Overview

Syria is an Arab country situated in the southwest of Asia. Syria is bordered by Lebanon, Israel, Jordan, Iraq, Turkey, and the Mediterranean Sea. The northeast part of Syria is a productive plain area. The western region contains the coast, the plateau and the hilly areas. Plains form the main central region. The southeastern region is the fourth part which contains the desert and the steppes.

The Euphrates River flows in the Syrian Arab Republic, entering the country from Turkey on the northern border and running into Iraq on the southeast. The Khabur River supports the Al-Khabur Basin in the northeast. This part of the world has been home to human residents for thousands of years. Throughout the country, you will find museums containing precious relics from ancient civilizations, some of which have been long forgotten. The Syrian people exude warmth and friendliness and are justifiably proud of their nation.

Activities & Attractions

Tourist attractions in Syria include the Monastery of Sednaya, the Roman ruins at Sweida, the Shahba Castle, the Suweida Museum and the beautiful town of Zabadani. Among other popular destinations are the sea side city of Latakia and the village of Maloula. You can visit the ancient cities of Damascus, Aleppo and Bosra which are listed on the UNESCO's World Heritage List. Palmyra is another famous tourist attraction in Syria. There are colonnades, temple remains, funerary towers, and desert oasis that captivate its visitors.

Many travelers enjoy staying at Syrian resorts along the Mediterranean Sea. These resorts offer all kinds of activities such as scuba diving, water sports and canoeing. Most inland hotels have swimming pools. Many resorts also have facilities for tennis and there is a nine-hole golf club in Lebanon. Angling is most popular in the deep shoreline waters.

Lodging

Travelers can avail of a variety of accommodation types to suit their individual budgets and requirements. Rooftop accommodations are moderately priced whereas double room in a decent hotel offering all amenities could be slightly more expensive. Several three star hotels offer accommodation at a relatively low price. All accommodation rates are comparatively higher in the capital city of Damascus. Some of the well booked hotels in the capital city are Damascus Room, Al Faris Hotel, Hotel Blue Tower, and Afamia Hotel.

Transportation

You can utilize the public bus services that are available in every town and city in Syria. However, outside the capital of Damascus, such buses do not use English markings. This can make travelling quite hard for tourists. It is easy to travel by taxi as many private entrepreneurs run their own taxi service. If a traveler hires a taxi outside a major city, he will need to negotiate the fare in advance. Within cities, travelers can usually rely on meters.