Syria has some of the oldest cities in the Middle East, with covered souqs, great mosques and courtyard houses, along with Roman ruins, Crusader castles and a stretch of Mediterranean coast. Much of the interior is steppe and desert.
Syria for visitors
The old city of Damascus is a maze of lanes and covered markets around the Umayyad Mosque and its vast marble courtyard, with old houses built around shaded courtyards. Aleppo, in the north, is known for its hilltop citadel and its long souqs. Krak des Chevaliers, west of Homs, is a large, well-preserved Crusader castle, and Bosra, in the south, has a Roman theatre built of black basalt. Palmyra, an oasis city in the desert, has the ruins of colonnaded streets and temples. Ma'loula, in the mountains north of Damascus, is one of the few villages where a form of Aramaic is still spoken. Several of these sites were damaged in recent years. The UK government currently advises against all travel to Syria; check your own government's latest travel advice before planning a trip ([1]).
Time in Syria
Syria has one time zone, Asia/Damascus, and is on UTC+3 all year: the clocks do not change. Right now Damascus is 3 hours ahead of London, the same time as Istanbul and 1 hour behind Dubai. Because Europe still changes its clocks, the gap with London and other European cities is an hour smaller in the European summer than in winter.
Climate and weather
The coast has a Mediterranean climate, with hot, humid summers and mild, wet winters, while the mountains behind it catch the most rain. Inland, Damascus and Aleppo are much drier, with hot summers and cool winters, and the east is desert. In Damascus, average highs reach 38°C in July, and average lows fall to 1°C in January. The capital gets only about 125 mm of rain a year, on around 23 days, almost all of it between November and March.
- Damascus
- Cairo
Show the numbers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damascus | 13.1 | 15.3 | 20.0 | 25.3 | 30.9 | 35.3 | 37.8 | 37.6 | 34.6 | 29.0 | 20.6 | 14.8 |
| Cairo | 18.9 | 20.5 | 23.8 | 28.1 | 32.2 | 34.6 | 35.0 | 34.9 | 33.4 | 30.0 | 24.9 | 20.5 |
Best time to visit Syria
Spring and autumn are the mildest seasons, with warm days and cool nights inland. Summer is very hot in Damascus, Aleppo and the desert, though the coast and the mountains stay more comfortable. Winter is cool and can be cold at night inland, with occasional snow on the higher ground.
Practical facts
- Capital: Damascus. Population: about 24 million (UN World Population Prospects 2024, 2023 estimate).
- Currency: Syrian pound (SYP). Cash is used for most payments.
- Language: Arabic. English is spoken in some hotels and shops; shukran means thank you.
- Calling code: +963.
- Dress: modest clothing, covering shoulders and knees, is expected at religious sites.
- Driving: on the right.
Plan your trip with hoyoopin
- The live weather and the month-by-month climate table for Damascus are on this page.
- World Clock and Weather for Aleppo, Latakia or any other town in Syria.
- Asia: time zones and key facts for the continent.
Sources
- GOV.UK: Syria: the UK government's current guidance for Syria, updated 27 October 2026.