Confirm the National Museum is open before you go

The Damascus International Book Fair returned in 2026 as its 57th edition, organised by the Ministry of Culture at the Conference Palace and open to the public after the opening day. That edition ran in February with Saudi Arabia and Qatar as guests of honour and included books once banned. Confirm the month with the…

Beit Al Wali on Al-Boulad Street joins four 18th-century Damascene merchant houses into one small hotel, with rooms arranged around courtyards. Breakfast is a traditional Syrian spread, and the Umayyad Mosque, Hamidiyah souq and Bab Touma churches are within walking distance. It suits travellers who want the Old City…

Khan As'ad Pasha, built in 1751 and 1752, is the largest caravanserai in the Old City, with a high covered courtyard under a central dome ringed by eight smaller ones. It stands on the Buzuriyyeh souq, so you can pair it with the spice lane. Caravans from Baghdad, Aleppo and Beirut once unloaded here. Ask at the gate…

Near Bab Sharqi at the east end of Straight Street, a small underground chapel marks the traditional house of Ananias, who meets Saul in Acts 9. Excavations in 1921 found a Byzantine church on the site, and it is still an active Maronite church. Dress modestly, keep your voice low and ask before photographing inside…

Damascus hammams are single-sex, and each bath sets its own schedule: some are men only, others give women separate days or hours. Nur al-Din in the Buzuriyyeh spice souq is men only, so women should pick a bath that has a women's session. Ask your hotel to call ahead the same day and confirm which hours suit your…

International cards are only starting to work in Syria, with first Mastercard and Visa tests in 2026, so many shops, cafés and taxis remain cash only. Some hotels and restaurants may accept Mastercard credit cards, but coverage is not nationwide and Visa had no launch date in August 2026. Carry enough cash for each…

Syria removed two zeros from its currency in early 2026, so 100 old pounds became 1 new pound and the new notes carry much smaller numbers. Printed listings and some people still quote in the old style, so a figure can be 100 times off. Ask whether a price is new or old, check the digits on the note you hand over and…

The Buzuriyyeh souq is a lane of about 150 metres south of the Umayyad Mosque, known for spices, dried fruit, sweets and laurel soap. Walk it once, then return to buy za'atar, sumac and Aleppo pepper in small amounts and ask for the price per 100 grams. Tasting is normal, and sealed labelled bags travel better…