In a small hotel in the Old City of Damascus, you wake up to the voice of Fairuz drifting through the window and the scent of Damascene jasmine filling the air. Before you lies an authentic Syrian breakfast: small, colorful plates of cheese, labneh, olives, jam, olive oil, thyme, hummus, and falafel, accompanied by fresh cucumbers, tomatoes, lemon slices, warm loaves of bread, and a glass of red tea with a mint leaf floating on top. Everything is elegantly arranged around a small pool with a fountain, where a ginger cat drinks peacefully.
Here, in the narrow alleys of Old Damascus, the stone-paved streets seem to invite you to remove your shoes and walk barefoot. Wooden mashrabiyas adorn the ancient houses; from one of them, the smiling face of a beautiful little girl peeks out, clutching her small doll tightly to her chest. The little shops scattered throughout tell their own stories: goldsmiths, rose perfumes, colorful spices, Eastern sweets, and exquisite mosaic furniture. Children play football in the alleys, a carrier pigeon soars above the Umayyad Mosque, and passersby feed the cats.
You will notice in the faces of the locals-especially the older generations-the marks of difficult years and war. Yet you will also catch a generous, shy smile in every corner. A smile that says: “Ahlan wa sahlan” – Welcome, dear guest.
You may hear the call to prayer ringing loudly on Fridays and the sound of church bells on Sundays in the Bab Touma area, adjacent to the Umayyad Mosque quarter – all in exceptional harmony, inviting everyone to prayer and gratitude to God.
This beautiful Damascene scene has been engraved in my heart since childhood and my youth. It has only grown more beautiful after the Syrian revolution and liberation. I am a daughter of beloved Damascus, yet this is but a small part of a far greater and more magnificent painting that adorns every Syrian city with its own unique geographic, human, cultural, and historical character.
Travel north to Aleppo, with its towering citadel and ancient souks. Despite the clear traces of war, its people remain generous with their smiles, their food is as delicious as ever, and they are now rebuilding their city stone by stone with remarkable determination.
In Hama, you will be mesmerized by the giant wooden water wheels (norias) that have turned for centuries on the Orontes River, irrigating the surrounding lands – silent witnesses to all that this city has endured. If you wander through the old city, you will truly enjoy the view of the citadel while listening to the constant, soothing sound of the norias, which the locals have grown so accustomed to that it has become an inseparable part of their daily life – a life that refuses to stop or surrender.
Homs, the beating heart of Syria and the revolution, beautifully blends the old and the new with its ancient ruins, vibrant markets, and authentic, mouth-watering cuisine. You will feel the warmth of daily life, the generosity of its people, and the cheerfulness in their faces and hearts despite all the hardships.
Palmyra (Tadmor)… a desert jewel in the heart of the steppe. Its towering Roman columns will dazzle you under the morning sun or during a breathtaking sunset.
Latakia and Tartous… with their beautiful Mediterranean coastline where the sea meets the mountains. Take a boat to Arwad Island; the sea breeze and the taste of fresh fish will leave you with unforgettable memories.
Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa… the heart of Syria on the Euphrates, in the Syrian Jazira region. The Euphrates River embraces both cities, offering beautiful nature, lush greenery, fresh water, and the exceptional generosity of their people despite the difficulties these sister cities have faced.
This is how your journey through Syria begins. It is a land you never forget, and everyone who visits longs to return again and again.
Syria’s nature is rich and diverse, making it an attractive tourist destination all year round. The country enjoys four distinct seasons with generally moderate weather – rarely extreme in heat or cold – allowing visitors to enjoy tourism at any time of the year.
Rivers, springs, and wells flow with fresh water, while greenery covers vast areas of fertile plains, mountains, and hills. The Mediterranean coast offers calm beaches and crystal-clear waters. The Euphrates and Orontes rivers run through fertile lands, and the coastal, Qalamoun, and eastern mountains rise to provide stunning natural scenery. The inland plains stretch wide and well-irrigated, filled with crops, greenery, and herds of cattle and sheep. This diversity – sea, river, mountain, and plain – grants the visitor a complete range of tourism experiences: from relaxing on the coast to exploring mountainous nature or enjoying lush rural landscapes.
To my people in Syria, both inside the country and abroad:
Tourists who visited Syria in the past year – including presidents, members of the U.S. Congress, United Nations officials, and representatives of international organizations – always say that the most beautiful part of their journey was not only the monuments and places, but your smiles, your generosity, and the way you welcomed them as if they were family. They love sitting with you, tasting your home-cooked meals, and listening to your stories. This Syrian warmth is undoubtedly our greatest secret.
To make their experience even more memorable, here are some simple, practical steps we can work on together:
• Continue strengthening community awareness and focusing on all that is humanly shared among the country’s residents and with visitors from around the world – to establish lasting security, prevent the spread of weapons, and build the essential social foundation for successful tourism in Syria.
• Maintain cleanliness of streets and neighborhoods, especially in tourist areas and old markets. Cleanliness is the visitor’s first impression.
• Promote Syria through social media and in cooperation with the Ministry of Tourism by creating dedicated pages with authentic photos and short videos that reflect daily beauty, growing safety, and harmony among all sects, communities, and religions. Provide tourist guides and continue upgrading hotels, restaurants, and public services.
• Improve walking and running trails in cities and mountains, and develop safe spaces for activities such as horseback riding, cycling, cable cars, mountain climbing, eco-adventures, and swimming. Continue afforestation efforts and the protection of wildlife and birds, while learning from the most successful countries in these fields.
• Revive festivals and cultural events in iconic locations such as Aleppo Citadel, Palmyra, the squares of Homs, Hama, and Old Damascus, as well as Umayyad Square, the Opera House, and Al-Faihaa Hall.
• Enhance medical care in tourist areas with clinics, quick health consultations, and well-equipped pharmacies.
• Develop reliable internet access and coverage in hotels and archaeological and natural tourist sites.
• Improve transportation and aviation: establish regular schedules connecting airports and buses (Damascus, Aleppo, Latakia), and provide clean taxis and trustworthy guides.
Syrian expatriates also have a very important role to play:
We can contribute by promoting Syria in our countries of residence, investing our expertise and savings in small and medium-sized tourism projects, and introducing new ideas to improve services.
In the coming phase, tourism represents a major opportunity to rebuild our economy and create jobs for our youth. Every tourist who visits helps a Syrian family directly.
There are certainly challenges, but we can overcome them together, gradually, step by step. Improvement has already begun noticeably. We can rise above these challenges with our love for this country and our faith in its ability to return more beautiful than ever.
Syria is not merely a tourist destination… it is truly a profound human experience. When you return home, you will not only carry souvenir photos and a decorated mosaic box filled with Damascene baklava and sweet Homs cheese – you will also carry in your heart a small piece of the warmth of Sham, the scent of jasmine, the fragrance of the coast and the Euphrates, and the authenticity of its places, along with a kind, unforgettable Syrian smile that gently invites you to come back again.