Syria is an extravagant tourist destination for lovers of rich history, unique culture and unconventional climate.

Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the world and the oldest capital. The unique Old Town preserves the ancient planning of its territory and is famous for dozens of interesting cultural, historical and architectural monuments, such as the medieval madrasas and markets, the Basilica of St. Zacharias, rebuilt later as the Umayyad Mosque. This is the largest mosque in the world, with mosaics of gold. A separate room in the mosque is the place where the hair from the beard of the Prophet Muhammad and the head of Hussein, the fourth son of 'righteous' Caliph Ali, are kept.

Another popular place is the chapel of St. John the Baptist, which houses the head of the saint. Tourists also like the Straight Street, the underground church of St. Ananias, the Tower of Bab Kisan.The palace of Qasr al-Azem is the residence of the governor of Damascus, one of the best examples of late-Islamic architecture, and a popular place for shooting films on historical subjects. Another attraction of the capital city is Bimaristan, the hospital and academy of medieval Damascus. Now it is the Museum of the History of Medicine. The Mausoleum of Salah ad-Din is the tomb of the 12th century, where the ashes of the legendary Sultan, who began the expulsion of the Crusaders from the Arab East, are kept. The cemetery of Bab al-Sagyr has preserved the tombs of many famous characters of Islamic history. The National Museum in Damascus has a collection of unique artifacts of ancient civilizations from Mesopotamia to Phoenicia, a collection of Provincial antique art, and the frescoes on Old Testament stories. The Military Museum in Damascus has one of the world's richest collections of ancient and medieval weapons.

Aleppo is the second largest city of Syria and one of the oldest settlements, which is related to the story of Abraham's life. The local ancient dam in Harbake is a magnificent construction, which served to create an artificial lake in the desert. The Citadel of Aleppo, situated on a high artificial hill, is the best example of medieval fortification architecture. The Museum of Aleppo displays the impressive exhibits from the excavations of the ancient Mesopotamian city, a large number of sculptures and reliefs that once decorated the portal of the royal palace in Aramaic Guzane. The area around Aleppo is unique. More than a hundred settlements related to the 4th-6th centuries can be seen here. Some are in good condition, so that it seems as if the owners left them not so long ago. Ancient houses, basilicas, farms, monasteries, watch towers, tombs of very different forms, public buildings, oil presses are only some of the city’s historical sights.

Palmyra is a rival of Rome in the East, the capital of the ancient state, located in an oasis in the desert. The best attractions here are Bela temple complex, the well-preserved Baal Shamin temple, a great Colonnade with inscriptions commemorating the legendary Queen Zenobia, the theater, the fortified Roman camp, and the valley of the tombs with several dozen burial towers.

Other destinations include Maaloula, Kanavat, Hama, Marie, Ugarit, and a picturesque little island of Arwad. The most interesting and beautifully preserved places to visit are the castles of the 12-13th centuries, built by the Crusaders. The best seaside resorts can be found in Latakia, which is known for warm azure water, a long tourist season, and relatively cheap recreation.

See the list of Syrian travel agents and tour operators for Syria to have an excellent tour and excellent time.