Syria Travel Guide: Insider Tips from a 7-Week Journey on Budget, Food, Safety & Must-Sees
Important Note: This guide shares first-hand experiences from a 7-week trip to Syria before the civil war (circa 2011). Conditions have changed significantly due to ongoing conflict. Always consult current travel advisories—most governments advise against travel to Syria today.
Welcome to Ordinary Traveler's Around the World Interview Series! Every few weeks, we feature guests who've spent extended time in a destination, offering authentic insights and practical tips.
This week, travel expert Wandering Earl shares his comprehensive Syria travel tips from seven unforgettable weeks exploring the country, including a brief Lebanon side trip.
How long did you spend traveling in Syria?
I spent a total of seven weeks in Syria, with a 10-day visit to Lebanon in the middle.
Budget tips for Syria?
Syria offered exceptional value for money, especially considering the quality of services. Budget hotels provided clean private rooms for as little as $10 USD per night—great value overall.
Public transport was affordable and reliable. Long-distance buses were frequent, comfortable, and rarely exceeded $6-7 USD. Skip pricey private options pushed by hotels.
For even cheaper travel, trains were ideal—an overnight Aleppo-to-Damascus ride cost about $4 USD. Major historical sites had minimal entry fees (often overlooked entirely), keeping daily spends low.
Overall, a solo traveler could comfortably explore Syria on $25 USD per day.
Favorite places or experiences in Syria?
One highlight was spending three magical evening hours inside Damascus's Umayyad Mosque in the Old City. This breathtaking mosque, with its shimmering gold and blue mosaics shifting in the sunset, is the most stunning I've seen worldwide.
I sat on the marble floor, watching a vibrant mix of locals pray, wander, and reflect in the courtyard. Ushered out at 8 PM as it closed, I savored peaceful moments in the world's oldest continuously inhabited city.
Don't miss an evening visit to the Umayyad Mosque—it's unmissable.
What is the food like in Syria?
Syrian cuisine bursts with variety: falafel and roast chicken street stalls, plus spots serving fresh hummus, fattoush, labneh, shish taouk, and eggplant delights everywhere.
Sweet shops tempt with fresh baklava and addictive kanafeh—opt for the thick version stuffed with hot sweet cheese between pastry layers (skip the thinner, drier kind).
Try meze, a traditional spread of 12+ small dishes, perfect for sampling regional flavors. Shared among groups, it's culturally immersive. In Aleppo's Bab Al-Faraj near the clocktower, Al-Kommeh Restaurant on the 5th floor serves 20+ dishes for $7 USD per person—atmospheric and always packed. Highly recommended.
Any dos and don’ts regarding customs in Syria?
Stick to conservative dress as expected. Avoid politics, especially amid past protests, unless deeply familiar with your conversation partner.
Never refuse offered food—hospitality insists, and it's always delicious.
Favorite places to stay in Syria?
Every hotel I stayed in was a winner: Aleppo's Al-Gawaher (comfortable, cheap, friendly staff); Hama's Hotel Cairo ($12/night doubles); Palmyra's Hotel Ishtar (prime location, great value, free breakfast); Damascus's neighboring Al-Haramain and Al-Rabie (budget-friendly, well-located, welcoming).
No hostels, but budget hotels sufficed. For ultra-budget, rooftop mattresses ($2-4 USD/night in warm months) offered starry nights amid history—I loved it.
Must-do activities or must-see sites in Syria?
Syria's diversity lets travelers customize itineraries. History buffs: Roman ruins at Palmyra, Apamea; Dead Cities of Al-Bara and Serjilla.
Foodies: Region-hop for unique Middle Eastern eats. Hikers, religious enthusiasts (Maaloula's Aramaic speakers), desert Bedouin stays—all possible.
City lovers: Dive into Aleppo and Damascus souks. But everyone should visit Crac des Chevaliers Crusader castle near Lebanon—I went twice, mesmerized.
Safety tips, warnings, or things to be aware of?
Pre-war Syria felt remarkably safe—use standard common sense. Hotel staff provide Arabic directions for taxis and local advice.
Locals' warm welcomes ('Welcome to Syria!') with offers of tea, food, or help are genuine—no scams. The challenge? Squeezing in more hospitality feasts!
About the Author: 'Addicted to world travel's lessons, Earl shares nomadic stories at WanderingEarl.com. Focusing on human connections over sights, he proves full-time travel is realistic and rewarding.'
