›You are here

Home›Destinations›Middle East›Syria›Syria Snapshot

Syria Snapshot

The climate of Syria is a typical Mediterranean climate, with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters - although inland conditions can vary. Generally, the hottest months are July and August; the coldest month is January; the wettest months are December and January. Travellers visit Syria from March to May for mild weather, fun in the sun and viewing wildflowers, or for regional festivals in Palmyra and Bosra. To avoid the crowds, and maybe even see a little snow in Damascus, winter is a good time to travel. So no matter what time you choose to go, Syria is a great place to travel all year round, depending on what experience you want.
  • Syria weather chart

Eating and Drinking in Syria

  • Meze: The best way to sample the flavours of Syria is to indulge in meze - an array of small dishes all served at once. Choose from smoky dips, tangy cheese, spicy vegetables, fresh melon, garlic-infused yoghurt, olives, bread and cubes of meat.
  • Sweets: Syria has a strong tradition of baking sweet pastries and cakes – no wonder locals have a sweet tooth! From cakes covered in honey and pomegranate molasses, to layered flaky pastries and deep fried crepes, there’s no point dieting here.
  • Nuts: For a low-cost snack, wander through the souq of Damascus where nut sellers have been trading for centuries. Pick up bags of roasted pistachios, almonds, walnuts and macadamias for a hit of salty goodness.
  • Dried Fruit: Alongside the nut sellers, you’ll also see loads of dried fruit vendors. Dates, figs, prunes and apricots are plentiful in Syria, and the process of drying and preserving them has been an important part of Syria’s economy for centuries.

Intrepid believes that one of the best ways to experience a country is by eating! Whether you're sampling street food, savouring a cheap eat or indulging in a banquet, there are endless options to choose from wherever you are in the world. Food lovers will be spoilt for choice in Syria. With rich culinary traditions dating back centuries and a wide range of fresh produce, spices and herbs, eating in Syria’s souqs, cafes and restaurants is a real treat.

Shopping in Syria

  • Copper and Brass: Ornately engraved copper and brass pots, trays and tea sets can be found in most souqs and markets. The quality is exceptional in Syria, and makes the perfect gift for friends back home.
  • Backgammon Boards: Fans of addictive backgammon should invest in a new board while in Syria. The craftsmanship is generally excellent here and there’s nothing like playing on a brand new, exquisitely carved board.
  • Leather Footwear: Soft and super-comfy leather sandals and slippers can be found in most souqs. Pick up a pair to relieve tired and hot feet.
  • Soap: Aleppo is known for its traditionally made soap. With main ingredients of olive oil and bay laurel, it’s been reported that this was the preferred soap of none other than Cleopatra!
  • Display of handcrafted, wooden Backgammon boards in Syrian store

Just try keeping yourself away from the labyrinthine souqs and open-air markets of Syria! Shopping in Syria is a sensory experience, with food and spices intermingled with hand-made clothing, artisan wares and antiques. Choose to shop, chat, take photos and sample sweet nibbles along the way.

It's a good idea to check with your local customs officials to ensure that you are able to bring certain items back into your home country. Australia and New Zealand generally have strict quarantine laws.

Accommodation

Travelling with Intrepid is a little bit different. We endeavour to provide travellers with an authentic experience to remember, so we try to keep accommodation as unique and traditional as possible.

When travelling with us in Syria you may find yourself staying in a:

  • Simple Hotel

  • Intrepid prefers smaller, character-filled hotels to hotel chains. When staying in Syria, enjoy small hotels and guesthouses owned and run by friendly locals.

Transport

Intrepid believes half the fun of experiencing a new country is getting there, and getting around once there! Where possible, Intrepid uses local transport options and traditional modes of transport - which usually carry less of an environmental impact, support small local operators and are heaps more fun.

Depending on which trip you're on while in Syria, you may find yourself travelling by:

  • Bus

  • See the Syrian countryside whiz by while travelling city to city aboard a bus.

Shortlist

No trips.

Syria at a glance

  • 2
  • Damascus
  • 22.5 million
  • Arabic
  • SYP
  • (GMT+02:00) Beirut
  • +963

Subscribe to Newsletters


Inspiration straight to your inbox with travel tips, specials, travellers' experiences and a trip to win in every edition!
  • brochure request