Things to do in Syria

Step inside one of the world's best-preserved Crusader castles, whose concentric walls and grand halls tower over a fertile plain.

Marvel at the vast courtyard, shimmering mosaics and the shrine of John the Baptist in the heart of Damascus's walled city.

Roam the monumental colonnaded street and the Temple of Bel in the fabled desert city where Roman and Persian worlds met.

Ascend the imposing 13th‑century fortress that crowns a 50‑metre tell, then gaze over the old city's storied skyline.

Drift beneath the arched iron roof of Damascus's most famous market, tasting freshly fried falafel and buying rose‑scented sweets.

Visit the cliff‑hugging village where locals still speak the language of Jesus and see the ancient monasteries cut into the rock.

Wander among the remarkably intact stone villas, churches and tombs of a Byzantine ghost town abandoned over a millennium ago.

Sit in the astonishing 2nd‑century basalt theatre, later enclosed within an Ayyubid citadel, and feel the ancient acoustics.

Lose yourself in kilometres of vaulted stone alleys brimming with spices, textiles and the scent of laurel soap.

Walk the 1.9‑kilometre colonnaded avenue of this Seleucid‑Roman city, with its twisting fluted columns and panoramic views.

Explore the dramatic Crusader‑era fortress balanced on a ridge, with a 28‑metre deep defensive trench carved from solid rock.

Relax inside the lavish Ottoman palace where domed ceilings, fountains and lemon trees create a peaceful Damascene oasis.

Hike up the city’s sentinel mountain to watch the lights of Damascus flicker on below as the call to prayer fills the air.

Hear the groaning of 17 giant wooden water wheels, some built in the 14th century, still turning on the Orontes River.

Stand where the alphabet was invented, deciphering clay tablets in the Bronze‑Age city that gave the world its first written code.

Bask on a golden‑sand beach tucked between pine‑covered mountains, with clear turquoise waters just north of Latakia.

Savour charcoal‑grilled skewers of spiced lamb with Aleppo pepper, served in a centuries‑old courtyard restaurant.

Trace 10,000 years of Syrian civilisation through priceless artefacts, from Ugaritic alphabets to Palmyrene statues.

Enter the glittering golden‑domed mausoleum, a major Shia pilgrimage site that hums with devotion and intricate tilework.

Follow coastal trails through Aleppo pine and oak, ending at remote coves where mountains plunge into the Mediterranean.

Climb the ruins of the 5th‑century church built around the pillar of Saint Simeon Stylites, whose columns still pierce the sky.

Peer into the exquisite 14th‑century mental hospital in Aleppo’s old city, with its serene courtyard and carved stone iwans.

Pass between tower tombs and underground hypogea on the edge of the desert, where Palmyrene families built eternal homes.

Take a boat across Lake Assad to the island fortress that resisted the Mongol invasion, its brick ramparts reflecting in the water.

Roam the remote 8th‑century Umayyad palace‑city, whose ornate stonework and vast enclosure rise mirage‑like from the steppe.