Cities and regions／Syria
City or town ·

Damascus

Damascus brings together an ancient urban fabric shaped by Aramaean, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad and Ottoman layers. The researched article advises postponing tourism and checking official guidance again before making plans.

Stone lane and historic architecture in Damascus Old City.
Photo by mori dad Source: Pexels Licence: Pexels License
The place

What makes it special

  • The old city retains gates, walls, courtyards, baths, caravanserais, madrasas and markets.
  • The Umayyad Great Mosque, built in the eighth century on an earlier place of worship, helps reveal the city’s religious and urban history.
  • The old city has been on the World Heritage List in Danger since 2013.
Courtyard and arcades of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 4.0
Historic Bab Touma gate in Damascus Old City.
Photo by mori dad Source: Pexels Licence: Pexels License
Travel atlas

Articles in Damascus

Guides to this place

4 articles

Damascus

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

4 related guides

Generic airport display illustrating the need to check current flights.

Check Syria’s flight status before planning a trip

An initial overview to help you get your bearings and check the essentials: Damascus, Arabic, the Syrian pound and whether flights are operating.

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Identifiable view of Damascus, the capital of Syria.

Essential facts about Syria and what to check before travelling

Syria is in Western Asia, and its capital is Damascus. The information available helps locate the country, but cannot confirm current conditions for travel.

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Contemporary urban view of Damascus, the capital of Syria.

Syria: capital, language and currency for placing the country

A brief fact sheet to locate Syria in Western Asia and distinguish the basic information worth confirming before making any travel plans.

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Stone lane and historic architecture in Damascus Old City.

Ancient Damascus: Why the Trip Should Be Postponed

The heritage of Damascus’s Old City deserves thoughtful preparation, but current conditions mean it cannot responsibly be approached as a tourist getaway.

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Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 12/10/2026