Syria History / Is it safe to travel to Syria as a tourist in 2023
December,05 2022
Is it safe to travel to
Syria as a tourist in 2023
After more than a decade-long war, many people still worry about
whether they will be able to travel to Syria today. In fact, Syria reopened to
tourists at the beginning of October 2021 after being closed for 18 months due
to COVID. The reason for this is that some regions of the country are becoming
significantly more stable and, as a result, safer for travelers. Fewer people
are aware that, prior to 2011, Syria was one of the Middle East's most popular
tourist destinations, welcoming more than 8 million visitors a year on average.
We produced this in-depth analysis of how safe Syria is from a
tourism standpoint because, as tourism experts who live within Syria, we feel
it is our duty to make clear the reality for travelers interested in visiting
the country. The SyriaLink team is always your go-to source for the most
recent information, safety advice, and engaging geographical analysis.
Table of content:
- Why
visit Syria in 2023?
- Is
it safe to travel to Syria in 2023?
- Is
it safe to visit Damascus in 2023?
- Is
it safe to visit Aleppo?
- Which
parts of Syria are unharmed and safe to visit?
- What
is the current security state in Syria?
- Has
the war ended and life returned to normal in Syria?
- How
is it to travel to Syria as a Female?
- Can
US citizens travel to Syria safely?
- Travel
insurance for traveling to Syria
- Safety
tips while visiting Syria
- In
conclusion: How Safe is Syria really?
Why visit Syria in 2023?
We are aware that the fact that there is still a conflict in Syria
is a major sticking point for many people. Syria is a nation with a rich
history and cultural legacy. One that is just as worthy of your travel budget
as France or Italy. Tourism to Syria benefits the people and economy at a
critical moment, perhaps even more so. You can discover a lot about the current
crisis and the history leading up to and following it if you visit there with
respect. You won't learn that from the news.
Is it safe to travel to Syria in 2023?
Is it safe to travel to Syria? ... is among the questions that are
asked most frequently. Given that the war in Syria has already been going on
for more than ten years, many people ask if it is safe to travel to Syria. The
complete war zone that mainstream media outlets portray the entire country as
being in is simply inaccurate because the fighting is now almost over in many
areas of Syria. Territories, on the other hand, essentially cover all of west
Syria, including well-known locations like Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, Krak de
Chevaliers, anywhere along the Mediterranean coast, and Palmyra. These cities
are currently fairly safe and accessible to all tourists with a proper visa, which is only
available through a tour operator.
SyriaLink is always your source. Your safety is our top concern in the event of any changes. We
keep up with the latest events.
Is it safe to visit Damascus in 2023?
Today, Syrian cities are just as safe as big European cities, and
the majority of Syria, including the capital Damascus, is perfectly safe to
visit. Actually, the majority of concerned locals usually bring up their own
worries about how their country is seen by other countries through the
mainstream media. You will be shocked to learn that most Syrians, and
particularly Damascenes, are genuinely nice and gentle people rather than
violent.
While visiting Damascus, there are a number of sights to keep in
mind, including the Old Damascus City, also known as Bab Tuma, where many of
the city's historical sites are situated. Additionally, you should think about
visiting the Umayyad Mosque, Al-Hamidiya Market, St. Ananias's House, the Azem
Palace, and several other places. which you'll find our tour programs mostly cover.
Is it safe to visit Aleppo?
Without visiting Aleppo, of course, no trip to Syria would be
complete! One of the oldest cities in the world is Aleppo's Old City. The fight
caused a significant amount of destruction to this. The Great Mosque, for
instance, was totally destroyed. But fortunately, Syria is showing great
indications of rebuilding. Most of the city's historic sites are now regarded
as being safe for visitors.
Which parts of Syria are unharmed and safe to visit?
It is not surprising that some of the magnificent buildings that
formerly stood all throughout Syria have been demolished or severely damaged,
but not all of them.
Like the Roman ruins in Palmyra, which were mostly
destroyed by extremist groups back in 2015, the same can be said about Aleppo's
Great Umayyad Mosque and its historic souq, both of which are currently undergoing extensive reconstruction.
The dead monuments in Idlib have also long since vanished.
One of the most famous castles in the world, Krak des
Chevaliers, had only minimal damage; work on the repair has been completed.
The Christian temples in Saidnaya and Maaloula were affected, but they
have already been rebuilt.
Hama's waterwheels are also still standing
and undamaged.
Despite the rocket and mortar attacks on Damascus, especially Bab
Touma's historical component, every location had been prepared, and the National
Museum of Syria is open to the public. The southern Syrian Roman ruins at Bosra
are completely undamaged and are currently open for visits.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding traveling to this incredible
country; we would be happy to assist you.
What is the current security state in Syria?
Going through checkpoints in previous years was much more time
consuming than they are now, which is one illustration of how much better the
security situation is in 2022 than it was before. In Damascus, road checkpoints
used to take forever. Today, however, you manage to get through all the
checkpoints rather swiftly, giving the impression that things are much more
laid back. The Bosra checkpoint is the only one where you might be asked for
your passport.
Has the war ended and life returned to normal in Syria?
Overall, yes. Currently, the conflict is mostly limited to the
northern Aleppo and Idlib province in the northwest. Life in Western Syria has
gradually returned to normal despite the large number of abandoned towns and
ruined structures; this is evident, for instance, in the packed souks and
restaurants in Damascus. More so than Damascus, Homs and Aleppo have suffered,
yet reconstruction efforts are well under way, businesses are reopening, and
slowly but surely, Syrians are returning to their original homes. Syria will
take a long time to return to the ideal lifestyle it had before 2011,
especially considering that a large proportion of the population emigrated to
other countries and that there isn't enough money to reconstruct the many
buildings that were destroyed.
However, the very fact that this process of returning to normal
has already begun can only imply that there is hope and that Syria is becoming
a safer place for tourists.
How is it to travel to Syria as a Female?
“In all honesty, I felt really safe traveling to Syria as a female
foreigner with a local guide. I personally had zero scary situations, from the
innumerable friendly contacts at the military checkpoints to the conversations
with boys, guys, and other women on the streets.â€
This feedback came from Elyna, a wonderful French tourist who
traveled with us the year before.
Click here for more reviews.
As in any other country, traveling as a woman in Syria is more
difficult than if you are a man, but from a solo woman's perspective, popular
places like Morocco, Egypt, or even Jordan are much more difficult than
Syria.
Syria is a multiethnic, multireligious, and multicultural country
that also has a significant secular community and a sizable Christian
population. Therefore, Syrians are accustomed to interacting with a diverse
range of people. Which means, stumbling into a group of liberal women strolling
down the streets of Damascus is not uncommon. Thus, unless you are visiting
very conservative places, you can, relatively speaking, dress however you
choose. We recommend you wear loose-fitting clothes covering your shoulders and
knees.
Can US citizens travel to Syria safely?
Most Syrians are good-hearted and don't judge others based on
their nationality. However, you need to obtain a pre-approved security
clearance from the government in order to travel to Syria. You must travel to
Syria through a tour operator like SyriaLink, who will make the necessary arrangements for you in advance in
order to obtain this clearance. The likelihood
of US nationals obtaining this clearance has historically been less than 50%,
especially when traveling alone. However, the likelihood of receiving a
security clearance is closer to 90% if Americans sign up for one of our group
tours to Syria.
Travel insurance for traveling to Syria
According to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office's (FCO)
guidelines; you should make sure you and your dependents have travel insurance
to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance when visiting Syria.
Safety tips while visiting Syria
- Travel
with a tour agency or a guide
Discover more about
our excursions and tours.
2.
Use
Syria-inclusive travel insurance.
3.
Avoid
discussing politics.
4.
Avoid
going into conflicted areas.
5.
Avoid
exchange money unless it comes from a reliable source.
6.
All
areas other than checkpoints allow photography.
In conclusion: How safe is Syria really?
It's important to keep in mind that Syria recently experienced one
of the most devastating wars in modern history. This war severely damaged the
country's economy, particularly the tourism industry. As a result, we advise
you to always be aware of your surroundings and conduct your own research
before visiting Syria.