Syria
Our Top Picks For Syria
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1 Aleppo
Get lost in the labyrinthine souq and dine on Syria's best mezze
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2 Dead Cities
Tiptoe around the eerie remains of abandoned Byzantine towns, which remain empty, unexplored and largely undocumented
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3 Bosra
Take a seat in this extraordinary Roman theatre, cocooned by an Arab Fortress
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4 Damascus
Put down that map and just wander the Old City, discovering wonderful old Damascene houses and hidden restaurants
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5 Apamea
Stroll down the colonnaded main street of these impressive Roman ruins in a picturesque setting
Fast Facts about Syria
- Money
Syrian pound (also known as the lira; S£); US$1 = S£51.91; €1 = S£61.30
- Official name
Syrian Arab Republic
- Area
185, 180 sq km
- Population
20 million
- Country code
963
- Language
Arabic
- Capital
Related Groups
Our favourite Syria Blogs (beta)
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Lost in Syria - could be good night Iraq!
Blog: 501 Places - 9 July 2009
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Old Damascus - a place to lose yourself
Blog: 501 Places - 29 June 2009
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Aleppo: Antiquity and the Pistachio
Blog: Aerohaveno: A Travel Blog - 17 April 2009
In 1994 we were teaching English in Egypt, and spent our annual holiday travelling overland through Syria and Jordan. Here’s a slice of our experiences in Aleppo...
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Introducing Syria
Here's a newsflash: contrary to what the US State Department may wish the world to think, Syria is not populated by terrorists, zealots and other bogeymen. In fact, Syrians are among the most friendly and hospitable people in the world, and most visitors to their country end up developing a lifelong infatuation with its gentle charms. Since Bashar al-Assad took over the reins from his father in 2001, modernisation has been on the national agenda. This is no Levantine backwater - Syria is a modern, efficient and very proud nation with an administration that is becoming more liberal and outward looking by the day. It needs and deserves travellers to bear witness to this fact.
Fortunately, all this modernisation doesn't mean that Syria has lost sight of its past. The country has more than its fair share of significant historical sites, all of which are respectfully maintained by the authorities. The ancient cities of Damascus, Aleppo and Bosra are all listed on Unesco's World Heritage list, as is the sensationally beautiful ruined city of Palmyra. Mighty Crusader castles, labyrinthine medieval souqs, jewel-like Damascene houses and sacred Umayyad mosques are only some of the treats on offer; there are plenty more for those who are keen to search them out. Best of all is the fact that these monuments are often woven into the fabric of daily life - the locals worship in the mosques, shop in the souqs, drink tea in the houses and picnic in the ruins. And they're happy for travellers to join them.
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Latest headlines for Syria
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Israel must stay 'deep in Golan'
10 July 2009 1:24PM
An aide to Israel's PM says the country must retain a large part of the Golan Heights, rejecting Syria's major demand for a peace deal.
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Analysis: Iran crisis set to rage on
4 July 2009 11:27PM
Iran's street protests seem to have fizzled out, but an intense behind-the-scene power struggle continues, writes the BBC's Jim Muir.
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Syria amends honour killing law
2 July 2009 12:39PM
Syria's president scraps a law limiting sentences for men who kill their female relatives in the name of family honour.
