Syria Transportation
How to Get to Syria
By Plane
When you want to take a flight to Syria, three international airports can be your destination - Damascus International Airport (DAM), Aleppo International Airport (ALP) and Latakia International Airport. You can look up the flight information to check whether there are direct or transfer flights from your country to those three airports. If you have contacted a local travel agency, they may offer you a free entry visa when you arrive at Syria.By Train
Taking international trains is a cheaper way to get to Syria and probably the cheapest way to travel from Europe to Syria. You can take a train in Tehran (Tehran - Aleppo - Damascus) or Istanbul (Istanbul - Aleppo). Flying to Istanbul and then taking a train to Damascus or Aleppo would be cheaper than flying to Syria directly, so it would suit you if you are on a budget. This takes about 36 hours. If you are travelling overnight, choosing sleeper class would help you have a good night's sleep. In addition, all trains are air-conditioned to maintain a comfortable temperature. Unfortunately, due to the ongoing civil war in Syria, most trains are out of service since 2017. Please check the train information in advance.By Bus
You can take bus from Turkey, Jordan, or Lebanon. Most buses run from Turkey and connect the city of Hatay. When you arrive in Syria by bus and need to find a taxi to get to your hotel or other places, be sure not to take the taxi at the bus station, because taxis are several times more expensive at the bus terminal.By Car
When you travel from Lebanon to Syria, service taxis is another option to get to Damascus, Homs, Tartus, Aleppo and other Syrian cities. These service taxis only run a fixed route, taking you from one bus station to another. When four people share one service taxi, it will cost each person SYP700 to SYP800 (USD17) to travel from Beirut to Damascus. It is recommended to buy a Syrian visa before your trip, which usually cost around USD130. You can also get a free visa if you are received by a local travel agency. Turkey is another point to take service taxi, which will cost you around USD60 to get to Damascus from Gaziantep Airport in Turkey.By Boat
Latakia and Tartous are ports for some of the Mediterranean cruise lines.How to Get around Syria
By Coach
When you move among cities in Syria, air-conditioned coach is a convenient and cheap choice. It’s better to buy your ticket at the station for the next departure because the coaches do not usually follow the schedule.By Train
Trains are another convenient way to travel from city to city in Syria. Syria has a quite modern and up-to-date railway transportation system. It is relatively cheap and follows the schedule. The downside is that the train stations sometimes are far away from cities. Major cities such as Damascus, Aleppo, Qamishle, Hassake and Deir ez-Zor are on the main line. There is also a line along the Mediterranean coast. However, due the civil war, most rail lines have stopped operating since 2017. Please check whether the line you want to take runs in advance.By Taxi
You can choose to take the yellow taxi to get around in Damascus, Aleppo or other cities. Make sure that the driver turns on the meter because most drivers want to bargain with foreign tourists instead of using meters. Taxi across Damascus may cost SYP30. The taxi price from the airport to the center of Damascus is approximately SYP600-800.By Microbus
Another way to move in the cities is by microbus, known as “servees” or “meecro” to the local people. These little white vans can carry 10-12 passengers. The route information shows on the front of the van in Arabic, so you may need help from local people. These microbuses also run longer routes to neighboring cities and villages. The seats are uncomfortable but the tickets are cheap.By Bicycle
Renting a bike and cycling around Syrian cities leisurely is another interesting way to explore the cities and the attractions. Some tourist attractions, such as dead cities of Bauda, Jerada and Ruweiha, can only be reached by bicycle due to road condition. Additionally, if you ride a bicycle around, there might be some opportunities for locals to invite you for coffee or dinner.