Syria Travel Forum

I would be grateful if you could advise me about the train time table from aleppo to Latakia and Latakia to Tartous, plus the tickets cost.

Many thanks

Mona

Can I have Rail station in Latakia 's phone number to get in touch please?

I would be grateful if you could advise me about the train time table from aleppo to Latakia and Latakia to Tartous, plus the tickets cost.

Many thanks

Mona

Hey everyone,

I'll be arriving in Damascus early in July, and I'll be staying for quite a while. Anyway, I've been visiting Damascus every summer now for a couple of years, and I thought I might try and travel a bit outwards this time. So, my plan is to take a train, the Taurus Express (Toros Exkspresi), from Damascus to Istanbul. As much as I've been to Syria, I've never really traveled anywhere else by train so I have no idea how to go about this. I know my way around the city very well but I was wondering how and where I could buy tickets? Should I buy them while I'm still here in the U.S. or will it be okay if I buy them when I arrive in Damascus because I will be arriving in July but I am not planning on traveling to Istanbul until August? Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks so much!

- Dana

Hi there,
I'll be in Syria in July, and I'd like to to a day trip to Palmyra from Damascus. I realise that it would be better to spend the night in Palmyra, but I simply don't have the time.

Does anyone know how I can get to Palmyra by public transport and how much it costs? Or do you think it's better to hire a guide/car from Damascus instead?

Thank you for your help!

Chris

I've got a terrible fear of cockroaches. I don't mind so much if I see them outside, but I hate to think of seeing them in a hotel bedroom or bathroom.

I was planning to visit Syria, but can only afford budget accommodation, and I read in the Rough Guide To Syria that such accommodation usually has a cockroach problem (this book was several years old, though).

So I'd like to know: if I choose hotels costing around $30 -$50 per night (for one person), will cockroaches be a problem? And if so, how much would I have to pay for a hotel without cockroaches?

Thanks.

hi all i am looking for a recommeded taxi driver/tour guide - english speaking to take me from Aleppo to Homs, Palmyra then drop me in Damascus for 2-3 days

anybody know of reliable company or driver?

Hi
Looking forward to a trip to Damascus and Syria in November with my wife 2 year old and young baby (yet to be born - due this week). Some questions that I cant seem to find in the guide books:
1/ Is it OK to breastfeed in public? If so are there any local guidlines that should be followed?

2/ I hope to find a reasonablly priced (IE cheap) central hotel that would be OK for a family - any suggestions would be welcome

That is about it for now...I am sure that there will be more to follow. Cheers Edwin (Australia)

One of our students (a British passport holder) is currently in Cairo studying Arabic at Kalimat Institute. She wants to go to study at Damascus University over the summer. She went to the Syrian Embassy in Cairo, and they said fine...bring us a residence permit, and we'll give you a visa. She's on a 6 month tourist visa as she's only staying in Egypt a couple of months. Kalimat Institute gave her a letter to convert this to a residence permit, but it was refused because Kalimat is not a government-run institute. So no Egyptian residence permit means no luck at the Syrian Embassy.

So the options are:

- Flying back to the UK to get a visa in London (which, according to the embassy, is the only option, apart from...
- Sending her passport to the embassy in London while she stays in Cairo (I'm not happy about that one, but...).
- Travelling to Jordan and applying for a visa in Amman, or even getting one at the Syrian border. (I know this isn't the official line, but there are lots of rumours about Brits getting visas at the border, so it could be an option.)
- Flying to Damascus and hoping to get one at the airport (assuming she's allowed to board without a visa).

Any other ideas?

thanks
maykal

i' d like to know if is possible to cross the border from al qamishli to mardin, turkey.
i ll visit syria from 1 july and plan to go to palmyra and then to qamishli.
is there any bus or train from palmyra or damascus to qamishli?
is qamishli a safe place ?
how long it takes from damascus to palmyra and how much?
thanx in advance

I would like to know about the sleeper train service between Damascus to Qamishle. It is mentioned on the Arabic web site, the timing, duration and prices of such services which is good and was very informative.

I would like to know about the general condition of the the sleeper cabin and what to expect? I used similar sleeper services in neighboring countries like Georgia Armenia and Egypt which were good.


I also would like to know how many buses travel from Harsta terminal in Damascus to Qamishle and the time table

Thanks

Syria Visa (at Turkish border) with Canadian, or Iranian passport?

I am visiting Turkey for 3 months (on an Iranian passport), but also, I have a Canadian passport. After Turkey, I want to enter Syria (and get visa at the border). My question is which passport is better for obtaining the Syria visa on arrival, as well as to reduce costs? I've heard Canadians pay $60 to enter Turkey, and around $80 to enter Syria. For that reason, I am thinking maybe it's better to go with Iranian. Does anyone have info for Iranians? Also, will it be a problem to enter Syria as a Canadian, if I entered Turkey as an Iranian? What if the Syrian officials ask where my Turkish entry/exit stamps are? And I say they are in my OTHER passport?

Thanks.

Hi Everyone,

I just arrived in Damascus and will be here until the end of August. I am looking to rent a furnished apartment for the next three months. I was hoping to pay under $400--I'm a graduate student and don't have too much funds available. I will be working in Al-Mazzah region so preferably an area close-by or with easy access to that area.

Thanks in advance for your help!

I WILL BE TRAVELING INTO SYRIA AT THE END OF THE SUMMER -I ONLY HAVE 2 DAYS TO DO THIS- ANYONE CAN RECOMMEND A TOUR COMPANY, OR TO HIRE A DRIVER OR A BUS COMPANY -

I WILL BE ARRIVING IN ALEPPO WANT TO TRAVEL INTO KRACS DES CHEVALIERS, THEN TO PALMYRA AND DROP OF IN DAMASCUS -

ANY SUGGESTIONS would be greatly appreciated

Hi,
I will be on holiday in Syria at the beginning of July. Afterwards I need to travel from Aleppo and get to Fethiye.
I have a number of guide books and have looked up some bus companies and have come up with very little information.
Can anybody advise the best way? Is it better to travel to Antakya/ Adana or Gaziantep first? From these places can I get a direct bus to Fethiye?
If anybody has any advice I would much appreciate it. If people know of bus companies that serve these routes I would appreciate if you let me know. Any ideas of timetables or rough journey times would be excellent too!Any information at all would be really helpful!!!
Many Thanks,
Emma

Hi,

can anybody recommend tours that take you to the desert and probably stay for a night?

Thx in advance.

Hi,

can anybody advise me on venues to go out at night in Aleppo and Damascus. I'd like to avoid any dodgy places while I am in town.

Thx in advance.

HI TO YOU ALL!
I am inquiring to get some REAL truth about travel to Syria.
I was talking with my mates in the bar and the topic of travel in Syria came up. He said that going to Syria now is GRIMY and shabby and a real UNKEPT feeling compared to his last visit 15 years ago.
Is this REALLY true? He said the hotels are not clean and the mosques have a layer of dirt on them! That put me off! I know there are some real CURRENT and more open minded ( unless he is really telling the truth???) travellers who could give me some advice as I will travel from Turkey and want to go to Syria too!! ( but I dont want to be disappointed) so --
Is Aleppo nice? Is it nicer than Damascus?
what if I wear a nice very short short sleeve T-shirt- will the police stop me/

enought of my question for now.
write me soon!

Hi all,

Thanks in advance for your help. I am a Brit who will be staying in Damascus (first visit!) between May and the end of August, and despite trawling the web for hours, I can't seem to find the answers to the following questions, so if anyone could help me, I would be very grateful.

1. I've recently quit smoking after many years, and am finding life without cigarettes difficult, to say the least! The NHS won't supply me with enough nicorettes for my entire stay, so I'm wondering if it is possible to buy nicorettes or similar brands from pharmacies in Damascus, or if I would need to go to a doctor to get a prescription, if this is possible? What are the costs?

2. Is it possible to buy the contraceptive pill at one of the pharmacies, or would this require a doctor's prescription? I'm bringing some with me, but am just a bit worried that they might get damaged or something. Would there be any problems at the airport on arrival if customs search my bag and find the pill?

3. I'm female, and would like to go to the gym and use a swimming pool a few times a week in the evenings - are there any in or around the Old City which are specifically for women or have specific hours for women-only gym or pool sessions? Is it possible to pay to use the gyms and/or the swimming pool in one of the hotels, such as the Sheraton? I've contacted a few hotels, but have had no reply to my emails. How much would this cost?
Also, would a sports bikini be ok to wear (not a skimpy string one, it's bikini shorts and a crop-top, but it does show my midriff)?

4. Are there any group evening dance classes available - belly-dancing, salsa, arabic, any kind really! Again, what are the costs and location?

5. I'm on a tight budget as I'm a student, and would like to cook for myself - where are the best (and cheapest!) supermarkets located, and is it possible to buy 'western' foods like breakfast cereal and pasta?

Sorry for so many (boring!) questions, and thanks for your help!

Cheers,

Ellie

I'm looking for a COMFORTABLE hotel in Damascus, ensuite, pretty central, clean. Because we're going on our honeymoon we want to be left alone, so please no 'we all sit round chatting in the evening' kind of place! No offence, we just want time to ourselves. Looking to spend no more than £50 per room. Can anyone help? Or would self-catering be better, and if so how do I go about finding a place to stay?

I have posted a vt meeting for Damascus next tuesday as i will be in town for a couple of days.
come and join in if you like:

http://meetings.virtualtourist.com/1/meeting-4778-1-0-0-World-1238748157730-1270284157730-meeting.html?wosid=AHsXiG7a7ZPAbXkcuSvPCg

The meeting will be at the jabri house cafe and i will buy the first round of shishas.

Hi All,

I am visiting Hims soon.

And I want to check if there are any experts that can help me lan my trip.

So I will start with some questions, and if I found someone to chat with I will post more questions.

1- Is Hims worth staying in? Or I should be based in a nearby big city?

2- What is a nice near city to stay in?

3- Do you recommend hotels and restaurants in Hims?

4- What is there to visit in Hims?

Thanks all.

VidER

Hi again, just a question which follows on a bit from previous ones. Are there any budget accomodation options in Aleppo (ideally for no more than 30 Euros)? Also how many days are recommended to see what the city has to offer?

Any advice on not-to-miss aspects of Aleppo would be great.

Thanks again

mattbp

Hello everyone, just some quick advice, I will be arriving into Gaziantep in a week and wanted to know if it is still ok to get the bus to killis then the taxi to the border followed by a bus to Aleppo once through the Syrian border?

Any advice would be great.

Thank you for your time

mattbp

HELLO VIRTUALTOURIST FRIENDSĦĦ I AM TRAVELLING TO SYRIA NEXT APRIL ON THE SECOND HALF FOR 8 OR 9 DAYS MORE OR LESS,FROM ISTAMBUL TO ALEPPO AND THERE VISITING DAMASCUS AND THE MAIN PLACES,CAN ANY ONE GIVE ME ANY ADVICE ABOUT TRANSPORTATIONS? WHERE TO SLEEP..EATING..ANY ADVICE FROM YOU WILL BE VERY HELPFULL.
THANKS TO ALL

TONI

Hello Travelers,

I have 10 days to spend in Jordan & Syria by the end of March , i got a little confused about the places to see and the must do's , i would like to know your experiences , so if u have any suggested plan for 10 days , please advise .

appreciate you contribution and Happy travels.

Karim

Anyone knows wheather we will get our visa to Syria at the border? and how much it will cost? we are German and Austrian and want to take the bus from Amman to Damascus.
Thanks for any help

Also who does know hostels or cheap hotels in Damascus and Aleppo?
We also heards there is a train from Amman to Damascus. Does anyone know about this train, does it still run and when?

Thanks

we are going to syria next week for a few days.we consider renting a car as you can go around easier and stop whereever you want.is it safe to rent a car from damascus airport even if we sleep in cheap hotels with no parking place?

Where can I get a good city map of Damascus in English?

Hi,

I'm planning a trip to Syria (possibly also in combination with Lebanon and Jordan) in October 2009. My trip will include the "classical" highlights as Damascus, Bosra, Palmyra, Aleppo, Hama and Krak. Depending on the time it takes to get there, this can be extended with other places along the way.

What would be the best way to travel in Syria? Is public transportation (bus, shared taxi/minibus, taxi, ...) worth considering as opposed to hiring a car? So is public transport time effective? Can the sites mentioned above be reached by public transport? All thoughts and comments are welcome...

I can speak English and French, would that be enough to get around in Syria and take public tranport, arrange lodging, ...?
Since I travel in October, would prior reservation in ho(s)tels be required?
Can I obtain a visa upon arrival in Damascus airport? And will it still be valid if I go for a few days to Lebanon and another couple of days to Jordan? Does that require entrance and exit fees to be paid each time I cross the border?

Many thanks for your help!

Hi,

Can anyone tell me how much a transfer from Damascus Airport to Cham Palace in Damascus City Centre would be?

I have a relative travelling on 14th MArch and doesn't know how much to expect to pay, her husband is fluent in Arabic but can't haggle if he doesn't know how much it should be!

Regards

Michaela.