A valid passport

A valid entry visa granted by the Syrian Embassy or Consulate in the visitor's country of origin or residence.

Where there is no Syrian mission in the passport holder's country, an entry visa may be issued by any other Syrian mission abroad, or at the point of entry to Syria.

Groups of tourists of ten or more are granted a group visa gratis (free of charge) provided to each member of the group in possession of a valid passport.

Visitors planning to spend more than 15 days in the country are required to apply to the security authorities for an extension of stay:

Every tourist must pay 100 S.P as a departure airport tax.

Bills at all hotels are paid in hard Currency.

Fees charged for entry visas are subject to the principle of reciprocity with the country concerned.

Visitors are not required to obtain an exit visa if their stay does not exceed a period of 15 days.

ACCOMMODATION IN SYRIA:

More than 400 hotels provide a considerable choice with regards to costs. There are International Hotels in Damascus (Sheraton, Meridien, al-Cham, Ebla), Lattakia (Meridien) Palmyra (al-Cham), Aleppo (Shahba al-Cham), and Deir al-Zor (Furat al-Cham).

Several youth hotels and are available during the summer season in Damascus, Aleppo, and Lattakia.

Camping sites are also available on the outskirts of some cities and at summer.

In the coastal region there are numerous camping sites with full facilities, as well as hundreds of chalets of various categories and prices.

 FOOD:

Visitors to Syria will always find something to their liking. Syrian cuisine is well-known for its variety. Western cuisine is also available at hotels and restaurants throughout the country.

Drinking water in Syria is perfectly safe, clean and hygienic. It is derived from natural ground and mountain springs and sources and is treated with the most advanced techniques. Most notable, is the Ein al-Fijeh source which supplies the city of Damascus with its drinking-water. Other mineral water sources are renowned for their purity. Among these are the Boukein and Dreikish spring water sources available in bottles throughout the country.

OTHER ESSENTIAL INFORMATION:

• There are no endemic or communicable diseases in Syria.

• Urban crime which plagues most modern cities is virtually non-existent in Syria.

• Electric power :220 Volts/50 cycles.

• Office hours: between 8 a.m and 2 p.m.

• Friday is the weekly holiday.

• Shops are open all day until 8 P.M in winter and 10 P.M in summer: some shops close for a few hours in the afternoon.

• The basic unit of Syrian currency is the piaster: it is 1/100th of the Lira on which the money system is based. Banknote denominations are as follows ( in Liras):

1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100,200, 500,and 1000

• Coins include (in piaster):

1, 2, 5, 10, 25

TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL:

Inter-city travel in modern air-conditioned coaches is organized by two major companies (Transtour and Karnak). Service, taxi and trains run regularly between cities, and there are internal flights by Syrianair between Damascus-Aleppo-Latakia-Qamishli and Deir al-Zor.

In-town transport is made easy by taxi cabs. Yellow cabs in Damascus charge fares indicated by meters; in other cities fares are set by government departments.

 CLIMATE

Syria has a moderate Mediterranean climate, 4 distinct seasons, and cloudless blue skies for the greater part of the year. Temperatures in autumn and spring range between 20 and 25 degrees centigrade, 30 degrees in summer, and 5 to 10 degrees in winter.

Winter is generally moderate but wet in the coastal region and cold inland; summer is hot and dry inland, hot and humid on the coast.

Winter clothing is recommended between October and May, and summer clothing between May and September.

A considerable number of Syrians speak English or French. Those who speak only Arabic are Helpful and hospitable and always friendly to foreigners.

SHOPPING

 In Syria is an en less pleasure. Tourists enjoy buying local products unique for their distinctive originality. Favorite items with visitors are

- Silk brocade embroidered with gold and silver thread, for which Damascus has always been famous.

- Hand-engraved brass with silver inlays of different patterns and designs.

- Popular hand-printed cotton garments and cloth, and the" Sarma " gold embroidery for which Hama is renowned.

- Pictures of epic and folk heroes painted on glass or cloth.

- Mosaics inlaid with mother-of-pearl and tinted wood.

- Hand-women rugs made of pure wool.

- Glass made as you-wait-and-watch; this is the work of glass blowers using mud furnaces where liquid of glass is turned into pretty beakers, plates, and lamps.

Delicious sweets filled with pistachios, preserved fruit, and Turkish Delight.

 RELIGIOUS SERVICES are held in mosques, Churches, and other places worship throughout the country. Visitors are expected to respect the sanctity of these places with regards to dress and conduct as they would do elsewhere.

There are clean sand beaches stretching all along the coast, and swimming pools are plentiful in all cities; in sports compounds, large hotels, and the suburbs.

ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL events abound throughout the year. Exhibitions, lectures, and cultural centres. Painting and sculpture by local and foreign artists are exhibited in private galleries throughout the country.

Radio and Television: Programs on radio are mainly in Arabic but there are foreign programs .As for television, there are two channels: one in Arabic and the other in English and French. In addition to the Arabic press, there is a local daily in English.