Damascus lies at the foot of Mount Qasioun and is one of the longest continuously inhabited cities anywhere. The core inside the walls still stands: the Umayyad Mosque, the Hamidiyah Souq, Azm Palace and the tomb of Saladin are all within walking distance. The Ottoman layer reads through Sinan's Sulaymaniyah complex and the Hejaz Railway station. Scheduled flights have resumed.
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See flights to Damascus →When to visit Damascus
April to May and September to November are the most balanced stretches. Because Damascus sits inland and high, summers are dry and hot and winters cool; in spring the plain and the lower slopes turn green.
Things to do in Damascus
The Umayyad Mosque
Built in the eighth century on a site that had been a church and, before that, a temple. The gold mosaics of its courtyard and the shrine of John the Baptist are among the first great works of Islamic architecture.
The Hamidiyah Souq
A long iron-vaulted arcade running into the walled city. Spices, copper, silk and Damascus soap along one line, and the souq ends at the Umayyad courtyard.
The Tomb of Saladin
Right beside the northern wall of the Umayyad Mosque, inside a small garden. A plain building with two cenotaphs.
Mount Qasioun
The ridge overlooking the city. Go up in the late afternoon and the Damascus plain and the city lights read as a whole.
Azm Palace
An eighteenth-century governor's residence built in bands of black basalt and white stone around courtyards, now used as a museum of popular arts.
The Sulaymaniyah Complex and Hejaz Station
Sinan's complex in Damascus and the stone station building of the Hejaz Railway are the two ends of the city's Ottoman layer.
Flights from Turkey to Damascus
Damascus is served by Damascus International Airport (DAM), about 25 km southeast of the centre. Scheduled flights from Istanbul with Turkish Airlines have resumed, and the flight takes about 2 hours.
Damascus FAQ
Are the sights in Damascus open?
The core of the old city is open: the Umayyad Mosque, the Hamidiyah Souq, Azm Palace and the tomb of Saladin all receive visitors. Elsewhere in the country some areas and buildings remain under repair, so check separately if you plan to leave the city.
Do I need a visa for Syria?
Turkish citizens do not need a visa for short visits. Because the country is in a reopening process, entry conditions can change, so check the ministry's current travel information before you set out.
How can I get a Damascus flight package?
You can split the cost of your Damascus flight package with Suso over 3 to 24 months, with no credit card limit required.
Buy now, pay later flights to Damascus
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