Beirut Travel Forum

We want to travel from Beirut to Damascus on bus or taxi service. Can we take the bus/taxi from Beirut airport, or need to go into Beirut city to catch the Bus / Taxi. Also is it safe to travel on Bus/Taxi. What is the usual cost of the journey. How much time does it take. How about visa at the syrian border.
Please inform. Thanks
James

Unfortunately you don't mention your nationality or where you live in your profile, which is relevant for visas. As far as I know you can (officially at least) only get a Syrian visa at the border if there is no Syrian Embassy in your country of residence.
Buses to Damascus leave from the Charles Helou bus station, but you could take a taxi from the airport. Journey will take 3-4 hours (but may depend on border crossing especially if you don't already have visas) and bus or shared (service) taxi will, I believe, stop short of Damascus at Sumaria garage, 15 km outside the city; from there you would have to take a taxi to the city for a few dollars. I don't know the current bus etc. prices.

Hello

Generally we are told that you only get a Syrian visa at the border if there is no Syrian Embassy in your country of residence. Practically it really depends on the "unofficial" border policy at the time you are visiting.

My latest visit was a couple of years ago - back then we managed to buy our syrian visa at the border, but I know that it is not always so. Unless you get a visa in advance, no one can really guarantee that you will be able to enter syria.

I'm afraid I don't remember the exact prices (they would be outdated anyway)... but i seem to remember them as very cheap.

Have fun in lebanon/syria

rhia

We are Americans, and will try to obtain a Syrian visa from Washington.

Greetings! When I was in Beirut recently ,they did issue me a Syrian Visa at the border.The cost for a U.S. Citizen is $15.00 at the time.For any reason you take a taxi it will cost about $ 125.00 USD

You may have to switch taxis at the border though yet if you paid the full fare to the cab driver in Beirut, then they will go with you to Damascus.
Insurance purposes varie from country to country thus the taxi change.
They will give you a "gratis" transit visa for just 48 hours so make sure you renew it.It's about 25km to Damascus from the Border.Visit Anjar on the way to Damascus, take in the Bekaa Valley as well. You can see the Golan Heights on a clear day form there.