Damascus
Capital of Syria
Damascus is the capital of Syria and home to approximately 2.7 million people as of 2024. Visitors travel here to see the Old city of Damascus, the Umayyad Mosque, and the Mausoleum of Saladin.
What to see
The central attraction is the Old city of Damascus, which holds UNESCO status. Within this area, the Umayyad Mosque and the Mausoleum of Saladin are the primary historical sites. Other locations include the Al-Azm Palace, the Citadel of Damascus, and Khan As'ad Pasha. The city also features several gates and religious sites, such as Bab Kisan, Bab Sharqi, Bab Tuma, Bab al-Saghir, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Dormition, the Cathedral of Saint George, the Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus, the Elfrange Synagogue, and the Jobar Synagogue.
When to go
Spring and autumn offer the most moderate weather. From April to May, daily highs range from 22 °C to 28 °C with minimal rain. September and October also provide comfortable temperatures between 26 °C and 32 °C. Summers are hot, with daily highs reaching 35 °C in July and August. Winters are cool and wetter, particularly in January and December, when daily highs drop to between 11 °C and 13 °C and rainfall occurs on about 9 to 12 days.
Getting there
Damascus International Airport is located 24 km from the city. Travelers can also consider visiting other locations in Syria, such as Aleppo.
Top sights in Damascus
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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 11 | 12 | 17 | 22 | 28 | 32 | 35 | 35 | 32 | 26 | 18 | 13 |
| Average low, °C | 2 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 4 |
| Rainfall, mm | 64 | 55 | 38 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 40 | 50 |
| Rainy days | 12 | 8 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Damascus (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Al-Azm Palace
- Bab Kisan
- Bab Sharqi
- Bab Tuma
- Bab al-Saghir
- Cathedral of Our Lady of the Dormition
- Cathedral of Saint George, Damascus
- Elfrange Synagogue
- Jobar Synagogue
- Khan As'ad Pasha
- Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus
- National Museum of Damascus
- October War Panorama
- Saint Ananias House
- Statue of Saladin
- Sulaymaniyya Takiyya
- Syriac Catholic Cathedral of Saint Paul
- Temple of Jupiter, Damascus
- Tomb of the Unknown Soldier