Syria: Overview
The attractive Syrian Arab Republic is located in the Middle East, to the east of the Mediterranean Sea and limits with Turkey, Jordan, Israel, Iraq and Lebanon. This country offers dozens of historical places, among them, a city considered to be the world’s oldest continuously inhabited one; the best preserved Roman theatre and most impressive Crusader castle. Besides this, Syria is one of the safest tourist destinations, in spite of the fame as a terrorist sponsor made by the media. Syrians are very kind and hospitable.
Climate
The best time to visit Syria is during spring (March-May), when the weather is tempered and wild flowers bloom. Winter rains will already have cleaned the foggy air and widen the rivers, so the norias in Hama will be providing fresh and clean water to the city.
Autumn (September-November) is the second best choice, since it has a temperate weather between the suffocating heat of summer and the winter.
If your visit will be during summer (June-August) you must wear a hat, use sun screen and drink a lot of water, especially in places like Palmyra and the northeast of the country. The coastal areas, as Lattiaka can be very humid, while the interior regions are very hot and dry. Winter can also be a little unpleasant to enjoy the landscapes, and low budget hotels have no heating.
Some recommendations
Any foreigner wanting to visit Syria needs a visa which can be obtained at any Syrian consulate. If there is not any Syrian consulate in your country, it is advisable to try to request it on route; despite what you may have heard, it is not easy to obtain it on arriving at the airport.
Although it is better to avoid any manifestation or political gatherings, Syria is not the terrorist country that US media has made the world believe. It is a very safe destination, where you can walk around anytime during day or night, finding friendly and hospitable people.
Concerning health, you should think of getting vaccines against polio, tetanus, typhus and the hepatitis A and B before travelling. Besides, once in the country, you should take cautions against malaria, diphtheria, diarrhoea and Lehismaniasis.
It is important to keep in mind that if you are going to visit Syria during school holidays the Ramadan you must make your reservations in advance.
Where to go
Aleppo is the second largest city of the country and it has been a trade centre since the Romans time. Thanks to its fascinating museums, khans (caravanserais) and its citadel it is an ideal place to spend some days.
Damascus, the capital of the country is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world; maybe due to its location in the green Ghouta oasis, near to the Silk Route. There are, at least, four places you must visit in this city: the Old City, the National Museum, the Umayyad Mosque and the Azem Palace.
Hama is a quiet city located between Aleppo and Damascus. Besides being one of the most attractive destinations in Syria it is also a very good place to explore ancient ruins. Much of this city’s charm comes from the Orontes River, which flows through it, and from the trees, gardens and old norias located on the riverside.
Festivals
The two more important Syrian celebrations are closely related with Islam. One of them is Ramadan which takes place during the ninth month of Islamic calendar (it changes every year). During this month people fast from dawn till sunset, and eat only at night, to fulfill the fourth pillar of Islam: Sawm. During day, and as the month goes by, people may become quite irritable due to hunger, many coffees and restaurants are close during day and many offices and shops modify their hours. Beside these changes, Ramadan is a good time to visit the country and get in touch with its religion. The fast ends with a great feast, Eid al-Fitr, where people pray together, visit friends, exchange gifts, and stuff themselves. The other major celebration is the feast of Eid al-Adha which marks the time of Hajj, when the Muslims make their pilgrimage to Mecca.
