World Guide

Syria

Country · Asia, Western Asia

Syria
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Located in Western Asia, Syria shares borders with Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey. The country covers 185,180 square kilometers and has a population of about 25.6 million people. Travelers can visit historic sites and cities, including the capital, Damascus.

Highlights

This guide covers 14 notable sights across the country. Many of these are UNESCO World Heritage sites, such as the ancient cities of Aleppo and Damascus, the Dead Cities, the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites, the Krak des Chevaliers, Sahyun Castle, and the ruins of Palmyra. Other significant locations include the Citadel of Aleppo, Masyaf Castle, the Umayyad Mosque, the Mausoleum of Saladin, Ebla, and Ugarit.

Food and drink

Local cuisine features a variety of dishes. Options include Tabbouleh, Kashk, Shanklish, and Markook. Sweet offerings include Lokma, Galaktoboureko, Booza, Bülbül yuvası, Halawet el jibn, Barazek, and Qizha pie.

When to go

The weather in Damascus varies significantly throughout the year. Winter months from December to February see average highs between 11 °C and 13 °C and lows of 2 °C to 4 °C, with the most rain occurring in January and December. Spring brings milder temperatures, with April reaching highs of 22 °C and May reaching 28 °C with minimal rain. Summers are hot and dry, with July and August reaching average highs of 35 °C and lows of 18 °C. Autumn is moderate, with October highs of 26 °C and November cooling to 18 °C.

Practical notes

The official language is Arabic and the currency is the Syrian pound. The country operates on a 220-volt electrical system using plug types C, E, and L. Traffic drives on the right side of the road. The time zone is UTC+03:00. The international calling code is +963, and the internet country code is .sy.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Syria

  • Tabbouleh
  • Kashk
  • Lokma
  • Galaktoboureko
  • Booza
  • Shanklish
  • Markook
  • Bülbül yuvası
  • Halawet el jibn
  • Barazek
  • Qizha pie

Top sights in Syria

  1. PalmyraUNESCOPalmyra
  2. UgaritUgaritLatakia
  3. Umayyad MosqueUmayyad MosqueDamascus
  4. Krak des ChevaliersUNESCOKrak des ChevaliersKrak des Chevaliers
  5. EblaEblaDead Cities
  6. Masyaf CastleMasyaf Castle
  7. Temple of BelTemple of BelPalmyra
  8. Mausoleum of SaladinMausoleum of SaladinDamascus
  9. Citadel of AleppoCitadel of AleppoAleppo
  10. Dead CitiesUNESCODead Cities
  11. Citadel of DamascusCitadel of DamascusDamascus
  12. Great Mosque of AleppoGreat Mosque of AleppoAleppo
  1. Ancient Aleppo · AleppoUNESCO
  2. Old city of Damascus · DamascusUNESCO
  3. Church of Saint Simeon Stylites · Dead CitiesUNESCO
  4. Sahyun CastleUNESCO
  5. Al-Madina Souq · Aleppo
  6. Cyrrhus · Dead Cities

UNESCO sites in Syria →

Weather by month

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 35 °C. The wettest is January, with about 64 mm of rain.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C111217222832353532261813
Average low, °C225913161818171384
Rainfall, mm6455381591001144050
Rainy days1287420000369

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Damascus (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

Also worth a look

Neighbouring countries and territories