Syria’s location at a geographical crossroads has resulted in a history that rich and varied. From the ancient cities of Alexander the Great and the Romans, to the castles of the Crusaders and the bustle of modern-day Damascus and Aleppo, Syria is truly unique. Full of hidden treasures and surprisingly easy to get around, Syria is a gem for travelers looking to get off the beaten track and go somewhere on a budget.
March to May (spring)
Experiencing the sun setting over the ruins of Palmyra, an ancient Roman city in a desert oasis Taking in the sweeping views from the impregnable battlements of Crac des Chevaliers Haggling for authentic Bedouin jewellery in Aleppo’s Ottoman-era souk Visiting the early Christian monastery where Simeon the Stylite perched on a pillar for 32 years Escaping the bustle of Damascus’ streets to the tranquil porticos of the Umayyad Mosque Catching a performance at Bosra’s superbly preserved Roman theatre
Read Agatha Christie’s Come Tell Me How You Live-a light-hearted picture of archarology and life in the desert in the mid-20th century
Listen to Farid ai-Atrache-the Arabic Sinatra, a famous crooner of the 1940s and’50s-or George Wasouf, the country’s biggest pop export
Watch Dreams of the City, an evocative fictional study of Damascus, The Nights of the Jackal, an engrossing study of the impacts of war and westernization on a family in a small Syrian village
Eat mahalabiyeh- a dessert similar to a blancmangs, laced with orange-blossom essence, almonds and pistachios
Drink chai (tea), served in small glasses and incredibly sweet
Marhaba (hello)
Call to prayer; hair-raising taxi rides; men in galibeyahs; women in abayas; Carlos the Jackal; Ancient ruins; posters of the president
Syria has the oldest continually occupied cities in the world; families with 10 chidren or more get free public trans[port for life; vintage American cars in good