Listen to Syrian National Anthem

General Information:

Capital: Damascus

Population: 19,936,573 ( 2004 )

Monetary unit: The Syrian pound

Vaccinations: not obligatory

Administrative Hours: from 8.00 a.m to 3.30 p.m.
                                 Friday & Saturday : weekly holiday

Time: Winter: from November to February : GMT+2

         Summer: from March to October : GMT+3

Ideal Periods for Travel in Syria: in Spring ( April , May ) and in autumn ( September, October ) .In winter , the climate is mild but the nights can be cold . The summer months are very dry , with the temperature varying from 30 to 40 degrees .

Hospitals: public or private

Electrical current: 220 volts/50 cycles

Formalities to Enter and Leave Syria:

- All individuals who wish to travel to Syria must posses a valid passport .

- Passports must contain a valid entry visa for Syria , delivered by the Syrian embassy or consulate accredited to the country of the holder of passport .

- If there is not a Syrian mission in the country of the passport holder, a visa can be obtained at any Syrian foreign mission or upon arrival at the Syria border .

- A collective visa, free of charge , is given to tour groups consisting of ten persons or more . This visa is attached to a list of the members of the tour group ; however , each individual in the tour group must also carry a valid passport .

- If the duration of an individual's stay in Syria exceeds fifteen days, he or she must contact the Syrian authorities to obtain an extension of stay on his or her passport .

- Passports must not contain an Israeli visa .

- The cost of a visa is a calculated on the basis of the current reciprocal relationship between Syria and the country of the passport holder .

- Travellers do not need an exit visa if the duration of their stay in Syria does not exceed fifteen days .

Customs Regulations:

- Clothing and personal effects which are accompanying travellers are exempt from customs and do not need to be declared .

- The following consumable materials accompanying travellers are exempt from customs but must be declared

- One litre of eau de Cologne

- One litre of an alcoholic beverage .

- Two hundred cigarettes or fifty cigars or two hundred grams of tobacco .

- The following products accompanying travellers must be declared , but are exempt from customs on the condition that they are used and that the travellers agrees that the goods will leave Syria with him or her:

- photographic camera

- video camera , for non-professional use .

- pair of binoculars

- portable musical instrument

- portable tape recorder

- baby carriage or stroller

- portable typewriter

- camping equipment

- individual sports equipment

- bicycle

- small iron for pressing clothing

- medical instruments that are commonly carried by a doctor

- toilet accessories

- travelling blankets and sleeping bags .

Customs agent at the Syrian border are permitted , according to their personal judgement , to authorise the entry of other objects for personal use mentioned above.

To bring a car to Syria , the owner must carry an international driver's licence , an international grey card , and a triptych . A car can stay in Syria for three to four months , on one or more trips .

Cars that are fuelled by diesel can stay in Syria for four months , but the driver must pay an entry tax . For more information , please contact the Syrian customs authorities . Cars that run on gasoline do not require an entry tax .

It is possible , in all cases , to acquire detailed information concerning customs , transit formalities and recent change to customs regulations from Syrian embassies and consulates , and from the customs offices located on the Syrian boeder .

How to get to Syria ?

By Land: Syria is linked by international highway with Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq . Also , there is an international railway line from Europe to Syria via Turkey.

By Sea: Through the two seaports of Latakia and Tartous on the Mediterranean.

By Air: Syria is connected to all regions of the world by the Syrian national airlines company ( Syrian Airlines ) and by most international companies , which serve the Damascus and Aleppo international airports.