Palmyra (Tadmur) — Syria's Desert Queen

Palmyra — "the bride of the desert" — was a caravan city between East and West that reached its height under Queen Zenobia, who defied Rome. A UNESCO World Heritage site, it's one of the most famous archaeological places in the world.

What to see

• The Great Colonnade — the main street lined with hundreds of columns, Palmyra's icon.
• The Roman theatre at the city's centre.
• Temples and tower tombs on the site's edges.
• Fakhr al-Din Castle on the hill above, with a view over the whole oasis.

An honest note

Palmyra suffered major deliberate destruction during the war years, and important monuments were lost. What you see today is a wounded ancient city — but the colonnade, the theatre and the desert setting are still breathtaking, and its presence is stronger than any photo.

Getting there

Palmyra is about 210 km northeast of Damascus — roughly 3 hours across the desert. It's remote and needs planning: a full day or an overnight. We arrange a private trip with a driver who knows the desert road.

Wherever your road leads, we'll get you there.