Damascus Travel Guide 2026 — Old City, Umayyad Mosque, Food & Day Trips

Damascus is the oldest continuously inhabited capital on earth, and its walled Old City rewards slow wandering — great mosques, Ottoman palaces, covered souqs and courtyard houses, with mountain views above and monasteries a short drive away. Here's what to see, where to eat and stay, the best day trips, and how to get around.

The Old City

• The Umayyad Mosque — one of the greatest mosques in the world (705 AD), with white-and-gold mosaics, a vast courtyard, and the shrine of John the Baptist.
• Azm Palace — the finest Ottoman-era Damascene palace, now the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.
• Al-Hamidiyah Souq — the grand covered market running to the mosque gate; end it with Bakdash ice cream, pounded by hand since 1885.
• Al-Nawfara café — beside the mosque, coffee, shisha and the evening storyteller (hakawati).
• The Street Called Straight (Via Recta) and the Bab Touma Christian quarter, with the Chapel of Ananias.
• Nur al-Din Bimaristan — a 12th-century hospital, now a medicine museum.
• Tekkiye Mosque — a graceful Ottoman complex by Sinan on the river.
• The courtyard houses — plain outside, a fountain and citrus courtyard within; many are now boutique hotels and restaurants.

Mount Qasioun

The mountain above the city — go at sunset for all of Damascus laid out below, with cafés along the ridge.

Museums

The National Museum of Damascus holds treasures from Ugarit, Palmyra, Mari and Dura-Europos — one of the great collections of the region.

Food — a city to eat in

Damascus is famous for fatteh, mahashi, mezze and ice cream. Eat in a restored courtyard house: Naranj (Al-Qaymariya), Beit Jabri (a 1737 Damascene house), Le Baron (behind Azm Palace), Haretna, Elissar. For the full picture see the Syrian food guide.

Day trips from Damascus

• Maaloula & Saidnaya — ancient monasteries and the Aramaic of Christ (~1 hour).
• Bloudan & Zabadani — cool mountains and orchards (~1 hour).
• Palmyra, Bosra and the Krak des Chevaliers are longer trips — ask and we'll plan them.

Where to stay

From five-star hotels to boutique houses in the Old City — see the Damascus hotels guide.

Practical

• Cash is king — bring US dollars; cards and ATMs rarely work. See money in Syria.
• Get a local SIM at the airport or a branch. See visa & entry and the best time to visit.

Getting around

The Old City is walkable, but reaching it and returning at night is easier with a car and driver. Just landed? Book a Damascus airport pickup. Want it guided? Take a Damascus Old City tour.

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