to Joan on the phone this weekend). Could we maybe get in touch? Feel free to mail me at [email protected] Thanks

HI Joan , If I get a tourist visit it’s only thru tour guide correct after a tour I want to go and see close friends in Axcelê,Syria that is final destination then like I said buy an apartment in Jandaris where my friends and I would live and hopefully work maybe open something or purchase with them. Which is the easiest way to get there. Please help name’s of company or Taxi service in Aleppo that could drive me the rest of the way.

Hating Israel and Israelis (including Arab Muslim Israelis??)… – Joan Torres, do you allow this kind of hateful comment in this thread? Where’s the outrage? – Syrianguy, get an education, man. After a number of lost wars again Israel, perhaps you could start thinking about the effects of your hateful attitude and realize that it leads to a dead end (literally), i.e. the destruction of your own country — and I feel sorry for the peace-loving Syrians. Hating others will eventually backfire. Horray to all the loving Syrians, down with hateful people — and with governments that make it a policy to hate other nations.

Francis, don’t be a moron. Hate is a right to anyone, it’s a state of mind, better, a state of emotion. There is no bigger fascist than the one who thinks he has the right of ban emotions. Not only this but also the Syrian person obviously is not obviously fluent in English, so better focus in the general idea that there are problems regarding Israel and that an Israeli stamp in the passport will block any request of visiting visa to Syria. Geeeeez!

Ricardo, try not to be the moron yourself. Hate is a right to everyone? Wow man, I have never come across such a weak attempt to justify hate. Hate is not a feeling, nor is it an emotion, it is basically a choice based on biased beliefs which entails emotions like anger and which brings about real actions like trying to murder someone. You are watering down the hate thing into a vague emotional state that cancels the responsibility of the hater. And Syrianguy not being fluent in English still makes him fluent enough to clearly vent his hate. You are trying to excuse his hate with a poor command of English. Pathetic. Denouncing hate is to be a fascist now? Geeez. Remember to take your meds, Ricardo.

I don’t want to get involved in your discussion but to be very honest, the comment you are referring to about ”hating Israel” is debatable.

First of all, he is a 14-year old person who has written many comments besides this one, plus it’s true that he doesn’t speak English very well.

Moreover, it could be that he is referring to the fact that Syria, as a country, hates Israelis, politically, hence they put a travel ban to anyone with an Israeli stamp. He also says he loves Jews, so his problem is about Israel as a country. I would delete any racist, offensive comment but in this case, it isn’t very clear, so there’s no need to make such a big deal out of it,

Did I say Moron? Sorry, my mistake. You are a total idiot with no clue on how humans and the world works, a child, in age and/or mentality, who sees a black and white world and is full of certainty about everything and still, knows shit about hate and emotions. End of conversation, ignoring trolls mode.

Sorry for this parenteses Joan. Over and out.

i am syrian…we respect jews riligion..but we hate israel cuz they steal our arabian land..so if any jews came to syria he is welcomed…but israel ppl they will not be safe in syria…if u have israel stamp ur syrian visa will get rejected directly.

israel does not do stamps on passports anymore, nowadays they give you an entry and exit ticket, instead of making a stamp on the passport. and that’s because of the very specific reason you mention, that other countries wont see that people have visited israel

the northen area of israel, golan hights and down to tiberias lake, all that area belonged to syria and it was occupied by israel in 1967, how do you think syrians feel about syria ? and the border between both countries was never open ..

Hey Joan, you have put a great guide to Syria, thanks man! It is so insightful and useful

I visited Damascus many years ago, around 2005, and I absolutely loved it and now that the country is finally starting to bring back tourism again, I can’t wait to go.

The visa process seems the only barrier though, as I contacted the embassy in my home country and they said that I need an LOI, which means that I will have to get in touch with an agency, which I don’t really want to because I want to travel there on my own.

And by the way, thanks for double-confirming all the information regarding Basel Travel King.

I know 2 people who traveled with him in November and December and both them agreed that he is a scam. He also charged them 100USD a day for a guide who didn’t know absolutely anything about history, which means that you pay all this money for only having a guardian which you don’t really need to. One of them went to Aleppo and instead of staying in a hotel, he stayed at a Basel’s friend but he charged him the price of an expensive hotel.

Anyways, I will try to see if is there anyone who can get me the LOI without booking an expensive tour and I will let you know

Yes, the visa thing is a pain in the ass and it seems that you can’t get it without paying a lot of money first, which sucks a lot… Hopefully, things will soon get easier PS: Thanks for sharing additional information about Basel. He sucks, really. 😀

Great article! I am going in October but I am booking with a local travel agent so I can move fast (I hate buses) and see Palmyra. Maybe even continue to Jordan to see more of Crusader’s castles and Petra. Not sure why are you so surprised by the support to Al Assad. I mean the guy saved them from islamists and religious state. In any case, hope the peace is upon all of Syria soon!

Yes, that is what some of them said, that they defeated the Islamists but Al Assad was not only fighting Islamists but many other groups and those rebels had hundreds of thousands of supporters. However, I believe that most of those supporters are either dead, left the country or they just will never talk about it I also do wish the peace comes soon.

Thank you for this blog, but just a quick comment on this one – even if they do disagree with Assad, the secret police is swarming around the cities so they would never say it (there’s a joke that every third person is mukhabarat in Syria). Don’t assume that they support him just because they say they do!

Well don’t assume they don’t either, I know the Brotherhood was plotting in the mosques in 2005 and coming to England for monetary support from the government here. And that a previously held Guantanamo Bay prisoner was travelling around Britain with Amnesty International advocating the bringing down of the Syrian Government and possibly brought a lot of money from the British govt to the Brothers, at least our govt didn’t deny it. That is my personal. Also I know another family of detainees came to impose the caliphate and two were killed and the other one is in Syria still, maybe in the camp on the east side. The travesty didn’t happen on its own mate. Don’t stir up shit storms with your comments please. Lastly why do you want to visit Syria then? you make me suspicious.

Hi Joan! Syria is a place I want to visit before it becomes too popular. My question is, you entered though Lebanon, but where did you exit? I would fly to Beruit and spend a few days there before crossing the border. They say a Lebanon visa is free on arrival but that is only 1 entry. Did you pay for a multi entry visa and re-enter Lebanon or depart Syria though a different country? It sounds like its best to contact that lady and just do a 1 day tour to get your security clearance. What exactly is that anyway? Just to make sure you are not wanted by interpol!! or is it just a routine procedure? Thanks for any help. Tony.

Hi Tony, I entered and exited through Lebanon. Visa in available on arrival, so when you re-enter, you just get a new visa. The security clearance is just a background check and a requirement to obtain your Syrian visa.

Hi, how you got your copy of the security clearance ? Agency send it to you via post, or you got e-version?

you get an e-version

Thanks Joan. I will look into this trip either before June or after September. Too hot in between! Tony

Hello, I visited Syria in December as an independent traveller and I used a tour company to secure the visa but they didn’t require me to take a tour. I visited Damascus, Hama, Homs and Aleppo with no issues – I tried to visit Palmyra but apparently the security clearance that you may apply for in Damascus takes 5 days to clear and must take a tour as there’s still an active minefield. So unfortunately it may be hard to visit Palmyra for a while. Josh

Thank you Josh. I didn’t know that Hama was possible to visit. Was the ferry wheel still standing? By the way, which company did you book the tour from?

Hello, The water wheels are still standing and are lovely! I took my bus to Aleppo from Hama. Was a strange experience because in Hama because I hitchhiked from Krak des Chavalier to Hama at night and was then invited out to dinner almost as soon as I arrived with the Syrian tourist minister and some of his friends, I assume the hotel manager informed the minister I was staying town. I used some local tour company called Damascus Tours.

that sounds like a great adventure, thank you for sharing- Do you have perhaps the contact of this tour company? I tried to look for it on Google but I don’t see any company with a website named Damascus tours… I would really like to contact them and see if it could be a good alternative, so readers can know. thank you!

Hi Joshua, could you share contacts of Damascus Torus company?

Josh I want to visit Syria I have family there. I have American passport and was thinking about flying to Kuwait for a few days then to Damascus airport. Do you know if I can get a visa at the airport?

Hi Joan, I too tried to look for this travel company but couldn’t find it. Even if its possible to get the security clearance without a tour, it will still cost $325, yes? And the actual visa at the border. I saw the man you stayed with in Aleppo on couch surfing. Did he show you around the city, is the fighting completely finished there? I only ask you because on a Syrian government it mentioned military action in the Aleppo district. That may cover a large area though.

Yes, the security clearance costs 325USD and the Syrian visa at the border around 70USD, for European passports at least, except for British, who pay more. If you only pay for these 2 things, consider yourself lucky.

Yes, my CS host showed me around and as far as I know, the fighting in Aleppo is over.

Although fighting in the city itself has ended, there are jihadi forces relatively nearby. Fighting in the region could occur at any time and the city could get targeted. Anyone visiting should keep up to date constantly on the situation

Great article … I am Syrian … i read your article out of curiosity to see how is the general impression about my city …. you did great especially about the prices ….. Thanks for that

which city?

Damascus…

Joan, your article is wonderful!

Please, do share more of the things you discussed with locals during your stay. It is so hard to find any current info without a political bias. And I would really like to hear more Syrian people’s voices.

You mention they have a good WiFi connectivity in Damascus. Do you think they have any independent blogers that might be of interest?

Thank you again!

Hey! What do you mean by ”independent bloggers that might be of interest?”

You mean if there is any Syrian travel blogger who would be great to follow?

It is doubtful you will make it out alive…Bashar Assad is a murdering, lying psychopath

It’s extremely complicated in Syria. Despite the situation. in Syria, numerous minority groups are still protected by the central government controlled by Bashar Assad.

Speak of an Arabic government that allows such religious freedom.

Syria is all you can speak of. Thank you to the Syrian Republic.

Please talk to the people in idlib..they will tell you the truth..Assad is a psychopath..

I’d love to see your westerner/christian ass trying to walk 5 blocks in Idlibstan without lossing your head. Maybe Hillary can airdrop you there to fight against the christian saviour Bashar.

Bashar w bass.

Hello, My name Is Luisa and I would like to visit Syria in December. If you want we can talk each other my email [email protected] Whatsapp 0039 3204551648

And the Kurds are Pro-Israeli not to mention mainly Turkish. Wht try and take over Idlib at all? Qamishli wa a nice place but some groups want everything for themselves.

Hi Joan, Thanks for the very precise description and advices. I am planning to go there in May, however, I am wondering if they put a stamp on your passport because I have another flight to the US shortly after. Thanks

Hello, yes, they do stamp your passport

Hola Juan me ha encantado tu post muy bien detallado y la verdd dan muchas ganas de viajar. Tbn soy espanol residente del Paris. La cosa es que la semana que viene viajo a Turquia y de paso me encantaria pasar por Siria. Efectivamente las fronteras estan cerradas a turistas por lo que la sola alternativa es ir a Libano. Hoy estuve en la embajada Siria en Paris pero hacer el visado toma alrededor de un mes por lo que ya es practicamente imposible obtenerla aqui. Me parece que el tema de agencias es my caro, asi que me gustaria saber cual es para ti la forma mas barata y rapida de obtener el visado a para poder entrar a Siria ya que mi tiempo es bastante limitado y esperar mas de 3 dias para un visado seguramente anularia una posible visita siria.

Muchas gracias por tu post!!!

Hola Sebastián,la mejor manera será contactar con una agencia, con Sawswan por ejemplo, y reservar un tour de 1 día

Osea q tienes q pagar como minimo el security clearance de 325 USD + 100 USD del tour de un dia? Joder si es asi creo q optare para hacer siria en otro viaje haciendome el visado en la embajada donde me cuesta solo 25 eur…

si de verdad consigues un visado para Siria por sólo 25€, me lo cuentas para que lo pueda escribir todo aquí

http://www.ambassadesyrie.fr/services_consulaire3.php

Aqui tienes los precios. Pero bueno solo por confirmar a mi mensaje anterior, el minimo entonces para entrar desde Libano son 425USD??

En mi más humilde experiencia, jamás me fiaría de una página de información burocrática procedente de un país de Oriente Medio. Es más, estoy segurísimo de que estos precios son falsos y de todas formas, aquí también tendrías que añadirle el coste del security clearance, a parte de la carta de invitación que lo más probable es que te vayan a pedir

Bonjour Je peux vous aider si vous voulez Merci

il faut se contacter

I can say that you have the courage to visit Syria while it is not safe as it used to be many years ago. It is a very good article filled with important inforamtion.

Hi Joan, I sent a whatapp message to the lady you talked about who could maybe help with getting the secuity clearance-Sawswan. I asked her if if she could help with getting the clearance if I booked a tour with her around Damascus and maybe Palmeyria. I mentioned that I had got her number from you and that you had travelled to Damascus in few months ago. It looks like she got my message but no reply. Is there any other way to contact her , has she got a travel company or tour guide company? If I draw a blank with her is there another reputable guide or company I could try?

Thank you very much for the beautiful blog. As a Syrian who hasn’t been back in Syria in two years (living in Lebanon) this fills me with a sense of nostalgia. Thank you for visiting Syria and I hope you had fun!

We Syrians have always been happy to find tourists visiting our humble country, and I myself have always dreamed about helping tourists discover Syria (given the fact that I am one of the rare Syrians who actually speak English properly), but alas the war took away the tourists from me and I had to leave Syria to study abroad in them American University of Beirut.

A couple of my European friends here in Lebanon tried visiting Syria over the last couple of months and couldn’t enter; they went to the embassy and were told that they didn’t need a visa and should go to the border directly, only for the border to tell them to head back to the embassy and get a visa. I am happy that things are becoming more organized now as evidenced by the fact that you could enter the country without any complications. I hope you didn’t get ripped off though! We’ve always had a thing for ripping off foreigners back in the day, but perhaps now that tourists are so few and we’re so glad to have them back our great merchants aren’t too keen on ripping them off.

I do hope to one day return to Syria and meet the nice folk like yourself who have come to visit our country from overseas. Thank you again for writing this blog. I will forward it to all of my foreign friends here in Lebanon who have expressed their desire to visit Syria. I probably won’t be able to go with them (since I would need to get permission from the army to be able to leave the country again and it’s a hassle) but I am sure that the information you provided would very much help them get the visa and find local accommodations .

Thank you, Joan, and thank you to everyone who is standing by Syria and the Syrian people through these troubled times.

Hey there, thank you so much for your kind-hearted words, really.

I loved Syria and trust me when I say that nobody tried to ever rip me off. Everybody was always so kind and trying to be overprotective with me, and I am sure that anyone should have a very similar experience.

Hope you can travel to your beautiful country and the situation will normalize even more in the upcoming months and years.

Kind Regards

Hi Joan, Saludos de Portugal! Thanks for sharing your experience. I will be in Lebanon during May (9 to 17), and really wanted to take this opportunity to visit Damascus. I contacted this travel agent you mentioned, and she asks me for 500$ for a day trip, which is simply insane. I really wanted to do it independently, and, of course, much cheaply. I’ve contacted the Syrian embassy in Paris, but they’re not very responsive. Any recommendations?

Thank you for your time and good travelsl Rodrigo

Hi Rodrigo, It is quite a standard price. I didn’t go on a tour and only the security clearance cost me $325, (and other agencies charge more), so, unfortunately, there is not much you can do, because now there is no way to get a visa without booking first a tour.

Hello Rodrego My friend take those words as a standard whenever you want to visit Syria, the longer period you stay there the cheaper offers you get, for example ( 1 day trip is 500$, then every extra day will cost you 200$ including the hotel+the tourguide)

It is a reasonable price especially since it includes a visa to transfer to and from Beirut and a guide to the Damascus tour

Hi nice blog i live in syria and i am syrian i am 14 years old i read the article to see what people think of us with the lies shown in the media so thanks for the great article i hope when you visit us again you would go to my dad’s restaurant it is called kaza miza and it was awarded the best restaurant in syria by the syrian tourisim minestry in 2016 Again thanks for the article

Thank you! And I would have loved to taste your dad’s restaurants, really. A pity I didn’t know about it before 🙂

Hi Joan, First of all, great article, thanx a lot! I have been trying to go to Syria for a while, and I am thinking about going this coming Oct/Nov. 2019. I am also an independent traveler and hardly any time I take a tour, so far only have taken two; Tibet and DPRK. I want to visit on my own. Heard rumors about a German fella that got in trouble and now the government has implemented a “tour only” for all travelers into Syria, but I believe it is more like a rumor created by the tour agencies and operators. In any case, I hold a U.S. passport and one from the Republic of Georgia, unfortunately neither place has a diplomatic office from Syria. Saw your post about a week ago and wrote to the Embassy of Syria in Madrid, but have not yet received a response. If you don’t mind me asking, when you applied for your visa you had to go in person to the embassy in Madrid and then they sent your passport plus the visa by mail, correct? How long was the process? Also, I see your comments and you talk about a “clearance letter” worth about US $450.00 plus a fee of US $70.00 when you enter Syria, at the border? My plans are using my Georgian passport, obvious reason, and try and go get the visa either in Madrid or Brussels. I don’t count with a lot of time. Do you mind explaining a bit the process? Thank you very much! George G.

Hi George, things have changed a bit recently and you won’t be able to get a visa without booking a tour. Even most embassies will require you to get an LOI from a valid tour operator, which you will only get if you book a tour. This is kind of contradictory because then you can move around Syria independently.

Hi again, Joan, So, basically I can book a tour for let’s say, a day, then I can move independently? That sounds feasible. I know you went in independent, but does anybody here knows of a reliable and easy local tour operator then? Thank you Joan and all participants! George

I tried with the Syrian embassy in Brussels as its the nearest one to me. I emailed them but they never even replied. I think the tour agents are the only way. Just choose carefully!

Very interesting post, thanks for the info! I’m an independent journalist and visited Afghanistan a few months back which was impressive, and now Syria has become a big wish to visit! Those visa regulations suck though… Hopefully come across some local reliable tour operator somewhere. Given your contacts, do you perhaps know if there are different regulations for journalists, holding international press card?

Great site by the way, all the destinations of my interest, will be following!!

Hi Thijs, I don’t really know about journalism visas but Syria has been receiving loads of journalists for the past 8 or 9 years, so as long as you are not from the USA or the UK, I assume it should be feasible? But I don’t know about the process. I think you should contact the embassy!

Hi Thijs, just in case you ever revisit this Blog and your post: I‘m an independent filmmaker from Switzerland and visited Syria in January 2018. Iobtained a journalist visa through the consulate in Geneva. A few days ago I tried to Rentner the Country again, this time as a Tourist – and promptly was denied entry on the grounds of – well – being seen as a journalist. So, I‘d say it‘s risky to apply for a tourisr visa if you have a journalist visa from another country in your passport.

And yes, you should definitely contact your embassy. Btw, as a official journalist you‘ll have to accredit yourself at the ministry of information in Damascus after 24 hrs. and they will assign a governement employee to accompagny you throughout your travelsein Syria. Understandable after all the lies that have Bern Publisher about this Great country over the last decade by Western media . You‘ll have to pay for food and lodging of said employee. Best, Jan

Sorry for the tipos, am writing from 30 degrees Beirout… ;

Hi Joan, First of all, thank you for the great guide. I was so excited after reading your text, but then I looked at some comments and got pretty confused. So, to be clear: you have to get security clearance and visa to cross the border. You can ask for visa in local embassy, is that right? And after incident with German tourist, visas are now available only if you have booked tour? And tour operator is responsible for visa and security clearance, you don’t need to go to embassy? And there is currently no way for getting the clearance and visa without having to book the trip with travel agency? Once again, thank you for this brilliant site!

Hi Monika, yes, I know that this is confusing because everybody is getting different information/interpretation plus rules change every day. I wrote this post 2 months ago and the visa part already seems sort of outdated. Tomorrow will update it.

However, you got it 100% right. In summary, you can’t get a visa without booking a tour and, if you contact directly the agency, you don’t need to go to the embassy but I think that going through the embassy is cheaper (but slower) because you don’t have to pay the 300-400USD for the security clearance.

On the other hand, some rumors say that a few embassies like the one in Beirut and don’t know which Consulate/Embassy in Brazil don’t require the LOI but again, these are just rumors.

Joan, thank you for quick reply. I contacted Syrian embassy in Poland and they informed me that currently tourist visas are not issued at all. They told me to contact them again in two months. Wish me luck for the next time =)

Yeah, each embassy is a complete different world 🙁

Cześć Monika. I jak się Twoja historia skończyła? Jestem ciekaw bo również chciałbym pojechać na parę dni do Syrii. To Joan: Great article. I strongly appreciate that three are such people in Europe who can go to Syria, enjoy it and respect its law and fantastic people regardless of western media and western politicians WHO are responsible for syrian crisis. Greetings!

Hello everybody. I have just updated the visa section of the article. To be honest, the situation hasn’t changed much, meaning that getting the Syrian visa is still a pain, but based on new experiences from some travelers, I have re-written it and the process seems less confusing now. Please, remember that travel reports are more than welcome 🙂

Hi Joan There are a number of signs that a campaign against the rebels in Idlib is starting, which could explain the clamping down on visas and having to go on a tour. The govt isn’t going to want to have tourists going anywhere near fighting or undercover journalists using tourist visas. If so , Aleppo will be much more risky and there would be the risk of suicide bombings or attacks elsewhere. Personally I’d advise people to hold off on booking tours until the picture is clearer – when major fighting starts, which is only a question of when, not if, tours might just get cancelled anyway.

Amazing Article! I want to visit Damascus, Homs, Hama, and Aleppo from Jordan do any of you guys now any buses that go from amman to damascus? If so plz let me know 🙂 also I want to apply for a Syrian visa so do you guys know any cheap government secure agencies that issue them? Once again thank you!

Hi Mahdi, there are a few agencies listed on the article

Hi there is a company called jett which has buses from amman to damascus and if you are jordinian i dont think you need a visa

Thanks for the advice but I checked the Jett website but it seems that there is no bus that goes from Amman to Damascus if you do find it send me a screenshot somehow 🙂

Syria is not safe and will not be safe until the murdering psychopath Bashar Assad is gone.

Lori I wasn’t asking for your opinion on Assad so plz stop btw the only way Syria will be stable is if Assad is in power and everyone knows that, btw going on topic if there aren’t any buses how or where would you find taxis in Amman going to Damascus

Lori I wasn’t asking for your opinion on Assad so plz stop btw the only way Syria will be stable is if Assad is in power and everyone knows that, btw going on topic if there aren’t any buses how or where would you find taxis in Amman going to Damascus and is it possible just to rent a car by yourself and travel throughout Syria?

Hello I am making wild plans to travel from Amman to Kurdistan to enter Turkey from Syria, Aim is to cycle home from Jordan back to Europe. I know there were many conflicts there between the Kurds and IS, but i want to hear if anyone knows anything about this region/ traveling all trough Syria nowadays.

Someone can link me to someone or something?

All I can tell you is that you can’t travel around most Syria and the border with Turkey is closed. It is not the right time to cross Syria on a bicycle

Hello and thanks for the very informative article. Did you have or foresee any difficulties visiting other countries now that you have a Syrian stamp on your passport? Israel is now definitively a No-Go but I was wondering if other countries like the US might be difficult to visit afterwards. Thanks a lot! Hey

Hi Nicola, my Algerian visa was rejected. They didn’t tell me the reasons but I suspect it was due to the Syrian visa. Otherwise, it didn’t make sense

Nicola, That’s not true! If you have a passport with a Syrian (iranian, etc) stamp you can still visit visit Israel. As for the USA, you’ll need a visa (even if you needed before) if you visited the country after 2011. Bf th war I travelled Syria-Jordan-Israel, without any problem.

Joan, como estás? I´m a brazilian national applying for a tourism visa for Syria. As I don’t know anyone from Syria, I’ll have to inform in the application form that my contacts in the country are the hotel managers where I’ll be staying at. I liked your suggestion about the Green hotel. Do they have a website? Would you still recommmend Mohammed so that I can get in touch about a reservation? Or any other hotels I can call or write them? Thank you!

Hi Guilherme, yes, try to contact Mohammed, he is working there still. You can make reservations in other hotels and contact them, but I don’t know anyone personally

Hi there Joan,

this is an update about my sucessful trip to Syria in August, 2019, that might be useful for other travelers. I required a visa at the Syrian embassy in Sao Paulo, by filling an one-page form. It took less than a month and around USD 15 to get my 15-day visa. I booked a 5-night tour with The Golden Target tour company – recommended by Eva, von @evazubeck. It was simply amazing. My itinerary was: Damascus – Palmyra – Homs – Hamra – Aleppo – Crac des Chevaliers – Maaloula/Saydnaya. I had a driver and an outstanding guide (Tayseer) with me, full time. The driver pick me up at my hostel in Beirut and drove me straight to Damascus. Border crossing was wasy and everyone was very friendly. I paid around USD 1600, all included. Hotel rooms were amazing, including my 2-night stay at a five-star ottoman-damacean mansion in old the town in Damascus (Beit Mamelouk Hotel).

We normally started our day at 8:00 AM and finished at 10:00 PM. We saw a lot, no hurry. Every 10/20 km there was a military check point. The agency provided all permits and it was very easy to get through. Everywhere was safe. My guide and some cops/military would always give me some advices on my personal safety when walking around.

Although it sounds a fancy trip for backpackers like me, it was worth it and I had a fantastic genuine experience. I met hundreds of locals in the streets, cafes, road sides etc. It was beautiful. I have been to almost 70 countries, but Syria , blew me away.

Thanks for you post. I highly recommend everyone to go to Syria.

Guilherme, 31, Brazil

hi thank you for everyone, am from dubai want to travel damascus, and, aleppo for business purpose, is it safe to travel this city, can you advice any precautions. thank you

Hi Joan! Thank you so much for writing this article. I would love to travel to Damascus; I contacted Mr. Ayoub like you suggested. Is there any way you could give him a heads up so he knows to look out for my message?

Hi Irene, I think it is better if you wait for him to reply. He will-

Also, another question–will it be hard getting into Israel if I have a Syrian stamp on my passport?

Thanks again! Irene

Read this: https://againstthecompass.com/en/avoid-israeli-passport-stamp/

Hi. I travelled to Syria many times before the war – as a lone woman. And I never had any problems. To the contrary I was treated like a princess, with a huge amount of respect. If you dress conswrvatively and respect the culture, I don’t see why the wonderful Syrian sense of hospitality would have changed.

Im looking foward to go to syria for the first time How do i need to dress to go there??

Hi i am syrian it doesnt matter how you dress we are very open here but dont wear very short or exposing cloths

Hi joan i am a mexican citizen who looks to travel to syria in the future, what are the thing i need to do before i travel there to syria???

Hi Angel, you just need to do what says in the visa section of this post

Its a relief to know that and for me its amazing the idea to travel there, i really pray for the conflict to end and peace shall return to all syria

i am from Saudi arabia and i want to spend my vacation in syria ASAP, can anyone help me out? i have been reading so many articles and it seems so hard, can i travel by plane or by crossing border i have no idea, its so confusing! do i just have to make a tourist visa and a ticket and then i can fly from jeddah,riyadh(saudi arabia) to amman,or damascus (i dont know where the airport is). is that it? please let me know!

Hey, I’m Syrian and I’ve read your article and I really want to thank you about everything you said. We work too hard to show the world what the poor media don’t show, We have terrific nature, awesome historical places from too many cultures, delicious traditional food, and the most welcoming and heartwarming people you will ever met. When you add unbelievable views, delicious food and talented people you meet around here that what makes Syria just amazing. I’d love to help anyone wants to visit Syria with what I’m capable of and let you know about the best places to stay and visit. feel free to Email me: [email protected]

Hi Joan, thanks for putting all this super helpful information together. Do you happen to have any information about the border crossing procedure between Kurdistan Iraq + Rojava / Northern Syria in Semalka? I heard that the KRG sometimes issues permits to foreigners but I don’t know under which circumstances. Best regards from Germany, Karoline.

Hi Karoline, I don’t have any information, but the only issue here is that I have my doubts that you would be able to go to Damascus, as you would have to go through definitely NO-GO zones for tourists. Assuming they give you that permit, you’d be just able to visit Kurdistan, but even then, Syrian Kurdistan is not as autonomous as Iraqi Kurdistan, or at least the Syrian Government doesn’t recognize them as such, so I am not sure if you would also find there pro Al-Assad checkpoints. I would definitely do more research about it if I was you.

Please make a detailed Lebanon and Syria border crossing guide! And explain how you get the visa at the border! Keep the amazing work up!

It’s already explained in this article – There’s not much more to say about it

Hi Joan, I want to ask that I am a Pakistani and currently living in Germany doing my Masters here.In October,I am going to Sharjah UAE for the Internship for three months.During that time,I want to visit Syria to visit Damascus and Aleppo.Do you think that I will get the visa in that short time period of three months. Regards, Ahsan

hello, the visa process takes 1 week. contact Mr Ayoub and he will give more details about it

Hi Joan, I just got back from a few days in Damascus. It was awesome from transport from Beirut to visa clearances to everything. Through your blog I found out how this was all possible so thank you..

thank you for your feedback 🙂

Hi Kelly… your name was in our clearance 🙂 so… may i ask you how was your trip? Did you see many non arab tourists there? Is the city ok to be visited? Thank you sooooo much!

can I ask if you visited with the tour or independent?

thanks Paul

My husband and I booked a 3 day Damascus tour for the next montb and I can confirm they are super professional. Clearance has just arrived and all was pretty smooth. Details will follow… stay tuned

Great, thanks! 🙂 Let us know it goes!

Hi Marzia, Looking forward to connecting with you as am I yet to book my tour but will definitely do it since I’d love to visit Syria during my stay in Lebanon (I am going in October). Could we connect via email for instance to share experiences?

Sure, with pleasure. Mail me to [email protected]

Thanks, Marzia, just sent you a message!

amazing work.have you something to follows on Facebook ,i want to show all my friends AND to all the stupid people out there who still believe the shit in the news.

Thank you but please, keep the insults out of this page 🙂

Great info, thank you. I only carry a US passport, but have family in Lebanon, not far from Anjar. In the past, I’ve been able to just show up at the border, and been given a visa for 17.00 USD (from what I recall). I’m going with a friend, who has a US passport, at the end of November and was interested in knowing if this would be possible or not without having anything. We’re just wanting to visit Damascus, than head to Amman. I also have family in Sweida (Druze). It’s not a huge issue, as we can fly to Amman from Beirut, but would love to go back to Damascus for a few days. Many years ago, I took a train from Damascus to Amman, which was amazing. If a 350.00usd security clearance is the only option, I’m probable will not be able to afford that. Thanks again.

Hi there, the situation is getting more and more complicated for American citizens. I suggest you contact the person mentioned in this article to assist you with it.

If you would like to stay only in Damascous for 1 day, be really carefull with transportation connections, as a 5/6 hour delay while taxing the beirut – Damascus road is a huge possibility and you can easely miss a plane 😉 my suggestion is not to have a too tight schedule 🙂 good luck

I sent Mr. Ayoub an email using the address provided here, and it worked, he responded, but his company will not do tours for US citizens, as it’s to difficult to obtain (his words, not mine)

Yes he told me the same for US Citizens. Can anyone give advice on perhaps any other options to crossing the border from Lebanon into Syria as a US passport holder only? Or entering from another direction or country perhaps? I would like to visit in October and it’s very important to me that I visit.

I have just returned from a trip to Syria, it has been an unforgettable experience, very enriching. Without a doubt, the best and most interesting of all my trips until now. Many thanks to Joan and his website: Excellent prices, very good guides, everything very serious, efficient and well organized. Ayoub and his colleagues are great professionals and very kind, always ready to help the traveler. I chose the 5-day tour, which includes Damascus, Crac des Chevaliers, Aleppo, Hama, Maalula and Seidnaya.

The price of the tour (in my case around 900 €) includes visa clearance, transport between Beirut and Damascus (round trip), hotels in Syria (with breakfast), car journeys from one city to another (with driver), and entrances to places of interest (museums, castles, etc). As Joan points out in his post, this is the most effective, quickest, easiest and cheapest way to visit Syria and make the most of your stay in this wonderful country. Of course, it is cheaper to take care of everything yourself, applying for a visa at the nearest Syrian embassy; but being granted a visa can take several months. Therefore, hiring the services of a tourist agency is the best option (at least for the moment).

Luckily, the war is almost over: The cities are crowded with people at all times. Shops, restaurants, souks and markets vibrate with life and activity (both in Damascus and Aleppo). It cannot be denied, however, that the cruel war has left its mark: Of the cities I saw, especially in Homs (we drove there from Damascus to Aleppo and vice versa) and in Aleppo (where the old town near the citadel has been practically destroyed by bombs and missiles). But the Syrians are rebuilding their country. I saw many volunteers working on the removal of rubble. Many refugees have returned to the country, which is excellent news. On the roads there are many military checkpoints, but they are fast and fluid; soldiers don’t stop cars for long (at least this was in our case). They just control passports, checking that everything is OK, and that there are no “stowaways” (or weapons) hidden in the trunk. The terrorists (whom the media insist on euphemistically calling “rebels”) are entrenched in Idlib and its surroundings, but the rest of the country (under the control of the Syrian army) is extremely safe (probably safer than certain neighborhoods in some big European and American cities…). With the exception (apart from Idlib) of some areas in the north, of the border with Turkey, where there are sporadically collusions between Kurdish armed groups, illegal incursions from Turkey and Islamist gangs.

Many people believe that Syria is living a civil war, when the Syrians I had the opportunity to meet confirmed to me that many of the so-called “rebels” are not even Syrians, but foreign jihadists from all over the world (including non-Arab countries such as Afghanistan and Pakistan, as well as from Caucasian regions such as Chechnya). It is very similar to the situation in Yugoslavia in the 1990s (history repeats itself).

In Damascus I walked through much of the city (especially the old town around Bab Touma, with its narrow alleys), visited the impressive Umayyad mosque, the Azzem palace (now a museum of Ottoman occupation), the national museum (with archeological pieces of great antiquity and value, some of them from Palmira), the craftsmen’s market, or the Via Recta (straight street), where St. Ananias converted St. Paul. The Crac des Chevaliers is a huge fortress on a hill close to Homs, where the Crusaders where (among others). In Aleppo, the archaeological museum is still being restored, but I visited the citadel (built by Saladin), from which there are spectacular views of the entire city. Hama is famous for its norias (waterwheels), which supply water to the region. Maalula is a beautiful mountainous village not far from Damascus, where most of the inhabitants are Christians and still speak Aramaic. Seydnaya is very close to Maalula, also in a mountainous area, and there are very old monasteries and churches, from the time of the first Christians. During my trip I also saw other tourists (from Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Germany…). They were still relatively few, but it is already something very positive and hopeful to see that, even if it is “with eyedrops” tourists start to come again (which is very good for the economy of the country, thus favoring its reconstruction).

In Syria people are very nice and open, very kind and hospitable. The Syrians are happy to see tourists again. When they found out that I was a foreign visitor, they greeted me with a big “you are welcome!” Many speak some English, but it’s not like in Lebanon, where almost everyone speaks English and/or French. So it is useful to learn a few words of Arabic, the most basic will do. So the Syrians will be even happier, seeing the visitor’s interest in their culture and language.

So, shukran ktir (thank you very much) to Joan and to this page. And tahya Suria! (Long live Syria).

Thanks you so much for taking your time in writing this awesome review and glad you had an awesome time!

I am hoping to go on a tour in Syria. I was just wondered if you could allay any safety concerns – was there anything concerning at all you experienced during your trip ? I am a female UK citizen and I would be travelling with one other female. Thank you so much for any insights. From your comment and those of others it appears that it should all be safe but I just wanted to ask to confirm.

Hello Jen, everything was perfectly safe 🙂 Best regards, Felix

Hi Joan. Thank you for such a fantastic article .. it’s full of great info. I’m just wondering .. how long do you recommend staying in Damascus for? I’d really appreciate your insight on this. Thanks so much, Mel

two full days at the very least!

Thanks so much.

Hi Joan, I’m a journalist looking into writing a feature about people going on holiday in Syria and I wonder if I could ask you a few questions? It’s obviously an unusual travel destination and one which many people might associate with war and violence because of it’s recent history. But there’s plenty of tripadvisor reviews from people who have visited in recent years, so I’m trying to speak to some people who have been to ask their perspective. Please reply if you would be interested to talk. Many thanks! Tom

Thanks, I just replied to your email.

Hi everyone, Thank you very much Joan for this amazing information! I want to visit a Syrian friend, but I do not want to ask her to provide a LOI, to avoid that her details are put under audit or anything. This rules out the embassy route and I will try to get the security clearance + visa through the tourism agency you recommend. My question is: can I have any problem if I buy the minimum tour (one day I guess) and then I spend 5 or 6 days in Syria with my friend? or do I need to be accompanied all the time? I could even pay for 1 day tour and not use it at all (or use it only to go from Beirut to Aleppo). Thank you! 🙂

Hi Alberto, this is a concern Ayoub should answer but in any case, I think it is a bit unlikely, basically because the agency you go with is fully responsible for you, so I doubt they will let you roam around freely because if anything happened to you, they would be fucked as well

Hello, My friends and I may be visiting the Middle East next year and want to visit Damascus. We are very respectful of culture and the crisis but I’m concerned about perception. I have 3 questions. How are American Tourists treated? My second question is how are black people treated in Syria (Damascus specifically)? I’m traveling with a friend from Nigeria as well. Any special advice for entry for Nigerian passport holder?

Hi Karmin, I don’t really know what is their perception and attitude towards people from certain nationalities like yours but just to let you know that as of today, they aren’t issuing visas to Americans anymore, but you should contact Mr. Ayoub to ask about the current situation, as well as what are the requirements for Nigerians.

Just saw a girl on YouTube make a visit into Syria from Lebanon and I must admit it has given me itchy feet to visit Syria. You and your blog also. Maybe at the start of next year, need to earn and save some money. Hopefully no issues travelling on British passport.

Read all the comments and no mention of Canadian passport… how is it treated? Same as Australia and New Zealand is my thinking, but if someone could clarify? 🙂

I was quite impressed by the volume of information shared on this website. Thank you! I am of Syrian decent. My father was part of the first born generation in America. HIs parents were born in Homs and remained there until they came through Ellis Island in 1910. The name in Syria was Elian but was changed by Ellis Island officer to “Ellien.” My father passed away in 2017 at t he age of 90 and his dream of going back to the land of his family was never realized. Now my generation is all who is left in the family and I would love to make the journey. I have to admit that I’ve been hesitant to make such a journey given the political unrest but it would be life long dream for me and for my entire family. I may be traveling alone-not sure I feel comfortable bringing my adult children with me. I worry about many things-carrying cash but not feeling comfortable with using credit cards even if they could be used, remaining in contact with family at home while traveling, having no knowledge of the language, risks related whatever political unrest may exist at the time of travel. If I do make a trip to Syria, it’s not going to happen this year for sure. Thank you in advance for any comments about my post.

Thanks for sharing your story. BTW, people with Syrian ancestry/background can get a visa much more easily.

Hi Joan, What do you think if i book a day tour with proper travel agent,then can i walk/travel independently for rest trip around 4-5 day? 5 day trip 1000 USD quite expensive for me. Thanks

Hi Joe, The travel agency won’t allow you as you will fully be their responsibility. In any case, I have been told that for the last couple of weeks, they are getting more and more strict with foreigners that walk around without a guide or a local person, even in the old city of Damascus

What do you exactly mean by getting more strict? Plus, you did go on a solo trip, nothing bad happened. Why not just pay for the clearance and go your own way…

Hola Joan, Soy Alicia, periodista. Estoy escribiendo un reportaje sobre el turismo en Siria y me gustaría hablar contigo. Si tienes un momento este miércoles o jueves te lo agradezco. Un saludo,

Hey, I’m travelling to Syria next month and I found all the info you gave very interesting. Are you sure “IATI seguros” cover syria though? This is what I found in their contract “The cover provided under the Policy excludes those countries that, during the Insured’s trip or stay abroad, are in a state of war, siege, insurrection or armed conflict of any kind, even when this has not been officially declared, and those that are specified in the invoice or in the Particular Conditions.” It would be great if you could somehow verify this info and edit the blog, cause lots of people could be dangerously misled!

Hi Maria, thanks for raising this topic. A few points to clarify: – First of all, IATI won’t cover you in case, let’s say, you are hit by a bomb or any terrorist attack. For this, you should hire a travel insurance specialized in war zones. I used to recommend First Allied that they are no longer providing coverage for people who travel for tourism purposes, only business – Second of all, if you have a car accident, break your leg, lose your luggage, etc, and the reason is a non-related to war event, they will cover you – However, what they mean with the statement you attached is that if you are in an actual war zone, the medical assistance is very limited, so they won’t be able to help you – This means that their coverage is restricted to specific regions. As of today, the only place which is in actual war is Idlib. If you go there and something happens to you, they won’t be able to help you, so your policy will remain invalid. However, Damascus is today a safe place, so you will be fully covered. Hope this clarifies.

I’m about to leave tomorrow for Beirut and onwards to Damascus. Alone. I just read the update that lone tourists get into trouble even in Damascus. What exactly does that report or source said? I’m expecting my clearance any minute now from a friend’s friend in Damascus but this got me worried.

George, is there any way I could contact you? I am planning to go alone too. And would really like to ask about your experience and clarify some stuff. My e-mail address is [email protected]

If you don’t want to put your contact here, please just drop me an e-mail, so I could write further questions to you. Thank you so much!

Wondering how it works as well tbh. I think as a white person you just need to be with Syrian all the time (when I was there we were accompanied all the time and taken care of) – otherwise military might look strangely on you

I just came back from a trip to Damascus with mr. Ayoub from Marotta (if you are reading that, once again, lots of love from Poland!) and everything was in completely perfect order, from start to the sad ending of leaving the beautiful city. I definitely had the most memorable experience of my life and I encourage everyone to go and see it for yourself – it would definitely change your perspective in a positive way.

Thank you Ayoub for organizing everything for me. Hope to see you very soon!

thanks fore your positive vibes, really appreciate it 🙂

thank you so much Wiktor! much love from Syria . all the best

Thank you buddy <3 Hope to be back very soon, sending all the vibes and love back to you!

It is really nice to see the excitement to visit Syria. As a Syrian coming from Damascus and living now in Germany, it makes me really happy to see people trying to reach my beloved country, even though it is still a post war zone, but yet full of history and stories to tell ( Damascus is the oldest still inhabited capital in the world). I have read this article very carefully and found most of it very accurate and would really like to thank Joan for the effort to make it easier for other to experience Syria, the cradle of civilizations. As a Syrian, visiting Syria regularly, I would like to add a couple of things since my last visit in July: 1- Most of the check points in Damascus are now gone, since the entire south region of Syria is secure and the borders with Jordan is open again. 2- Flying to Beirut then to Damascus on road is the easiest/cheapest option, but again it depends on where you come from, so the are flights to Damascus airport from Riad, Dubai, Sharjah, Doha, Kuwait, Baghdad, Tehran and maybe Tunisia ( Syrian airline, Cham wings). 3- As for lone female travelers, i can see no reason to be hesitated or afraid, since Syrian community is really open minded and tourist-friendly. Plus Syrian culture has much respect for independent women which you can find in many different areas of every day life. 4- As for exchange rate, there are couple of things that needs to be cleared: The are two rates: the “official” rate by the central bank of Syria which is relatively stable ( now about 434 SYP for 1 USD) and the black market price which changes by the hour and is hard to keep track with ( now about 625 SYP for 1 USD). 5- Syria and Israel are still in a war state, and Israel still doing, until this day Arial bombing to different locations in Syria with the entire world staying quiet about it. The borders are closed, with UN buffer zone since 1970’s with many Syrian lands occupied by the Israelis. An Israeli stamp on your passport will ban you entrance to Syria and vice versa. 6- In Syria there is no racism towards religion/color/ethnicity/etc.. we are all humans and every one is welcome, you will find full shades of humanity in the streets plus all kind of religions (even Jews, which was a surprise for some people). Just be respectful and you shall be respected back. 7- Couch Surfing is functional in Syria, as i was a host until 2018 when i moved to Germany. But you should always look for good references and avoid the creeps like in every other country. 8- Money wise: Cash and cash only. no Credit/debit/online/mobile/Googlepay/Applepay payments. Payments in currencies other than the Syrian Pound are not accepted. There are plenty of official exchange points in all major cities. 9- I personally recommend to visit Maaloula ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maaloula ) as it is the last city to speak western neo-aramaic language (the actual language of Jesus Christ) plus it’s a very important christian monuments and history. (Yes, Syria is full of christian history and attraction sites and has a big Christian community too). 10- If you speak to locals, it is recommended to say Crisis or situation, as referenced here in this article. what i want to add is you can too say war, since we see it as war including many nationalities from all around the world. But in no circumstance, I mean NEVER call it a civil war, because this is how the war was being falsely advertised in the west, especially by US/UK news agencies, which will take us to the next point. 11- Being a journalist is definitely a bad point to get in. it is not impossible though. i don’t know if there is any Development regarding this subject. 12- If you, for any reason, got sick in Syria, you can go directly to a pharmacy, where they probably would understand and speak English, then they will guide you what to do or where to go, (you can get prescription medications without a prescription if the pharmacist sees it fit, plus medications are super cheap). 13- Always have your passport on you, all the time. 13- If you have any other questions, i would gladly try to answer it to the best of my knowledge, and you can write to me in Arabic, English, German or French.

thanks for your amazing feedback man!

How is it possible to use Couchsurfing if foreigners can only move around in the country when together with a guide?

I am talking about independent travelers, i hosted a guy from China and another one from Malta back in 2018, I don’t have information on how to obtain a visa as an independent traveler, but i know it is possible.

Unfortunately its impossible unless you got your visa thru a travel agency, that’s the bnew rules

Thanks for all the updated information. Syria is on my list. Planning my second trip to Lebanon, will see what is possible to add Syria this time. So I will keep following this site (big thanks to Joan for sharing his experience). Best regards from Germany

5. I repeat what I said in a previous comment. I visited Israeli with a Syrian stamp in my passport(in fact, my itinerary was Syria-Lebanon-Syria-Jordan-Israel). So, it is not true that visitors to Syria are banned from visiting Israel. 10. I am confused. Syrians I know tell me Assad and his ethnic group, a minority, control most of the country and and other groups like the sunni majority and the kurds, are discrimininated by them . The war, or whatever you may call it, has put these groups and others fightinh against each other. They are all Syrians and so if they fight against each other, in English, it is a civil war. Care to enlighten me why a civil war can not be called a civil war?

HELLO JOAN TORRES: I thank you from the bottom of my heart for a most enjoyable trip to Damascus on Sept. 2019, made possible by your informative and generous advice through your exceptional posts. I contacted many consulates, embassies, travel agents, and got no replies. Your recommending Ayoub Smadi of Marrota Travels, answered my requests within hours. He personally, with office staff as Ghaidaa and Jasmine, the brilliant and amiable border expert, provided me a most memorable visit. I wish you long lasting success in all your endeavours.

Glad you had a great time with Ayoub. I only recommend the best!

Dr. Miguel It was a pleasure meeting you, i hope you are still in a good health, thanks for the recommendation and the good words, looking forward to see you again in Damascus. Be safe, god bless

Hey man! I unexpectedly realized we have a friend in common, Hadi from Tripoli in Beirut 🙂 We are very good friends and he personally recommended me to contact you about my ideas plans to travel to Syria! (just 3 days in Damascus actually). Could you assist please? Thanks!!

Hey man, that’s awesome! Yeah, I met Hadi almost 3 years ago during my trip to Lebanon. What do you want to know about Syria?

Hi Joan! Amazing post- thank you so much for taking the time to curate this resource and for connecting me with Mr. Ayoub. I’ve been in touch with him via email and Whatsapp over the past month – he’s provided me with great resources for various itineraries that his company organizes within the country. Communication has been prompt and professional- however I just found out today that my security clearance application was rejected and that all Americans would be rejected for the time being. From the beginning, he set expectations appropriately, that there was a 40% chance of it being approved as an American, which I considered to be too good to be true, and diplomatic relations have eroded since then. I figured this might be a helpful update since the situation is always evolving. Glad I tried and glad my experience was with him- this just gives me more time to explore Lebanon, which of course you provided an incredibly helpful blog post for as well. Thanks again, and safe travels!

Hey Andrea, thank you so much for your positive feedback, and update, and I am very sorry to know that your security clearance was rejected 🙁 Truth is that the diplomatic relations between both countries, USA and Syria, are so volatile and you never know what can happen

Hi Joan, Mr. NOUR HAIDAR keep appearing here. Do you know him?? Does anyone ever contacted him? TQVM

Hi, thanks for a great article. I’m planning a trip to Lebanon in the spring and a few days in Syria sound really interesting. Actually now I’m considering the option of continuing to Jordan – as travelling on Icelandic passport I have visa on arrival to Jordan, do you think that arriving from Syria would affect that status?

Hello, I would like to travel in April to Lebanon and Syria and I also thought about to visit Jordan from Syria. I have still a lot of douth. Specially about Visum and be able to across every country that I want to visit. If doesn’t annoyed you, I would like to be in contact with you in order to feel more calm while I’m organising my solo travel. Thank you

Joan, thank you very much for such a detailed guide. Are there any updates about visiting Syria alone, without travel agency? Is it still really hard to get clearance?

Hi Joseph, As far as I know, the situation hasn’t changed. Unless you have very strong contacts, your only way to get the clearance is via a travel agency and they will only give it to you if you book a tour with them

Hi Joan I’m Syrian living abroad and haven’t seen my home, my family in 10 years. Your words about my home country dropped me in tears. I thank you from my deep heart for this article.

Syrians are very cool nice people, warm heart and welcoming (our problem was always the government not the people, like any other threatened communist regime, zero humane). Of course I will be so much happy to hear that tourists are visiting Syria, Tourism in many countries is one of the main source of income for local economies, in addition for many people who are stranded within syria with no possibility to travel nowhere, for those; seeing a tourist is like seeing santa-cruise on Christmas.

You are always welcome, please be safe and ask a lot before you travel to Syria.

And Joan, couple of years ago I’ve visited Barcelona, it was the most beautiful vacation I’ve ever had, you should be proud of such a place, next time I’m visiting Spain will contact you for an advice.

Thanks for your kind words, and if you come back to Barcelona, let me know and we can meet up for a coffee/drink. Cheers!

Hello. Thank you so much for all the Information. It’s really help. I would like to travel to Syria in April, but the travel agency look like really expensive. More than 1600€ and I’m looking for another alternatives. I don’t know if the travel agency that you know he books just the guide or also the hotels like mine. Any extra information that you think I have to take on mind I would appreciate. Thank you in advance.

Hi Cristina, i already have an itinerary for April 6-11 in syria, with travel agency and german guided tour. Are you interested to join? Maybe we can get in contact, if you want.

I’m glad for this post, seriously Seria is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and I used to travel to that part of the world frequently. It a shame because most people would be put off visiting even when it safe.

I have some news!! In 16/2/2020 all syrians assured us by telling us that aleppo is now safe! That means that war is finished

I’ve travelled to Syria in October 2019 as an independant travel. The situation was perfectly safe in Damascus and surroundings (despite it can change from one moment to the other.. Car bombs in February 2020 in Damascus). Regarding the visa, it seems to be the most difficult part of the process of the travelers, in my case I applied in the embassy in Buenos Aires because I’m argentinian. I filled a simple paper with a reference contact in Syria (a syrian friend in my case). It’s important to know that your syrian reference will be contacted by the Security Office in Syria. They will ask about the relation between you and other questions for security purposes. This is the most important part of the application. Without an sponsor you won’t receive the clearance approvals. It took 4 weeks in total to have my visa stamped on my passport (the same type of visa before 2011) . Also, the authorisation is online and you don’t need to have visa stamped on passport. It cost 105 U$ and I only paid when approved. I traveled in a shared taxi from Beirut some hours before the chaos has started and roads became closed. The trip took almost 3 hours. Many checkpoints in the syrian roads but everything straightforward. I’ve walked the city accompanied and unaccompanied and never was detained for anything both in the old city and in new Damascus. I took taxis without any problem so I don’t know why you say it’s mandatory to be accompanied by a local all the time. The only you must take care is avoid take pictures of the military checkpoints. Damascus is without any doubt one of the most interesting cities to visit in the world but you should know that situation in this part of the world is so much volatile and you never know what can happen. Enjoy it!

Since reading your blog a few days ago I have made a booking for May with Ayoub at Marrota travel. A couple of emails and Ayoub is getting my Visa which will take 1-2 weeks. He has various well priced packages for Damascus only or longer for Homs. Included are getting visa organised and car pickup from hotel and return in Beirut. The hotel choice looked great. As an elderly female travelling alone I have chosen Beit Al Wali which looks fabulous. Am so excited will post more after my trip.

thanks, can’t wait to hear it!

Extremely educational article. Although I am not thinking of traveling there anytime soon, your article was a very interesting read.

I have just returned from trip to Damascus and I can say I’m so happy I took this trip and experienced Damascus myself. I felt perfectly safe, maybe even safer than back home. Food is so tasty! Beers can be found everywhere. Seeing locals living local life and talking to them was priceless! It’s totally opposite to what they serve us in western media! Trip (and security clearance) was organized by Ayoub and the guides were girls from Marotta agency. They were all so professional! I fully recommend them!

Thanks for sharing your experience with us 🙂

Hello, please confirm if google maps works in syria without the use of a vpn. I heard that it is jammed by the government. Or if there is any substitute?

i have been asked by a friend to come to Damascus and help her with a yoga retreat, but that seems impossible as a visa can only be acquired by taking a tour. I contacted the tour operator marrota, but he couldn’t help me or give me any solution. So the only way to go to Syria is with a fixed schedule tour. And you cant stay with a friend for 10 days.

Dear Joan I find that we are like-minded people in the sense that I love the Middle East and its people that cannot be quenched. Over the past 20 years or so, I’ve had the pleasure of visiting Morocco, Tunisia,Egypt, Lebanon,Syria and Palestine. I just cannot get enough of these countries especially Ancient Egypt (have made six visits) and remain hungry for more….does it ever ?, and dear, dear Syria. My heart bleeds for this now tragically destroyed country that I visited on three separate occasions and vowed to return. I must return. Last year I spent A month in Egypt and on my way back I stopped over in Dubai for my connecting flight. On my last night in Dubai, I decided to have a coffee in the foyer of the hotel I stayed at. Somebody approached me , sat down, we chatted and when he told me that he was from Syria. I couldn’t contain myself’ hugged him and wept tears of joy. Such was th mix of emotions that had weighed upon me on that unforgettable meeting. I can go on forever, it seems. . But, well, I won’t. I would like to know whether I could go there – I am not afraid- I trust and love and miss Syria so much. The Australian advisory is “Do not travel”, and I do know that when people returned here , that were suspect, even locked up,Do you have any info in this regard ? Thanks for reading this. I’d better stop now with kind regards. Francois

hey Francois, thank you so much for your beautiful comment, and here’s hoping you can go back to Syria soon! As per your concern, I have a Syrian stamp in my passport for more than a year now and didn’t really have any issues other than my Algerian visa being denied. I hold a Spanish passport and never heard of anyone getting into trouble with their governments

Thanks, Joan for your response. I think that I haven’t made my query clear enough. I may well be paranoid so that my problem was somewhat shrouded in secrecy. I actually meant that there were. I believe , instances where Australians travelling to “no go” countries were denied returning to Australia or interrogated overturning. Anyway, should I decide to greenback on a trip to Syria, I’ll take the bull by the horns and see where it all ends up. Best wishes to you. Francois

Hello, Thanks for your interesting articles about Syria ! I’m planning to visit Syria in the future, once the COVID-19 will be over. I’ve found an association in Paris that will help me with the visa. I have several friends who visited Syria recently due to their associative / religious ties there and enjoyed their time here.

Hi Stef, do you have any updates on you trip regarding Syria? How is the situation as a independent traveler at this point and time?

Hello Simon,

Unfortunately, I had to cancel it because of coronavirus… I’ll wait for Syria to ease visa procedures. Getting a visa for independent traveller seems impossible.

Hi, thank you for these valuable comments about Syria and Lebanon. Can you please advise as to the feasibility of a motorcycle trip from Europe to Syrian and Lebanon? Coming from Europe (Switzerland), I’d like to travel through Turkey, Syria and Lebanon with my motorcycle this coming summer (2020), assuming that the restrictions due to the COVID19 situation will no longer be in force by then. Is it possible to travel in Syria and Lebanon with a vehicle registered in a foreign country? Is it possible to cross the borders between Turkey and Syrian, and Syria-Lebanon? I will want to push further south to Israel and Egypt. Do you know if the border between Lebanon and Israel is open for motorcyclists travelling with their own bike? Thanks.

Hi Francis, here are my answers: Turkey-Syria border – Closed Syria- Lebanon border – Closed Lebanon-Israel border – Closed

As per traveling around Syria on a motorcycle, I am not sure about it but what I can tell you is that. as of today, you can’t apply for a visa unless you book a tour, so traveling independently with your motorcycle could be difficult

Hi Francis, do you have any updates regarding the boarders Turkey-Syria/Lebanon-Syria? I am planing to cross Syria with my bicycle at the end of 2020 and the beginning of 2021. Cheers Simon

Thank you Joan!

Hi!, I’m Polish living in Oman. My husband (Egyptian) got a job offer from Syria and we are seriously thinking about moving there when the covid-19 crisis is over (we are thinking about beginning of 2021). I’m trying to find some recent information about travelling there and life in Syria now. The biggest concern for us is transporting our dog. I did not find any regular flights to Syria so I can check the requirements for transporting a pet. Are there any planes having regular flights to Damascus?

Dear Joanna, i live in Syria, the situation here is safe, don’t listen to the fake media. when Covid19 situation ends, you can transfer your dog with you easily by flight.

What is the situation near the archaeological sites at Mari, near Tell Hariri? Is visitation possible? Is it safe?

Mari(Tall Hariri) located in Syrian army controlled area’s , but it’s not possible to visit because it’s near the Kurdish control area’s .

I’m American, living in Damascus, Syria for nearly a year now. Life feels incredibly normal here, despite how it’s perceived in the media. It’s definitely not somewhere I’d rush to visit right now, especially considering the current economic crisis and the collapse of Lebanon, but I do hope that tourism will return to Syria one day. Syrians are incredibly kind and hospitable, and the country is so rich in history.

Hi everyone I’m nadr from homs city in the middle of the country All what he said above is actually right I can help any tourist who wants to come here and take a tour around the city Welcome to syria Wish you all the best ❤️

Hi Nadr. Thanks for being so kind and thoughtful. I am just curious what is a good time to visit Syria? A very good friend of mine is really keen to visit Syria and fortunately, I came across this post and thought to collect more details before I share with him. Thanks and looking forward hearing back from you soon

I would LOVE to visit Syria ..there are some awesome Free Syrians I have become friends with..but you will be a fool to try and visit with Bashar Al Assad still in some power..don’t think for very much longer though..HE GOT TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wouldn’t pay too much attention to your Syrian friends say, they might well use your friendship to promote a syle of government you would never live under. Or they might say what your government wants to hear as they claim asylum. Don’t blame them in the second instance. This is a travel site, but I will say not every Muslim wants to restore the Ummah and live under a constitution that is not secular. For Syria that’ll mean another few centuries of war, look at their history, centuries of attacks from east and west. The adoption of a Sharia constitution will inevitably lead to the ill-treatment of Christians and Muslim (inc. Sunni minorities), as Britain will spur them on. You might welcome that American man in for his 3rd term of office. His wife is Jewish so he could well send the Jews (Israelis) into Syria to commit another genocide. I wonder how the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood will fare under them. Hamas, the Egyptian Muslim Britherhood didn’t do too well. In case you really aren’t a Muslim fundamentalist, the Brothers are the only opposition in Syria. Its a clash of ideologies not political parties.

Thank you for sharing your story and perspective and doing it with such compassion and heart. This was simultaneously beautiful and heart-breaking.

Hi Joan, I was also in Lebanon in 2016. It was my first time in the Middle East and I went to visit my Aunt and Uncle after their baby, my cousin, was born. My Uncle is American and was working in Beirut where he met my Aunt, who is Lebanese but raised in Australia as her family fled the civil war. I absolutely fell in love with Lebanon and am grateful that we got to visit Journey, Byblos, Tripoli and Baalbek, which is 30 miles from the Syrian border. I wanted to go to Damascus but, as you know, it wasn’t doable as this was the height of ISIS. That being said, I never once felt unsafe in Lebanon and Beirut reminded me a lot of NYC, where I live. I’m hoping to get back to the Middle East once a Covid vaccine is released and your blog is my go to for up to date info. Long story short, thank you for the detailed information you always provide!

Thanks, Cara for sharing your great experience. Hope we all get a vaccine soon and you can go to Syria 🙂

I remember having read somewhere that Syria would do a visa system similar to the Iranian one. It would be great for us travellers. Did anyone hear anything about this ? Thanks, Stef’

Hi Stef, to be very honest and unfortunately, I seriously doubt it, not in the short term at least.

Hi, I’m planning to visit Syria around the end of this year from the UK but only concerned about the Covid, I’ve heard the border is open now. Any advice about going during the pandemic? or simply just recommend not to go?

hey, I’m from Lebanon, and I was planning to go to Syria. but Syrian friends that are living in Lebanon right now said that there is a lot of control at the Syrian borders and using or having USD is considered illegal and you might get some problems at the military checkpoints ( Like taking away your money …). The covid 19 is uncontrollable with no proper health system and Some regions are still unsafe. I don’t know if there are recent updates from locals that are living there or more recent traveling experiences.

Hi Kate, do you have any updates on your plan? I am also interested to visit Syria at the end of the year. Since I am in Turkey and travelling with my bicycle, I will most likely have to enter thru Lebanon. Any updates are appreciated. Cheers

Hi, I may change my plan to visit Syria next year around March given to the circumstance right now.

Hi, The borders and airports in Syria are open only to Syrian citizens and international organizations, who have obtained an entry visa through a close relationship with a Syrian citizen inside the country. Borders and airports are closed to tourism, there are no exceptions at the moment. It is a great hope to allow tourists to enter before Christmas. For those entering Syria currently, there is no home quarantine, the procedures followed are to check the PCR test and exchange cars at the border because no Syrian or Lebanese car is allowed to enter the borders of the other country.

Hello Joan,

I don’t travel as simply as you do. I prefer to have archaeologists show me around a country and I found a licensed archaeologist tour guide in Syria. The problem is that the government’s rule would require me to use an official tour company rather than just a government-loyalist tour guide, which I already intend to use. This would add more than $1000 to the cost of the trip. Do you know of any ways to get the requirement to use an official tour company waived so long as you’re accompanied by an official tour guide at all times?

By the way, while many travelers dislike the idea of a guide, I think using a knowledgeable archaeologist or historian tour guide is an excellent way to really learn about the history of the sites while increasing the labor intensity of tourism, thereby giving money and employment to a country that needs it, don’t you think? I’m just still angry at that German tourist for ruining things for the rest of us, even if you’re not lol.

Too bad they’ve shut the borders because of the coronavirus and currency crisis. Hopefully they will give me a visa this May after I show proof of vaccination.

Hi there! I think that going with a liscensed tour guide is enough but the problem is that in order to get your visa, you must get it through a tour operator

Hi My husband and I plan to drive to the UK from the UAE starting in October this year. COVID depending. Would we be able to drive from Lebanon to Turkey through Syria? Would this be safe? Would we be able to get a transit visa? Thanks Hanneke

Hi Hanneke, as of today, the Turkish-Syrian border remains closed. It will also be difficult to get a visa to travel around Syria independently by car, but you should contact the person I recommend on this blog

Hello, Joan! This post isn’t about Syria, though I am interested in visiting Syria one day, but I noticed that you mentioned that you are from Spain. Have you ever been/do you know anything about Barcelona? I was planning on traveling there in May 2020, but COVID put a stop to my plans. I still want to plan a different visit in the future because I have always wanted to travel to Spain. If it’s not too much trouble, could you give me some recommendations on where to go in Barcelona? Or, really, anywhere in Spain? Any advice would be great. Thank you so much for your time and I really enjoyed reading your blog.

Sincerely, Elly

Hi Elly, I moved to Barcelona now, but I suggest you visit my hometown area, anything around Cap de Creus and northern Costa Brava, from Palamós to Portbou

Hi, I am a Canadian who is looking to visit Syria in the summer (if the covid situation calms down). Do you know if the entry requirements have changed? Do I need to book a tour? Have the visa requirements changed? I have been told that I can contact the Syrian embassies in Brazil or Cuba to file a visa application.

Hi Kiki, so far, the country remains closed, so there aren’t any updates or changes regarding entry requirements

Thank you Joan! do you know where I can receive updates about it?

Syria is officially open to Iraqi tourist groups, government sources said that the country will soon open to all nationalities within two months.

I live in Syria currently, and i speak English like a native, if you ever needed help coming to Hama city i would be there 🙂

Hi, I’m an American who would like to visit Syria for 3 or 4 months starting in April or May. Is the situation the same? Is the government still expecting to open to tourists soon? Are there some good Arabic schools you could recommend?

I would recommend against this. There are a number of issues with your plan such as the length of time you want to stay, and how you intend to obtain your visa. As an American, you’ll also be under more scrutiny.

On the Syrian ministry of tourism website

It doesn’t mention , tour groups

I wonder if things have changed ? And people can travel independently

Hi Hasan, the info found in the Syrian ministry of tourism website, or any embassy’s will never be updated

Hi! Any updates regarding traveling to Syria? Are the entry requirements still the same? Do we still need to book a tour?

Hi there, the country is still closed due to COVID19

Hola Joan, Muchas gracias por esta valiosa informacion. I have a couple of questions for you, regarding going to Syria and taking some things to help an animal shelter there. Do you think that it would be better to buy the things there, or do you think that it would cause any problems to take some items with me?

Thank you very much in advance. E.

Hi Ericka, items like what? In any case, we can answer most tourism-related queries, but I don’t know the legislation regarding your matter

Thank you so much! Best regards, Ericka

Hi, So you get a max of 10 days to tour Syria? Can you go and visit the people who are in need of help and help them? Is it allowed?

I doubt it, and hope not because you could be Islamic State. I shared a dorm room in Beirut in 2016 with a nice young Muslim woman from Canada. She was going to the Sabra/Shatila area of Beirut to volunteer with the Palestinians, many of whom, by then, had come in from Syria. Her father had sent her over from Canada and she supported the Islamists so was hoping to go to Syria with a charity that operated in Beirut. I’m sorry to say volunteering or do-gooding has helped IS get in to Syria and the anarchists in to get in to support the Kurds. I will admit most of them arrived from Turkey and entered Syria illegally. Why can’t you just visit and accept the country as it is?

Just rung the embassy, seems country is still closed to tourists due to covid 14th Oct 2021. Said a personal invitation might be ok but don’t have any contacts there and cant seem to find anyone online yet 🙂

Update! The borders have seemingly reopened to international tourism; visas are being issued. I am still uncertain as to what the Covid-19 entry/exit formalities are, but PCR test(s) are likely necessary.

Are the tourist visas, issued to individuals or does one still require a guided tour group based in Syrian ?

Correct. Visas are now being issued again.

Thank you for the info.

Just to confirm, I visited in the first week of December 2021. Everything was fine, but due to uncertainty over the Omicron variant, I would recommend caution before travelling. Do not visit Syria if you have any political, journalistic or humanitarian interest in the country.

did you go independently or did you have a guide?

Thanks! Dani

Let me get this straight – they put a guy in jail for taking a photo with a building? Sounds like North Korea if you ask me. No thank you.

Hey Joan Been following you for a while and feeding for your expertise to plan my independent backpack trip. Thanks for your amazing content. I’d be very keen on joining your Syria expedition but it’s sold out. Any chance you’ll have a second one some time this year? Thanks

Hello Joao! Yes, I will most likely in May. If you allow me, i can add you to my email list so you will find out when it’s released. Sounds good?

Sound good, please do so and looking forward to it! Thanks

actually, I just realized that you were already in the list!

Hi Joan, please add me to the list for the Syria tour in May, gracias, [email protected] , Caroline Horca

Do tourists still need to remain with a tour group when in Syria?

Hi there. Awesome blog. Really. Thanks for sharing your experience and views with us. I am planning to spend a month studying Arabic and I was considering Cairo, but I have just found out that Syria is open, which is great. Do you know any Arabic language schools in Damascus? Also… If you have any info regarding accommodation for a 1-month stay I appreciate. Shoooookran.

Hi can you add me to the list for the tour in May. [email protected]

Hey Joan Just learned from your IG that you’re planning to run a second expedition to Syria in April!!! :):):)

The meeting point would be in Beirut so we’d need to get a visa for Lebanon and Syria. Would you recommend getting the visas in advance or on arrival both in Lebanon and Syria? Btw, I have a Portuguese passport.

On the other hand, in case someone tests positive for Covid and can’t make the expedition, what is the policy there in terms of payments and options?

Thanks Joao

Hey Joao, yes but that one is for Spanish and is fully booked! If you want, you can join one in March. 2 spots left.

Consulta: Te escribo desde Argentina. En caso de querer hacer un viaje con vos, como es para ciudadanos de LATAM? Sobre para ciudadanos argentinos que hoy tenemos restringida las transferencias en dólares. Salen desde España o tienen algún contacto allí? Espero viajar con ustedes en algún momento, sobre todo Siria o Irak. Gracias amigo y felicitaciones.-

Hi Joan! I’m interested in going to Syria with a group, but I saw you mentioned Americans cannot travel to Syria. Might that be a typo? I’m not able to find that stated anywhere.

Hello Erin, unfortunately, US passport holders are not allowed to visit syria atm. Are you in my newsletter? I’ll announce it there once this ban reverts

Okay. I wouldn’t use the word “banned.” It sounds like you’re not comfortable bringing American passport holders, but we are allowed in the country. I had a group of friends go during the election last year.

Most people reading this site are American, so I am the first person who wants Americans to visit Syria – I have taken many Americans into Iraq – but in Syria they are currently banned, yes, banned. Ask any agency, either local or foreign, and you will see that nobody can get you a visa for tourism purposes. If you don’t believe it, then try to get one you will see. They are expecting things to change in the future but as of today, you can’t.

Last year, the country was closed due to COVID. They only opened in November and Americans have never been allowed since then, so I seriously doubt that your friends managed to get there with a tourist visa, nobody could. Maybe they went with a pilgrim or business visa, but that’s a different story. We only work with tourist visas.

Could you tell me where you’re reading that information? I don’t see it stated on the US embassy’s or US State Dept page. They definitely discourage you from going, but I do not see anything stating US passport holders will not be allowed in. The State Dept even has a “if you decide to travel to Syria” section.

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/syria-travel-advisory.html

https://sy.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/#:~:text=The%20Department%20of%20State%20continues,for%20U.S.%20interests%20in%20Syria .

This is Syria, things arent written anywhere. My team in Syria works closely with the security department, the one who issues the security clearance to be able to purchase a tourist visa and I can assure you that they stopped issuing SC for Americans

Hello, am an Austrian traveler and would like to know if it is possible to walk by foot from Beirut to Damascus and from there further south to Jordan? In terms of visa and security… PS: Am on a pilgrimage and want to avoid public transport… Many thanks for your help and information in advance, Georg Richtsfeld.

Hi there… The thing is that you can’t get a visa unless you book a tour with a valid travel agency. The guide must go with you to travel between cities and in the hypothetical case walking into Syria on foot was allowed, I don’t know if the guide will want to join you on foot… I can try, and ask, but you definitely need to be with the guide.

I’m interested in this tour. I am an American passport holder but I also have an Armenian passport. I live in the USA. I know Americans can’t get into Syria, so I can use my Armenian passport. Will this be an issue if they also find out I live in the USA and am also an American citizen?

Hey Matthew! You can certainly apply with your Armenian passport. We had American dual citizens (Russian and Italian) born in the USA who joined our tours, but the approval takes a bit longer, and they get it 80% of the time, so it’s worth trying. In the hypothetical case you didn’0t get it, you’ll get a refund.

Hello, Am I able to visit Syria these days with an American passport?

Hey Dan! Unfortunately, still not possible…

It has been a great help to find this web site, just before traveling to give a hand to a religious ONG working on the field in Syria. So important to know carrying a credit card is nowadays useless there…

Hello. I have planned to go from Beirut to Damascus for a few days. I would like to know if there are still some not too expensive places to stay, hostels or whatever. Because i have many difficulties in finding one available. Thanks !

Hey Joan, according to Marrota Tourism and Travel Syria is issuing visas to Americans now. Have you heard anything about this?

Hi Chris, yes it’s true. We haven’t applied for anyone yet, but I already got some Americans interested in joining one of our tours

Hey, I am planning to visit west Syria, I wonder if its safe to camp with a tent on beaches? Or even allowed? Also heard many kidnapping stories. Are they still going on or it was during crisis?

Hi Bulut, there aren’t any kidnapping issues but independent travel in Syria is not allowed

Hi – are your trips in November and December proceeding as planned? I am trying to get a better understanding of what the actual situation is on the ground currently in Lebanon/Syria for potential trips.

We canceled October and November trip but if situation in Lebanon stabilizes, we’ll run December for sure!

Thanks for the update. I was wondering about the current travel conditions.

Hi Joan, I am a native Syrian and I found all these Information pretty objective and true, thanks for the detailed blog. I am a female dentist living in Aleppo, and I wonder if I could somehow join in this tour in Syria as a translator or a travel guide in my city 😀 I am looking for chances to get in touch with English and German speakers, and I thought this would be a good idea. Or maybe helping the solo travelers. Feel free to contact.

Dear Aaya, thanks for your offer! You are welcome to hang out with us any time we run a tour into SYRIA!

I am planning to go to Syria in a couple weeks. Do you recommend it given the current situation?

I’m gonna be traveling the middle east by car next year and i’m really happy to hear I can also visit Syria! I was wondering if I can take my car with me into Syria. Are there any tours for that? Or maybe solo traveling will be allowed again soon? I have a Land Rover Defender, and i’m traveling up north from Saoudi Arabia, so probably will enter through Jordan. What would be my options?

Hi Natascha, you can enter with your own vehicle, just that the clearance at the border will take a long time.

As per the rest, you can self-drive, but the guide is supposed to go with you in the car.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  Notify me when new comments are added.

Join our Expeditions

From Syria to Iraq in Pakistan, Against the Compass is finally running expeditions to the most epic and off-the-beaten-track countries.

We have scheduled expeditions for every month of the year.

Latest posts

• Backpacking Venezuela Travel Guide (2024)
• How to travel to Afghanistan during Taliban rule (2024)
• How to visit Los Llanos in Venezuela
• How to visit Angel Falls and Canaima National Park
• Things to do in Haiti in a 1-week itinerary

• Central African Republic
• DR Congo – Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Somalia – Somaliland
• São Tomé and Principe
• South Sudan
• Afghanistan
• North Korea
• Turkmenistan
• Saudi Arabia
• Yemen – Mainland
• Yemen – Socotra
• 4 days tour
• 10 days tour
• 3 days tour
• 12 day tour
• DRC Kinshasa – 5 days tour
• East DR Congo – Bukavu & Gorillas – 4 days tour
• Congo Brazzaville – 4 days tour
• 5 days tour
• 11 days tour
• 8 days tour
• 6 days tour
• 12 days tour
• 13 days tour
• 10 Days Tour
• 11 Days Tour
• 14 days tour
• 5 days tour – Federal Iraq
• 6 days tour – Kurdistan
• 7 days tour
• Mainland Yemen – 4 days
• Socotra – 8 days tour
• Grand Angola Tour
• West Congo & Cabinda Tour
• Burundi, DRC & Rwanda Tour
• Uganda Tour
• DR Congo Kinshasa & Brazzaville Tour
• Congo, DRC & Cabinda Tour
• Independence Day Tour
• October Tour
• Voodoo Summer Tour
• Highlights Tour
• Grand Venezuela Tour
• Marathon Tour
• Labour Day Tour
• Mt. Paektu & Victory Day Tour
• Liberation Day Tour
• Northeast & National Day Tour
• Founding of the Party Tour
• New Year’s Eve Tour
• Southern Pakistan Tour
• Karakoram Highway Tour
• Iraq Highlights Tour
• Kurdistan Highlights Tour
• Kurdistan Newroz Tour
• Kurdistan NYE Tour
• Yemen Hadramaut
• World Nomad Games Tour 2024
• Day + Multiple day tours
• Alternative Tours
• São Tomé and Principe Tour
• Partnerships & Agents
• Women Empowerment & Travel
• Sustainability

How to get a tourist visa for Syria – 2023

Updated May 2023

All about travel to Syria – Visa’s and Security Clearance

At first glance, it may seem like a daunting task. Getting a visa for travel to Syria. But (for many nationalities including Americans) it’s less complicated than it seems. We’ll help you on your way with this blog.

Syria’s tourist visa history is almost as turbulent as the country itself. Before the civil war Syria was a well-known tourist attraction in the Middle East. Many travel agencies organised tours along all tourist highlights of the country.

After the civil war, much was destroyed and tourism had also completely disappeared. Tourist visas were again issued sparingly but with ever-changing rules. However, since the autumn of 2021, the country is open for tourism again, and from March 2023 visa’s are available to American tourists .

You can only travel to Syria if you use a travel agent (like us). Previously (in 2018), you could travel independently after paying around 400 USD, but after an incident with a traveller who went a little too far off the beaten track, the government decided to only allow tourists who travel around with a certified tour operator. So you can’t apply for a visa for Syria and travel around on your own, it always has to be through a travel organisation with permission from the government.

Unlike most other countries, Syria has no clear rules on who can and cannot obtain a visa. Anyone can apply for a tourist visa, but for some nationalities obtaining the visa will be easier than others. If you are from the EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, America or the UK, getting a tourist visa will be easy. For other nationalities, we advise you to contact us to look into the possibilities.

Yes. From March 2023 American’s can now get a visa for Syria .

When you book a tour to Syria you also apply for a security clearance. This clearance is issued by the Ministry of Tourism and allows you to enter the country. The costs for the security clearance are included in your trip. Applying for security clearance takes about 10 to 15 days. As soon as you have received clearance you can travel to Syria (within 3 months). At the border you will receive your tourist visa after payment. The cost of the visa varies by nationality and ranges from $70 to $150.

It’s very simple. All we need is a scan of your passport page, your address and a proof of employment – like a business card or simple letter from your employer. We take care of the rest.

You can travel to Syria via the border with Lebanon, Jordan or Damascus airport. Most travellers choose the border crossing with Lebanon as this is by far the most convenient route. The airport of Damascus is open again, but flights are still expensive and irregular.

Do you want to discover Syria? Take a look at our  independent tours  or  group tours  to Syria. Do you need more information? Get in touch with us now.

contact form CultureRoad

Fill in the form and we will get back to you.

• First name *
• Last name *
• Nationality
• Hidden Language
• Yes, I want to receive CultureRoad’s amazing newsletter.
• Ja, ik ontvang graag de nieuwsbrief van CultureRoad.
• Name This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

• Syria Visa Exemption

Syrian visa for Pakistani citizens

Visa requirements:, syria tourist visa requirements:.

• Holding Pakistani passport that is valid for six months beyond the period of the intended stay in Syria.
• Proof of onward travel (departure) from Syria.

If you are looking for Syria visa information, such as available types of visas, or how to apply from Pakistan, we recommend you visit or contact the embassy or consulate of Syria nearest your place of residence.

• New Delhi : The Embassy of in New Delhi, ~ 782.16 kilometers (486.01 mi) away from Islamabad, Pakistan. (Working hours: Close now ).
• Muscat : The Embassy of in Muscat, ~ 1314.93 kilometers (817.06 mi) away from Islamabad, Pakistan. (Working hours: Close now ).

Tourism Statistics Chart

The line chart shows the number of visitors from Pakistan traveling to Syria from 2008 to 2018.

References: UNWTO.org , World Bank and multiple sources. (This data is for informational purposes only. Please see our disclaimer page for more information.)

Syria & Pakistan comparison

Syria's area is approximately 183,630 km2 (70,899 sq mi), while the area of Pakistan is approximately 770,880 km2 (297,638 sq mi). This means Pakistan is 4.20 times bigger than Syria.

As of April 2024, Syria's population is ~19.3 million people - 219,299,003 fewer people than the population of Pakistan.

We have highlighted Syria & Pakistan’s relative positions on world's map for your reference.

Frequently asked questions, answered

How many visitors from pakistan travel to syria in one year.

The number of visitors from Pakistan visiting Syria in 2011 was approximately 3,549.

Comments (0)

Do you need a travel visa?

• Afghanistan
• American Samoa
• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia and Herzegovina
• British Virgin Islands
• Burkina Faso
• Cayman Islands
• Central African Republic
• Christmas Island
• Cook Islands
• Côte d'Ivoire
• Czech Republic
• Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Equatorial Guinea
• Falkland Islands
• Faroe Islands
• French Guiana
• French Polynesia
• Guinea-Bissau
• Liechtenstein
• Marshall Islands
• Netherlands
• New Caledonia
• New Zealand
• Northern Mariana Islands
• North Korea
• North Macedonia
• Papua New Guinea
• Philippines
• Puerto Rico
• Republic of the Congo
• Saint Helena
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• São Tomé and Príncipe
• Saudi Arabia
• Sierra Leone
• Sint Maarten
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• South Korea
• South Sudan
• Switzerland
• Timor-Leste
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Turkmenistan
• Turks and Caicos
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom
• United States
• U.S. Virgin Islands
• Wallis and Futuna

Today’s Forecast

Useful information.

• Damascus to Islamabad: 3066.95 km (1905.71 mi)
• Travel time: 6 hours 23 minutes

This page was last updated on: April 2024

Update April 12, 2024

Information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

• Travel Advisories |
• Contact Us |
• MyTravelGov |

Find U.S. Embassies & Consulates

Travel.state.gov, congressional liaison, special issuance agency, u.s. passports, international travel, intercountry adoption, international parental child abduction, records and authentications, popular links, travel advisories, mytravelgov, stay connected, legal resources, legal information, info for u.s. law enforcement, replace or certify documents.

Before You Go

Learn About Your Destination

While Abroad

Emergencies

Share this page:

Travel Advisory July 13, 2023

Syria - level 4: do not travel.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed. 

Do not travel to Syria due to  terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, armed conflict,  and  risk of unjust detention .

Country Summary:  The U.S. Embassy in Damascus suspended its operations in February 2012. The Czech Republic serves as the protecting power for the United States in Syria. The U.S. government is unable to provide any emergency services to U.S. citizens in Syria.

Syria has experienced active armed conflict since 2011. No part of Syria is safe from violence. Kidnappings by armed groups, unjust arrests and/or detentions, the use of chemical warfare, shelling, and aerial bombardment of civilian centers pose significant risk of death or serious injury. The destruction of infrastructure, housing, medical facilities, schools, and power and water utilities has also increased hardships inside the country.

The U.S. government particularly warns private U.S. citizens against traveling to Syria to engage in armed conflict. U.S. citizens who undertake such activity face extreme personal risks, including kidnapping by armed groups, unjust arrests, injury, or death. The U.S. government does not support this activity. Our ability to provide consular assistance to individuals who are injured or kidnapped, or to the families of individuals who die in the conflict, is extremely limited.

Protests and demonstrations are quelled by government forces through aggressive tactics and protestors, activists, and political dissenters are routinely detained without access to legal representation or communications with friends and family.

Terrorist groups are active in Syria. Parts of Syria have experienced recent increases in incidents of bombings, IEDs, and assassinations. Fighting on behalf of or providing other forms of support to designated terrorist organizations, including ISIS and al-Qaeda affiliates, can constitute the provision of material support for terrorism, which is a crime under U.S. law that can result in penalties including prison time and large fines.

There is an ongoing risk of kidnapping and detentions of U.S. citizens and Westerners throughout the country. U.S. citizens remain a target. U.S. citizens are also targets of abduction and/or unjust detention by the Syrian government and while in detention do not have access to due process or medical attention. Government detention centers are known to be unsanitary facilities where widespread cruel, inhumane, or degrading treatment of detainees has been documented, as well as torture and extrajudicial killings. Minors, persons with physical, sensory, or mental disabilities, and elderly have frequently been victims of unjust detention. The Syrian government has also been implicated in the enforced or involuntary disappearance of more than 100,000 citizens, including medical and humanitarian workers, journalists, human rights activists, political opposition, and additionally those suspected of affiliation with these groups and their family members. Note: Only the Syrian government can issue a valid entry visa to Syria. Failure to obtain a legitimate entry visa directly from the Syrian government could result in detention. 

Due to risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of Syria, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a  Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) , which says that heightened military activity associated with the Syrian conflict may result in the risk of GPS interference, communications jamming, and errant long-range surface to air missiles straying into adjacent airspace within 200 nautical miles of the Damascus Flight Information Region. These activities may inadvertently pose hazards to civil aviation transiting the region. It also has the potential to spill over into the adjacent airspace managed by neighboring states and eastern portions of the Mediterranean Sea.

Read the  country information page  for additional information on travel to Syria.

If you decide to travel to Syria:

• Visit our website on  Travel to High Risk Areas .
• Draft a will and designate appropriate insurance beneficiaries and/or power of attorney.
• Discuss a plan with loved ones regarding care/custody of children, pets, property, belongings, non-liquid assets (collections, artwork, etc.), funeral wishes, etc.
• Share important documents, login information, and points of contact with loved ones so that they can manage your affairs if you are unable to return as planned to the United States. Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.
• Establish your own personal security plan in coordination with your employer or host organization or consider consulting with a professional security organization.
• Develop a communication plan with family and/or your employer or host organization so that they can monitor your safety and location as you travel through high-risk areas. This plan should specify who you would contact first, and how they should share the information.
• Enroll your trip in the State Department's  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Follow the Department of State on  Facebook  and  Twitter .
• Visit the CDC page for the latest  Travel Health Information  related to your travel. 
• U.S. citizens who travel abroad should always have a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the  Traveler’s Checklist .

Embassy Messages

View Alerts and Messages Archive

Quick Facts

Must be valid at time of entry

One page required for entry stamp

Embassies and Consulates

The U.S. Department of State strongly recommends that U.S. citizens remaining in Syria depart immediately.  More information can be found in the U.S. Department of State’s Syria Travel Advisory . The U.S. Embassy in Damascus suspended operations in February 2012 and therefore cannot provide protection or routine consular services to U.S. citizens who choose to travel to or remain in Syria despite the Travel Advisory.

The Government of the Czech Republic, acting through its Embassy in Damascus, serves as Protecting Power for U.S. interests in Syria. The range of consular services the Czech Republic provides to U.S. citizens is extremely limited. U.S. citizens in Syria who seek consular services should contact the U.S. Interests Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Damascus at [email protected] .

U.S. citizens in Syria who are in need of emergency assistance, and are unable to reach the U.S. Interests Section of the Embassy of the Czech Republic or must make contact outside business hours, should contact the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan: Telephone: 962 (6) 590-6950 Emergencies: 962 (6) 590-6500 E-mail:  [email protected]

U.S. citizens may also call 1-888-407-4747 (from the U.S.) or +1 202-501-4444 (from overseas) for assistance.

Destination Description

See the Department of State’s Fact Sheet on Syria for information on U.S.-Syria relations.

Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

A passport and a visa are required. Visas must be obtained prior to arrival in Syria from a Syrian diplomatic mission located in the traveler’s country of residence. The Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic in Washington, D.C., suspended all operations, including consular services on March 18, 2014, and Syria does not have a protecting power currently providing consular services - on its behalf - in the United States.

Foreigners who wish to stay 15 days or more in Syria must register with Syrian immigration authorities by the 15th day of their stay.

Syria charges a departure tax at its land and sea borders for all visitors except those on diplomatic passports and children under the age of 11.

Israel Travel: The Syrian government rigidly enforces restrictions on prior travel to Israel and does not allow persons with passports bearing Israeli visas or entry/exit stamps to enter the country.  Likewise, the absence of entry stamps from a country adjacent to Israel, that a traveler is attempting to enter Syria from, will cause Syrian immigration officials to refuse admittance.  Overland entry into Syria directly from Israel is not possible. U.S. citizen travelers suspected of having traveled to Israel have been detained for questioning.

Dual Nationality: U.S. citizen males over the afe of 18 holding dual Syrian citizenship or non-dual U.S. citizen males of Syrian origin, even those born in the United States, may be subject to compulsory military service unless they receive a temporary or permanent exemption from a Syrian diplomatic mission abroad prior to their entry into Syria. U.S. citizen males in Syria could face detention and compulsory service if they have not yet completed military service or paid exemption fees.  

A child under the age of eighteen whose father is Syrian or is of Syrian descent must have his/her father’s permission to leave Syria, even if the parents are separated or divorced and the mother has been granted full custody by a Syrian court.  On occasion, the families of U.S.-Syrian dual-national women visiting Syria have attempted to prevent them from leaving the country, generally in order to compel the woman to marry.  Although under Syrian law a woman wishing to depart Syria does not need her husband's explicit consent in every instance , a Syrian husband may take legal action to prevent his wife from leaving the country, regardless of her nationality. Once such legal orders are in place, the U.S. government cannot help U.S. citizens  leave Syria.

Some HIV/AIDS entry restrictions exist for visitors or foreign residents of Syria.  HIV/AIDS tests are mandatory for foreigners from ages 15 to 60 who wish to reside in Syria.  The HIV/AIDS test must be conducted in Syria at a facility approved by the Syrian Ministry of Health.  A residence permit will not be issued until the applicant is determined HIV negative.  Foreigners wishing to marry Syrian nationals in Syria must also be tested for HIV.  Please verify this information with the Syrian government before you travel.

Find information on dual nationality , prevention of international child abduction , and Customs Information  on our websites.

Safety and Security

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against travel to Syria and strongly recommends that U.S. citizens remaining in Syria depart immediatley, if they are able to depart safely, per the U.S Department of State's  Syria Travel Advisory . Over the past twelve years, the Syrian regime has committed and continues to commit a wide range of atrocities, some of which constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. Violent conflict between government and anti-government groups continues throughout the country.

Syrian regime military operations have involved the use of ballistic missiles, aerial attacks, heavy artillery, and chemical weapons that have struck civilian populations and infrastructure. Attacks from the regime or other groups could happen with little or no warning. No part of Syria should be considered immune from violence, and the potential exists throughout the country for unpredictable and hostile acts, including kidnappings, sniper assaults, terrorist attacks, small arms fire, improvised explosives, artillery shelling, airstrikes, the use of chemical weapons, large and small-scale bombings, as well as unjust arrest, detention, torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and extrajudicial killings.

Terrorism: Terrorist groups and those inspired by such organizations are intent on attacking U.S. citizens abroad. Terrorists are increasingly using less sophisticated methods of attack – including knives, firearms, and vehicles – to more effectively target crowds. Frequently, their aim is unprotected or vulnerable targets, such as:

• High-profile public events (sporting contests, political rallies, demonstrations, holiday events, celebratory gatherings, etc.)
• Hotels, clubs, and restaurants frequented by tourists
• Places of worship
• Shopping malls and markets
• Public transportation systems (including subways, buses, trains, and scheduled commercial flights)

Syria has been designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism since 1979 and has given support to a variety of terrorist groups, affecting the stability of the region. Terrorists often do not distinguish between U.S. government personnel and private U.S. citizens. Terrorists may target areas frequented by Westerners, such as tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, and other frequently visited areas. U.S. citizens still in Syria are strongly encouraged to depart Syria immediately. U.S. citizens who choose to remain despite this warning should maintain a high level of vigilance and be aware of their surroundings. It is especially important for travelers to be unpredictable in their movements by varying times and routes and maintaining a low profile.

Elements within the regime as well as non-state actor groups maintain anti-U.S. or anti-Western sentiment, which may intensify following significant events in the region, particularly those related to U.S.-Syria relations, international intervention in the ongoing conflict, Israeli-Palestinian issues, the status of Jerusalem, and clashes in Lebanon. The combination of terrorist organizations, a porous border with Iraq and long-standing border issues with all of its neighbors (Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Türkiye, and Israel) have made Syria a destabilizing factor in the region and a potential target for reprisal.

For more information, see our Terrorism page.  

Crime: Since the suspension of operations of the U.S. Embassy in Damascus in February of 2012, the U.S. government has not been able to provide accurate information about crime involving U.S. citizens visiting or living in Syria. The Department of State strongly recommends that U.S. citizens remaining in Syria depart immediately.

Demonstrations  occur frequently. They may take place in response to political or economic issues, on politically significant holidays, and during international events. 

• Demonstrations can be unpredictable, avoid areas around protests and demonstrations. 
• Demonstrations have turned violent.
• Check local media for updates and traffic advisories.

International Financial Scams: See the Department of State and FBI pages for more information.

Internet romance and financial scams are prevalent in Syria. Scams are often initiated through Internet postings/profiles or by unsolicited emails and letters. Scammers almost always pose as U.S. citizens who have no one else to turn to for help. Common scams include:

• Romance/Online dating
• Money transfers

Victims of Crime: If you or someone you know becomes the victim of a crime abroad, you should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. The Czech Republic, through the U.S. Interests Section of the Czech Embassy in Damascus, currently serves as the Protecting Power for U.S. interests in Syria; however, their ability to provide services is extremely limited.

See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas .

The U.S. Interests Section, in coordination with nearby U.S. embassies and consulates, may be able to:

• Help you find appropriate medical care
• Assist you in reporting a crime to the police
• Contact relatives or friends with your written consent
• Explain the local criminal justice process in general terms
• Provide our information on victim’s compensation programs in the U.S.
• Provide an emergency loan for repatriation to the United States and/or limited medical support in cases of destitution
• Help you find accommodation and arrange flights home
• Assist you to replace a stolen or lost passport

The local equivalents to the “911” emergency line in Syria is 110 for ambulance, 113 for fire, and 112 for the police. Syrian operators do not usually speak English and contact with security services has the potential to result in unjust arrest, detention, or disappearance.

Domestic Violence:  U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the U.S. Interests Section of the Czech Embassy or U.S. Embassy Amman for assistance.

Tourism: No formal tourism industry infrastructure is in place. Tourists are considered to be participating in activities at their own risk. Emergency response and subsequent appropriate medical treatment is not available in-country. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance . 

Syrian Conflict: The Syrian Arab Republic is ruled by an authoritarian regime dominated by the Socialist Ba'ath Party currently engaged in an armed conflict with the armed Syrian opposition.

Sources estimate that the conflict has resulted in over 500,000 deaths with hundreds of thousands more wounded, unjustly detained, or forcibly disappeared. The Syrian conflict has resulted in over 5.6 million registered Syrian refugees, and approximately 6.9 million people are displaced inside Syria, while 4.53 million remain in hard-to-reach and besieged areas. The Syrian government and its partners continue to prohibit the free flow of humanitarian aid into besieged areas, resulting in severe food shortages. More than 14 million people in Syria need humanitarian assistance.

Since September 2014, the U.S. government and others in the Defeat-ISIS Coalition have conducted military strikes on Syrian territory.

Entities Operating in Syria: The Syrian government has regained control over most of the country, but some competing entities maintain greater control and influence in areas of northern Syria. Additionally, areas of southern Syria controlled by the Syrian government are constantly challenged by armed groups. Some armed groups have used car bombs, improvised explosive device/indirect-fire attacks, sniper fire, and carried out kidnappings throughout the country. Foreign combatants – including members of Iranian-aligned militia groups, Hizballah fighters, violent Islamist extremists, and al-Qa'ida (AQ) elements – are also participating in hostilities. Additionally, Türkiye has become increasingly involved in military operations throughout northern Syria, seeking to counter the influence of the Kurdistan Worker’s Party (PKK), a designated terrorist organization.

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly known as al-Nusrah Front, an AQ affiliate and designated terrorist organization, has consolidated power in the northwestern province of Idlib. HTS control over Idlib threatens the ability of NGOs and states to deliver humanitarian aid to Syrians living there. Russian and/or Syrian government forces continue to conduct airstrikes in Idlib province. Strikes have resulted in civilian fatalities, including of medical personnel, children, and internally displaced persons and caused significant damage to civilian infrastructure such as medical facilities, schools, markets, and civilian housing.

ISIS no longer controls territory in Syria but continues to operate as an insurgency throughout the country. ISIS continues to pose a significant threat to civilians residing in Syria and has demonstrated the ability to conduct coordinated attacks against armed actors and civilians. Tactics of ISIS, HTS, and other violent extremist groups include the use of suicide bombers, kidnapping, small and heavy arms, improvised explosive devices, and chemical weapons. They have targeted major city centers, road checkpoints, border crossings, government buildings, energy infrastructure, shopping areas, and open spaces in Damascus, Aleppo, Hamah, Dara, Homs, Idlib, and Dayr al-Zawr provinces. These groups have murdered and kidnapped U.S. citizens, both for ransom and political purposes; in some instances, U.S. citizens have disappeared within Syria. The U.S. government’s ability to help U.S. citizens kidnapped or taken hostage is very limited.

Chemical Weapons: The Syrian regime has repeatedly used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin and chlorine gas, against civilians. ISIS has also conducted several sulfur mustard attacks in Syria. Although there has not been a documented chemical weapons attack in Syria since May 2019, the continuing violence, security situation, and ongoing concerns about Syria’s remaining chemical weapons capabilities contributes to a volatile situation.

Kidnapping, Hostage Taking, and Forced Disappearance: There is an ongoing, high risk of kidnapping or hostage taking of U.S. citizens and other foreign nationals throughout the country. U.S. citizens remain a specific target, with several high-profile abductions having occurred since mid-2012. U.S. citizen victims have had diverse professional backgrounds, including journalism and humanitarian work. U.S. citizens held captive by ISIS have been murdered by the group, which released videos of killings and publicly took responsibility for their deaths. U.S. citizens also have been abducted by other individuals and groups in Syria, and from various locations, including Damascus and Aleppo. Other U.S. citizens have gone missing and are believed to have been kidnapped or taken hostage. Forced disappearance is also used by government security forces on a massive scale to spread fear, stifle dissent, and as punishment.

Borders: A porous border with Iraq, and long-standing border issues with Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,  Türkiye, and Israel, have contributed to a complex security environment in Syria, compounded by a protracted violent conflict and influx of foreign fighters. Since 2012, there have been multiple reports of Syrian shelling of neighboring countries near border areas, most significantly in Lebanon, Türkiye, Israel, and Jordan.

U.S. citizens should increase their vigilance if they travel within Syria to border areas with Israel or the Al-Jazira (eastern Syria) region. The Government of Türkiye severely restricts crossings of its border with Syria, limited exclusively to individuals working for organizations engaged in the authorized provision of humanitarian assistance. Individuals seeking emergency medical treatment or safety from immediate danger are assessed on a case-by-case basis.

U.S. citizens have reported facing dangers traveling within the country and when trying to leave Syria via land borders, given the diminished availability of commercial air travel out of Syria. Opposition-held border checkpoints should not be considered safe, as they are targeted by regime attacks and some armed groups have sought funding through kidnappings for ransom. Border areas are frequent targets of shelling and other attacks and are crowded because of internally-displaced persons. Errant attacks will occasionally hit border towns just outside the borders as well.

Engaging in Armed Conflict: The U.S. government particularly warns U.S. citizens against traveling to Syria to engage in armed conflict. U.S. citizens who undertake such activity face extreme personal risks, including kidnapping, injury, or death. The U.S. government does not support this activity, and our ability to provide consular assistance to individuals who are arrested, injured, or kidnapped, or to the families of individuals who die in the conflict, is extremely limited. Individuals who demonstrate an interest in groups opposing ISIS, including on social media, could open themselves to being targeted by ISIS itself, especially if those individuals travel to Syria.

Fighting on behalf of or providing other forms of financial and material support to designated terrorist organizations, including ISIS and HTS/al-Nusrah Front, is a crime under U.S. law that can result in penalties including prison time and large fines.

Detention Issues: U.S. citizens are also targets of abduction and detention by the Syrian regime. Family members seeking to obtain information about their missing or detained loved ones themselves face risk of detention, abuse, and exploitation when inquiring directly with the regime. Detainees are often held in detention centers for years under harsh and unsanitary conditions without any information provided to their loved ones on their status. These conditions allow for the quick spread of various illnesses. Pervasive abuse of detainees has been documented in government detention centers, including sexual and gender-based violence as well as other forms of physical violence, and extrajudicial killings. Please see our Human Rights report regarding these conditions.

Government Surveillance: The Syrian government conducts intense physical and electronic surveillance of both Syrian citizens and foreign visitors on a domestic and global scale. Any encounter with a Syrian citizen could be subject to scrutiny by the General Intelligence Directorate (GID) or other security services. Sustained interactions with average Syrians - especially if deemed to be of a political nature - may subject you and/or that Syrian to harassment and/or detention, and other forms of repressive actions by state security elements. Hotel rooms, internet connections, telephones, and fax machines may be monitored, and personal possessions in hotel rooms may be searched. The regime has reportedly planted spyware and other malware in Android applications to target human rights activists, opposition members, and journalists. Loitering or taking photographs of anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in questioning, confiscation of the images, or detention by security services. Additionally, U.S. citizens should be aware that conversations on the topics of politics, religion, and other social issues could lead to arrest. It is also illegal in Syria to possess specific-use electronic devices including GPS, short-wave or handheld radio equipment, or similar devices.

Local Laws & Special Circumstances

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws.  If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.

For example, under the Narcotics Act, article 39, Syria imposes the death penalty for drug trafficking or cultivation.

Women who are arrested under suspicion of immoral behavior (e.g., being alone in a room with a man who is not the woman’s husband or being in a residence where drugs or alcohol are being consumed) may be subjected to a virginity test.  In addition, the Syrian government monitors the activities of all groups, including religious groups, and discourages proselytizing, which it deems a threat to relations among religious groups.

Some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law.  For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.

Arrest Notification: Syrian authorities generally do not notify the U.S. Interests Section of the arrest of a U.S. citizen until weeks after the arrest, if at all. Moreover, in previous cases security officials have not responded to U.S. requests for consular access, especially in cases of persons detained for “security” reasons. See our webpage for further information on consular notification and access.

Military Service: U.S.-Syrian and U.S.-Palestinian men who have never served in the Syrian military and who are planning to visit Syria despite the U.S. Department of State’s Syria Travel Advisory should contact the Syrian government prior to traveling concerning compulsory military service. See Dual National section above. 

Special Circumstances: Syria is in the midst of a violent conflict.  The Department of State strongly recommends that U.S. citizens remaining in Syria despite the U.S. Department of State’s Syria Travel Advisory depart immediately.

The destruction of infrastructure, housing, medical facilities, schools, and power and water utilities has increased hardships in Syria.  Communications in Syria are difficult as phone and internet connections are unreliable.

Customs Requirements: Syrian customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Syria of items such as weapons, narcotics, alcohol, tobacco, cheese, fruit, pharmaceuticals, modems, cosmetics, and some electrical appliances. Please refer to our Customs Information page for additional information.

Banking and Commerce:  Foreign currencies can be exchanged for Syrian pounds only by licensed money changers, the Commercial Bank of Syria (CBS), the Real Estate Bank, and at private banks, some of which maintain offices inside four and five star hotels.

Four and five star hotels and high-end stores in Syria generally accept credit cards, although most restaurants, stores and shops operate exclusively in cash.

Foreigners visiting Syria are required to pay hotel bills in U.S. dollars, Euros or other non-Syrian hard currency.

Traveler’s checks are not accepted in Syria and banks will not cash them unless the traveler has an account at the bank in question.

There are no U.S.-based banks operating in Syria.

There are 14 private banks operating in Syria, with branches and ATMs in most major cities. These ATMs usually honor major debit/credit systems.

U.S. banks are restricted by law from transacting business with the largest public bank in Syria, the CBS.  Therefore, U.S. banks will not process ATM transactions from CBS branches.

Funds may be transferred into Syria through Western Union.

Wiring of funds through private banks is possible only if the traveler already holds an account with the bank in Syria; transferring funds through CBS or the Real Estate Bank is not possible because of U.S. sanctions.  Private citizens seeking to transfer funds outside of Syria or to withdraw U.S. dollars from a bank in Syria should check with the relevant financial institution for the most up-to-date regulations.

Trade and Sanctions: The United States maintains a robust sanctions regime on Syria. The Syrian government is under comprehensive sanctions, including for its astrocities, some of which rise to the level of war crimes and crimes against humanity.  Syria sanctions prohibit a wide range of transactions in Syria, including with sanctioned entities, unless authorized by the Department of the Treasury or the Department of Commerce.  Please consult the Department of Treasury and Department of Commerce websites for more details.

Requests for specific licenses to authorize transactions that are neither exempt nor covered by a general license may be submitted to the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Terrorism List Government Sanctions Regulations prohibit U.S. persons from receiving unlicensed donations from the Syrian government.  You can review the Department of Treasury’s Syria Sanctions page for more information.

Additionally, U.S. persons are prohibited from engaging in financial transactions which a U.S. person knows or has reasonable cause to believe pose a risk of furthering terrorist acts in the United States.  For additional information about Terrorism List Government Sanctions Regulations, consult the terrorism brochure on the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s OFAC home page or via OFAC's info-by-fax service at (202) 622-0077.

Faith-Based Travelers: See our following webpages for details:

• Faith-Based Travel Information
• International Religious Freedom Report – see country reports
• Human Rights Report – see country report
• Hajj Fact Sheet for Travelers
• Best Practices for Volunteering Abroad

LGBTQI+ Travelers: Syrian law criminalizes consensual same-sex conduct under penal code article 520, which states that each sexual act "against the order of nature" is punishable by as long as three years imprisonment.  Rather than prosecute under that law, however, the regime has arrested dozens of LGBTQI+ persons on charges such as abusing social values; selling, buying, or consuming illegal drugs; or organizing and promoting “obscene” parties.  Credible NGOs report that the Syrian regime uses detention centers to torture and commit acts of sexual and gender-based violence against suspected members of the LGBTQI+ community. Abuses include rape, forced nudity, and anal or vaginal “examinations.” Individuals perceived as LGBTQI+ report being sexually abused and harassed at checkpoints.  Public reports indicate that ISIS and HTS murder individuals perceived to be LGBTQI+, inclusive of those accused of engaging in same-sex sexual conduct. See our LGBTQI+ travel information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for additional information.

Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance:  Syrian law protects persons with disabilities from discrimination in education, access to health, or provision of other state services; however, the government has not enforced these provisions.  Sidewalks are generally unevenly paved and often blocked by parked cars.  Stairs must be used to access many public buildings, restaurants, cafes, and other tourist spots.

Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips .

Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers .

Basic medical care and medicines are available in Damascus and some coastal areas, but not necessarily in other areas. Serious illnesses and emergencies may require evacuation to a neighboring country or Western medical facility.  There are shortages of food, water, medicine, and medical supplies throughout Syria.

For emergency services in Syria, dial 110 for ambulance and 113 for fire.

Ambulance services are not present throughout the country, except in the capital and provincial cities.

The Department of State does not pay medical bills.   Be aware that U.S. Medicare/Medicaid does not apply overseas.  Most hospitals and doctors overseas do not accept U.S. health insurance.

Medical Insurance: Find out if your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas, though hospitals and doctors abroad may not accept it.  Care providers in Syria only accept cash payments up front, and the cost for services can be expensive.

See our webpage for more information on insurance overseas.

Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more information on type of insurance you should consider before you travel overseas.

The Department strongly recommends supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.  In addition, you might wish to check whether your insurance will cover injuries sustained in a conflict zone.

If traveling with prescription medication, check with the Government of Syria to ensure that the medication is legal in Syria.  Always carry your prescription medication in original packaging with your doctor’s prescription.

Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The following diseases are prevalent:

• Tuberculosis
• Hepatitis A
• Diarrheal disease

Further health information:

• World Health Organization
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Air Quality: Visit AirNow Department of State for information on air quality at U.S. Embassies and Consulates. 

Travel and Transportation

Road Conditions and Safety:  Excercise caution if driving in Syria because road conditions are hazardous and there are threats generated by the active conflict.

Visitors may encounter hostile activity, harassment, or even abduction at both official and unofficial security checkpoints on roads throughout the country. 

Although drivers generally follow traffic signs and signals in urban centers, they maneuver aggressively and show little regard for vehicles traveling near them.  Lane markings are usually ignored. Unlike in the United States, vehicles within Syrian traffic circles must give way to entering traffic.  At night, it is very difficult to see pedestrians, who often walk into traffic with little warning.  Outside major cities, it is common to find pedestrians, animals and vehicles on unlighted roads at night.

Pedestrians should also exercise caution.  Parked cars, deteriorating pavement, and guard posts obstruct sidewalks, often forcing pedestrians to walk in the street.  Vehicles often do not stop for pedestrians, and regularly run red lights or “jump” the green light well before it changes.  Drivers and passengers are subject to demands for money, harassment and abduction throughout the country.  Rule of law, including traffic laws, and law enforcement is absent in many areas of the country.

See our Road Safety page for more information.

Aviation Safety Oversight:

Because of the risks to civil aviation operating within or in the vicinity of Syria, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) and/or a Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) that prohibits U.S. and codeshare flights from flying through Syrian airspace and advises caution for flights operating within 200 nautical miles.

For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administration's Prohibitions, Restrictions, and Notices .

As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Syria, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Syria’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards.  Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page .

Maritime Travel: Mariners planning travel to Syria should also check for U.S. maritime advisories and alerts.  Information may also be posted to the U.S. Coast Guard homeport website , and the NGA broadcast warnings website . Navigational warnings can be found under the "Current Warnings" section for the applicable NAVAREA from within the NGA site

Port Security: The Commandant of the Coast Guard has determined that effective anti-terrorism measures are not in place in Syrian ports and has imposed conditions of entry on vessels that arrive in U.S. ports having visited ports in Syria. Mariners and passengers on commercial vessels traveling through the ports of Syria should exercise increased caution.

For additional travel information

• Enroll in the  Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)  to receive security messages and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
• Call us in Washington, D.C. at 1-888-407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1-202-501-4444 (from all other countries) from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).
• See the  State Department’s travel website  for the  Worldwide Caution  and  Travel Advisories .
• Follow us on  Twitter  and  Facebook .
• See  traveling safely abroad  for useful travel tips.

Review information about International Parental Child Abduction in Syria . For additional IPCA-related information, please see the International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act ( ICAPRA ) report.

Travel Advisory Levels

Assistance for u.s. citizens, learn about your destination, enroll in step.

Subscribe to get up-to-date safety and security information and help us reach you in an emergency abroad.

Recommended Web Browsers: Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.

Make two copies of all of your travel documents in case of emergency, and leave one with a trusted friend or relative.

Afghanistan

Antigua and Barbuda

Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba

Bosnia and Herzegovina

British Virgin Islands

Burkina Faso

Burma (Myanmar)

Cayman Islands

Central African Republic

Cote d Ivoire

Curaçao

Czech Republic

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Dominican Republic

El Salvador

Equatorial Guinea

Eswatini (Swaziland)

Falkland Islands

France (includes Monaco)

French Guiana

French Polynesia

French West Indies

Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint Martin, and Saint Barthélemy (French West Indies)

Guinea-Bissau

Isle of Man

Israel, The West Bank and Gaza

Liechtenstein

Marshall Islands

Netherlands

New Caledonia

New Zealand

North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea)

Papua New Guinea

Philippines

Republic of North Macedonia

Republic of the Congo

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Sao Tome and Principe

Saudi Arabia

Sierra Leone

Sint Maarten

Solomon Islands

South Africa

South Korea

South Sudan

Switzerland

The Bahamas

Timor-Leste

Trinidad and Tobago

Turkmenistan

Turks and Caicos Islands

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

Vatican City (Holy See)

External Link

You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.

Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.

You are about to visit:

Advertisment

• Passports   >  
• Syria   >  
• Destinations   >  

Visa requirements for citizens of Pakistan travelling to Syria :

Visa required. Citizens of Pakistan require a visa to travel to Syria.

Check current Covid-19 entry requirements before travelling.

— FAST FACTS —

Capital: Damascus

Location: Western Asia

Currency: Syrian Pound

More Destinations

Visa requirements for

Saudi Arabia

United arab emirates, northern cyprus, cyprus u.n. buffer zone, akrotiri and dhekelia.

We use cookies to provide a better online experience. By using this website you agree to the use of cookies and to our terms of use.

Our   Story

Rocky road travel, rocky road   blog, all destinations, afghanistan, afghanistan tours, mauritania tours, south sudan, south sudan tours, socotra tours, syria tours, pakistan tours.

How To Get A Visa For Syria

Applying for a visa for syria.

Since 2018 all travelers to Syria are required to travel with a licensed tour operator in order to obtain the visa for Syria. 

However it’s not the visa the tour operator applies for. It’s a security clearance (background check).

It can take up to two weeks to issue the security clearance. We will let you know onec it’s approved and you are then free to travel. Once you arrive at the border then you pay for the visa. Here’s the visa costs;

Australia and New Zealand: $130 United Kingdom: $140 EU Passports: $72

The visa has a 90 validity period from when you first get it. It’s not a physical visa sticker but rather just a stamp in the passport.

Travel to   Syria!

Can i apply at a syrian embassy.

Yes but it’s a lengthy process. You will need to submit paperwork outlining your intentions of travelling to Syria and produce an invitation letter. They then send this info off to Syria to apply for the security clearance. The whole thing takes up to two months. It’s much easier to let a travel agent like Rocky Road Travel handle the process.

What We Need From You

To apply for the Syrian visa, all we need is a scan of your passport page, your address and a proof of employment – this can even be your business card.

Unfortunately Israeli passport holders or anyone with evidence of travel to Israel are not permitted to enter Syria. This includes entry or exit stamps from Jordan or Egypt from land crossings to Israel.

For more info on travelling to Syria, contact us and checkout our Syria tours page.

You Might Also Like

How to spend 24 hours in Beirut

How Safe Is It to Travel to Syria? – 2023

Top 6 Tourist Attractions of Syria

What You Should Know Before You Travel to Syria

Can I Travel to Syria?

Top 5 Syrian Foods You Should Try

📞 +491635158517 ✉️ [email protected]

Destinations

• Afghanistan
• North Korea
• Papua New Guinea
• South Sudan
• Agents & Partners
• Terms & Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Sustainability
• Travel Insurance

Subscribe To Our   Newsletter

Keep in touch with the latest news and info on our unique destinations.

Get in touch

Request more info or book a tour.

Fill in the form and we’ll get back to you in no time!

Syria Embassy Islamabad Address:

House # 43, A School, OR F6-2 Street No. 27, House No. 24 Islamabad Pakistan

Syria Embassy Islamabad Contact Numbers:

0092) 51-227 9470 / 1

Syria Embassy Islamabad Fax Number:  

0092 51-227 9472

Syria Embassy Islamabad Email:

[email protected]

Syria Embassy Islamabad Website: N/A

If you are looking for Syria embassy Islamabad to get some details you are on right place. Here you can get all necessary information about Syria embassy Islamabad, Pakistan including Syria embassy Islamabad address, Syria embassy Islamabad contact number, Syria embassy Islamabad website and other details.

Syria Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan

Before flying to Syria, you have to complete certain important tasks. One of which includes having a visa. Indeed, it is the main step without which there is no entry to Syria. Syria Embassy in Islamabad would help you to get this key.Bassam Omran is the head of mission of Embassy of Syria in Islamabad Pakistan. Embassy of Syria in Pakistan is of extreme importance. Syria Embassy in Pakistan is the fabulous source that helps you to fly to Syria. The applicants can get their desired Syrian visa from the Embassy of Syria Islamabad.

Popular Embassies

Saudi Arabia UAE United Kingdom

Syria Embassy Pakistan Contact

The applicant should have the Syria Embassy Pakistan Contact details. These would help him out in the time of need. These provide details about Syria visa. In addition to this, Syria Embassy Pakistan Contact Number, and Syria Embassy Pakistan Address help to kick out confusions about Syria visa.There is no embassy of Syria in Pakistan except the Syria Embassy in Islamabad. Syria Embassy in Islamabad let the applicant to avail the Syria visa. The applicants have to keep themselves aware and updated about the documents that are required for getting the visa. After knowing the details of it, they have to fulfill all such requirements and submit it at the Syria Embassy in Islamabad.

Syria Embassy in Islamabad

Syria Embassy in Islamabad would have a glance on the submitted documents. Syria Embassy in Islamabad would make a final decision about the application. Upon approval, the applicant would be rewarded with the Syria visa. While upon rejection, the scenario is entirely opposed to this. The applicant would not get the visa upon rejection. 

Syria Embassy Islamabad to Get some Details

Turkey Thailand Malaysia

Syria visa requirements from Pakistan can be different according to the travel purpose and duration of stay. Here we are going to share some important type of documents required for Syria visa from Pakistan. You can get Syria visa easily by submitting these documents to the Syria Embassy. Here is the list of required documents. Many people are looking for Syria Visa Application Process & Requirements for Pakistanis. Here you can get complete details and guide how to get Syria. We will provide you complete details about the process of how to get Syria visa form Pakistan. Now you can get all step by step guide how to get Syria visa form Pakistan. We provide you complete details about Syria visa requirements for Pakistani citizens.                      

Documents Required For Syria Visa

• Original Passport (minimum 6 months valid)
• ID Card copy
• Four passport size pictures (white background 33x48 mm size)
• Personal Bank statement (6 months)
• Bank account maintenance covering letter
• Visa Request letter to Embassy (preferably on company letterhead)
• Chamber of commerce certificate
• Police Character certificate
• Official invitation letter from Syria Ministry
• Air Ticket (reservation only)
• Hotel Booking

General Info About Syria

Syria Visa Requirements are quite vivid. There is no ambiguity in the Syria Visa Requirements. The whole and sole thing that you should have for applying for Syria visa are certain important documents. These are some simple yet important documents required for Syria Visa. 

Syria visa Requirements for Pakistanis

Applicants are looking for the Syria visa requirements for Pakistani, Syria visa requirements for contractors, How to get Syria visa on arrival, Syria tourist visa for citizens of Pakistan, How to get Syria visa on arrival, Syria Visit Visa for Pakistani, Syria Visa Details Syria Work Visa Requirements, Visa Requirements for Syria, Work Visa Requirements for Syria, and Visit Visa Requirement for Syria.No matter, how much questions arise in your mind regarding the Syria Visa Requirements, you can satisfy all those queries within second by two efficient methods. First one is to visit the official site while the other one is to contact your country’s embassy.

Popular Countries

Syria visa Requirements for other Citizen

Just like other countries, the mandatory Syria Visa Requirements is the visa application form. Besides this, there are enormous other Syria Visa Requirements such as passport, a photo of the applicant, cover letter, paying the visa fee etc. The photo of the applicant be should be passport size having a dimension of about 2x2. It should not be black and white. These should be colored and 2 in number. In addition to this, if you have an expired passport or near to expire passport, then you cannot avail the visa. The passport should be valid. It must have at least 1 blank page too.

Syria Work Visa Requirements

Similarly, the requirements may vary from one visa type to another. If you want to get the work visa then you should definitely have the cover letter provided by the employer. Submitting it to the embassy would help you to get the work visa.  

Syria Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan

You can also contact Syria embassy Islamabad for details and information about your queries. From the embassy office, you can get exact details about your requirements and needs or you can drop your questions to us. We can guide you as well. Many people are looking for Syria Visa Application Process & Requirements for Pakistanis. Here you can get complete details and guide how to get Syria. We will provide you complete details about the process how to get Syria visa form Pakistan.  Now you can get all step by step guide how to get Syria visa form Pakistan. We provide you complete details about Syria visa requirements for Pakistani citizens.

Do you need to get information about Syria visa types for Pakistanis? Here you can get complete details about Syria visa types for Pakistanis. Here you can get the most common and possible visa types for Syria. Here you can get complete details about all Syria visa types including Syria to work visa, Syria Business visa, Syria study visa, the Syria Visitor visa, Syria family visa, Syria settlement visa, Syria Transit visa, Syria permanent residence visa, Syria temporary residence visa and Syria Professional visa.

Commonly Syria Issues the Following Type of Visas:

• Syria Work Visa
• Syria Business Visa
• Syria Study Visa
• Syria Visitor Visa
• Syria Family Visa
• Syria Settlement Visa
• Syria Transit Visa
• Syria Permanent Residence Visa
• Syria Temporary Residence Visa

Let's explore the different Types of Syria Visa. There are several Syria Visa Kinds. All the Types of Syria Visas are of keen significance. The Syria Visa Types let you accomplish your desired tasks in the country.

Syria Tourist Visa Type

For instance, Syria Tourist Visa is the most important Syria visa types which are of extreme importance for tourist. This visa permits the tourist to stay in the country for exploring the natural beauty of the country such as beautiful lakes, high mountains, beautiful fertile plains, stunning monuments, etc.

Syria Work Visa Type

Syria Work Visa is one of the Syria visa types which demand the cover letter from the employer. This visa type allows the visa holder to enjoy employment in Syria. How to get Syria Tourist Visa, and How to get Syria Work Visa are the important queries associated with these Syria visa types. Submit some additional document along with the basic one would let you avail these visa. For instance, the cover letter is required for a work visa while proofing of accommodation, proof of sufficient funds etc are requirements associated with a tourist visa.

Syria Other Visa Type

Some other Syria visa types include Syria Visit visas,Syria Business Visa, Syria Permanent Residence visa, Syria Temporary Residence visa, Syria Student visa, Syria Professional visa, and Syria Transit visa. With your desired Syria Visa Types, you can legally enter into the country for whatever purpose you want. You can attend the wedding, visit your friends or family, enjoy visiting top tourist destinations, or attend a business meeting with the desired Syria Visa Types.

You can also contact Syria embassy Islamabad for details and information about your queries. From the embassy office, you can get exact details about your requirements and needs or you can drop your questions to us. We can guide you as well. Here you can get complete details about all Syria visa types including Syria work visa, Syria Business visa, Syria study visa, the Syria Visitor visa, Syria family visa, Syria settlement visa, Syria Transit visa, Syria permanent residence visa, Syria temporary residence visa and Syria Professional visa.

Syria visa validity can be different according to the visa type. As you know Syria offers different visa types for Pakistanis and their validity is also different. Here we are discussing about Syria visa validity for Pakistanis in detail. Here you can get complete details about all Syria visa validity including Syria work visa validity, Syria Business visa validity, Syria study visa validity, the Syria Visitor visa validity, Syria family visa validity, Syria settlement visa validity, Syria Transit visa validity, Syria permanent residence visa validity, Syria temporary residence visa validity and Syria Professional visa validity.

Commonly Syria Visa Validity Can Be:

• Syria Work Visa Validity is =
• Syria Business Visa Validity is =
• Syria Study Visa Validity is =
• Syria Visitor Visa Validity is =
• Syria Family Visa Validity is =
• Syria Settlement Validity is =
• Syria Transit Validity is =
• Syria Permanent Residence Visa Validity is =
• Syria Temporary Residence Visa Validity is =
• Syria Professional visa Validity is =

Syria is a beautiful country that is situated in Western Asia. Damascus is the capital of Syria and is also popular with the name of the City of Jasmine. Flying to Syria is possible when you have the key to it. This key is none other than the Syria visa. The applicant should be well aware of different facts of Syria visa.

Detail About Syria Visa Validity

One of the most important Syria visa facts is Syria Visa Validity. Lets address the most common queries about Syria Student visa validity,

• Syria Professional visa validity,
• Syria Transit visa validity,
• Syria work visa duration,
• Syria Visit visas validity,
• Syria Business Visa validity,
• Syria Permanent Residence visa validity,

Syria Visa Validity For Pakistanis

Syria Visa Validity For Pakistanis, Syria Visa Validity For Pakistani citizens, Syria Visa On Arrival, Syria Tourist visa duration and Syria Temporary Residence visa validity. Syria Visa Validity is about 3 months. The 90 days of Syria Visa Validity is the time during which you should book your tour package.

Details About Syria Visa Validity

After applying for the visa, you need to wait about a week for availing the visa. Syria is trying its best to recover from the destructive effects of war. Apply at the embassy by submitting all requirements over there. The visa validity commences from the day of issuance. Here you can get complete details about all Syria visa validity including Syria work visa validity, Syria Business visa validity, Syria study visa validity, the Syria Visitor visa validity, Syria family visa validity, Syria settlement visa validity, Syria Transit visa validity, Syria permanent residence visa validity, Syria temporary residence visa validity and Syria Professional visa validity.

You can also contact Syria embassy Islamabad for details and information about your queries. From the embassy office, you can get exact details about your requirements and needs or you can drop your questions to us. We can guide you as well.

Syria visa fees can be different according to the visa type. As you know Syria offers different visa types for Pakistanis and their fees are also different. Here we are discussing Syria visa fees for Pakistanis in detail. Now you can get complete details about Syria visa fees including Syria to work visa fees, Syria Business visa fees, Syria study visa fees, the Syria Visitor visa fees, Syria family visa fees, Syria settlement visa fees, Syria Transit visa fees, Syria permanent residence visa fees, Syria temporary residence visa fees and Syria Professional visa fees.

Commonly Syria Visa Fees Can Be:

• Syria Work Visa Fees is =
• Syria Business Visa Fees is =
• Syria Study Visa Fees is =
• Syria Visitor Visa Fees is =
• Syria Family Visa Fees is =
• Syria Settlement Fees is =
• Syria Transit Fees is =
• Syria Permanent Residence Visa Fees is =
• Syria Temporary Residence Visa Fees is =
• Syria Professional visa Fees is =

Let's get to know about the Syria Visa Fees For Pakistanis as a single entry and multiple entries. The Syria Visa Fees For Pakistani Citizens is not the same for the single entry and multiple entries.

Syria Tourist Visa Fees For Pakistanis

Syria Tourist Visa Fees For Citizens Of Pakistan for the single entry is approximately $18. However, the  Syria Visa Fees is about $36 for multiple entries. Let's have a glance at the Syria Permanent Residence visa Fees, Syria Temporary Residence visa Fees, Syria Work Visa Fees, Syria Business Visa Fees, Syria Student visa Fees, and Syria Professional visa Fees. 

Syria Transit visa Fees

Syria Transit visa Fees is about quite expensive. Although the stay is short with the transit visa yet the Syria Visa Fees is quite high. For this visa, you have to submit the Syria Visa Fees of about $1,800. After paying the Syria Visa Fees, you have to submit all mandatory Syria visa documents at the embassy. The details of the visa fee can be gained from the official site or embassy. The fee may get changed with the passage of time. Hence, the applicants need to keep themselves aware of the visa fee. Not merely this, but you should have the proof of submission of visa fee. You would avail the visa quite easily after completing all the requirements of Syria visa. Syria is an adorable country that is located in Western Asia. The tourism to Syria got declined after the war. Syria has the City of Jasmine which is none other than Damascus.

You can also contact Syria embassy Islamabad for details and information about your queries. From the embassy office, you can get exact details about your requirements and needs or you can drop your questions to us. We can guide you as well. Now you can get complete details about Syria visa fees including Syria work visa fees, Syria Business visa fees, Syria study visa fees, the Syria Visitor visa fees, Syria family visa fees, Syria settlement visa fees, Syria Transit visa fees, Syria permanent residence visa fees, Syria temporary residence visa fees and Syria Professional visa fees.

Syria visa duration can be different according to the visa type. As you know Syria offers different visa types for Pakistanis and their duration of stay is also different. Here we are discussing Syria visa duration of stay for Pakistanis in detail. Now you can get complete details about Syria visa duration of stay including Syria work visa duration of stay, Syria Business visa duration of stay, Syria study visa duration of stay, the Syria Visitor visa duration of stay, Syria family visa duration of stay, Syria settlement visa duration of stay, Syria Transit visa duration of stay, Syria permanent residence visa duration of stay, Syria temporary residence visa duration of stay and Syria Professional visa duration of stay.

Normally Syria Visa Duration Can Be:

• Syria Work Visa Duration of Stay is =
• Syria Business Visa Duration of Stay is =
• Syria Study Visa Duration of Stay is =
• Syria Visitor Visa Duration of Stay is =
• Syria Family Visa Duration of Stay is =
• Syria Settlement Visa Duration of Stay is =
• Syria Transit Visa Duration of Stay is =
• Syria Permanent Residence Visa Duration of Stay is =
• Syria Temporary Residence Visa Duration of Stay is =
• Syria Professional visa Duration of Stay is =

Among the different queries of Syria visa, duration of visa is an eminent one. It is better to know about it before flying to Syria. Syria Visa Validity is about 3 months for the single entry. While for the multiple entries, the validity is found out to be of 6 months.

Info About Syria Visa Duration of stay

• Syria Tourist visa duration,
• Syria Work Visa duration,
• Syria Temporary Residence visa duration,
• Syria Student visa duration,
• Syria Business Visa duration,
• Syria Permanent Residence visa duration,
• Syria Professional visa duration,

and Syria Transit visa duration are frequently search queries about the Syria Visa Duration of Stay. The best way to know the Syria Visa Duration of Stay of your desired visa type is to visit the official site. Another great approach to know the Syria Visa Duration of Stay is to contact the embassy. Take the best advantage of Syria Visa Duration of Stay by accomplishing all the major tasks. Ensure to fly to Syria before the visa validity expires. Do not forget to witness the most interesting part of the country during Syria Visa Duration of Stay. It is one other than the echo point. This is one of the major tourist attractions. It is popular with the name of shooting valleys.

Details About Syria Visa Duration of Stay

Syria Visa Duration of Stay can be made quite lavish and amazing by taking some wise steps in advance. These include the pre-booking of wonderful car hire, best tour package, and an impressive hotel room for the trip. Never forget to get the travel insurance as it would help you in the hour of need. Now you can get complete details about Syria visa duration of stay including Syria work visa duration of stay, Syria Business visa duration of stay, Syria study visa duration of stay, the Syria Visitor visa duration of stay, Syria family visa duration of stay, Syria settlement visa duration of stay, Syria Transit visa duration of stay, Syria permanent residence visa duration of stay, Syria temporary residence visa duration of stay and Syria Professional visa duration of stay.

Syria visa processing time can be different according to the visa type. As you know Syria offers different visa types for Pakistanis and their processing time is also different. Here we are discussing Syria visa processing time for Pakistanis in detail. Now you can get complete details about Syria visa processing time including Syria work visa processing time, Syria Business visa processing time, Syria study visa processing time, the Syria Visitor visa processing time, Syria family visa processing time, Syria settlement visa processing time, Syria Transit visa processing time, Syria permanent residence visa processing time, Syria temporary residence visa processing time and Syria Professional visa processing time.

Syria Visa Processing Time Can Be:

• Syria Work Visa Processing Time is =
• Syria Business Visa Processing Time is =
• Syria Study Visa Processing Time is =
• Syria Visitor Visa Processing Time is =
• Syria Family Visa Processing Time is =
• Syria Settlement Visa Processing Time is =
• Syria Transit Visa Processing Time is =
• Syria Permanent Residence Visa Processing Time is =
• Syria Temporary Residence Visa Processing Time is =
• Syria Professional visa Processing Time is =

Various queries are associated with the Syria visa such as visa requirements, visa kinds, how to apply for Syria visa, visa validity, Syria Visa Processing Time, and Syria visa duration of stay. Among all such queries, Syria Visa Processing Time is an eminent one. It should be addressed as early as possible. Syria Visa Processing Time is important to be known for all applicants of all visa kinds. Let's have a glance at the Syria Visa Processing Time over here.

Detail About Syria Visa Processing Time

• Main queries about the visa include Syria Student visa Processing Time,
• Syria Professional visa Processing Time,
• Syria Transit visa Processing Time,
• Syria Visa Application,
• Syria Visa On Arrival,
• Syria Work Visa Processing Time,
• Syria Business Visa Processing Time,
• Syria Tourist Visa Processing Time,
• How To Get Syria Visa, Syria work Visa Processing Time,
• Syria Permanent Residence visa Processing Time, and Syria Temporary Residence visa Processing Time.

Syria Visa Processing Time is about a week. Yes, you can avail your Syria visa after Syria Visa Processing Time of 5 to 8 business days. You would get to know the result of your Syria visa application after such minimum days. The applicants do not need to wait a lot for getting the visa. It is worthy to mention here that right now Syria is not a safe country. Hence, enter the country when the situation becomes under control.

You can also contact Syria embassy Islamabad for details and information about your queries. From the embassy office, you can get exact details about your requirements and needs or you can drop your questions to us. We can guide you as well. Now you can get complete details about Syria visa processing time including Syria work visa processing time, Syria Business visa processing time, Syria study visa processing time, the Syria Visitor visa processing time, Syria family visa processing time, Syria settlement visa processing time, Syria Transit visa processing time, Syria permanent residence visa processing time, Syria temporary residence visa processing time and Syria Professional visa processing time.

Now you can download Syria visa application form very easily. Our team tries their best to collect visa application form to facilitate you. You can get your required application form from here or have an option to get from the embassy. Now you can get complete details about Syria visa application form including Syria to work visa application form, Syria Business visa application form, Syria study visa application form, the Syria Visitor visa application form, Syria family visa application form, Syria settlement visa application form, Syria Transit visa application form, Syria permanent residence visa application form, Syria temporary residence visa application form and Syria Professional visa application form.

Types of Syria Visa Application Forms

• Syria Work Visa Application Form
• Syria Business Visa Application Form
• Syria Study Visa Application Form
• Syria Visitor Visa Application Form
• Syria Family Visa Application Form
• Syria Settlement Visa Application Form
• Syria Transit Visa Application Form
• Syria Permanent Residence Visa Application Form
• Syria Temporary Residence Visa Application Form
• Syria Professional visa Application Form

The first thing that every applicant should get to know is How to Get Syria Visa Application Form. Although Syria Visa Application Form is a simple yet important document for getting the Syria visa. Syria work Visa Application Form, Syria Business Visa Application Form, Syria Temporary Residence visa Application Form, Syria Student Visa Application Form, Syria Professional visa Application Form, Syria Permanent Residence visa Application Form, Syria Transit visa Application Form, and Syria Tourist Visa Application Form is merely a few steps away from you.

Syria Visa Application Forms Information

If you have an internet connection and laptop, then you can get the Syria Visa  Form quite easily. Download the Syria Visa Application Form quite conveniently from the internet. Get the print of this important document and read the entire Syria Visa Application Form carefully. After comprehending the requirements of the Syria Visa Application Form, start filling it correctly and accurately. Check it properly and ensure that all entered details are correct. In case of any mistake in the Visa Application Form, you do not need to worry about. Simply discard the Syria Visa Application Form and get another one as the same ways which are mentioned above. Do not submit the Application Form until you are dead sure about the information entered in the form Accompany the visa application form of Syria with other visa requirements such s valid passport having a blank page, two passport size photos, cover letter etc. upon approval of your visa application, you would get the positive response. 

You can also contact Syria embassy Islamabad for details and information about your queries. From the embassy office, you can get exact details about your requirements and needs or you can drop your questions to us. We can guide you as well. Now you can get complete details about Syria visa application form including Syria work visa application form, Syria Business visa application form, Syria study visa application form, the Syria Visitor visa application form, Syria family visa application form, Syria settlement visa application form, Syria Transit visa application form, Syria permanent residence visa application form, Syria temporary residence visa application form and Syria Professional visa application form.

Get details and guide about how to apply for Syria visa from Pakistan. You can get step by step guide here to apply for Syria visa from Pakistan. Now you can get complete details and information on how to apply for Syria visa. Learn how to apply for Syria work visa, how to apply for Syria business, how to apply for Syria study visa, how to apply for Syria visitor visa, how to apply for Syria family visa, how to apply for Syria settlement visa, how to apply for Syria Transit visa, how to apply for Syria permanent residence visa, how to apply for Syria temporary residence visa and how to apply for Syria Professional visa.

How to Apply For Syria Visa?

Are you curious to know about How to Apply Syria Visa? If you have to move to Syria for any of your purposes, then How to Apply Syria Visa is an important query for you. You can get the query of How to Apply Syria Visa properly satisfied by getting the latest updates. The latest update can be gained from the internet such as by visiting the official site. Contacting the embassy of your country is also a fabulous way to know about How to Apply Syria Visa. Lets address the most frequent queries about

• How to Apply For Syria Visa such as How to Apply For Syria Work Visa,
• How to Apply For Syria Tour Visa,
• How to Apply For Syria Tourist Visa,
• How to Apply For Syria Visit visas,
• How to Apply For Syria Business Visa,
• How to Apply For Syria Permanent Residence visa,
• How to Apply For Syria Temporary Residence visa,
• How to Apply For Syria Student visa,
• How to Apply For Syria Professional visa and How to Apply For Syria Transit visa.

How to Apply Syria Visa Requirements

The general requirements of How to Apply Syria Visa include the visa application form requirement, photo requirement, cover letter etc. Your first step regarding How to Apply Syria Visa includes the visa application form. All the applicants need to have this application form for applying to Syria visa. Obtain the application form from the net and fill it properly. Submit the visa application form, valid passport, cover letter, etc to the embassy. The business cover letter is necessary to get the work visa. Submit 2 photos which should be passport size and color with the white or plain background. The dimensions of the photo should be 2 x 2. The background should be either plain or white. Valid passport having one blank page is required. Hope you have got an idea about How to Apply Syria Visa. Visa is not granted to Israeli residents and also to those who have a stamp of Israel on their passport.   

You can also contact Syria embassy Islamabad for details and information about your queries. From the embassy office, you can get exact details about your requirements and needs or you can drop your questions to us. We can guide you as well.Now you can get complete details and information how to apply for Syria visa. Learn how to apply for Syria work visa, how to apply for Syria business, how to apply for Syria study visa, how to apply for Syria visitor visa, how to apply for Syria family visa, how to apply for Syria settlement visa, how to apply for Syria Transit visa, how to apply for Syria permanent residence visa, how to apply for Syria temporary residence visa and how to apply for Syria Professional visa.

• Western Asia contains a fascinating country named, Syria. It is known to have fertile plains, huge mountains, and enchanting landscapes.
• The Hawk is the national symbol of Syria and the official language is Arabic.
• The capital city, Damascus, is also popular with the name of the City of Jasmine.
• You can experience the Syria culture After Issuance of Syria Visa.
• After Issuance of Syria Visa, the traveler can relish flying to Syria easily.
• After Issuance of Syria Visa, you can visit the popular places of Syria including the Lake Assad.
• This is a wonderful lake which is man-made. This artificial lake was formed in 1968.

More Info After Issuance of Syria Visa

• You can do lots more After Issuance of Syria work Visa,
• After Issuance of Syria tour Visa,
• After Issuance of Syria tourist Visa,
• After issuance of Syria Student visa,
• After issuance of Syria Professional visa,
• After issuance of Syria Transit visa.

After Issuance of Syria Visa, you can have fun at the shouting valley. It is also known as an echo point. After Issuance of Syria Visa, you can enjoy staying in the most splendid an trendy hotels of Syria. After Issuance of Syria Visa, you can take the joy of your vacations to a next level.

After Issuance of Syria Tourist Visa

Tourist love to fly to Syria for witnessing the mesmerizing places of the country. Having a look at the country's history reveals the fact that it suffered from the war. Afterward, the people of Syria have to work hard to come out of the disasters of war. This is the basic reason for diminished tourism to Syria.

Ddetails About after Issuance of Syria Visa

Now you can get complete details and information what to do after issuance of Syria visa. Learn after issuance of Syria work visa, after issuance of Syria business, after issuance of Syria study visa, after issuance of Syria visitor visa, after issuance of Syria family visa, after issuance of Syria settlement visa, after issuance of Syria Transit visa, after issuance of Syria permanent residence visa, after issuance of Syria temporary residence visa and after issuance of Syria Professional visa.

Western Asia has a marvelous county named, Syria. Damascus is also known as the City of Jasmine. It is the capital of this wonderful country.

Do I need a visa to travel to Syria

Do I need a visa to travel to Syria, Is it safe to go to Syria, Can US citizens go to Syria are queries of people that need to be satisfied as early as possible. Tourism and safety go hand in hand. If a country is not safe for tourism then the tourism rate would be massively declined to that place. While a safe country permits you to visit it more frequently. Before you Fly to Syria, figure out about the safety of tourist. The condition of the country becomes disastrous due to war. It is not a safe country for tourism. They suffer from various hardships over there. Even, kidnapping is common. Before you Fly to Syria, ensure to boost your peace of mind.

Before you Fly to Syria Infomation

The travel insurance should be definitely considered Before you Fly to Syria. Before you Fly to Syria, get the visa and air ticket. Syria visa is the main requirement that all the visitors have to fulfill Before you Fly to Syria. Before you Fly to Syria, you should get to know about the most amazing restaurants. This search is of great significance for all the foodies. It let them enjoy the most mouthwatering meals of Syria.You should witness the most stunning places of Syria during your tour. One of such a wonderful place is the echo point. This shouting valley lets the tourist relish their time.

The right strategy and proper submission of all the documents ensure to avail the Syria visa. After availing the Syria visa, you are allowed to enter the country with extreme convenience. Tourist love to know about the country in which they are about to spend their quality time. If you are thinking about to get the flight of Syria then you should get some details about the country. One of the highlighted details to be known is about the airports of the country. Let's have a glance at the top airports of Syria.

List Of Airports In Syria

• The most eminent International airports in Syria include
• Aleppo International Airport,
• Damascus International Airport,
• Kamishli International Airport.

Have a glance at the List Of Airports In Syria in order to figure out the major airports in Syria. It lets you know about the Syria International Airports. One of the most busiest Syria International Airports is the Damascus International Airport. Syria International Airports can be a public airport or military airport.

International Airports In Syria

Syria International Airports ensure the maximum relaxation of the travelers by providing the world-class amenities and facilitation to them. The ICAO code of the most busiest Syria International Airports named Damascus International airport is OSDI. The IATA code of this marvelous Syria International Airport is DAM. This Syria International Airport was inaugurated in the 1970s and still serving the country with its better facilities. The Aleppo international airport is the Syria International Airports which have OSAP as its ICAO code. Bassel Al-Assad International airport is located in Latakia.

Syria tourist information includes exploring the most stunning countries of the world. These include Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra, Lattakia, Homs, Hama, Tartus, Borsa, Maaloula, and Raqqa. Syria Travel Guide And Travel Information is a good option for the tourist. To have the best time in the Syria, tourism, you must definitely consider the Syria tourist information.

Tourism Opportunities In Syria

Tourism In Syria is a complete bore one if you are unaware of the Syria Culture, and Tourism opportunities In Syria. The Syria Tourism Official Website is ample to combat your issues regarding tourism. It provides guidance about the top tourist destinations. After the war, there was a huge decline in the country’s tourism. Syria Tourist Information includes that Aleppo is quite popular because of narrow alleys and large mansions.

Tourist Attractions in Syria

Syria Tourist Information about Borsa city reveal the fact there are popular Roman theatres in the country. The eminent city in the country is, Damascus. Syria Tourist Information about Damascus includes that there is a nickname of Damascus. It is known as the City of Jasmine. It is one of the oldest cities in the country. The tourist should enjoy exploring the fascinating places of Syria in this city. Syria Tourist Information includes various brilliant places to visit. These include the Temple of Jupiter, which is located in Damascus. Another important place to visit is the Roman theatre of Borsa. This Syria Tourist Information would let to reach your tourist destination easily. Syria Tourist Information includes that The Syria is wonderful and must visit place in Palmyra. You should definitely visit eh Great mosque of Damascus during your trip.

More Syria Tourist Information

Ensure to have a camera during your Syria trip. It permits you to capture the splendid moments of your life. You can even make videos of your trip and show it to your friends after returning home. Do not take your trip for granted. Ensure to prepare well for your Syria trip. Get to know about your safety and the top places to visit in the country. Make the different booking in advance for boosting your joy on the trip. It is a fact that Syria is not like as it was previously. The war damaged the country to a great extent. This country took the bulls by the horns and proved itself to a strong country. It is struggling hard to appear as a wonderful country on the map of the world. 

Syria is a beautiful country in Western Asia. Damascus is the capital city of Syria, which has the nickname of the City of Jasmine. 

Syria Customs & Revenue Department

Familiarity about Syria Customs And Revenue Department, Syria Customs Law, and Custom Rules Syria is of keen significance. According to the Syria Custom Rules, it is prohibited to import frozen, live of stuffed birds. Syria custom rules prohibit the import of weapons or arms in the country.

Custom Rules Syria

According to the Syria Custom Rules, the passenger is allowed for free import of cigarette (200), perfume (30g), and tobacco (250g). It is allowed to every passenger regardless of their age. According to Syria Custom Rules, there are no charges for import of such goods. Passengers can also bring spirits (1pint), cigars (25), and lotion (0.5L). Syria Custom Rules permit the Import of personal gifts with a value of not exceeding 250 Syrian pounds. Passengers should get to know about the custom rules of the country and try their best to pack their luggage as per the Syria Custom Rules.

Other Information Syria Custom Rules

Having illegal stuff in your bag can put you in hot water. The luggage of all passengers is checked at the entrance of the airport. However, upon clearance, they are allowed to move further and enter comfortably in the country. The custom rules of Syria permit the export of spirit or tobacco in any quantity. There is no restriction on the export quantity of these stuff. Veterinarian health certificate is the necessary document which is required for import of every pet.

One of the amazing Things To Do In Syria is to visit the historical sites in Syria, and Syria beautiful places. Having knowledge of interesting facts about Syria doubles the joy of your trip. You can explore the Syria tourist attractions in an efficient way by knowing about Syria in advance. The most lovely things to do in Syria is to find the most attractive things made in Syria. After exploring it, make a purchase of the most beautiful ones. Present it as a gift to your friends and family. The most traditional it would be, the more likable it would become.

Brilliant Things To Do In Syria

The most brilliant Things To Do In Syria are to visit Umayyad mosque, Temple of

• Azm Palace,
• Mount Qasioun,

One of the most comfortable and relaxing things to do in Syria is to get accommodation in the most trendy and stunning hotels of Syria. In addition to this, you should keep yourself updated about the Syria weather before making trip plans.

Top Things to Do in Syria

• The top things to do in Syria is to enjoy shopping in Syria. You can buy the wonderful things in Syria quite easily by having the local currency in your pocket.
• The fascinating thing to do in Syria is to visit the Hamra street. It is also known as Rue Hamra.
• One of the most important things to do in Syria is to explore the beauty of Syria especially Damascus.
• Damascus is the most eminent city of Syria, which is known to be the oldest city in Syria. Indeed, it is also the capital city of Syria as well.
• There are various monuments, museums, and shrine that depict the history of the country.
• When it comes to the Things To Do In Syria, how can one forget the Syria cuisine! You should try the delicious and scrumptious dishes of Syria.

Syria Beautiful Places

Syria has amazing wonders to surprise you. The more you explore the country, the more you love the country. Things To Do In Syria include visiting the top architectural places of the country. These major of these are Khan Asad Basha, Great Mosque, The Arc Gate and Sayyida Ruqayya Mausoleum. One of the fabulous things to do in Syria is to witness the unusual places of Syria. These include Musyaf Castle, Roman Theatre of Palmyra, Apamea, Damascus Center, Arwad Island, and Palmyra Museum. The ruins of the country are the major source of attraction for tourist.

Communication is an important part of life. During tourism, the significance of communication reaches to a next level. You can enjoy communicating with the people of the country when you know their language or when they are familiar with the language that is you speaking with them. When both the parties are completely unaware of each other's language, then the drop scene occurs. Hence, all the tourists should get to know that what language is being spoken in the country.

Syria National Language

Syria National language and Syria official languages are of keen significance. Get to know about different languages in Syria and National Language in Syria. When it comes to the Languages in Syria, Arabic is found out to be the most commonly spoken language of Syria. Indeed, it is regarded as the official language of Syria. Arabic is the Languages in Syria, whose modern dialects are used in Syria on a regular basis. You can observe the Mesopotamian dialect of the Arabic language in the northeast of Syria.

Languages in Syria

While, in the west of Syria, you would find out the Levantine to be a popular dialect. Besides Arabic, there are various other Languages in Syria.

are some other spoken Languages in Syria. Among all the Languages in Syria, the 2nd most frequently used in Syria is Kurdish. While the third rank is given to the Turkish language. Having familiarity or the know-how of such languages is helpful for travelers. The most common foreign languages of Syria include French and English. 

Syria is a country in Western Asia, which contains immensely beautiful places. Damascus is the capital city of this outstanding country. Damascus is also known to have a beautiful nickname. This nickname reflects the beauty of Damascus. It is popular with the name of the city of Jasmine.

Public Holidays Syria 2018 & 2019

The travelers flying to Syria near the festivals can enjoy the Public Holidays Syria 2018 And 2019. Syria National Holidays 2019 is the same as the Syria National Holidays 2018 were. Syria Holidays 2019 is a matter of interest for the people of Syria. You can keep yourself updated about the Syria Public Holidays 2019 by marking your calendars for the special days. Syria Holidays And Traditions reflect the culture of the people of Syria. Syria Holidays 2018 were enormous in number. The Syria Holidays And Celebrations are grand. The people of Syria contribute their efforts in order to celebrate the Syria Public Holidays 2018 with thrill, enthusiasm, and zeal.

Public Holidays Syria

The most eminent Public Holidays Syria include

• Eid ul Fitr.,
• Independence Day,
• Silk Road Festival,
• Cotton Festival,
• New Year etc.

The cotton festival is one of the important Syria Public Holidays which is celebrated in the month of July. Majority of Syria’s population is Muslim. Hence, Islamic festivals are celebrated in the country. People enjoy off from their office, schools etc on the Syria Public Holidays.

Most Important Syria Public Holidays

• On the 17th of April, one of the most important Syria Public Holidays is being observed in Syria.
• It is none other than the Evacuation day.
• Other Syria Public Holidays are Muharram,
• Revolution Day,
• October Liberation Day,
• Orthodox Easter Day,
• The Prophet’s Birthday
• Christmas Day.

The Prophet’s Birthday is the Islamic festival for which the Lunar calendar is being followed. Among the Syria Public Holidays, it is one of the most important Islamic festivals for Muslims. They celebrate this pious day with extreme respect.Christmas is the Syria Public Holidays which belong to Christians. It comes on the last month of the calendar. Syria traveling can be enjoyed to the peak if you abide by all the custom rules and get the most splendid travel insurance. Right now, it is not considered safe for the tourists to fly to the country. For flying to the country, the travelers should have the Syria visa. You should have the valid visa and visa application form as the main requirements of a visa. Accompany them with other documents to avail your desired Syria visa.

Syria is a fabulous country that is located in Western Asia. Damascus is an adorable city of Syria, which is also known to be the oldest city and capital city of Syria. Visitors should take a sagacious step before flying to Syria. You should have some general information about the country to make your trip to be a facilitating one. One of these includes the currency of Syria.

Syria Currency to PKR & USD

The Central Bank of Syria is the one which issues the official currency of the country. If you are exploring about what is Syria currency, then you are at the right spot. Here you will get to know different facts about the Syria currency such as Syria currency to USD, Syria currency to PKR and Syria currency rate. One PKR is equivalent to 3.93618 SYP. Similarly, one SYP is found to be equivalent to 0.00194

Syria Official Currency

The official currency is none other than the Syrian Pound. It is also known as Syrian Lira. The code of Syria currency is LYP. LS is the abbreviation of the official Syria currency. It is available in both forms. You can get it in the form of banknotes or coins.

The denominations of Syrian pound coins are

Similarly, the denominations of Syrian banknotes are

• 2000 pounds.

If you are about to have a Syria trip and thinking of to fly to the country, then keep some local currency with you. It lets you make rapid purchases. The rates of the currency changes with the ups and down of stock exchange rates.

A beautiful country which is situated in Western Asia is known as Syria. The oldest city of Syria is the capital of Syria. It is none other than Damascus. Majority of Syria's population is Muslim. About 87% of the country’s population belong to Islam.

Night Clubs & Bars In Syria

Syria Nightlife was fabulously vibrant. People, especially the tourist desire to move to Night Clubs In Syria and Bars In Syria. These were the scenarios before the war. However, after the war, the scenario becomes entirely the opposite. There left a few bars or pubs in the country. The main center of Nightlife In Syria was Damascus. It was known to have charming pubs where dancers dance all night. There were live music and DJ nights. The cafes and clubs were the eminent part of Syria nightlife. In Syria nightlife, beer is commonly served. People hang out with their friends or even meet new people over there.

Syria Nightlife

Whenever the people want to escape from real life, they rush towards the Syria nightlife. IT gives them peace and they feel much farther from their sorrows and worries. Syria nightlife is one of the major sources of attractions for visitors. It is obvious that every person gets exhausted from his dull boring routine. They want to have some source of entertainment to enjoy their life.They consider Syria nightlife to a source of amusement which take them away from the trouble of life. After the war, the people of the country were mentally disturbed. Hence, they were observed to move to bars. The lights of the pubs are wonderful and the service offered is stunning. Tourists who want to drink and listen to music while doing so find the Syria nightlife to be their destination. Syria has wonderful and mesmerizing places which tourist have to explore in order to make the trip an impressive one.

Syria weather is an important parameter that every traveler should know before flying to Syria. Syria weather updates can be got from several sources. The most eminent of these include Syria Weather Map, Weather Forecast Syria, and Syria Weather Now.  

Weather Forecast In Syria

Having a know how about the Weather Forccast In Syria, you can make a wise decision. You can either confirm your bookings for going to Syria or cancel the plans. Let's have a glance at the Weather In Syria in summers and winters. Syria Weather is known to have long summers. The summer season of Syria is usually dry and hot. Hence, the tourist should consider flying in Syria in pleasant weather. A pleasant weather allows the tourist to go out in an open environment in order to enjoy the vacations. While hot and dry weather spoils both the mood and vacations.However, Syria weather in the winters is found out to be mild and wet. The weather of the country can become quite harsh in winters. There are chances that the temperature of the country reaches below zero. In addition to this, snow can be expected in winters. In the summer season, the temperature of the country may approach up to 45 degree Celsius. Pack your luggage as per the weather of the country. Keep the clothes and other necessities as per weather situation. Both hot and cold weather are the important weathers of Syria. The forecast would help you to know about the temperature, humidity, precipitation etc of the country’s region.

Syria is an outstanding country which is known to have a wonderful cuisine. Syria food is an important part of tourism. Best food of Syria includes kebab Halabi, shawarma, Shankli, kibbeh, and Baklava. The top foods of Syria include hummus, mujaddara, tabouleh, and sujuk. You can enjoy having Syria desserts, the traditional food of Syria, and drinks. Syria food and drink are of keen significance for the people of Syria and also for tourist. Fattoush, labneh, and bastirma are some delicious Syria food that you should try.

Amazing Fact About Syria Food

The amazing fact about Syria food includes that appetizers are being served to customers before the main meal. These include meze, za’atar, and manaqish. Syria’s traditional meal can be enjoyed as well. You can visit the restaurant for having the meal of your desire.

Popular Drinks in Syria?

Are you exploring for what are popular drinks in Syria? If yes, then you are at right place. These include Al-mateh, Qahweh Bayda, Salep etc. Al-mateh is a drink which is served hot to the customers. It is basically the caffeine-infused drink.  Some popular drinks of Syria are

• Syrian beer.

In addition to this, you can also relish Tamarind sherbert, and Arabic Coffee as well. Polo is basically the mint lemonade which is good for digestion and amazing in taste.

Syria Food Recipes

Syria food recipes become the prime curiosity of tourist after eating the meal. The sweet Syria food includes Crepe, Kanafeh, Halweh, Ba’laweh, Rice pudding, Ma’mul, and Basbousa. People having sweet tooth should eat these deserts after having the main course.

Syria is a beautiful country which is located in Western Asia. It has enormous high mountains, wonderful desserts, and fabulous fertile plains. Once, it was an eminent center of tourism but after the war, the condition became opposed to it. Damascus is the wonderful city of Syria and is known as the capital city of it.

Syria Government History

You must have a know-how about the Syria Government History, Syria Government 2018 and Syria Government Facts. Having the general information about the country in which you are moving for vacations is of great significance. It amazingly doubles the joy of your vacations in that country. You can explore much more new an exciting in the country easily if you have some general know how about the country. Let's have a glance at some of the important facts about the Syria government.

Government Type of Syria

When it comes to the Government type of Syria, it is found out to be a presidential republic. Syria Government had the highly authoritarian regime. The president of the Syria Government is Bashar al-Assad while the prime minister of Syria Government is Imad Khamis. National colors of Syria are green, black, red and white. The national symbol of Syria is Hawk. The currency of Syria is the Syrian Pound (SYP). The major religion of the country is Islam. The climate of Syria is majorly hot and dry, especially at the desserts. The summers are sunny. The tourist can enjoy going to Syria in winters when the weather is pleasant and has rainfalls as well. The agricultural land of Syria constitutes about 75.8%. 

Information About Syria includes the official name of Syria. Officially, it is known as the Syrian Arab Republic. General information of Syria tells that Syria is situated in Western Asia.

Information About Syria

• General Info about Syria includes Bashar al-Assad is the president of Syria.
• General info about Syria includes that it is comprised of various high mountains, amazingly fertile plains, and beautiful desserts.
• Let's have a glance at the Facts about Syria, and History of Syria.
• General Info about Syria flag is that there exist 2 stars on the flag. The existence of these stars depicts the previous union between this country and Egypt.
• If you are planning a trip to Syria then this General Info about Syria would surely help you out.
• The country contains the Lake Assad, which is an enchanting Lake. Indeed, it is the largest lake in the country.
• The amazing fact about this Lake is that it is a man-made lake.
• You should definitely enjoy spending quality time over the lake. It was made in 1968.
• General Info about Syria reveals the fact that Damascus is the beautiful city of Syria. It is also known as ash-Sham.
• The nickname of Damascus is the City of Jasmine. This oldest city of Syria also secures the position of being the capital city of Syria.
• An interesting General Info about Syria is the echo point. This is an eminent part of Syria tour. Many of the tourists wish to reach this place.
• They use this point in order to speak loud and make communication with their loved ones.
• It is indeed the Shouting Valley, which you should definitely visit on your Syria trip. It is indeed the meeting point of about 4 different countries.
• These countries include Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan.
• General Info about Syria history includes that this country emerged from the Ottoman Empire’s ruins. It was regarded as the largest Arab state.
• General Info about Syria includes that this country produces two varieties of drink, which are highly popular in the country.
• These include Barada Beer and A-Shark Beer.
• General Info about Syria includes that previously this country was a major source of attraction for the tourists.
• It is because there were many stunning and splendid historical and religious wonders in Syria. But, after the war, the rate of tourism was badly declined. The official language of the country is Arabic and national symbol is Hawk.  

Syria is a beautiful country. It is located in Western Asia. There are amazingly adorable places in Syria that you should witness. Damascus is an eminent city of Syria to be visited.

Syria Travel Insurance Guide.

Without the Syria Travel Insurance guide, you cannot get to know about your rights and insurance policies. It lets you know about your rights in certain unpleasant scenarios. The purpose of the Syria Travel Insurance is to boost up your peace of mind. The purpose of the Travel Insurance for Syria is to make you relax during your trip. Travel Insurance for Syria should be considered for all the members who are flying to Syria. Travel Insurance for Syria provides a huge variety of securities. The usual coverages covered in the majority of the Travel Insurance for Syria are coverage for luggage, health, and issues with flight. With the Travel Insurance for Syria, you get the marvelous opportunity to feel secure in the foreign country. If your luggage is being theft or lost in Syria then your Travel Insurance for Syria would help you in this regard. It provides coverage for this. If you are having poor health or sudden attack as angina, asthma etc then you do not need to panic.

Syria Travel Insurance

Your Travel Insurance for Syria would provide you with medical coverage. Not merely this, but you can also get the coverage for the accidental injuries as well. For instance, if you are being hit by a vehicle and got injuries, bruises or bone fracture then your Travel Insurance for Syria would provide you coverage for this.The top travel insurance provides maximum coverages. You need to be aware of all the coverage offered by the travel insurance before making the final selection. Your vigilance can save you from being alone in the unpleasant scenarios. Who wants to ensure the heavy medical bill or suffer from tension or anxiety! Surely, no one wants to. Hence, the best way is to get rid of all such stress by getting the most reputed travel insurance. No matter, if you are not going to Syria for tourism and merely have to go there for a short duration of time such as attending a wedding or business meeting. You should still give importance to the travel insurance. Do not take it for granted. No one knows when any unpleasant incident would knock your door. Hence, by having the travel insurance, you make the preparation to combat with such a scenario.

Accommodation is of keen significance during tourism. The real fun and joy of tourism are associated with accommodation either directly or indirectly. Tourist should never take it for granted. No matter either you are on a transit visa and have to stay in the country for a minimum period, you should get both hotel booking and travel insurance. Damascus is the major city which is considered the most for Hotel Booking For Syria. It is known to have the top reputed hotels of Syria. There are various other cities of Syria, which has wonderful hotels. Damascus also has a nickname which is quite interesting to know. It is known as the City of Jasmine. People look for the trendy and stylish Hotel Booking For Syria. They want to boost up the joy of each and every second of their vacations. What can be better than Hotel Booking For Syria in this regard! It amazing kicks out various issues and the major issue that is being combated is of accommodation.

Best Syria Hotels In 2018/2019

You should consider the Best Syria Hotels In 2018 and Best Syria Hotels In 2019 for the Hotel Booking For Syria. Best Syria Hotels In 2018/2019 are based on the amenities it provides and the appeal of it. The more appealing the hotel would be, the more customers would rush towards it. Before making a final decision, do not forget to know the customer reviews about the hotel. It would let you in the rejection and selection process. You can consider Hotel Booking For Syria in Four Seasons Hotel Damascus, Sheraton Hotel, Dedeman Hotel Palmyra, Hotel Art House, Beit Al Mamlouka, and Dama Rose Hotel. If you are exploring for the 5-star hotel then you can get the Hotel Booking For Syria in any of these mentioned hotels.

Best Hotels in Syria

For the 3-star and 4-star Hotel Booking For Syria, the best hotels are the Park Hotel, Jdayde Hotel, Al Zaetona Hotel Damascus, Shahin Tower Hotel, and Armitage Hotel. Before the Hotel Booking For Syria, you should get to know about the amenities that it offers to its reputed customers. The more amazing the amenities the services would be, the more popular and desirable it would become. You can relish saving much of your money by getting accommodation in Cheap Syria Hotels. Comparing the rates of the rooms of different hotels lets you know about the most suitable and Cheap hotels in Syria. Get the Syria visa and reach Syria as early as possible.

There is a wonderful country in Western Asia which is marvelously beautiful. It was considered an important country for tourisms. But after the unfortunate incident of war, the scenario was changed. Syria Torusim got declined after the war. However, the country tried its best to recover from the impacts of war.

Airlines That Fly To Syria

• Airlines That Fly To Syria include
• Cham Wings Airline,
• Syrian Air,
• Syrian Pearl Airlines.

International Flights Syria permits the travelers to fly to Syria with extreme facilitation. People having a limited budget should consider the Cheap Flights To Syria. Ticket Price For Syria is not the same for all the airlines. Ticket Price For Syria is variable from flights to flights. The Ticket Price For Syria of some flights is higher, especially for the international airlines. However, the reasonable Ticket Price For Syria can be found out by comparing the prices of the ticket of top airlines. Damascus is the capital of Syria having the Damascus International airport. Damascus International Airports is one of the most popular hub airports of Syria Airlines. There is a great number of flights landing or taking off from Damascus International airport.

Info About Ticket Price For Syria

Pay the Ticket Price For Syria and book the most splendid tour package for Syria. Without the Ticket Price For Syria, you cannot fly to your dream country. Syria has various charming places which are considered to be the top tourist destinations. Arabic is the most frequently spoken language of the country. Ensure your smooth journey to Syria by following the custom rules and getting the travel insurance. 

The beautiful country of Western Asia, which is well known for its fascinating places is Syria. It has ruins of Ottoman empire. Syrian pound is the official currency of this wonderful country. Arabic is the most commonly spoken language of Syria. One of the oldest cities of this outstanding city is Damascus, which is also the capital of it. The city of Jasmine is the nickname of Damascus.

Cheap Car Rental In Syria

Cheap Car Rental In Syria let you have the car of your desire. There is a variety of care from which you can choose your favorite one. Price Of Cars In Syria varies from model to model and brand to brand. Search For A Cheap Car Rental In Syria in order to keep yourself in your predefined budget. The private transport in Syria removes the restriction of following the time. You can avail the car hire in Syria anytime. It would take you directly to whatever place you want to go. No need to wait for long as you usually have to do so in case of public transport.

Top 10 Car Rentals in Syria

You can search the List of Top Car rentals in Syria, or Top 10 Car Rentals in Syria to choose the most fabulous one. Getting the most suitable car hire in Syria let you visit top cities of Syria. You should definitely visit the most amazing place named as the Echo Point. IT is basically the meeting point of 4 different countries. Book the Car Hire In Syria before flying to Syria. The top Car Hire In Syria includes Victoria Rent A Car, Europcar, and Budget Rent A Car. You can get the Car Hire In Syria of your favorite model and brand. No matter either you are on a family trip or going to Syria alone, you should get this facility. The most sagacious way of selecting the best Car Hire In Syria is to know about the reviews of different car rentals and compare the rates.

Car Hire In Syria Packages

Some of the best tour packages offer this services to their reputed customers. Syria was considered to be one of the most eminent countries for tourism. People from all over the globe rush to visit the historical and religious places. But, after the war, the tourism rate was declined in the country. Without the Car Hire In Syria, you would waste much of your trip and would be deprived of the real fun of the trip. Car Hire In Syria ensures to boost up the facilitation regarding conveyance.

Syria is an adorable country which is located in Western Asia. It is one of the most popular countries in the world. After the civil war, the condition of the country became quite bad. However, Syria tried its best to get out of such huge destruction. Tourism in Syria was reduced after the incident. However, with the passage of time, the country is shown to have much more improvement and still trying to gain its reputation back in the world of tourism.

Syria Logistics And Tours

Syria Logistics And Tours is facilitating the tourists of almost all countries. Tour Guide Syria is necessary to bring a thrill in your life. Can You Holiday In Syria is entirely dependent upon your safety. If the country is safe for tourism then you can enjoy your vacations in the country. Else, you have to wait till the right time. Syria Vacation Packages are available for couples, singles, families, and groups. Syria Tours is thoroughly enjoyed when you have the company of your beloved friends. They accompany you in doing crazy things on the trip. Get the best Tour To Syria for having wonderful enjoyment in your life.

Syria Tours & Travel Services

Syria Tours & Travel Services include various amenities and facilities. Syria Holiday Packages provides the outstanding stay in the reputed hotel of Syria. Travel Packages In Syria takes you to the top tourist destinations in Syria. Compare the Syria Tour Packages of the top companies and make your selection as per your choice. Tour Packages For Syria let you visit the classical museums, outstanding landscapes, impressive national parks, wonderful wildlife and much more.

Tour Packages in Syria

The tour companies often provide a discount on the Tour Packages For Syria. In addition to this, you can enjoy having the Tour Packages For Syria at the unmatchable rates by keeping yourself updated about the offers and deals of the tour companies.

Best Tour Packages For Syria

The best Tour Packages For Syria provide the maximum stay at Syria. The amazing service which is provided by merely the top Tour Packages For Syria is the car hire service. Tour Packages For Syria makes the traveling amazingly easy and convenient. Among the potential benefits of the Tour Packages For Syria include the ticket price for Syria.Tour Packages For Syria provide the best guide about the must-visit places. Hence, one does not need to do any sort of homework about the places to visit in the country. The credit of this goes to the perfect guide provided by the tour companies.

Are you looking for the main requirements that let you fly to Syria easily? If yes, then you are at right place. Getting the Syria visa is a piece of cake when you successfully complete all the Syria visa requirements. Let's figure out the documents that will Help to get Syria Work Visa, Help to get Syria Tour Visa, Help to get Syria Tourist Visa. Not merely this but also get to know about How to get Syria Visa such as How to get Syria Work Visa, How to get Syria Tour Visa, and How to get Syria Tourist Visa. Without knowing about the documents that will Help to get Syria Visa, you would face much of the difficulty in applying for a visa. There are peculiar documents that are required to be fulfilled for availing different visa types of Syria.

Help to Get Syria Visa Application Form

Syria visa application form, downloaded from the net, is the most crucial document that will Help to get Syria Visa. Mentioning all the details in the Syria visa application form will Help to get Syria Visa. Avoid taking the visa application form for granted. Do not fill any incorrect or wrong information in the form.

Help to Get Syria Visa Documents

Other documents that would Help to get Syria Visa are the valid passport, passport size photo, cover letter etc. The photos must be 2 in number and colored with plain or white background. Passport having a blank page is the main requirement that will Help to get Syria Visa. Passport size photo of 2x2 dimension, attached with the visa application form, will Help to get Syria Visa. 

• Syria Visa Requirements
• Syria Visa Types
• Syria Visa Validity
• Syria Visa Fees
• Syria Visa Duration of Stay
• Syria Visa Processing Time
• Syria Visa Application Form
• How to Apply Syria Visa

After Issuance of Syria Visa

Before you fly to syria, syria international airports, syria tourist information, syria custom rules, things to do in syria, public holidays in syria, syria currency, syria weather, government of syria, general info about syria, select embassy in islamabad.

• Pakistan Embassy in Damascus

Travel Insurance for Syria

Hotel booking for syria, ticket price for syria, car hire in syria, tour packages for syria, help to get syria visa, currency converter, subscribe to get latest updates.

Syria Visa

• Normal 3-4 Working Days
• Easy Documentation
• Secure Online Transaction
• 24x7 Customer Support
• Fast Forward Visa Service
• Track Your Visa Status Online

Syria Visa Fee | Apply Syria Visa Online

About syria visa.

Officially known as the Syrian Arab Republic, Syria is situated in Asia and in recent times has been in news owing to the unstable state of the country. Nevertheless, Syria is a beautiful country with many attractions you can visit. Damascus, for one, is famous for its palaces and museums whereas Palmyra’s ruins and tombs cannot be missed due to their historical importance. Contrary to its image, Syria also houses seaside resorts and beaches, which you can witness at Lattakia. The architecture of Hama is something for which travellers from around the world come to Syria. If you are a Christian, Homs, and Maaloula shouldn’t be missed. The desert of Deir Ez-Zoe is also home to many rare species of animals whereas Bosra is home to amphitheaters showcasing the wonderful architecture of the country. All visitors are required to possess a visa, no matter which nation they come from. You will have to get it in advance from the Syrian embassy in your country in advance.

Syria Visa Types

Types of syria visa.

Tourist Visa

The no. of tourists visiting Syria has drastically dropped because of the condition of the country with respect to terror activities. However, tourist visa is still issued to travellers visiting for personal purposes such as exploring the country or meeting their family there. Any personal purpose comes under this category.

Business Visa

Business visa is given to people looking forward to visiting Syria for purposes related to work. With this visa, people can be in the country for a maximum of 90 days though it also depends on their nationality. Your passport has to be valid for at least 6 months beyond your stay in the country.

Documents required for Syria visa

Syria visa document requirements..

• Original Passports with 6 months validity from date of arrival in Syria.
• 3 Photos 35 X 5m, white background, matt finish 70% face size.
• Visa Application forms. 3 copies required.(Form should be typed).
• Covering letter mentioning the details of the applicant, visit and company.
• Return ticket.
• Invitation in from Syrian in Arabic language only. The letter should be attested by chambers of commerce in Syria which should be faxed/courier to the Embassy by Syrian Company. A Copy of letter should also be attached in Application.
• If Travelling for the First Time than - The invitee is required to arrange a guarantee letter stating that the passenger is a genuine traveler. The guarantee letter should also have invitee's contact number and email id.
• Recommendation letter from the Chamber of Commerce.

Enquiry for Syria Visa

Tourist Visa Online E - Visa Services

100% Lowest Visa Fee

No need to visit embassy or consulates,save your money when applying with us !

Express Visa Services

Get E visa in less than 48 hours

Track Visa Status Online

Track your visa online by providing your visa reference number

100% secure payment

We process our visa fee through highly secured payment gate ways

We’re sorry, this site is currently experiencing technical difficulties. Please try again in a few moments. Exception: request blocked

Middle East latest: Hamas releases hostage video; Hezbollah dismisses 'worthless' Israeli claims on commanders killed

Joe Biden has signed a $95bn security package after months of delays - including around $26bn for Israel. A US envoy has said Israel must do everything possible to avoid famine in Gaza. Listen to a Daily podcast on how the conflict is worsening Yemen's humanitarian crisis as you scroll.

Thursday 25 April 2024 01:15, UK

• Israel-Hamas war
• Hamas releases video of hostage in Gaza
• Hezbollah dismisses 'worthless' Israeli claims on commanders killed
• IDF 'poised to launch offensive' on Gaza city of Rafah
• Israel 'hits 40 Hezbollah targets' in Lebanon
• The big picture : What you need to know about the conflict in the Middle East right now
• Listen to the Sky News Daily above and  tap here  to follow wherever you get your podcasts

We'll be back tomorrow with more updates on the Israel-Hamas war.

We reported earlier that the Houthis had attacked what they said were two American ships and an Israeli vessel (see post at 8.44pm).

Now, we are receiving more information on this.

The Iran-aligned group said it targeted the US ship Maersk Yorktown, an American destroyer in the Gulf of Aden and Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean.

The spokesman Yahya Sarea said: "The Yemeni armed forces confirm they will continue to prevent Israeli navigation or any navigation heading to the ports of occupied Palestine in the Red and Arabian Seas, as well as in the Indian Ocean."

Separately, British maritime security firm Ambrey said that it was aware of an incident southwest of the port city of Aden, an area where the Houthis often target ships they say are linked to Israel or the US.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan has said he expects to travel to Saudi Arabia in the next few weeks after postponing the trip due to a cracked rib.

Mr Sullivan told reporters he was feeling much better after the rib injury and that he was about 80% recovered. 

He is to discuss with Saudi officials whether a deal to normalise relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia can be reached.

By Dominic Waghorn , international affairs editor

Deep below Jerusalem, Israeli doctors are preparing for the worst.

Sky News has been given exclusive access to an underground hospital where they are expanding capacity in case the current conflict becomes much worse.

In a bunker below the Herzog Medical Centre the number of beds has been increased to 350 with 100 on the way. 

"Because it's built to withstand both biological and chemical attacks," Dr Yehezkel Caine told Sky News as we entered the complex.

"We have an airlock which is built of two separate sets of blast doors."

Beyond they have installed a whole new level of wards below the existing underground hospital, ripping out a logistics floor and installing more beds and equipment. 

The bunkers would be activated should other hospitals closer to the front need evacuating.  They are planning for worst case scenarios here like an all out war with Hezbollah.

"The hospitals in the north will be overwhelmed with casualties and they themselves will come under fire in which case they would have to evacuate their patients to the centre of the country, the same as we did in the first weeks of the war in the south," Dr Caine said.

Dr Caine and his staff know that after 7 October and the attack by Iran everything has changed for the people of Israel.

He said: "For the civilian population since the war of independence we've never been in a situation where the threat to the civilian population has been as great."

Above ground the Herzog Medical Centre continues with its peacetime specialisms.  

It has Israel's largest ventilator unit, treating adults and children, but also excels in psycho trauma treatment and geriatric rehabilitation. 

Many of those suffering PTSD from the trauma in this conflict are treated here.  

If Jerusalem itself is attacked the hospital can evacuate even the most vulnerable to the bunkers below in just a few hours. The bunkers can be entirely sealed off for 96 hours in what's called a Noah's Ark procedure. 

The Herzog drills its staff regularly, preparing for a reality its hope will never come. 

But events on the northern border are looking ominous.  

Israel has launched one of its biggest bombardments yet of Hezbollah after multiple shelling of northern Israeli communities. 

The lower level war continues with the ever present danger of escalation into something much bigger. 

If it comes, doctors in Jerusalem's biggest underground hospital say they'll be ready.

The Houthis have said they targeted an American warship destroyer in the Gulf of Aden today.

In a televised speech, the Iran-aligned group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the Maersk Yorktown container had also been targeted.

They also claimed they had targeted the Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean.

 The parents of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin have called on leaders to "get a deal done" and bring back the hostages, as they asked their son to "stay strong and survive".

In response to the video released today by Hamas of their son, Rachel Goldberg-Polin and Jon Polin, said seeing the video of Hersh today was "overwhelming".

Mr Polin said: "We are relieved to see him alive but we are also concerned about his health and wellbeing as well as that of all the other hostages and all of those suffering in this region.

"We are here today with a plea, to all of the leaders of the parties that have been negotiating to date - that includes Qatar, Egypt, the US, Hamas and Israel.

"Be brave, lean in, seize this moment and get a deal done to reunite all of us with our loved ones and to end the suffering in this region."

Speaking directly to Hersh, his mother said: "If you can hear this, we heard your voice today for first time in 201 days and if you can hear us I am telling you, we are telling you, we love you, stay strong, survive."

The Israeli army's chief-of-staff and the head of one of Israel's intelligence agencies visited Cairo to discuss its planned ground operation in Rafah, according to the Axios news website.

Three senior Israeli officials told the outlet that Herzl Halevi and Shin Bet's director Ronen Bar met with Egyptian officials, who are concerned an operation would lead to tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians fleeing into their territory.

Egypt has repeatedly warned Israel against an operation in Rafah, with which it shares a border and where more than a million Palestinians have been displaced to.

An Israeli government spokesperson said earlier today Israel will move ahead with its planned ground operation in the city (see post at 2pm).

The US State Department has called "dangerous and reckless" the reports that Israel is pushing to legalise dozens of settler outposts in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. 

Speaking at a daily press briefing, deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel also said Washington was continuing to press the government of Israel for more information on reports of mass graves in Gaza.

Explained: Earlier this week, reports emerged that Israel's finance minister Bezalel Smotrich was pushing to begin the process of legalising outposts in the West Bank.

Mr Smotrich sent instructions to several ministries telling them to begin preparations, the Times of Israel reported, citing Israel's Channel 12 News.

Reports have also emerged of mass graves discovered in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza. The IDF said the claim that troops buried Palestinian bodies was "baseless and unfounded".

Hamas has posted a video showing an Israeli-American hostage on its Telegram account.

The short video, which is undated, purportedly shows Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was captured by Hamas at the Nova music festival during the 7 October attacks, alive.

It shows the 23-year-old, who is from California, missing his lower arm, which was blown off during the attack.

Speaking under duress while in captivity, Mr Goldberg-Polin says he is in "underground hell" and without the treatment he has needed.

"Benjamin Netanyahu and his government should be ashamed of yourselves because you neglected us along with thousands of other citizens," he says, urging the Israeli prime minister to resign after "rejecting" deals to release the hostages.

Every day the hostages are in Gaza they are ignored "more and more", he says.

"You ignore our blood... Do what is expected of you and bring us home immediately, or has this become too big for you?"

The Palestinian Red Crescent Society has released footage of plumes of smoke rising into the air after a house was reportedly shelled.

The shelling took place in Deir al Balah, in central Gaza.

After weeks of relative calm, Israel intensified its attacks overnight on Monday, focusing on areas - particularly in the north - from where it had previously withdrawn troops.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free