At the point where the Barada River spills from the deep valleys of the Anti-Lebanon mountain range and spreads across the fertile desert plains lies Damascus, the world’s oldest capital city, inhabited permanently for many thousands of years. A legendary city, bustling with commerce and initiative, a melting pot of peoples from across the Middle East. 

Why would anyone want to visit Damascus, you may ask? The news coming out of Syria has been awful for many years, it’s true – but since late 2024, when the country was liberated from decades of dictatorship and oppression, many things have been changing fast for the better. An increasing number of adventurous visitors and pioneering diplomats are seeing for themselves how wonderful and eye-opening travel to Damascus and other highlights of Syria can be. 

The old town of Damascus emerged almost untouched from the recent years of crisis and violence, and you could easily spend several days wandering the narrow alleys, exploring the lively souk bazaar and the impressive mosques, churches, bathhouses and palaces. You can sample delicious traditional food and sweets in hundreds of places, along with a small but intriguing number of international eateries. In the Christian quarter, cafes and bars open until past midnight, allowing you to mingle and chat with locals from all walks of life.

In this guide, read about sights and shops, wonderful places to stay, how to get around locally, and who to contact for organised day trips and tours. Prepare your trip with our overview of visa rules and how to best travel to Syria. 

Let the Damascus In Your Pocket city guide help you find your way through this fascinating, friendly place – and enjoy your trip to madinat al yasmin - the city of jasmine.

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This free online city guide to Damascus is a project by In Your Pocket city guides and Berlin-based Dutch travel writer Jeroen van Marle, whose Syrian wife introduced him to 1001 wonders of the Middle East.

This guide would not be possible without the kind help of Manon Roca from Walk Beside travel agency and the members of her Traveler Community Syria WhatsApp group, with its own online budget travellers' guide to Syria and excellent resources for the latest Syria travel tips, updates, and traveller connections. 

This guide is dedicated to Mr Raymond Gordon, who until 2011 ran the legendary Damascus Hostel near Bab Touma, where guests could enter by climbing up a rope ladder dangling over the city wall. Mr Gordon now lives in Amman, but one day, inshallah, he hopes to reopen his hostel to welcome a new generation of travellers. 
This guide is also dedicated to Gibran M.H., one of the scattered grandsons of Damascus, hoping that one day he will enjoy travelling in freedom to Syria and will climb the rope ladder up to the Damascus Hostel.