Damascus Travel Forum

We are planning on visiting Damascus and Aleppo next month, December 27, 2007 to Jan 3, 2008. Please advice about good but not outrageously expensive hotels/b&b in both places. We prefer locally run establishments. As well, what is the best way to travel between Damascus and Aleppo? What are the must see/do things in both places. Thank you.

The bus between Damascus and Aleppo is fine. Internal flights are also good and relatively cheap. I recommend staying and eating in the al-Jdeide district of Aleppo. There are several nice converted merchant's houses there, including Beit as-Sissi and Dar Zamaria. For restaurants and must-see things why not take a look at my Aleppo and Damascus pages? I used to work there. Are you at BC, Cairo?

Thanks, we really appreciate your quick reply. Will check your page. We are traveling from the US. My husband lives and works in Cairo, at AUC. I teach in a university in the US. Cheers

In Aleppo, you should see Qalaat Semaan, the citadel and the suq. The suq is like a real middle east suq - roofed and a warren that is more a maze than a shoppping centre. Much more romantic than the area below the Cairo citadel. The museum is a bit boring, dirty and not much explanation. Don't forget to buy some Aleppo soap. The really good stuff costs USD7 a kilo and looks unattractive, but is great for washing hair. The Rough Guide to Syria is quite good. Take care. There could be snow on the mountains by then.

In Damascus, you should see the Umayyad mosque, eat at bait jabri and leilas, look at the talisman hotel (if you can find it!), which is really expensive and always full, but you can look at the courtyard which is a real surprise after the exterior, Azem Palace, look at the whirling dervishes in the Umayyad Palace restaurant, which is worth a visit for all the antiques and then there is the belly dancing at the Samiramis. Everything goes indoors in the winter, which is a bit of a shame, but there is snow already near Damascus.

Bring some warm clothes.

Thanks, Ardelean. This is really helpful. We have been recommended the Talisman hotel and will check if it is available. It is a little on the expensive side, though. How about Beit al-Mamlouk? Is it worth the price?

Hi
Welcome to Syria , it is a right choice ,

Talisman is so expensive . as MaMloke Hotel , you said you need somthing not that expensive i think , there are many damascus , it is better to know your budget per day so i can advise you
Salam
Firas

Take a taxi to Mt Qassouin in the late afternoon for a fabulous view over Damascus as the sun goes down. The Umayyad Mosque is a must. The National Museum in Damascus may not be as huge as the Cairo Museum but is well worth a visit. Visit Ma'alula (about an hour out of Damascus)and the ancient monastery of St Sergius. The Shi'ite mosque of Sayyida Ruqaya (near the Umayyad Mosque)is fascinating for the insight it gives to Shi'ite devotion and pilgrimage and for its dazzling Iranian-style architecture. The Church of Ananais near Bab Sharqui. Outside Bab Sharqui (at the end of the Street Called Straight) go down into the underpass to see a remnant of the city's Roman walls.

The Souq al Hamidiyya and the souq al Bzouriyya (spices, perfumes and sweets - look out for Chez Olabi, on a corner). ANAT Olic - near Bab Sharqui - sells exquisite embroidered work done by Palestinian women. The handicraft souq near the Tekkiye mosque (5 mins walk from the museum) is a good place to shop for souvenirs.
Old Town restaurant and Zeitouna are very nice - and, as they are run by Christians, serve wine, Jabri House is always packed with young Damascenes - like the Umayyad Palace it is a Muslim establishment - no alcohol.
Krak des Chevaliers is not to be missed - with a week you should have time to get there.
Aleppo - souqs, Great mosque, Jdeida (Christian Quarter) St Simeon - 90 mins from Aleppo - are all must sees. Dinner at the Sissi (pronounced Zizzi) House or Dar Zamaria.
Have a great time
leyle

Hi,

I think one of quite cheap hotel in Damascus is Salam Hotel ($20-25 per night). Contacts are: salam hotel@mail2world.com, Damascus -Halbony - P.O. Box 10443, tel: 00963 11 2216674, 2219764, fax: 00963 11 2215031.

I suggest travel to Aleppo by bus, although it takes about 3-4 hours but buses are really cheap there. There are 2 bus stations in Damascus, one in Baramke, another one a bit a little bit outside of the centre. I don't remember exactly but I think buses to Aleppo go from that which is outside..

If you need any other help, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Hope it was some help,

Tiina

Thanks for suggestion. Salaam Hotel looks fine; I checked it on various people's webpages. It is cheap and clean. Maybe, that is the route to go. Appreciate your advice.

Cheers

Have you looked at the El Majed hotel in Damascus? We always stay there. More expensive than the Salaam but spotlessly clean, and very quiet as it is tucked away down a tree-lined driveway at the back of 29th May Street - the city's main commercial street.
leyle

I only meant that you should look at the Talisman Hotel, not actually stay there. It is expensive as it is part of the Intercontinental Group. Also there is an interesting art gallery just down the road from the Talisman.

The other advice is good but I did not have time to write too much. Guess that you now have enough to enjoy your stay.