BootsnAll Travel Community

We're in Amman now, and will be continuing on to Damascus in a couple days of days, and are hoping that someone might have some suggestions on good places to stay, eat, and maybe some off-the-beaten track type places to go around Syria.

Our current list of places to go is pretty much:
- Damascus
- Palmyra
- Hama
- Crac des Chevaliers
- Aleppo
- maybe Raqqa?

Any and all suggestions appreciated.

Do suggestions count from somebody who has never been there?!

Here are some ideas from my Want-to-Go-to-Syria list:

1. Damascus- Umayyad Mosque (looks so cool), Soyyid Ruquyya shrine, look at old houses, Azem Palace, souq in Old City
North of Damascus- Deir Mar Musa (monastery), village of Ma'alula

2. Palmyra- I have read that there are lots of touts and has gotten very commercialized.

3. Hama-dead city of Serjılla

4. Crac des Chevaliers - rave reviews

5. Aleppo- cathedral and monastery of Symeon the Stylite (I read one couple did their own transportation which was a lot cheaper), Hotel Baron

6. ruins of Afamya

Now for suggestions from people who have actually been there (not wannabes like me ),
Here and here are two travel blogs that I have saved for good Syria ideas.
This one is from a rather wild Turkish American.

Pepdrug actually has some pretty good suggestions. The places she listed are pretty much must-sees. A few more suggestions based on my trip there in 2004:

First, from Damascus to the Syrian border, I’d take the time to stop and see Jerash if you haven’t done so already. Jerash had some of my favorite ruins in all of the Middle East. I hear they’re now doing some sort of Roman chariot race performances – might be cheesy, might be cool. But you can’t go wrong with the ruins.

For accommodation around Jerash, I recommend Irbid – it’s not too far, very cheap, the people are friendly, and it had a very “local” feel. I didn’t see another Western tourist there. Irbid also makes a good base to see other sights in this region – Ajloun, etc.

Right after the Syrian border there’s Basra – home to a rather cool free-standing amphitheater. Not earth-shatteringly impressive, but nice nonetheless. No recommendations on accommodation because we passed right through on our way to Jordan.

Palmyra is indeed very touristy and thick with irritating touts (maybe not compared to Egypt or Petra, but for Syria it’s nuts). If you want to get away from it all for a day, consider hiring a taxi to take you out to Qasr al Hir al Sharki. It’s a long haul – with rough roads and hot temperatures – but very worthwhile. Make a day out of it. The driver will surely suggest other places to see along the way – Bedouins, dead cities, friends, for a swim in the Euphrates, whatever. (Note, you could also do this from Raqqa, I believe ... or even head on to Raqqa from here – this place is about halfway between Raqqa and Palmyra).

Aleppo: Don’t miss a meal at Sissi House. Wow.

Lattakia is nice for a sort of unique perspective on Syria. It seemed a bit more casual and modern than other Syrian cities. Met some great folks there. If you go to Lattakia, Qalaat Al Saladin is a worthwhile side trip.

Hope that helps. Have fun – Syria is a gem.

quote:

First, from Damascus to the Syrian border, I’d take the time to stop and see Jerash if you haven’t done so already. Jerash had some of my favorite ruins in all of the Middle East. I hear they’re now doing some sort of Roman chariot race performances – might be cheesy, might be cool. But you can’t go wrong with the ruins.

We actually did go to Jerash, but just as a day trip from Amman. Our day was a time was a little short, because we had lunch with a guy we met on the bus, which took about 3 hours.

We did still manage to see the chariot races...the race itself was actually pretty good, though not the 7 laps as advertised, more like 2 laps. The rest of the show was a bit cheesier. There were Roman army maneuvres/reenactment which were kind of interesting, though I've seen better in Britain, and then some super-cheesy gladiator fights, which were a little dull, and not the most believable stage-fighting I've ever seen.

Thanks for the tips. A Syrian we were talking to on the bus to Damascus had recommended Lattaqia, so I think we're going to try to get there. I hadn't heard of Qasr al Hir al Sharki before, but that certainly sounds like a possibility. Thanks alot.