Syria, home to one of the world's oldest civilizations, offers extraordinary historical treasures from ancient Damascus and Aleppo to the spectacular Roman ruins of Palmyra. Despite recent challenges, the country's rich cultural heritage, warm hospitality, and diverse landscapes continue to captivate adventurous travelers.
Local currency: Syrian Pound (SYP) - also known as Syrian Lira.
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Syria.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $15-20 dorm bed
- Budget
- $25-45 private room
- Midrange
- $65-100 mid-range hotel
- Luxury
- $150-350+ luxury hotel
Food
- Street
- $1-3 falafel sandwich, shawarma, or kaak bread
- Local
- $5-10 full meal at local restaurant
- Midrange
- $15-25 at mid-range restaurant
- Fine
- $35-60+ at upscale restaurant
Transport
- Bus
- $0.05-0.10 city microbus
- Taxi
- $1-5 typical city taxi ride
- Airport
- $5-15 airport taxi to city center
- Daytrip
- $30-80 private driver for day trip to Palmyra or Krak
Activities
- Museum
- $8-15 major museums
- Sites
- $10-15 major archaeological sites
- Tour
- $30-60 guided half-day tour
- Excursion
- $80-150 full-day guided excursion to Palmyra
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Syria costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$175-280/week (street food, budget guesthouses, free attractions)
Midrange traveller
$490-840/week (mix of restaurants, mid-range hotels, guided tours)
Luxury traveller
$1,500-2,500+/week (luxury hotels, fine dining, private guides and drivers)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
All transactions in USD cash - bring $100 bills and exchange to SYP at hotels or exchange offices; black market rates tempting but risky
Street food in Damascus is exceptional and cheap - falafel, shawarma, kaak bread all under $3
Use microbuses (servees) for city transport at $0.05-0.10 rather than taxis at $1-5
Book guesthouses in traditional Damascene houses for authenticity at lower cost than international hotels
Visit Palmyra and other distant sites on organized shared group tours rather than hiring private drivers to split costs
Many of Damascus's most interesting experiences are free - wandering souqs, mosque courtyards, and historic streets
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Al-Hamidiyah Souq Walk
Wandering through Damascus's magnificent covered market is free and endlessly fascinating - sensory overload of spices, textiles, and street life
Straight Street (Via Recta)
Walk the ancient Roman road through Damascus Old City passing historic houses, carpenters' workshops, and the chapel of St. Ananias
Umayyad Mosque Courtyard
The mosque's vast marble courtyard is free to visit (there's a fee for the prayer hall interior); one of the world's most beautiful Islamic spaces
Mount Kasun Viewpoint
Free hike or taxi ride to the Mount Kasun hilltop for the best panoramic views over Damascus - especially stunning at sunset
Bab Touma Evening Walk
Evening stroll through the Christian Quarter's vibrant streets lined with cafes, restaurants, and historic architecture
Hama Norias (Waterwheels)
The ancient wooden waterwheels on the Orontes River in Hama are free to view and photograph from the riverbank
Damascus Old City Exploration
Getting lost in the labyrinthine alleyways of Damascus Old City - one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited urban areas - costs nothing
Sayyidah Ruqayya Mosque
The stunning Persian-blue tiled mosque (a major Shia pilgrimage site) is free to enter for respectful visitors dressed modestly