General Infromation

GEOGRAPHY OF SYRIA:
Syria is one of the Middle East countries, Its north is bounded by Turkey, Jordan is the southern bounder, Iraq is at the east and south east of Syria, and what is left? The west side is bounded by the Mediterranean sea and Lebanon is there too. In Syria, there are 14 Governrates, all around 185000 K.M2, with a population of 15000.000 person. Arabic is the language, and most are being taught English & French at school, in general.
CLIMATE:
Syria enjoys a moderate Mediterranean climate, having four distinct seasons. Average temperature in Autumn and Spring ranges between 20 Degrees and 25 Degrees. Summer between 30 and 35 Degrees. Winter between 5 and 15 Degrees. So, winter is moderate and rainy at coast and cold at the mainland, but is not considered very cold, compared to Europe.
COMMUNICATION:
In Hotels, it is very easy to get long distance phone calls or fax to any distance, and what is interesting is that the charge is less after midnight. Out side the hotel, you can make a phone call in a Cabin, using the card necessary, or in one of the postal offices, which are downtown.
HOTELS' NAMES AND STARS:
DAMASCUS
5 STARS:Cham Palace, Ebla Cham Palace, Sheraton, Meridein, and Semiramis.
4 STARS .A.: Plaza, Fardoss Tower, Carlton Hotel, and Omayad.
4 STARS .B.: Jalaa, Al Faradis, Al Iwan Hotel, Hayatt, Damascus International hotel and Al Rawda Hotel .
3 STARS: Al Petra , Kairawan , Vinesia , Ala' Tower , Al Tal , and Soultan hotel .

Outside Damascus:
5 STARS: Regency Park hotel (45 k.m) in Bloudan area.
4 STARS: Sahara Touristic Complex and hotel (10 k.m from City center), Al Faisal hotel (35 k.m in Al Zabadani area), Bloudan Grand hotel and Akel hotel (45 k.m in Bloudan area), Four Seasons Resort and Hotel in Daria area (20 k.m).

MALOULA:
4 STARS: Safir Maloula Hotel.

PALMYRA
5 STARS: Palmyra Cham Palace.
3 STARS .A.: Zenobia Hotel ,Villa Palmyra Hotel , and Heliopolis .
2 STARS: Tower Hotel , Uzaina , Ashtar , Palmyra , and Orient hotel .

HOMS
4 STARS LUX: Safir Homs Hotel.
4 STARS: Homs Grand Hotel , and Al Wadi Hotel Resort .
3 STARS: Marmarita Palace .

Mashta al Helu
4 STARS: Mashta Al Helu Resort & Hotel.

HAMA
5 STARS: Aphamia Cham Palace.
3 STARS: Noria Hotel, Hama Tower.
2 STARS: Riad, Cairo hotel.

SAFITA
5 STARS: Safita Cham Palace.

TARTOUS
4 STARS: Tartous Grand Hotel, and Al Kaesar.
3 STARS: Shahin.

ALEPPO
5 STARS: Chahba Cham Palace.
4 STARS: Pullman Al Chahba Hotel, Amir Palace Hotel and new hotels: Planet, Beit Wakil and Martini .
3 STARS: Al Faisal and Tourism hotel.
2 STARS: Najem Akhdar hotel.

LATTAKIA
5 STARS: Cote De Azzur De Cham, Meridein Hotel.
4 STARS: Riviera Hotel, Palace Hotel, and Karnak Al Qurdaha.
3 STARS: Haroun hotel, New Omar Khayam, Al Kazino.
2 STARS: Zanobia hotel.

DER EZZOR
5 STARS: Furat Cham Palace.
3 STARS: Al Waha Tourism Club, Raghdan, and Mari hotel.

DARAA
5 STARS: Bosra Cham Palace.
HIGH & LOW SEASONS:
HIGH SEASON:
15 Mar. Till 14 June.
15 Aug. Till 15 November.
20 Dec. Till 15 January.

LOW SEASON:
16 Jan. Till 14 March.
15 June Till 15 August.
20 Nov. Till 19 December.
MONEY:
Local currency is called Syrian Pounds (Lira), its exchange rate in banks is 1 $ = 46 Syrian Pound.
BANKING:
Banks start dealing at 8.30 a.m. till 12.00 a.m., but for the exchange offices, which are in Damascus down town, it starts at 8.30 a.m. till 7.00 p.m. and in 5 or 4 stars hotels.
CREDIT CARDS:
No dealing with credit cards in Syria is possible, accept for Individuals to settle their bills in Hotels, and this does not include groups, neither for issuing tickets, nor for shopping, even for Individuals.
HOLIDAYS & WORKING HOURS:
The official holiday in Syria is Friday on weekly basis, but the holiday of Museums and Castles, i.e. All Historical monuments is on Tuesday. The monuments start welcoming people at 9.00 a.m. till 16.00 p.m. according winter time and 9.00 a.m. till 18.00 p.m according summer time on daily basis, and as mentioned before except Tuesdays. Working in official departments starts at 8.00 a.m. till 14.00 p.m., but for private offices such as travel agencies, it starts at 9.00 a.m. till 13.30 p.m. and again at 17.00 p.m. till 20.00 p.m.
SHOPS AND BAZAARS IN DAMASCUS:
AL HAMIDEH BAZZAR:
A traditional bazaar, where most people love to visit, for it is a very ancient bazaar, where you can find all kinds of ancient materials, such as, swords, musical instruments, folklore clothes, and mosaic works with 600 shops.

MEDHET BASHA BAZAAR:
The straight street which was mentioned in the New Testament , its known name, for when visiting you will find your self walking in a straight way with all shops around you, used to cut the city center from its west to east side, full of folklore materials, as well.


AL HAMRA MARKET:
It is an original market, where you can find your needs of highly well made underwears, which is Syria famous of producing, trousers, shirts, and women's clothes, all of Syrian products.

BAB TOUMA MARKET:
Another original market, but its holiday is not on Friday but on Sunday, which means you can buy all week long.
It is necessary to mention here times that markets work during :
It starts at 10.00 a.m. till 14.00 p.m.
2nd period 17.00 p.m. till 20.00 p.m. during winter.
2nd period 17.00 p.m. till 21.00 p.m. during summer.
TIME DIFFERENCE:
WINTER TIME : + 2 HOURS G.M.T From 01 Oct. Till 31 of Mar.
SUMMER TIME : + 3 HOURS G.M.T From 01 Apr. Till 31 of Sep.
RESTAURANTS:
All kinds of Restaurants are available in Syria, and most of it open 24 hours day and night, and you never miss the chance to taste the Syrian food, and Drinks (Arak and local Wine) and enjoy its taste.
NIGHT CLUBS:
You can find night clubs in five stars hotels and four stars hotels, as well where you can enjoy both dinner and dancing, and some times you find a show in the night club and a belly dancer, and there are night clubs in the city, as well.
TRANSPORTATION:
TAXIS:
It is available day and night, and has a counter, which may give approximately 50 Syrian pounds, for 5 K.M distance, i.e. one dollar.

TRAINS:
Inside Syria, you can use the train to move around all cities.

PLANES:
Some of the Syrian cities are reachable by air (Domestic flights), such as Aleppo, Latakia, Kameshly, and Deir Ezzor.
ELECTRICITY:
The electricity voltage in Syria is 220 volt, and when having with you a machine of 110 volts, using an adapter, which is available every where, can easily solve the problem.
AIRPORT DISTANCE:
The airport of Damascus is away just 35 K.M,
Aleppo 15 k.m and Latakia 20 k.m.
REGULAR FAIRS AND FESTIVALS IN SYRIA:
  • International Flowers Fair. (Damascus, April - May)
  • Technical Palmyra Festival. (Palmyra, May - June)
  • Vine Festival. (Sowaida, July)
  • Cotton Festival. (Aleppo, July)
  • Damascus International Fair. (Damascus, August)
  • Passion and Joy Festival. (Lattakia, August)
  • Arabic Book Fair. (Damascus, September)
  • Desert Festival. (Der Azzor + Palmyra, September)
  • Periodical Bosra Festival. (Bosra, September)
  • Damascus Cinema Festival. (Damascus, September)
  • Science Week. (Damascus, Aleppo, or Lattakia)
  • Theater Festival. (Damascus, every two years)
  • Yearly Fair of Plastic. (Damascus, September)
  • International Syrian Tourism Ex.(Damascus, September)
  • Badieh (Desert Festival) in Palmyra (May)
MUSLIMS' HOLY PLACES IN DAMASCUS:
  • Omayad Mosque
  • Al Saideh Roqiya
  • Al Saideh Fatemeh al Sughra
  • Abdulah ibn zein abdin
  • Um Kalthum (daughter of Imam Ali)
  • Sukina (daughter of Iman Husein)
  • Graves of Karbalaa battle's soldiers
  • Hijir Ibn Adi
  • Al Saideh Zeinab
  • Bab Al Saghir Grave Yard includes the tombs of Bilal Al Habashi
  • There are several others, all around Syriad

Syria