Cities and regions／Syria
City or town ·

Damascus

Damascus brings Aramaean, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad and Ottoman layers together in its historic urban fabric. The cited official advisories recommend postponing any tourist travel to the city.

Stone lane and historic architecture in Damascus Old City.
Photo by mori dad Source: Pexels Licence: Pexels License
The place

What makes it special

  • The old city’s fabric includes gates, walls, courtyards, baths, caravanserais, madrasas and markets.
  • The Great Mosque of the Umayyads is central to understanding the city’s urban and religious history.
Courtyard and arcades of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 4.0
Historic Bab Touma gate in Damascus Old City.
Photo by mori dad Source: Pexels Licence: Pexels License
Travel atlas

Articles in Damascus

Guides to this place

3 articles

Damascus

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

3 related guides

Identifiable view of Damascus, the capital of Syria.

Essential facts about Syria and what to check before travelling

Syria is in Western Asia, and its capital is Damascus. The information available helps locate the country, but cannot confirm current conditions for travel.

Read guide →
Contemporary urban view of Damascus, the capital of Syria.

Syria: capital, language and currency for placing the country

A brief fact sheet to locate Syria in Western Asia and distinguish the basic information worth confirming before making any travel plans.

Read guide →
Stone lane and historic architecture in Damascus Old City.

Ancient Damascus: Why the Trip Should Be Postponed

The heritage of Damascus’s Old City deserves thoughtful preparation, but current conditions mean it cannot responsibly be approached as a tourist getaway.

Read guide →
Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 30/09/2026