When to travel?
You will have to travel preferably between the cold and the
hot seasons (lasting respectively, between December-February and July-August).
Winter is usually very cold except for the coastal region. In summer,
temperatures are extremely high, especially in July and August, and the humidity
on the coast is not very pleasant. Summer temperatures could rise above 35C in
July and August during the day, but the evenings are usually cooler with mild
breezes. If you have the choice, April and May, and also mid-September to
mid-November are the best times to make a visit to Syria.
Getting There & Away
Syria has two international airports, one 35km (22mi) south-east
of Damascus, the other just north-east of Aleppo. Both have regular connections
to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Flights tend to be quite expensive.
There's a departure tax of about US$5. All foreign visitors require a visa,
except nationals of some Arab countries. Tourist visas are usually valid for 15
or 30 days.
Buses run between Aleppo or Damascus and Istanbul (Turkey),
between Damascus and Amman (Jordan), Damascus and Beirut or Tripoli (Lebanon)
and Damascus and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). Trains go from Aleppo to Istanbul and
from Damascus to Amman. Service taxis also run from Damascus to most of the neighboring
countries. You can bring your own vehicle into Syria, but you will need a carnet
de passage and local third-party insurance. If you prefer the ferry, there's
a weekly service from Lattakia for Alexandria (Egypt) via Beirut. In summer, the
ferry also stops in Cyprus.
Getting Around
There are internal flights between Damascus and Aleppo, Qamishly,
Lattakia and Deir ez-Zur. Syria's road network is excellent, and buses are
frequent and cheap - most Syrians use the bus. Distances are short and most
trips take under four hours. Bus types include the traditional coach, minibuses
and small vans known as microbuses. Service taxis operate on the major bus
routes but are considerably more expensive than microbuses.
Syria's trains are a modern lot, made in Russia. They're cheap
and punctual, but the stations are usually a fair way out of town. The main line
connects Damascus, Aleppo, Deir ez-Zur, Hasakeh and Qamishle, with a secondary
line along the coast. There are a few car rental companies in Syria, but rates
are around 50% higher than in the West. Syrians drive on the right.
What to take with you?
Take clothes to suit the season as if you
were traveling to southern France or Italy. Do not forget that in high altitudes
(Damascus has a minimum altitude of 690,) the climate may be somewhat cool from
December to March, and summer is a little hotter. A raincoat is not needed from
May to September. Good walking shoes are a must for visiting archaeological
sites or climbing the long slopes leading to old castles. Sunglasses and a hat
are useful to protect you from the burning sun of the Syrian desert.
Currencies
The unit of currency in Syria is the
Syrian Pound or Lira, divided into 100 Piasters. There are banknotes of 10, 25,
50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 SP, and coins of 25 and 50 Piasters and 1, 2, 5, 10,
and 25 Pounds. You will be welcomed in Syria with all foreign currencies, you
will not be able to pay by cheque or credit card in many Syrian shops, but main
hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops accept them.
Your Budget
Like other countries in the region, Syria
has had difficulties in curbing inflation in the past years. Moreover, the
Syrian Pound has undergone various variations against the US Dollar. Thus, in
early 1992, one had to reckon with SP 2400 or $ 215 per hotel night in a deluxe
hotel for a double room and SP 800-1500 in a middle class hotel. You can travel
relatively cheaply if you use small hotels, popular restaurants and travel by
coach between Syrian regions. When it comes to shopping, you'll find Syria one
of the cheapest places you've been to. If money is not a problem, you'll find in
Damascus and Aleppo everything to satisfy your expensive tastes.
The language
The language spoken in Syria and the
official language is Arabic. You can survive with English or French but learning
some useful Arabic phrases is advised. Other minority languages include
Armenian, Kurdish and Aramaic. Check out our micro phrasebook
for basic Arabic phrases.
