This travel guide to Syria is being reviewed and modernized perpetually. All the info you can find here is the latest from 2019
This year I decided to travel to Syria.
The country had been in my plans for a very long time and, lastly, they started to make it easier for travelers. Well , not that easy, but emphatically easier.
I spent 1 week there traveling separately and called Damascus, Homs, and Aleppo.
It was an amazing experience.
On the one handwriting, unusually rich, as I convene loadings of Syrians who told me their line-up of the floor, plus I got to visit ancient, stupendous websites that were a real blessing to my noses.
But, on the other hand, now I witnessed one of the worst humanitarian crisis in the 21 st century and called hair-raising targets that may require a lot of freezing blood, if you don’t want to breakdown in tears, and will obligate you be sensitive and empathize with the many beautiful Syrians.
Long Live Syria.
This guide contains everything you need to know for traveling to Syria independently, including abundance of tips-off seeing visas, safe, transport and much, much more!
If you want to keep track of all my current hurtles and photos, don’t forget to follow @againstthecompass on Instagram
Also, don’t forget to read about my experience in Aleppo
Index:
Why travel to Syria Recommended works How to get a visa Travel Insurance for Syria How to get to Syria Is Syria safe ? The people How to move around Money in Syria Responsible tourism and ethics Taking photos Don’t get off the beaten track Where to stay The food Internet and mobile
Do you know what a VPN is? A Virtual Private Network allows you to access blocked areas when you pass, as well as it lets you access content only available in your different countries( like Netflix ), plus it frustrates hackers from embezzling your personal data. Learn now why you should always use a VPN when you roam
Why should you tour Syria now?
This is a very good question, one I “ve been asked” a great deal recently.
The truth is that reasons vary.
First of all, in the last couple of years, I have been traveling all across the Countries of the middle east, so visiting Syria, one of the most fascinating countries in the region, had been in my travel plans for a very long time.
I actually attempted to travel there from Beirut back in 2016, but the Syrian embassy said they were not issuing visas at that time.
Another even more important reason is that Syria is a great country, dwelling to one of the oldest civilizations ever, so calling Syria from a tourism position is a must-do.
The beautiful Omayyad Mosque in Damascus, one of the oldest and largest mosques in the world
However, most people asking that question tend to refer more to the ethical characteristic of traveling to Syria, as this is a war zone from where many people have been forced to escape in order to save their lives.
Well, I want you to know that I fully understand why someone would not want to visit a post-war zone because, truth be told, destroyed constructs and gloom are not pleasant things to see.
Nevertheless, the first thing you need to know is that I travel to learn and become wiser and, yes, I am interested in seeing a post-war zone, because this is living history and I wanted to see it with my own sees, and not through a biased newspaper.
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I also think that traveling to Syria with the sole objective of empathizing with the locals is a good thing and, as long as you are absolutely respectful about the crisis, there is nothing erroneous with it.
But in the end, we should ask Syrians what they think about it and I can guarantee that, since Syria used to be a major touristic destination, today Syrians are very happy to see that sightseers are coming back because this is a real sign of recovery.
For more information, read the Responsible Tourism part of this article.
Also, don’t forget to read about my experience in Aleppo
The views from the citadel in Aleppo … No statements needed- Is it safe to travel to Syria
Recommended books for traveling to Syria
Syria travel guide by Bradt- “There arent” revised guidebooks of Syria, but Bradt Guides has the only exclusive hurtle leader to Syria, modernized as of 2010. Still, it is a good source and a nice introduction to the country
CLICK HERE TO CHECK THE PRICES ON AMAZON
The Rise of the Islamic State by Patrick Cockburn- A must-read book. Written by one of the world’s top experts on the Middle Eastern conflict. In this journal, Cockburn generates a very comprehensive explanation of the inception of DAESH, with many references to Syria. A very useful book to understand the complexity and descent of the conflict.
CLICK HERE TO CHECK PRICES ON AMAZON
Tourist visa for Syria
Updated January 2020
( If you have any more information, kindly tell us know in the comments section)
Getting a Syrian visa nowadays is a confusing process.
Here’s the thing 😛 TAGEND
Prior to November 2018( and from the start of 2018 ), you could get a Syrian visa by 300 -4 00 USD to a tour operator and then you could travel around the country separately.
However, in November 2018, an independent German backpacker got into some confidential the sectors where tourists “re not” supposed to go and he was arrested for a week.
Since then, the Ministry of Tourism has prescribed that all travelers who want to get a Syrian tourist visa must book a full expedition with a valid safarus motorist. I recommend the chaps from Marrota Tourism( more details below ).
This means that, unfortunately, Syria is not ready to receive sightseers hitherto, so we will have to wait for a while.
How to get a Syrian visa instantly from a safarus motorist
The first thing you need to know is that travel bureaux don’t controversy sightseer visas for Syria but a defence clearance( a background check ), which you need to show at the customs. Actually, you don’t even need to show it because you will appear in their database.
By the nature, this is how the security clearance looks like. Usually, it includes various random parties 😛 TAGEND
Cost of security rights permission:
Until recently- Since you didn’t really need to book a full tour, excursion business precisely compelled you to pay them 300 -4 00 USD. If you had a British or American passport, you would have paid a few cases more hundred. Today- Since you need to book a full safarus, authorities won’t really say to you what is the cost of the security clearance because it is all included in the package.
How to pay for your visa: Note that the Syrian banking system is blocked so, in most cases, you will need to send the money via Western Union. However, some business have foreign bank accounts, so you may be able to pay via PayPal or direct bank transmit.
Time: Again, it depends on the agency. In my client, I got my security clearance in less than 24 hours but, today, they are averaging 10 -1 five days. For Americans, it may take up to several months, plus getting its own security authorization is not even granted.
Validity: It has a 90 -day validity, starting from the day you received it.
Once you have your security clearance, you can buy your visa at the border.
EU Passport purchasers: 72 USD Australia and New Zealand: 130 USD United Kingdom: 140 USD USA: 160 USD
The tourist visa for Syria is valid for 10 epoches. According to the migration officer, you can extend it at the Immigration Office in Damascus, but who knows whether this is true or not.
You will likewise get paid an outlet cost of 2,500 SYP.
My visa for Syria and my Lebanese impressions Which Tour Operator I recommend?
For the last few months, I ought to have contacting various tour operators, trying to figure out which one would be best to recommend, so after having a few discussions, I strongly think that Mr. Ayoub from Marrota Tourism is the best option.( actual website coming soon ).
Why?
Because they proposal the most competitive rates( actually, you won’t find cheaper) They are very accept and professional You don’t have to pay anything before get your visa For the safarus, you can pay upon your newcomer
Moreover, they acquire direct bank transfers in EUR and, if you are from outside the EU, you can pay them via Paypal, whereas with other tour operators, it is required to do some dodgy Western Union transfers.
How to contact him- You can contact Mr. Ayoub via email ayoub @marrota. com or via WhatsApp or Telegram + 963 954 840 021- Tell him you discovered them through my website.
They can set your expedition to Palmyra, Krak des Chevaliers, Aleppo, Homs, etc.
Just email them with your special request and get your quote.
By the space, they can get your security clearance in 1 week or less.
( if you countenance going with them, it would be great if you announce your review in the comments region)
I traveled in Syria separately in December 2018 and January 2019, yet, I didn’t book a tour. How did I make love?
WARNING Update October 2019- Unfortunately, you can’t do this anymore. According to a few travelers who were in Syria in September 2019, the authorities are now stopping sightseers who are walking around without a regional person, including in the Old City of Damascus. It truly depends on the day and authority who stops you but, what it is clear, is that things are getting harder for the independent traveler.
Since a lot of parties expect, I would like to clarify how did I manage to visit Syria separately.
The fact is that I got my security clearance( with Basil from the Travel King, a popular scammer) in October 2018 for 325 USD but, for personal concludes, I had to postpone my trip-up until December/ January.
In mid-December, I contacted Basil to let him known better I would travel to Syria soon, most likely during the firstly week of January. However, he was just telling me that the rules had changed since we last talked( because of that German backpacker ), so now I needed to book a safarus with him.
I told him that that was not our initial agreement and, if that was the action, I would like a full refund.
He said that he would not give me a rebate, claimed that I would get arrested if I led there on my own and, after a long discussion, he threatened to cancel my visa if I didn’t book a tour.
Do you know what I did then?
I didn’t believe him for a second but I said that OK, that I would book a 1-week tour, but I needed 10 epoches to collect all the money.
He trusted me and, while he was waiting for the money, I booked a flight directly to Beirut, bridged the Syrian border and, as I expected, I managed to travel around Syria without current problems, including going to Aleppo and Homs by public transportation and Couchsurfing.
Once I left Syria, I mailed him a letter and he dislikes me for that now.
However, as I said, guidelines change overnight and you might be stopped haphazardly for no specific intellect. Your personal experiences are welcome in the comments section.
For example, a traveler merely emailed me mean to tell me that he couldn’t walk around freely. Some soldiers stopped him and “says hes” needed a special permit to walk around the ruins.
How to get a visa for Syria via an delegation
Getting a Syrian visa in the old-fashioned way isn’t going to constitute things easier.
Nowadays, most delegations will require a Letter of Invitation( LOI ), which you can only get through a tour hustler, which they are able to exclusively give you if you book a expedition with them. For more details, contact Mr. Ayoub via email ayoub @marrota. com or via WhatsApp + 963 954 840 021.
Moreover, you should also know that the process can be much slower. For example, the embassy in Madrid claims that it takes around 40 daylights.
As per the cost, the only main difference is that you wouldn’t have to pay for the security clearance but in any case, if you book a safarus, everything will be part of the same package, so in most cases, there won’t be much change.
Each Syrian embassy, nevertheless, is a completely different world, so I hint you contact your nearest and investigate “what theyre saying”.
I personally called the Embassy in Madrid and they said you first need to send an email to siria.consulado @hotmail. com, telling them about your aims in Syria, so they will tell you what information they need from you, which includes a damn LOI.
After this, they will send all your information to Syria in order to get a security clearance and, if consented, you will be able to apply for your visa, which payments 60 EUR (+ the cost of the safarus)
Moreover, embassy governs reform every day, so merely contact your nearest embassy and identify what they say about it.
Read: How to travel to Saudi Arabia( Visa+ Tips )
The Old City of Damascus- The pillars are all part of an old-time Roman Jupiter temple- Is Syria safe?
Travel Insurance for Syria
Like in Iran, because of all the sanctions, most travel insurance companies don’t cater cover for travel in Syria and that includes World Nomads.
The one which does, however, is IATI Insurance.
They have ladens of different plans for all types of travelers and the best of it is that the books of this blog can get an exclusive 5% discount.
BUY IT THROUGH THIS LINK TO GET YOUR 5% DISCOUNT !
How to get to Syria How to travel to Syria by land
Top Update October 2019- Due to the declarations in Lebanon, the differences between roads to the Syrian border may be closed unexpectedly by demonstrators. In October 19 th& 20 th, two different travelers didn’t manage to get to Syria because the roads were blocked with burning tires. For more information, predicted: Is Lebanon safe ?
Beirut to Damascus- Traveling from Beirut to Damascus is the easiest way to travel to Syria. Beirut is only 115 km from Damascus and the excursion takes simply two hours, including the customs process.
Currently, there is no bus service but regionals cross in shared taxis.
They leave from Charles Helou bus terminal, which is in a unusually center orientation, in Gemmazyeh. Shared taxis from Beirut to Damascus run all day long and I get there at 3pm and waited for no more than 15 or 20 minutes.
The expense per person is 20 USD( 18 if it is a 7-seat car ).
Charles Helou terminal- Beirut to Damascus
Alternatively, you can also book a trip-up with a private busines like Allo Taxi, which has a same price but I am not sure if they help you to find other passengers. If you go by yourself, you will pay 100 USD.
Apparently, there existed a shared taxi service from Beirut airport to Damascus but it can cost up to 35 USD per person.
Beirut to Damascus border intersection: Very straightforward.
On the Lebanese side, they barely check your passport and, on the Syrian side, they take around 20 minutes, as long as there are no beings, of course.
On our path from Beirut to Damascus
First, they check your security clearance, then you purchase your visa at the bank counter and give your receipt to the immigration officer.
You merely get a stamp , not a visa sticker.
After getting your Syrian visa and resuming your expedition, you will go through several checkpoints, but you shouldn’t ordeal current problems. In fact, some soldiers were joking with me about football when they discovered my Spanish passport.
Read: A travel guide to Beirut
Tripoli to Tartus- You can also travel to Syria from the border north of Tripoli. Shared taxis to Tartus cost 18,000 LBP( 12 USD) and they leave until 8p m from this depot: 34.436691, 35.837163. It are just a 65 km journey, so it should be fairly quick.
From Jordan to Syria- The perimeter is finally open but the excursion from Amman is longer( 200 km ). I have heard that there are also shared taxis but, regrettably, I don’t know any more details, so it would be great if you could update me with that!
Turkey to Syria- Today, that strip is not possible to cross legally.
How to travel to Syria by aura
You can also fly in but the problem is that the international airport in Damascus doesn’t have numerous joinings, so going from Beirut will always be easier.
In any case, check out Cham Wings Airline and Syrian Air. They have occasional flights from Dubai, Sharjah and Doha.
Read: Lebanon- A 2-week itinerary
Somewhere in Damascus- Can you travel to Syria?
Is it safe to travel to Syria?
Is Syria safe?
Along with the visa, refuge is the other big question mark for anyone traveling to Syria.
Look, the fighting is practically over( the city of Idlib is the last actual war zone) and municipals like Aleppo and Damascus are perfectly safe.
You see brats moving around and everything seems just fine now.
Moreover, the Old City of Damascus is full of armed checkpoints where they check your crate and look at anyone who seems suspicious, so there is a high level of security and nothing has happened for a very long time now.
Celebrating Christmas in Damascus- How to travel to Syria
Actually, I was in Damascus for Christmas and, for the first time since the start of the conflict, the streets of the Old City of Damascus ( and Aleppo as well) were filled with Christmas sunlights and celebration.
The atmosphere was full of joy, gaiety and both Muslims and Christians were celebrating such an happening with very big enthusiasm( there is a huge Christian community in Damascus ).
This can only mean that even the Syrians themselves conceive the city is safe.
Long story short: I personally is of the view that Syria is safe to visit but it will depend on where you go.
Read: Is it safe to travel to Iraq
Which parts of Syria are safe to travel?
Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Latakia, Tartus and the Krak De Chevaliers Castle.
For Palmyra, apparently, you still need a special permit. If you go on a expedition, it should be easy to get one but I am not sure how independent travelers could get one. I think you would have to contact a walk organization.
You can travel to other areas, like the region south of Damascus and I am sure some places available in between but that is all I know for now.
Still, keep in mind that this is a post-war zone, which means that it is highly unstable and things could change overnight. Against the Compass doesn’t take any responsibility for whatever may happen to you during your see to Syria.
Long Live Aleppo- Is it possible to travel to Syria?
The parties- The Syrians
Language- Levantine Arabic is the official language.
You should know that countless English-speaking people left the country but you will always find someone who does. In any case, try to learn some Arabic before traveling to Syria.
Religion- Around 65% of the population are Sunni Muslims but, like its neighbour Lebanon, in Syria, there are many different religions, including a large Christian population. Bashar Al-Assad is Alawite, a Shia branch.
Read: Visiting a Syrian refugee camp in Iraq
Friendly Syrians, ever- Visit Syria tourism How do Syrians feel about tourism?
According to the UN, around 500,000 Syrians have been killed, practically 5,000, 000 escaped from the country and several more million which remain in the country need humanitarian assistance.
We are talking here about one of the worst humanitarian crisis in the 21 st century.
Like I said at the beginning, numerous parties are skeptical about traveling to Syria, claiming or thinking that it may be rude to all the people that have been affected somehow.
Well, what I think is that, before making any judgment, we should ask the actual Syrians living in Syria what they think about it.
Throughout my 1-week pilgrimage, I did not talk to a single Syrian “whos not” joyou at construing a Spanish tourist interested in traveling to Syria.
The ones who spoke English approached me, asking me a lot of questions and showing their grateful for visit home countries.
They don’t hesitate to talk to you about the crisis, the problems that it has caused, etc.
Hello, how are you?
Well, alive, thank God!- A random Syrian told me
However, I thought that straying around Damascus as a sightseer would be like being a celebrity. I imply, people is tremendously delightful and species but it was not like when you travel in Pakistan, for example, where everybody stops you in the street to talk to you.
The main reason was that most people meditated I was a journalist and the second was that Syrians have always had great international exposure, so attending strangers is something they are actually be applicable to, with the only difference they haven’t seen many since 2010.
Long story short: Syrians are happy to see tourists.
More friendly Syrians- How to visit Syria
How to travel around Syria
You can travel around Syria by neighbourhood buses and shared taxis.
I took the bus from Damascus to Aleppo, which takes more than 7 hours. The ground is that the section of the road from Homs to Aleppo is not thoroughly Government-controlled, so after Homs, they turn right and make a huge detour to get to Aleppo.
There is not much to say here, other than the roads of Syria are full of military checkpoints, which is what you may expect.
Your driver will keep your passport and he will handle everything for you, so don’t worry about that.
I also took the bus from Homs to Damascus and it was a very similar story. From Aleppo to Homs I made a regional shared taxi.
Seriously, buses operated commonly, smoothly and without any problem
In Damascus, this is the main bus station to go to Homs and Aleppo: 33.532449, 36.31875.
The station at Aleppo is quite far from the city center but you will see plenty of taxis just outside.
As per security, the truth is that many parties were being overprotective with me, ever taking care that I was feeling safe and comfy, so you should not is concerned at that. Most people taking the bus to Aleppo are from the military forces by the way.
Bashar Al-Assad face is everywhere- Travel guidebook Syria
What you need to know about money before traveling to Syria
In Syria, they use the Syrian Pound( SYP ), a currency that has been fluctuating like crazy for the past 10 years.
Actually, they say that it devaluates daily, sometimes several times a day, but during my keep, I was always able to exchange at the exact same frequency, which was 1USD= 490 SYP.
Updaye January 2020!- The Syrian Pound has devaluated massively. Today, travelers are exchanging 1USD= 900 -1 000 SYP, so Syria just got doubled cheaper
I exchanged once at the hotel and then with random beings from various stores. All of them offered me the same rate.
If you check the currency value evolution, you will see that, for the last couple of months, it has always been between 450 -5 50, approximately.
The brand-new Syrian bill with Bashar Al-Assad’s face on it. This is around 4USD and it is their highest bill
There are also official exchange offices that should give you a similar significance, but I preferred to exchange with random beings, as an excuse to have a small chat.
By the route, raise EUR or USD. If you don’t have any, is well aware that in Lebanon you can withdraw USD from most ATMs.
If you have Syrian Pounds left when you leave, you can exchange them to Lebanese Pounds or USD in most exchange offices in Beirut. Outside of Lebanon, I doubt you can.
ATMs and Credit card- Because of the sanctions, everything is blocked in Syria, so you must bring fairly money for your whole stay.
How much does it cost to travel to Syria?
These are the prices of the most conventional things. I won’t write the EUR or$ conversion this time because of the perpetual devaluation but keep in mind that 1USD is around 500 SYP.
Lunch in a local restaurant: 2,500 -4, 000 SYP Food in a delightful restaurant with wine-coloured: 7,500 -9, 000 SYP Breakfast( like hummus or ful ): 500 -8 00 SYP National Museum: 500 SYP Aleppo Citadel: 500 YSP Bus from Damascus to Aleppo: 4,000 -5, 000 SYP Budget Hotel in Damascus: 10,000 -1 5,000 SYP for a private chamber Mid-range hotel in Damascus: 20,000 -4 0,000 SYP for a private office Taxis within cities: 500 -7 00 SYP Local shared taxi Aleppo to Homs: 7,000 SYP
The Citadel of Aleppo- Traveling to Syria
Responsible tourism and moralities
Syria is a post-war zone, where millions of people have lost their houses and relatives, so delight, be a sensitive tourist.
Don’t say battle but crisis or place instead- You will see that countless Syrians themselves don’t really use the word war but they prefer to say other little coarse words.
Don’t said so bad about Al-Assad- You will be surprised to know that most people are heavy those in favour of the Al-Assad regime, so don’t give your political belief because you may offend someone. I guess that the Syrians who are against him aren’t there anymore.
Syrians hanging out in a destroyed building in Homs
Don’t take selfies with damaged structures- Gravely, this is one of the most impudent things you could ever do and you would actually be an asshole if you did it.
Empathize with the locals- When you are in an area full of destroyed buildings be respectful to the people, say hello, shake hands and really be nice with them.
Collaborate with the neighbourhood economy- In Homs and Aleppo, you are likely to see small businesses open among all the devastates. Do buy things from them. In Homs, I viewed one tiny bakery store in the almost destroyed souq; I couldn’t repel buying one kilo of sweets there, which I established to a young boy that was looking for something amongst the trash.
Read: A travel guide to Iraqi Kurdistan
The streets of Homs, which is around 40% destroyed- Is it safe to visit Syria now
Are the cities truly destroyed?
This seems to bring a lot of disorder, so let me explain it to you 😛 TAGEND
Damascus- Only the outskirts of Damascus are destroyed, as there was a bloody battle there. That field is off limits to tourists. The Old City, downtown and, mostly, all the center of Damascus remains intact.
Aleppo- A percentage of the Old City is destroyed, as well as some areas from outside the city. Most of Aleppo isn’t damaged but some very important sites from the Old City, like the Great Mosque, are gone.
Homs- One of the worst affected municipals by the war. Approximately 40% of the city is destroyed and that includes its bazaar, one of the liveliest and more important souqs in the Middle East.
Palmyra- I haven’t been there but, as far as I know, ISIS destroyed a large part of it.
the Old City of Aleppo- Is Syria a safe lieu to trip?
Taking photos when you roam in Syria
You can take photos of everything except for one thing: armed stuff.
Yes, it is very obvious but the problem is that there is armed substance everywhere, especially in Damascus.
In Damascus, it happened a few epoches that I took a picture of some cool building or whatever, from relatively far away, and didn’t realize there was a checkpoint right next to it.
Of course, the soldiers approached me but, after quickly checking my passport and my camera, they very kindly let me continue.
Seriously, in Damascus Old City, there are still checkpoints everywhere, so pay attention before taking any photos.
I was also approached by soldiers from time to time when I was taking photos of non-military stuff but that was because they still need to get used to tourists prowling around.
Remember everything is still very recent and, in their attentions, everybody is likely to be questionable.
A soldier in Aleppo’s citadel
Don’t get off the beaten track in Syria , has still not been
Seriously, don’t.
Don’t do it because you are going to ruin it for everybody.
Syria exactly started opening to tourism, so stick to the main touristic countries, which includes the centers of Damascus, Aleppo, etc.
I am telling you this because there was a German guy who went to the outskirts of Damascus to make photos of some destroyed constructs and he was put in jail for a week.
Dude, the country is still not ready for discover Westerners hanging out in feelings areas.
Since then, travelling enterprises compel travelers to book a full expedition, claiming that, after that incident, there is a new regulation saying that sightseers need to be all the time with a template, but it is bullshit, really.
They tell you this to save their ass because that person Basel got into trouble when that German guy was arrested. And by the way, instead of helping him, he didn’t want to have anything to do with it.
We shouldn’t blame that German guy. He dedicated a mistake and he previously paid for it, but that should serve as a lesson for future travelers.
Damascus bazaar is really good to visit
Where to stay in Syria
Since the crisis, the Government of Syria has introduced a dual pricing programme in all hotels, in which foreigners pay several times the regional toll.
This has increased the rates significantly but you are able to find many inexpensive options.
Also, you should know that good inns have often been full. I arrived in Damascus without a booking and many inns I sauntered by has no such rooms left but, luckily, there are hotels everywhere.
By the route, you can also try to Couchsurf. I actually Couchsurfed in Aleppo.
Where to stay in Damascus
Budget- Green Hotel- Single areas expenditure 15 USD and double 30 USD. It was very clean, there was a heater, good Wi-Fi and the chap from the festivity spoke English. It was here, just outside of the Old City: 33.510168. 36.298925. You can contact your best friend Mohammed( he is the only receptionist that speaks good English ): +963993829946. Alternatively, you can contact the hotel immediately but they may not speak English: +963112258895.
Green Hotel in Damascus. I paid 15 USD for this room. It was simple but clean-living and everything you need!
Mid-range- Hotel Al Majed- This hotel expects around 40 USD for a single room. Location: 3351718 8, 36.296579
Top-end- Beit al Wali– One of very best inns in the city.
Where to remain in Aleppo
Mid-range- Palace Hotel- Like, I said, I Couchsurfed in Aleppo but I penetrated this hotel to ask for the premium. They query 69 USD for a office. This is the location: 36.207146, 37.14857. It is next to the I Love Aleppo square and it ogled a great place to stay. I don’t know any other budget options.
Where to remain in Homs
Mid-range- New Basman Hotel- This is the cheapest inn I found in Homs. I paid around 40 USD for a huge room, which included a basic dinner and a good breakfast. It was pretty good. This is the location: 34.72133, 36.711241. For a reservation, you can contact them at +963991305972.
The food and booze in Syria
In the last few years, I haven’t traveled to many countries that are far-famed for their nutrient, but Syria clearly is.
Being an olive-oil rich Mediterranean country, the ingredients used in their cuisine are fresh and same to the ones we used in Spain, but too Italy, France, and Greece.
The food is actually pretty much the same as in Lebanon, with their own regional variants, of course.
From the classic hummus to kibbeh( local steak tartar ), different sorts of grilled meat or a conventional recipe of Aleppo consisting of meatballs in cherry-red sauce, the menu in Syria is so differed.
For me, nonetheless, breakfast is the best part, as they always suffice different variations of hummus and ful late in super delectable olive oil and veggies.
As per the alcohol, you should know that Syria has a large Christian population, so booze is easily available, especially in the Christian district of the Old City of Damascus, where there is a street filled with barrooms and many liquid stores.
You can actually buy a$ 1 beer and beverage it in wall street!
Hummus for breakfast
Internet and mobile
Do you use a VPN when you hurtle? Remember that, in this type of countries, some websites might be blocked and your online activity might be monitored by the Government. Therefore, in order to navigate safely, you should use a VPN. Read my lesson: How to find( and why abuse) the best VPN for traveling
Wi-Fi- Internet works well across the country. The inns I abode at had a good connection and you can also connect in most relatively good coffeehouses and restaurants.
Mobile- I bought Syriatel and, for 2,500 SYP, they gave me 2GB and some calls but, of course, expenditures may change. They only asked to provide my passport. I recommend you go to the official store. There is one next to Merjeh Square, right here: 33.513185, 36.29777.
I hope this excursion navigate to Syria will help you to plan your junket. I will try to keep it modernized but, if you have more updates, please let us know in the comments segment. Thanks
Read more: againstthecompass.com
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