Amazing historical sites in Syria
based on 7 votes
The aim is to give you a flavour of the treasures to visit in this country
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Explore locations featured in this Traveler List:
Aleppo, Hamah, Damascus, Bosra, Palmyra, Deir Ezzor
- Category: Best of
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Traveler type: Culture, Sightseeing, Repeat visitors
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Appeals to: Singles, Students, Tourists
- Seasons: Spring, Fall
- Tags: historical places, castles, archaeological sites, souk, Byzantine, Romans, Zenobia
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| This covered souk is situated in the Old City. You can walk through it on the main road from Bab Antakia to the Citadel, but there are many parallel streets which are far more interesting as these are the streets were the locals buy. Gold, spices, carpets and mostly all kinds of food are to be found here. Also, if you need your shoes to be repaired, scissors to be sharpened, a dress to be made, this is the place to be. You can find anything here. Just look for it, ask for it and bargain, bargain, bargain. |
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| I prefer this museum to the one in Damascus, as the collection covers a bigger range of periods. It needs more work to have the items better displayed, but the rooms are spacious covering 2 floors. Certainly needs to be visited. Closed on Tuesday's. |
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| The Citadel is huge overseeing the city. In front of its entrance, there are restaurants where you can eat snacks, drink somebeverages or smore an arguileh (waterpipe). Some houses in the Old City still have a tunnel towards the Citadel. All houses used to have this in acient times to be able to escape when the enemy was in town. |
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| The second biggest city in Syria. Used to be a very important trade community as you can notice in the souk in the Old City. The Old City is dominated by the huge Citadel. Certainly needs to be visited : the Museum, the Armenian section "El Jedeida", the Old City. And when time is left, go and explore the New City and discover how modern Aleppines are living. Mostly at night. They like to sleep until late in the afternoon. |
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5. Qala'at al-Hosn (Krac des Chevaliers)
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One of the best known sites in Syria, situated in the mountains towards the coast. It is part of the Crusader's past of this region. The Castle is beautifully restored and needs a few hours to visit.
Past the entrance, you will find a restaurant were they serve delicious chicken with garlic. There are also camping facilities.
Not far from it, you can visit a Christian monastary (50% of the locals are christian).
When I visit, I always stay in Bebars Hotel. It is a small hotel with rooms with a view on the Castle. When you reserve, mention that you want to be on that side of the hotel. It is very clean and comfortable too. The breakfast is varied and takes you through a big part of the day.
And, last but not least, you can hear the jackals at night. Sometimes very close to the hotel. |
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My favourite. About 3 kilometers of colonnades on each side of a road which still shows the tracks of the Roman chariots. This gem is left by the Romans. It was a very important settlement for them, as it had a breeding farm for horses and elephants used in combats and wars.
You can visit it on your way to Krac des Chevaliers.
It is situated on top of the hill. At the bottom of the hill is a small musem with a lot of mosaics from a nearby archaeological site which is not open to visitors.
The amphitheatre which was probably the biggest in the region, is hardly worth a glance. It is not at all well preserved nor restored. You can see it on your right when driving towards the "colonnades".
At the bottom of the hill, you will find the most recent settlement. This small town is famous for its restaurants were they serve grilled fish with salad and garlic sauce. The fish you eat is coming straight out of the pond. First thing to do is go and pick the fish you want to eat. Second thing is to wait for it impatiently and then eat it. Last thing is to pay for it by the kilo. |
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7. Sergilla
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The most complete Dead City. It has the remains of a church, town hall, cafe, olive presses, 2-story villas.
Dead Cities are byzantine settlements that were left by its inhabitants probably for economical reasons. They were living from the wine and olive oil production and the competition probably got to be too big. Nobody knows exactly why they left, but this is the most plausible reason.
Together with Bara which is close by and has a few remaining piramidical tombs, Sergilla is representative for the Dead Cities in the Hamah region.
The north of Syria, however is covered with Dead Cities, most of them not even known by the tourists.
It is recommended to visit Sergilla at sunset. |
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8. Saladdin Castle
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Absolutely worth visiting... In the coastal mountains. The ride to it is an attraction by itself, as the Castle is situated on top of a mountain and the road leading towards it is small and curly. It is big enough for a car or minivan, but drive carefully, as others are coming down this road.
A walk around and in it provides a taste of history and nature (flowers, trees). Be sure to put on some walking shoes.
You can stay overnight in a hotel with a view on the Castle and/or have a meal in a restaurant with a view on the Castle. They cannot be missed, as they are the only ones (unitl now).
The Saladdin Hotel is new, clean and comfortable. The breakfast is varied and enormous. |
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This town is best known for its Noria, big wooden waterwheels dating back to Roman times. The waterwheels are scooping up water from the Orontes, the main River in this part of the country, filling up the aquaduct that used to provide water to all inhabitants.
The small medina is worth visiting.
You can use Hamah as a stop (there are some restaurants with a view on the Noria), but there is not enough to see or to experience to stay overnight. |
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Capital of Syria. Many cars, many people.
The covered souk is leading towards the Omayyad Mosque with in front of it remains of a Roman forum (with some colonnades) where you can observe people passing by. The variety is huge. A lot of Iranians are on piligrimage here. It is one of the most wholy places for them.
Do not hesitate to continue towards the Christian area where one of the oldest churches can be found underground.
After a visit of the museum (closes on Tuesdays), it is time to leave for more interesting sites to visit. |
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In the south of the country, near the Jordan border and not far from Israel.
Here you will find an amphitheatre in all its splendor, amidst the remains of a Roman town. Acoustically correct too. A must !!! |
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The fallen empire of Queen Zenobia.
She was the Cleopatra of this region. Daughter of a Bedouin king, she married the Prince of Palmyra and built an empire between Persia and Rome. But she wanted too much, though. Began a dispute with the Romans that ended in a total destruction of the town. Nobody knows how she ended.
Archaeologists have done a lot of work to give a glance on what was. Absolutely to be visited.
The site is open 24 hours a day, free entrance. The museum is small and gives an impression of the unique style of the Zenobia period. The tombs are the most interesting. Some are overlooking the site, others are underground.
And at sunset, a lot of tourists go up towards the small castle overlooking Palmyra to enjoy the view.
By the way, Palmyra is situated in the southeast of the country. An oasis in the desert.
This is the place to eat Camel meat. |
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13. Rasafa
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A jewel in the desert, in the east of the country. You have to like ruins. If you do, it is absolutely worth visiting. The city is built with a shiny white stone that has a special glow at sunset.
No hotels. It is a worthwile stop on the road between Palmyra and Deir Ezzor, Palmyra or Hamah. |
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Near to the Iraqi border. A desert town situated at the Euphrates.
It is worth going over there. Totally different from the rest of the country.
The Euphrates is broad here. You can walk hours at the riverside.
You have to visit the museum. The main attraction, however, is the souk early in the morning when the Bedouins are coming to town to do their purchases or to sell their merchandise. The mixture of colours is spectacular. |
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15. Syria : Information and help
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After many years of traveling all over the world, I have decided to come and live here in Syria.
If you need more information or have questions, just send me an e-mail : syriatravel@gmail.com (not a travel agency).
Would like more people to discover this country in a non-touristic way.
You don't have to pay a big fee to a travel operator to come to Syria.
Just buy a plane ticket.
The infrastucture is available to have you enjoy the treasures of this country according to your budget. |
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Compliment ChristelB
ChristelB
World explorer
