Crossing the Lebanon – Syria Border from Beirut to Damascus.

There are many misconceptions about travel in Syria and about crossing the Lebanon Syria border. And even about entering Syria as a country!

Syria used to be one of the most popular destinations in the Middle East. And finally, it is beginning to open up for travellers again.

We had an amazing time in Syria including a smooth and straightforward border crossing traveling from Beirut to Damascus. 

The following is our report on crossing the border from Beirut, Lebanon to Damascus, Syria.

We hope this will give you everything you need to know to make your Lebanon – Syria border crossing just as smooth.

• About the Lebanon Syria border crossing
• Crossing independently vs. tour
• Visas for Syria
• Visa fees for Syria
• Documents required
• Getting from Beirut to the border
• Getting from the border to Damascus
• A few tips for the Beirut – Damascus border crossing

About the Beirut – Damascus border crossing (and options for making your Lebanon to Syria border crossing)

Lebanon’s capital city of Beirut is only 115km from Damascus and the journey takes around 3 to 4 hours.

We left mid-morning from our hotel in Beirut and were out exploring Damascus city in time for a late lunch.

How do you get a tourist visa for Syria? 

This is the first question we asked when looking to plan travel to Syria post-pandemic.  

You have two options for obtaining a Syrian visa. You can get a visa at your nearest Syrian embassy or you can get a visa at the border.

However, in order to get a Syrian visa at the border you need pre-authorisation (a special security clearance) arranged through a travel agency in Syria.

This is the option we went with.  It was very straightforward and the travel agency provided us with pre-authorisation (security clearance) in less than 10 working days.  

The security clearance cost $25 USD per person paid through the travel agency. 

We then took the security clearance with us to the border and purchased a visa for Syria at the border. 

Crossing the border independently vs. on tour

If you choose to book a private tour or visas and transport through an agency (this is what we did) all the logistics and finer details will be taken care of by the travel agency. (And spoiler alert; we had a great travel agency which we can highly recommend).

It is possible to get a shared taxi to the border and cross and get a shared taxi to Damascus.

However be sure to check the restrictions of actually entering Syria without a tour organised or transport pre-arranged and confirmed by a registered tour guide/agency in Syria.

We were not able to enter independently at the time we crossed the Lebanon-Syria border and so enlisted the support of a travel agency (who handled the pre-authorisation and one phone call at the border to confirm/translate a last few questions on entry). 

Visa fees at the Lebanon Syria border to enter Syria:

In 2024 these are the latest visa fees at the Lebanon Syria border crossing:

• New Zealand and Australia is 130 USD
• European passport 50 – 100 USD 
• USA 160 USD
• UK 140 USD

Note it is not possible to get a visa for Syria at the Lebanon Syria border without pre-arranged security clearance. 

• Tip: You cannot enter Syria (or Lebanon) with a stamp from Israel in your passport.

They are very thorough in checking and will also check your passport for an exit-only stamp from Jordan. You will be refused entry.

What do you need to prepare in advance? 

In order to get a Syria visa at the Beirut – Damascus border crossing you need to have arranged pre-authorisation (security clearance) in advance through a travel agency in Syria. 

What do you need to take with you to cross the Beirut – Damascus border? 

• Printed confirmation of security clearance  
• Copy of your passport
• USD to purchase visa 

Actually there is a small booth just to the right of the Lebanon departure border (look to your right just before the main drive-through checkpoint to leave Lebanon).

In this office they are able to photocopy your passport if needed.

We already had a copy of our passports on us as instructed by the travel agency and didn’t realise in time this was not in fact the departure border; so they copied all four passports for $1 USD (a very friendly officer!).

If you have a driver to take you to your hotel in Damascus I suggest carrying USD with you for your stay in Syria (in large and small denominations) and wait to change to SYP once in Damascus.

You will be approached to change money at the border.

Getting from the Lebanon Syria border to Damascus

It takes about 45 minutes to get from the Lebanon Syria border crossing to Damascus.

However, there are many military checkpoints between the border and the city which can take more time.

Crossing times on each side

• Getting to the border from Beirut on the Lebanese side takes around 1.5 hours.

• Getting to the border from Damascus on the Syrian side takes around 45 minutes.

A note for the return journey from Syria to Lebanon (Damascus to Beirut)

You do need to keep some Syrian Pounds for the return journey.

There is currently a 7000 SYP exit tax as you leave Syria crossing back overland in the other direction to Beirut.

Crossing the Lebanon to Syria border from Beirut yo Damascus – the verdict?

So, there you have it! That is our complete guide on crossing the border from Lebanon to Syria using the Beirut – Damascus border crossing.

We will have more travel guides on Damascus, Maaloula and Sebnaya to come!

There is a lot to see in Syria and we had an amazing time. But don’t forget this incredible country has been through a lot and it isn’t all cheery and touristy.

Bear this in mind and enjoy your travel in Syria.

Which tour company do we recommend for travel in Syria and Crossing the Lebanon Syria border?

We had a fantastic experience with Yasser from Nawafir Tours in Damascus. And we can highly recommend his friendly and responsive communication.

We met with Yasser at our hotel in Damascus and felt very lucky to have connected with such a great local tour company!

• Yasser Zied
  Nawafir Travel and Tours (Nawafir Al Dawlyeh)
  24 Al – Rawda Street, Damascus
  Phone: +963 11 335 0151
  Email: discover@nawafir-tours.com

And let Yasser know you found him through that NZ traveling family! He will be sure to look after you very well.

Where we stayed in Beirut before crossing the border

• Beirut: Mayflower Hotel
  We had a good few nights stay at the Mayflower Hotel in Beirut before getting a taxi across the Lebanon Syria border. It is located in Hamra and only 2 minutes walk from the bustling Hamra Street which is well known for shopping and is an easy place to exchange money in Beirut. (At a good/blackmarket rate!). Breakfast is included. And plenty of restaurants within a 3-5 minute walking radius.
• Beirut: Embassy Hotel
  We also stayed a couple of nights around the corner at Embassy Hotel. A basic but friendly hotel (welcoming even when we checked in after midnight!). Directly across the road from several restaurants. Very basic breakfast included (wouldn’t rate it for the breakfast). But for a night or two before crossing the border to Syria this was a reasonably priced hotel in Beirut.

More about travel planning for Syria and beyond…

These are the companies we use while traveling fulltime as a family and that we would recommend to anyone planning and booking travel. 

• Booking.com – The best all-around accommodation booking site that constantly provides the cheapest and lowest rates. They have the widest selection of budget accommodation and it’s easy to filter and sort into price and availability with all the extras you are looking for personally. (We love the flexible cancellation policy!). 
• Hostelworld– The largest inventory of hostel accommodation in the world. 
• Skyscanner – This is by far our favourite flight search engine. They are able to search small websites and budget airlines that larger search sites often miss. We book all our flights through Skyscanner.  
• GetYourGuide– Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace for tours and excursions offered all around the world including everything from walking tours, to street-food tours, cooking classes, desert safari’s and more!
• SafetyWing – A global travel insurance that covers people from all over the world while outside their home country. You can buy it short or longterm; and even if you are out of the country. 
• World Nomads – Travel insurance tailored for longterm travel and nomads (including those who have already left home). 

Read more about travel in the Middle East 

• Saudi Arabia Travel Guide: Everything you need to know about visiting KSA.
• Jordan Travel Guide: Read all about magical Jordan.
• Visiting Umm Qais in Jordan
• Crossing overland from Israel to Jordan (and the worst noise ever).
• UAE with kids: Three Emirates in three days.
• Quick tips for visiting the Sheik Al Zayed Mosque in Abu Dhabi with kids.