How to Get Around Syria

Understand first that movement is controlled. Checkpoints are routine, some areas are restricted or closed, and the situation varies by region and changes. Most visitors travel with a local agency, a driver and pre-arranged permissions, which is a practical necessity rather than a preference.

Entry is normally through Damascus airport, or overland from Lebanon or Jordan. Requirements have been in flux since 2024; confirm the current position with a Syrian consulate or an established operator rather than relying on anything written earlier.

By road is how the country is crossed. Shared taxis and minibuses connect the cities cheaply; a private car and driver is the normal arrangement for visitors. Fuel shortages are common and queues can be long.

Railways were extensively damaged and only limited services operate.

Do not drive yourself into unfamiliar areas. Unexploded ordnance and mines remain a serious hazard off main roads in formerly contested areas, and a local driver knows which routes are used.