Day Trip to Damascus from Beirut: A Memorable Experience with Affordable Budget.
Highlights
- Immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of the ancient bazaar, Souq al-Hamidiyeh, where local culture thrives.
- Be awed by the stunning architecture of Azem Palace and Khan Assad Pasha.
- Witness the rich religious diversity of Syria as you visit the Chapel of St. Ananias, the iconic Umayyad Mosque, and the Al-Seida Raqiyeh Shrine.
- Relax with a cup of coffee or tea, watching Damascene life unfold around you.
- Try a variety of Syrian dishes to truly experience the country’s rich culinary heritage.
Overview
See the heart of Damascus in just one day! This whirlwind trip from Beirut takes you to bustling Damascus, where you will soak up rich history, savor delicious food, and meet friendly locals. It’s a taste of Syria that’ll leave you wanting more.
- Day 1 - Day Trip to Damascus from Beirut
• Begin your journey from Beirut, Lebanon, with a convenient pick-up from your city center accommodation.
• Take a break at a street café for refreshments before reaching the Lebanese-Syrian border crossing.
• After completing the necessary entry visa formalities, continue your journey to the captivating capital city of Damascus, Syria. Known for its rich tapestry of religious, ethnic, and cultural heritage, Damascus offers a captivating experience for travelers.
• Your drop-off point will be Bab Touma, the north-eastern gate associated with the old city’s Christian neighborhood.
• Stroll along the ancient roadway to a boutique hotel located in the heart of old Damascus (Beit Zafran Hotel de Charme) to have a short break and meet your guide to start your city tour of Damascus.
• Experience the spiritual significance of the Chapel of St. Ananias, an ancient church that embodies the essence of early Christianity.
• Take a stroll along the historic Straight Street, a captivating thoroughfare adorned with shops, cafes, and bustling markets.
• Be awe-inspired by the splendor of Azem Palace, an architectural gem that showcases the exquisite beauty of Damascene craftsmanship, currently houses the Museum of Popular Traditions.
• Embark on an exploration of Khan Assad Pasha, an impressive caravanserai that stands as a testament to the region’s rich trading heritage.
• Enjoy a stroll through the narrow alleys, leading you to the Umayyad Mosque. This iconic landmark is a significant cultural and spiritual center, housing the Shrine of John the Baptist.
• Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Souq al-Hamidiyeh, an ancient covered bazaar and bustling marketplace where the local culture thrives.
• Take a well-deserved rest at the historic Al Noufarah coffeehouse, where you can savor the flavors of coffee and tea while observing the vibrant Damascene life unfolding around you.
• Witness the religious diversity of Syria by visiting the Al-Seida Raqiyeh Mosque an important Shia pilgrimage site.
• Enjoy a stroll along the ancient roadway to a boutique hotel in old Damascus (Beit Zafran Hotel de Charme) for some rest before returning to your city center accommodation in Beirut.
- • Private round-trip transfer.
- • Syrian Land border security clearance.
- • Syrian tourist visa reference code (Entry visa approval).
- • Welcome drinks at Beit Zafran Hotel de Charme - https://www.beitzafran.com
- • Professional licensed guide during the city tour as per your preference (English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian).
- • Entrance fees.
- • Syrian land border exit tax to Lebanon.
- • Entry visa fees to Syria.
- • Any meals and drinks.
- • Any tipping.
- • Insurance of any kind.
Important Information
Visa Guide to Syria 2024:
Planning a trip to Syria? The most important question on your mind might be: Do I need a visa? The answer is yes, but the process is relatively straightforward when you choose Nawafir Tours as your local travel agency. The following visa guide provides comprehensive answers to all of your inquiries:
Visa Guide to Syria – Travel with Nawafir Tours
• Nawafir Tours is a trusted local travel agency that offers comprehensive meet and assist services, as well as transportation services, at your preferred port of entry in Syria. Whether you arrive at Beirut Int’l Airport, Amman Int’l Airport, or Damascus Int’l Airport, Nawafir Tours is dedicated to providing a seamless and hassle-free travel experience.
• Upon your arrival, you can expect a warm welcome from Nawafir Tours team. They will be readily available to assist you with the necessary procedures and ensure a smooth transition through immigration and customs. Their expert knowledge and experience in handling these processes will help streamline your entry into the country.
Visa Guide to Syria – Safety and Security
• Safety and well-being of our guests are our top priorities. We are fully committed to delivering a travel experience that is not only enjoyable but also secure. Our team takes great care in planning sightseeing tours and excursions, ensuring that we include only safe and secure cities and sites.
• To guarantee the safety of our guests, we maintain regular communication with local authorities and have a strong network of contacts. This allows us to stay informed about the current situation on the ground. If we receive any indication that a particular location or site may pose a risk, we take immediate action to adjust our itinerary and make alternative arrangements.
• You can have peace of mind knowing that at Nawafir Tours, we are unwavering in our dedication to providing a travel experience that is both secure and enjoyable. Your safety and well-being are at the forefront of everything we do.
Visa Guide to Syria – Arrival to Syria
• Generally, most guests arrive at Beirut Int’l Airport and then travel overland to Syria. Beirut Int’l Airport serves as the easiest and most popular entry point, cost-wise and logistics-wise. The duration of the journey from Beirut Int’l Airport to Damascus usually takes around three to four hours, depending on the traffic and visa procedures at the border crossing.
• Another option is to travel through Amman Int’l Airport, Jordan to reach Syria. The duration of the journey from Amman Int’l Airport to Damascus usually takes around four to five hours, depending on the traffic and visa procedures at the border crossing.
• You can also arrive to Damascus through Damascus Int’l Airport, where both Syrian Airlines and Cham Wings Airlines currently operate flights to Damascus from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Moscow, Cairo, Kuwait, Baghdad, Erbil and Beirut.
Visa Guide to Syria – E-Visa Platform
• Obtaining a tourist visa for Syria is an important step to consider when planning to travel there.
• Obtaining a visa for Syria is a straightforward process based on nationality, especially since the introduction of the E-Visa platform on 1 May 2024.
• As your host/sponsor, Nawafir Tours will handle the application for your security clearance and entry visa approval.
• Therefore, you will need to provide the following documents
1. Scanned copy of passport’s information pages in JPG format, with a minimum validity of six months.
2. Recent passport-sized personal photo with white background.
3. Information list.
• Upon arrival at the designated border crossing, you will receive a 15-day visa stamp in your passport instead of a sticker.
• Visa fees vary according to each nationality.
• Visa fees and guidelines are subject to change without any prior notice.
Visa Guide to Syria – Travel Advice
• It is crucial to emphasize that the Syrian authorities have strict regulations regarding previous travel to Israel and self-ruled territories. If, while obtaining your Syria visa on arrival, border officials discover any indications in your passport that raise suspicions of prior visits to Israel, your entry into Syria will be unequivocally refused.
• These restrictions apply not only to passports containing visas or entry/exit stamps to Israel and self-ruled territories, but also to entry stamps from specific border crossings with Israel from neighbouring countries such as Jordan or Egypt that you may have recently travelled through. As a result, if such stamps are present, Syrian immigration officials will deny entry immediately.
• The Syrian government strictly enforces these restrictions, and in order to ensure a smooth entry into Syria, travelers must be mindful of their travel history. This entails understanding the significance of their passport stamps and planning their itineraries in the region accordingly. The objective is to avoid any complications that may arise from any perceived association with Israel during your entry process.
Visa Guide to Syria – Land Border Crossings
Entry/exit stamps from the below land border crossings should be avoided to avoid being refused entry to Syria.
Jordan Border Crossings:
• Wadi Araba Crossing/South Border
• Allenby/King Hussein Bridge
• Sheikh Hussein Crossing/Northern Border
Egypt Border Crossings:
• Taba
• Nitzana
• Sharm el Sheikh, Mars al-Alam and Hurghada
It is important to note that having an entry stamp from Sharm el Sheikh Airport has resulted in cases where individuals were denied entry to Syria.