7 Days in Syria
Trip Overview
Seven days in Syria start inside Damascus's tangled Old City, where jasmine perfume drifts past walls that remember every century. From there the road runs to the country's sharpest memories: Palmyra's Roman colonnades, the curl of kebab smoke above street grills, the chill of crusader stone under your palm, and late light sliding through cedar branches. The rhythm pairs headline ruins with back-street life, Aleppo's souks, Saydnaya's quiet gardens.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$80-120 per day
Best Seasons
March-May and September-November offer ideal temperatures
Ideal For
History enthusiasts, Cultural explorers, Photography lovers, Returning visitors
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Damascus Awakens in the Old City
Meet Damascus by slipping into its moodiest quarters and eating the street food that built its reputation.
Morning
Umayyad Mosque exploration
Slip through Bab al-Barid at first light and watch the mosaics catch fire. The courtyard swells with dawn prayer while pigeons racket between columns older than memory. Pilgrims pause at John the Baptist's shrine, speaking in whispers.
Arrive at 7am to avoid crowds
Lunch
Al Nawfara Cafe
Afternoon
Souk Al-Hamidiyah wandering
Follow the market's zebra stripes of sun and shade. Spice sellers push cardamom and za'atar toward your nose. Bolts of silk flash ruby and emerald. Leather and rose water ride the same warm draft.
Evening
Rooftop dinner at Beit Jabri
Try the kibbeh nayeh and fattoush while watching sunset over minarets
Where to Stay Tonight
Old City near Bab Touma (Beit Zafran Hotel)
Walking distance to all major sites and authentic neighborhood feel
See all Syria accommodation options →Track down Al-Hallab on Straight Street for the city's finest baklava, arrive before 10 a.m. while the pastry still holds the oven's heat.
Day 1 Budget: $85
2
Damascus Beyond the Walls
Discover modern Damascus and its hillside sanctuaries.
Morning
National Museum visit
Read Syria's layers like pages: Ugarit tablets, Islamic manuscripts, bronze daggers glowing under low lamps. The rebuilt synagogue doorway speaks for communities that have vanished.
Wednesday mornings are quietest
Lunch
Naranj Restaurant
Afternoon
Mount Qassioun sunset
Hail a taxi up the snaking road to Damascus's rooftop. The city spills below like spilled jewels, the Umayyad dome flashing final sun. Mountain air lifts the evening call to prayer straight uphill.
Arrive 30 minutes before sunset
Evening
Dinner at Al-Khawali restaurant
Their cherry kebab is legendary, served in a restored Damascene house
Where to Stay Tonight
Old City near Bab Touma (Beit Zafran Hotel)
Second night allows deeper neighborhood exploration
See all Syria accommodation options →The Mount Qassioun cable car keeps running until 10 p.m., good for a nocturnal panorama.
Day 2 Budget: $90
3
Bosra's Black Basalt Theater
Roman grandeur carved from volcanic stone in Syria's south.
Morning
Roman theater exploration
Step into the intact 2nd-century theatre carved wholly from black basalt. The stone drinks heat and throws it back; a murmur carries clear to the top row of 9,000 seats. Run your fingers along ruts cut by Roman wheels.
Guides available at entrance for $10
Lunch
Al-Madani Restaurant
Afternoon
Bosra old city walk
Thread the lanes between houses of black basalt. The citadel borrows Roman columns for its walls. Kids kick footballs beneath arches that have stood 1,800 years.
Where to Stay Tonight
Old City near Bab Touma (Beit Zafran Hotel)
Makes early departure next day easier
See all Syria accommodation options →
Day 3 Budget: $75
4
Krak des Chevaliers Majesty
Homs Governorate
The ultimate crusader castle experience.
Morning
Krak des Chevaliers tour
Scale the outer walls where crusader knights once kept watch. Limestone stays cool even at noon. From the tallest tower the Alawite ridges slide green toward the Mediterranean. Arrow slits frame snapshots of the valley.
Guards offer excellent unofficial tours for $8
Lunch
Abu Ahmad Restaurant
Afternoon
Drive to Hama
Follow the Orontes through olive groves and stone hamlets. At Hama the wooden norias groan in rhythm, teeth grinding against the river.
Shared taxis available for $5 per person
Where to Stay Tonight
Hama city center (Afamia Hotel)
Riverfront location with noria views
See all Syria accommodation options →After dark the norias light up, shoot from the Al-Nahhas terrace for the best angle.
Day 4 Budget: $95
5
Aleppo's Citadel and Souks
Take Syria's trading capital through its storied markets and stone fortress.
Morning
Aleppo Citadel
Pass the iron gates scarred by crusader blades. Throne rooms still ring with old commands. The view spills across domes and minarets like a chessboard. The ramparts fall 50 m in a clean drop.
Open at 9am sharp
Lunch
Al-Andalib Restaurant
Afternoon
Aleppo souks exploration
Wander vaulted halls where sun drips through ceiling cracks. Cumin and cardamom ambush your nose in the spice souk. In the gold souk craftsmen beat metal while cats sleep on silk.
Evening
Sunset from the citadel
Return for golden hour when the stone turns honey-colored
Where to Stay Tonight
Old City near Bab al-Faraj (Beit Wakil Hotel)
Authentic courtyard house conversion in central the old city
See all Syria accommodation options →The soap souk stocks Aleppo's laurel bars at $1-2 each, easy, packable gifts.
Day 5 Budget: $100
6
Saydnaya and Maaloula Mountain Sanctuaries
Rif Dimashq
Ancient Christian monasteries carved into mountain cliffs.
Morning
Saydnaya Convent
Climb the white stairs pilgrims have used for 1,400 years. Oil lamps flicker before the famed icon. Frankincense drifts on air laced with nuns singing Aramaic.
Modest dress required
Lunch
Local monastery guesthouse
Afternoon
Maaloula village
Stroll the village glued to cliffs where Aramaic survives. St. Sergius hugs the rock. Caves once housed hermits. Prayers bounce across the gorge like birds.
Guides speak Aramaic and explain local traditions
Where to Stay Tonight
Old City near Bab Touma (Beit Zafran Hotel)
Comfortable base for final night
See all Syria accommodation options →The monastery bells ring at 4pm - well timed for atmospheric photos
Day 6 Budget: $80
7
Tartus Mediterranean Farewell
End your Syrian journey with sea breezes and Phoenician ruins.
Morning
Tartus old city and cathedral
Wander the crusader cathedral reborn as museum. Salt air slips through Gothic arches; Byzantine mosaics glint beneath your shoes. The next-door souk sells fresh fish and orange-blossom honey.
Open at 9am
Lunch
Fish restaurant at the port
Afternoon
Arwad Island boat trip
Ride the 20-minute ferry to Phoenician Arwad. Fishing boats shelter inside the stone harbor. Castle walls dissolve into turquoise. Circle the island in 40 minutes, tasting spray.
Ferries run hourly from Tartus port
Evening
Final seafood feast at Al-Bahr restaurant overlooking the castle
Where to Stay Tonight
Tartus corniche (Rimal Hotel)
Sea views and easy airport access via Latakia
See all Syria accommodation options →The sunset from Tartus castle walls at 6:30pm frames fishing boats well
Day 7 Budget: $95
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Damascus links everywhere by microbus ($2-5 per hop). City-to-city taxis haggle at $20-40. Urban service taxis charge $1-2. Hire a driver for Krak des Chevaliers and Saydnaya ($50-60) to save daylight.
Book Ahead
Hotels in Damascus and Aleppo fill during peak seasons. Book drivers early for Bosra and Krak des Chevaliers day runs. Tartus ferry times shift with the seasons.
Packing Essentials
Pack modest clothes for shrines, solid shoes for cobblestones, sun block for open ruins, a light scarf for mosque entry, and a power bank for heavy photo days.
Total Budget
Plan on $650-800 for the week covering beds, meals, transport, and tickets.
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Base yourself inside Damascus Old City and radiate by microbus. Eat street shawarma ($1-2) and falafel. Split taxis with locals. Budget hotels sit at $20-30 a night.
Luxury Upgrade
Family-Friendly
Cap museum stops at one hour. Stay in Bab Touma near playgrounds. Schedule beach time on Arwad Island. Pick restaurants with outdoor tables. Carry snacks and water everywhere.
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