Syria: Getting there & around

Syria has two international airports, one 35km (22mi) southeast of Damascus, the other just northeast of Aleppo. There is a third in Larrakia, which is international in name only. Both Damascus (DAM) and Aleppo (ALP) have regular connections to Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Buses run between Damascus and Istanbul (Turkey), Amman (Jordan), Beirut or Tripoli (Lebanon) 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 neighbouring countries. You can bring your own vehicle into Syria, but you will need local third-party insurance and a customs fee is payable. A carnet de passage en douane (an internationally recognised customs document allowing temporary import of a vehicle) is no longer needed, but check before leaving in case requirements change.

There are internal flights between Damascus and Aleppo, Qamishle, Lattakia and Deir ez-Zur. Syria's road network is excellent, and buses are frequent and cheap - most Syrians use the bus, as very few have their own car. Distances are short and most trips take under four hours. Bus types include the traditional coach, minibuses and Japanese vans known as microbuses. Service taxis operate on the major bus routes but are considerably more expensive than microbuses.

Syria's trains are modern, cheap and punctual, but the stations are usually out of town. The main line connects Damascus, Aleppo, Deir ez-Zur, Hassake 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 and petrol is expensive and hard to find. If you do choose to drive, remember that Syrians drive on the right.