City Information             Boka flygstol -    Queensway Travel
Airport
Damascus International Airport is 18 miles south-east of the city. Flight time from London is 7 hrs 30 mins (with a 3-hr stopover in Amman). Facilities include: banking/exchange, restaurants and snack bars, taxi desk and tourist information. The Damascus Duty Free Shop, accessible both by arrivals and departures, offers the cheapest duty free shopping facility in the Middle East. Syrian currency, however, is not accepted; payments should be made in US dollars or with credit cards.
Airport to City Centre
There is a kiosk next to the money exchange booth that deals with taxis. Buy a ticket for S£400 and present it to your taxi driver as you get in. The 25km trip takes about 35 min.
Orientation
Damascus has a population of approximately 3 million, swelled by an estimated 1 million commuters during the day. Downtown Damascus lies between Yousof Al Azmeh Sq and At Tajrida Al Maghribiya Sq. Its principal streets are: Ayyar St, which runs between the two squares; Borsiad St, the continuation of Ayyar St between Yousof Al Azmeh Sq and Ash Sham Sq; Aththawra St which runs north-south from the wooded area in the north-east of the city to the Old City east of downtown; Baghdad St, between At Tajrida Al Maghribiya Sq and At Tahrir Sq; and Shukri Al Quatli St, the southern border of downtown linking the giant Al Umawiyeen roundabout to the Beirut Rd in the west and to Ash Sham Sq and Aththawara St in the east. The streets around Yousof Al Azmeh Sq are cluttered with small restaurants and budget hotels. This is also the principal commercial district and home to the major banks and airline offices. The embassy district of Al Muhajirin lies to the north-west of Yousof Sq around Abil Ala Sq and Zannobia Park. A mile west of downtown, the Old City contains most of the best 
sights, notably the Damascus Citadel (take a taxi). Partial remains of the old wall can still be seen, as can seven of the gates. You will also find some ancient mosques, the most spectacular of which is the Omayad Mosque, which is located in the square of the same name. Major conferences and international business events are held at the Damascus International Fair, a complex of modern halls abutting the university to the west of Yousof Sq. The Barada River runs along the northern flank of the site, overlooked by the Meridien Hotel. The Bridge of Arrais Hafez Al Assad spans the river on the eastern edge of the Fair, linking Al Jala St to the university. Tishrin Park, east of the Al Umawiyeen roundabout, is the best place to stretch your legs. For more information drop into the Tourist Information Office on Ayyar St between Yousof Al Azmeh Sq and At Tajrida Al Maghribiya Sq.
Getting Around                  - Biljett -        Queensway Travel
Unmetered private taxis (blue licence plates) are only available from hotels and charge double the regular fare. They are air-conditioned and quite comfortable. Fares should be agreed before setting off. Public taxis (yellow cabs) are not air-conditioned, but are metered. Most local trips cost less than S£40 in shared taxis which run to all parts of the country from the rank near the university in Filastin St. Hiring a car costs about £20 per day, but be warned: never drive at night – deep potholes are everywhere and it is common practice for headlights not to be switched on. There are several bus services. Destinations are written above the windscreen in Arabic only and charge from S£5 for a trip 
inside the city.
What to see
Most of the ancient sites and monuments are located within the Old City walls. The area is characterised by narrow, dusty lanes and fine architecture. 
Citadel: This imposing structure towers over the western part of the Old City. It was built during the 13c as a stronghold against the invading Tartars, Crusaders and Mongols. Its exterior walls still stand proud, though much of the interior is ruined. 
Souks: The biggest souk is Al Hamidieh, located between the Citadel and the Omayad Mosque and renowned for its traditional goods and hand-made crafts. Al-Salihieh souk, the fruit and vegetable market near the Muhiddin Mosque, is a good example of how the souks have tended to evolve in the shadow of the mosques. The Handicrafts souk, in the Al Takya Building, is the place to see Syria’s craftsmen at work: glass blowing, wood carving and textile weaving all take place in a cat’s cradle of narrow alleys. 
Ancient Gates and Ramparts: The Old City is enclosed by a fortified wall and several gates (eg Bab Tuma, Bab Sharqi and Bab Kissan). The original wall is best seen around Bab Sharqi, through which St Paul left Damascus (see Where to Walk). You cannot fail to be impressed by this gate’s size and beautiful architecture. Also worth seeing are the Tetrapil Archway, the Al Azem Palace and the Darwish Pasha Mosque. 
Omayad Mosque: Comprising a triumvirate of minarets, one dome and some fine mosaic panels. The tomb of St John the Baptist is the main attraction, but time should also be found to visit the museum which houses the relic of the Temple of Jupiter the Damascene and the tomb of Saladin. 
Hanania Chapel: Hanania figures strongly in the story of St Paul’s conversion to Christianity along the road to Damascus. The chapel is underground; the walls and ceiling are made of rock. The chapel served as a sanctuary to Saint Ananias, and is regarded as the most important Christian edifice in the city. St Paul’s Church is also nearby. 
Al Takya al Sulaymanya: Famous for its majestic dome, pair of graceful minarets and superb, formal gardens. Located off Al Barudi St near the Bridge of Arrais Haffez Al Assad. 
National Museum: one of the world’s great collections of archaeological material was founded in 1919 in conjunction with the Arab Academy in the Madrasa al-Adeliya. Particularly noteworthy is the formidable array of largely classical-period sculpture in the museum gardens. 
Salhyieh Quarter: The historic importance of this quarter is indicated by the 70 officially recognised monuments, a significant proportion of the 250 or so for Damascus as a whole. The Salhyieh quarter, essentially without defensive walls, was sorely affected by the three great Mongol invasions of the Mameluke period. The major historic monuments of Salhyieh quarter are: the Nebi Yunis Mausoleum, Hammam al-Moqaddam, Imaret of Sultan Suleiman, Mausoleum of Sheik Mohi Eddin, Madrasa Omarieh, Madrasa Sahibieh, and Maristan Nur-Eddin. 
Public baths: the Hammam (or public bath) goes back hundreds of years in the Middle East and are quite widespread as far as Turkey. The best example of the hammam is the Nour Eddin Al Shaheer within Bzouriah market, recently restored to its original splendour. For S£320 customers can experience a Syrian sauna, scrub and massage followed by a nice cup of tea. Men only. Cafés:These play a traditional role in Syrian society, rather like the pub in Britain. Most are situated around the main squares like Nawfara Sq, east of Omayad Mosque. Specialities include aromatic tea and coffee and the famous narjileh, or hubble-bubble pipes.
Shopping                    -Resebyrå -          Queensway Travel
The main shopping districts for clothes, shoes and jewellery in Damascus are Salhia and Hamra (open Sat-Thurs) and Kassa (open Mon-Sat). All products are Syrian-made, even when they carry international trade marks like Adidas and Benetton. The main gold market is located in Harika Sq, selling mostly very attractive hand-made items. Modern shops selling international clothing brands are replacing the traditional bazaars of the old souks. If you need to go shopping on Fri, the best place to visit is the Christian area near Bab Touma. 
Where to walk
The Old City encompasses a remarkable collection of ancient gates, mosques and Christian churches spanning all the different civilisations that are woven into the fabric of this city’s long and varied history. Starting from Al Yousof Sq in the New City centre, walk down Al Azmeh St, cross Al It’tihad St and continue down to Ash Shuhada Sq, where there is an interesting archaeological site (its accessibility depends on current activity). Many of the relics from the site are displayed in the National Archaeological Museum near the university. Leaving the square on the south side, cut down any of the narrow alleys which run into An Nasr St, the busiest road (particularly around the former railway station, where there’s now an attractive café). Turn left and walk up to the bank at the top of the road. From here the impressive Citadel looms up ahead across Aththawra St. Turn right on Aththawra and go past a couple of banks on the right to Bab Al Gabia, the first of the seven gates. Walk through it and head down Madhat Basha St (the supposed home of John the Baptist). After 500m take a left down a small side alley, and wander through the souk to the Omayad Mosque. 
Back outside, take a small street running west, past the Museum of Medicine and Sciences and, in an alley off to the right, there’s the magnificent Dar Al Haddeeth Mosque. You are now beneath the Citadel. From the Citadel, head south again through the souk area back to Bab Al Gabia and pick up the route of the old wall. This can be followed right the way round the city via the various gates. You should pass, in order: Bab Al Sagir, Bab Kissan, the superb Bab Sharqi, Bab Tuma, Bab Al Salam, Bab Al Faradis and Bab Al Faraj. Not all are that easy to distinguish, but Bab Sharqi is a great monument and allegedly St Paul’s route out of the city after his conversion. This is a long walk – about 6-7 km – so allow at least 3 hours. Due to the excessive heat in the middle of the day you should aim to explore the city either in the morning or in the evening. 
Malki, west of Damascus on the slopes of Mt Kassioun, is the home of President Hafez al-Assad. Do not take photographs in this area or anywhere with military associations. 
Weather and Climate
The climate is Mediterranean with hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters close to the coast. Inland it gets progressively drier. In Damascus average temperatures Jun-Sept range from 15°C to 42°C, Nov-Apr 0°C to 20°C.
At a Glance
Damascus has more than 200 mosques, 70 of which are still in use. By a presidential resolution, any kind of advertisement for cigarettes is prohibited in the media. Education in Syria is free at all levels, and compulsory for all children in primary education. Damascus is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world – since 2500BC. 
One of the oldest alphabets in the world was discovered at Ugarit, near Latakia. The young man sometimes shown in posters with the President is his second son, Bashar. His elder son, Basil, was tragically killed in a car crash in 1994. First-time visitors to Syria are struck by the number of portraits of the President on public display. Syria’s population increase (3.7% a year) is one of the world’s highest. 
Conscription is for 30 months. 
The decoration of the magnificent portico at Syon House, home of the Duke of Northumberland, was inspired by the ruins of Palmyra. 
Over 49% of the population are under 15 – compared with 19% in the UK and France. Major holidays in Syria: 1 January, 8 March, 17 April, 6 May, 23 July, 1 September, 6 October, 25 December and variable days including Eid-al-Adha (3 days), end of Ramadan (4 days) and Muslim New Year.
City Map