Hi,
I'm going to be in Syria during Ramadan. Could anyone advise me as to how this will affect my travels? I realise that it won't be so easy to eat during daylight and that if I do i should be discrete but will travel, souks, entrance to tourist sites be effected?
Thanks
Rocky
Hi Rocky: Sorry I can't help but can you let me know the dates of Ramadan? I'm going to Syria in October. Thanks!
I will be in Syria about the same time as well. Much appreciate if anyone could have tips about that. (and turkey / Lebanon as well). Thanks.
Ramadan will probably start on August 20th when the crescent of the new moon appears and end on Sep. 18, IF the new moon is observed on that day.So it depends on the moon, the clouds, and the human eye.
During the month of Ramadan the suq is very busy and the traffic is quite hectic before sunset, because everybody must be back home and break the fast at sunset. At that time the streets are deserted (this is of course not the case in the Christian districts). Some (all?) mosques serve break-fast meals, which is an interesting sight.
In the feast after Ramadan, you will find the souq of Aleppo completely closed for some 2 or 3 days.
I did this last year and found much less of a problem than expected. During Eid there is 2-3 days where you want to lie low as not a lot happens - Lattakia was my choice and there you don't even notice it's Eid. Ramadan was not a problem if you were happy to discreetly self cater and didn't mind waiting for sunset for restaurants etc. jordan was a lot more hassle!