• Highlights/photos
• Safety/Security
• Language/Phrases
• Best Times to Go
• Great Itineraries
• How to Get There
• Transportation/Tours
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• Hotels/Resorts
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• Questions/Answers
• Syria in Brief

14. Frequently asked questions and tips for success

Use this alphabetized index to quickly go to the topics you are interested in. (The index to the left is for all pages on Syria.)

Levant
Safety
Getting Lost
Documents
From Israel to Syria
Packing
Length of Stay
Maps
Food and Drinks
Transportation
Shipping
Money

What is the Levant or Levantine?

These terms have geographic, cultural, and historical meaning. They usually refer to the diverse geographic, cultural, and religious mix of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, and the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula.

This is the region of the French Mandate. Unlike neighboring Arab countries, these Levantine countries include a mix of Muslims, Christian, and Jews, and have a long history of being at the crossroads of trade, politics, and conflicts.

For more information on these terms, see wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levantine_Arabic

About as safe as it gets these days for travelers. For a discussion of this subject, see our section on safety and security.

Will I get lost if I try to travel on my own?

Not for long. While signage leaves much to be desired, nonetheless, if you plan well where you want to go, get names and directions written out by hotels, restaurants, and shops, and use a car and driver, you should not get lost.

But getting lost in the souks is another matter altogether. It's easy to get disoriented in these places. With a compass and a map, and a willingness to ask questions, you shouldn't get lost for long. In the process, you'll probably have a good time finding your way out of these places!

Our travel rule of thumb is this:

You probably won't get lost for more than 15 minutes anywhere you travel in the world. If you do, you'll most likely have a wonderful road story to tell once you get home.

What documents do I need to get into Syria?

You'll need a visa, which you must acquire before arrival in Syria. See our visa section on requirements and procedures. Evidence of vaccinations or an international health card is not required unless you come from a cholera-infected area of the world.

Is it okay to travel from Israel to Syria?

Yes and no. It's okay as long as you know how to play the visa game. Syria still has an anti-Israeli policy ("Have you been to Palestine?"), which is followed by many other Arab countries.

You may not enter their country if you show evidence of having traveled to Israel. The most obvious evidence is a passport stamp.

Therefore, you'll need to enter Syria by way of another country (Jordan is most convenient) and without an Israel visa stamp in your passport.

If you've been to Israel, make sure Israeli immigration officials do not put an Israeli stamp in your passport. They routinely give visitors a special stamped paper in lieu of the passport stamp since they know visitors have to play this visa game with Arab countries.

How should I pack for Syria?

Remember that dress is relatively neat and conservative in Syria. When packing clothes, take into consideration Syria's varying seasons and climates. For example, Syria can be very cold in the winter and extremely hot and humid in the summer. Desert evenings can be cool even in the summer.

You also would be wise to include:

• comfortable walking shoes
• hat or cap
• compass (will really help with directions)
• small flashlight or torch (you never know when it will come in handy, especially when exploring castles)
• credit cards
• traveler's checks

I only have a week. Where should I go?

Check out our sample itineraries, which will take you primarily to Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra, Krak des Chevaliers, and Bosra.

Where can I get a good map?

Check out the many maps in the Lonely Planet, Bradt, and Rough Guides to Syria. However, you may need to enlarge them since several maps (especially Lonely Planet) are extremely difficult to read with even normal eyesight!

Once in Syria, a visit to a tourist office, which should have copies of free maps produced by the Ministry of Tourism, or to a local bookstore should help. The tourist office has a presence at the international airports - in the Arrivals Hall after clearing Customs.

How careful do I need to be about the food and drinks in Syria?

Syria is a relatively healthy country for travelers. While the local water should be safe, travelers are wise to stay with bottled water, which is plentiful and inexpensive.

Food handling in major restaurants is considered good by international standards, including fresh salads. But it's always wise to be careful in what you eat since you don't want to spend time recovering from an illness!

What's the best way to get around Syria?

Either a self-drive car or a car with driver. You want to consider taking local tours. For details on these options, see our sections on transportation and tours.

What’s the best way to get around Damascus and Aleppo?

By foot and taxi. Plan to do lots of walking in the old sections of these cities as well as take inexpensive taxis for both short and long distances.

Be prepared to bargain for taxis since drivers often do not use their meters.

The microbuses are inexpensive cultural experiences - crowded, dirty, and inconvenient. Since you probably won't know bus routings, nor will you have time to learn the system, it's best to go with the more convenient and inexpensive taxis.

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