Away With The Steiners

About Travel To Syria And Things to do in Damascus.

Sarah Steiner

I’ve got to say that Damascus is an incredible city.  It is officially one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world.  So, it’s no surprise that there are lots of amazing things to do in Damascus, Syria. 

We crossed over the border to Syria from Beirut in Lebanon.  Albeit this was before the fall of the regime of Bashar al-Assad. But all the things to do in Damascus are historical and unique things to see that make this city such an incredible destination to experience. 

Here are 10 of the highlights of Damascus plus tips for where to eat and stay, how to get around – and the best of Syrian food you need to try! 

About Damascus, Syria

Damascus is the capital of Syria and its second largest city after Aleppo. 

The city was founded in the 3rd millennium B.C., which is a staggering history to consider as a traveller.  It is the oldest capital city in the world and, according to some, the fourth holiest city in Islam.  

Now after visiting I’ve got to say that it is more than breathtaking to walk the historic streets of the city.  We found ourselves just walking in wonder thinking of the lengthy history and stories the city had seen.  It is one of those places that really feels like a privilege to experience as a visitor. 

We wondered before visiting if the city of Damascus had been destroyed in the war.  But only the outskirts of Damascus are damaged, as there was a bloody battle there. That area is off-limits to tourists anyway. 

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

It is one of those places that really feels like a privilege to experience as a visitor.

Souk in Damascus travel to Syria.
The colourful bustle of the central Souk in Damascus even at night.

Travel to Syria 

Safety is justly a big question mark for travel to both Damascus and Syria.  Albeit travel to Syria doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue as a top destination in 2025.  

But Syria used to be one of the most popular destinations in the Middle East.  

Unfortunately in 2011, the war in Syria made it a dangerous region to travel to.  With the war it became a fragmented country made of different regions controlled by distinct armed and ethnic groups.  

So the country has had a tumultuous decade and more of war and unrest.  

However the political, economic and ethical situation in Syria has changed many times since then. 

In December 2024, Hayat Tahrir al Sham (formerly Al Nursa) overthrew the regime of Bashar al-Assad and took over the country.  So the situation in Syria is changing again as Syrians enter a new era of – hopefully – a different freedom.

We had an amazing time in Syria and enjoyed all the things to do in Damscus.  Though we travelled prior to December 2024 before the fall of the regime. 

The incredible Roman era history outside Umayyad Mosque.

Do you need a Visa for travel to Syria? 

Most foreign nationals need a visa to enter Syria.  

Previously (pre-2025) this has been through a process of applying for visa approval with a registered tour agency in Syria.  

Although it has been listed as a ‘Visa for Syria’ this way it is more like a Letter of Invitation or security clearance. 

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

Money, Credit Cards and ATMs 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.

Though note this is also largely the case for travel in Lebanon too.  So if you are visiting Lebanon and Syria you must bring enough cash for travel in both countries. 

Friendly Syrians at the border town of Chtoura in Lebanon.

Getting there

Traveling to Damascus from Beirut is the easiest way to travel to Syria.  This is what we did.  

Beirut is around 115km from Damascus and it is easy to make the trip by taxi or shared taxi.  From Beirut to Damascus the journey takes 3 to 4 hours, including the customs process at the border. 

The iconic yellow taxis and cobbled streets of old Damascus.

What is the best time to visit Damascus? 

Political situations aside, the best time of year to visit Damascus is during the spring (March to May) or autumn (September to November).  At this time of year the weather is pleasant and warm, with daytime temperatures around 25°C. 

We visited Damascus in October and had beautiful warm daytime weather.  It was perfect during the day to cool down with the famous Bakdash ice cream and lemon slushies in the old town!

Pomegranate season is always a good season to visit the Middle East.

How long do you need in Damascus? 

For a long time, it has been tricky to visit Syria without a pre-arranged visa (security clearance) and associated tour booking.  However, now with the changing visa and entry situation things are quite different. 

Damascus is such a historic city and there is lots to do.  

With 2 – 3 days in Damascus you can explore all the things to do in Damascus listed below.  

We had 3 full days in Damascus.  

On our first day we visited the Souk and Umayyad Mosque and the caravansary.  But even by the end of the first day we were wandering around comfortably and getting our bearings in the city.  

Hearing the evening call to prayer from the rooftop cafe terrace at the Botanic Gardens.

Things to do in Damascus, Syria

In no particular order, these are 10 unmissable things to do in Damascus, Syria. 

1. Al-Hamidiyeh Souk – Things to do in Damascus

Souk Al-Hamidiya is one of the oldest souks in the world.  It is the largest and the central souk in Syria, located inside the old walled city of Damascus next to the Citadel.

There is everything from ice-cream markets to gold shops, sweets, dried fruits and nuts, clothes, leather and many other things all under the one roof.  

It is an undercover market covered by a huge, tall metal arch, with the tin roof dating back to the 19th-century Ottoman refurbishment. 

It’s quite incredible just to enter and take it all in.  

If you look up, you can see the weathered roof of the souk ceiling with tiny holes in the tin cover where the sun peeps through.  It is certainly a reminder of the impressive history of Damascus. 

Light at the end of the tunnel walking through Souk Al-Hamidiya one of the oldest souks in the world.  
Colourful spices and contrastingly bright coloured sweets.

2. Bakdash Ice Cream Shop

This is easily one of the most famous – and tastiest – things to do in Damascus.  

Bakdash is an ice cream shop in the old city that was founded in 1895.  Which means it’s been operating for more than a century! 

The shop sells traditional Middle Eastern ‘Booza’ – a type of ice cream dessert.  Booza is uniquely dense and elastic in texture.  It is made with Sahlad (ground orchid root) and mastic (a resin from a Mediterranean shrub).  

The ice cream is delicious!  

Plus, it is an interesting stop as while enjoying the ice cream you can watch and see how they pound the Booza to give it such a unique texture. 

Seeing how this famous Bakdash ice cream is made.
One word? Delicious.

3. Sayiddah Ruqayya Shrine – Things to do in Damascus

The Roqayya mosque is one of the largest mosques in Damascus. It is a shrine to the 4-year old great granddaughter of Ali and Fatima, and the great-granddaughter of the Prophet Muhammad, Ruqayya bint Ali.

It is a Shia mosque decorated in a Persian-Iraqi style of Islamic architecture.  So in the typical Shia style inside it is beautifully adorned with coloured ceramic detailing and mirror work.

4. Hanania Church – Things to do in Damascus

The tiny chapel of St Ananias is another of the famously historic things to do in Damascus.  

It is known as Hanania Church, or the House of Ananias, and is considered one of the oldest churches in the world.

It is a significant Christian site connected to the biblical story of Saul of Tarsus’s (later Paul the Apostle) conversion.  The church is believed to be the location where Ananias, a disciple of Jesus in Damascus, was sent by Jesus to restore the sight of Saul and baptize him. 

Paul (then Saul) was later lowered in a basket down the city wall to escape persecution after his conversion to Christianity.

The stone walls of the second room show a series of images depicting the story of Saint Ananias and Paul the Apostle.  

Today it is a popular pilgrimage site for Christians from around the world, and the chapel still holds services. 

Inside the tiny chapel of St Ananias.

5. Damascus National Museum

This is Syria’s national museum as well as the largest.  It covers the entire range of Syrian history over a span of over 11 millennia.  Though when we visited the museum was closed for restoration.  Which is sounds like it has been for the past four years. 

However you can enter the surrounding garden area of the museum. 

6. Straight Street – Things to do in Damascus

Straight Street, or ‘Souq Midhat Pasha’ as it is known today, is the biblical ‘Street Called Straight’.

The ‘Straight Street’ is mentioned in the Bible where God instructs Ananias to go to that street in Damascus to find Saul of Tarsus (Paul).   

The street runs from east to west through the old city and has kept its original path since the Roman times in the region.  

As you walk along Straight Street there are still Roman arches and remains from millennia ago.  We ate Manakish on Straight Street standing right next to a huge Roman era pillar! 

Entrance to the Souk from one end of Straight Street.
An iconic yellow taxi and iconic and delicious Manakish on Straight Street.

7. Al Azan Palace – Things to do in Damascus

Al Azan (Al Azem) Palace is located in the northern end of the Bazuriya market in Damascus.  It was built in 1740 as the residence of Assad Basha al-Azem, an Ottoman governor of the city at the time. 

Today it is open as a museum with the palace rooms set up as they might have been at the time. 

Even if you aren’t a huge museum buff it is one of the best things to do in Damascus that showcases the beautiful Islamic architecture and rich history (literally) of Syria. 

8. Umayyad Mosque – Things to do in Damascus

Umayyad Mosque is perhaps the most iconic of things to do in Damascus. The mosque is famously recognisable for the extensive gold mosaics and the octagonal Dome of the Clock pavilion in the courtyard. 

The name Umayyad relates to the era the mosque dates too.  It was built in the early 8th century – how about that! 

Today it is also known as the Great Mosque of Damascus.  

Though interestingly the site was originally a temple dedicated to the god Hadad, then a Greek temple dedicated to Jupiter.  It was later Romanized and Christianized with a cathedral dedicated to St. John the Baptist. 

After the Muslim conquest of Damascus in 634, part of the cathedral was designated as a prayer space for Muslim.  

Which unsurprisingly today makes it a major pilgrimage site for both Muslims and Christians. 

In the famous courtyard of Umayyad Mosque.

9. Khan As’ad Pasha Caravansari – Things to do in Damascus

Khan As’ad Pasha is the largest caravanserai (Khan) in the Old City of Damascus.  

And spoiler alert?  It is absolutely stunning. 

It is considered a prime example of late Ottoman architecture built sometime around 1752. 

Inside the main courtyard is a café that makes a great spot to stop for tea.  It is the kind of place you can wonder at the history.

Imagine how merchants and travellers might have arrived to trade goods and rest centuries ago…

How about that for a historic place to drink tea?!

10. Umayyad Square – Things to do in Damascus

Umayyad Square is one of the largest squares in Damascus.  

It connects the city centre with several highways and contains the buildings of the Ministry of Defence, Syria’s national Opera House and the headquarters of the (now-previous) Syrian Armed Forces. 

Taxis are plentiful in Damascus and the Umayyad Square seems to be a hub for transport to and from the old city and beyond. 

Other things to do in Damascus, Syria

If you have longer, there are plenty more things to do in Damascus: 

Plus there is a modern side to the city with entertainment in the malls and day trips to do from Damascus. 

Just a walk around the old city is one of the best things to do in Damascus.

What about things to do in Damascus with kids? 

We really enjoyed visiting Damascus with kids.  The hospitality of Syrians is next level and we could barely walk through the Souk entrance before the kids were handed sweets, cotton candy and treats of welcome. 

One of the best things to do in Damascus with kids is to get ice cream at Bakdash.  Though we also loved the Syrian pizza – Manakish – and we had a fun evening bowling in Damasquino Mall.

Leaving another stand in the Souk with a bagful of sweets.

Day trips and things to do near Damascus

If you have more time there are some fascinating sites to visit that can be seen on a day trip from Damascus. 

Hilltop view from the Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery.

Syrian food to try in Damascus 

Our favourite Syrian food to try in Damascus was Manakish – a thin dough topped with cheese or ground meat.  It is a bit like a Syrian pizza! 

But Syria is renowned for its cuisine.  

There are lots of new foods to try including:

Manakish and Fatayer fresh from the oven.
Delicious hot Manakish on Straight Street.

Restaurants, cafes and where to eat in Damascus

We left smitten for Syrian food!  There are so many great cafes and restaurants in Damascus.

You can find places everywhere proudly serving traditional Syrian food. 

Otherwise two of our favourite food-stops were for Manakish on Straight Street and the frozen lemonade ice slushies in the old city.  Definitely hunt those out and try them! 

Tea in the cafe at the historic Khan As’ad Pasha Caravansary.

Accommodation and where to stay in Damascus 

Albeit accommodation via a tour agency booking in Syria is not cheap.  But we absolutely loved our stay at Beit Al-Wali Hotel in Damascus. 

The hotel is stunning. It is nestled right in the heart of the old city but tucked away down a private laneway.  

The first entrance and courtyard is spectacular.  But our favourite part was the breakfast downstairs each morning. 

For sure, the price reflects the luxury and service.  Though it felt a fitting way to experience the traditional ‘wow’ of history in Damascus. 

The verdict on Damascus and travel in Syria? 

There is a lot to see in Syria and we had an truly amazing time.

But don’t forget this incredible country has been through a lot and it isn’t all cheery and touristy yet. 

Bear this in mind – and enjoy your travel in Syria and all the incredible things to do in Damascus! 

Thank you Damascus and Syria for a great experience.

Read more about travel in the Middle East 

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