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.
Best souvenirs
Authentic items worth bringing home.
Damascene Silk Brocade
Hand-woven silk fabric with intricate gold and silver thread patterns unique to Damascus. Used for scarves, table runners, and decorative items.
Price: $15-80
Where: Al-Hamidiyah Souq, Al-Buzuriyah Souq
Mother-of-Pearl Inlay Boxes
Handcrafted wooden boxes with intricate mother-of-pearl inlay designs, a traditional Damascus craft. Come in various sizes from jewelry boxes to decorative chests.
Price: $10-150
Where: Old City workshops near Straight Street
Copper and Brass Trays
Hand-engraved copper and brass serving trays featuring Arabic geometric patterns and calligraphy. Lightweight to pack and widely available.
Price: $8-50
Where: Souq Al-Nahaseen (Copper Souq), Damascus
Syrian Spice Blends
Aromatic blends including za'atar, sumac, Aleppo pepper (al-filfil al-halabi), and seven-spice mixes. Packed in small bags, easy to carry.
Price: $2-10
Where: Al-Buzuriyah Spice Souq, Damascus
Hand-Blown Glass from Hama
Colorful hand-blown glass ornaments, cups, and decorative bottles in traditional Syrian styles. Particularly blue and green pieces are popular.
Price: $5-30
Where: Old City souqs, Damascus
Aleppo Laurel Soap
World-famous olive and laurel oil soap made in Aleppo for over 3,000 years. Natural, gentle, and historically significant beauty product.
Price: $3-15
Where: Specialty shops in Damascus and Aleppo souqs
Arabic Calligraphy Art
Hand-written Arabic calligraphy on parchment or canvas featuring Quranic verses, proverbs, or names. Created by artisans in the Old City workshops.
Price: $10-60
Where: Old City artisan shops, near Umayyad Mosque
Traditional Silver Jewelry
Bedouin-style silver bracelets, rings, and pendants with turquoise and coral inlays. Reflects Syria's ancient jewelry-making tradition.
Price: $10-100
Where: Gold and Silver Souq, Damascus Old City
Traditional markets
Where locals shop and travellers find treasures.
Souq Al-Hamidiyah
The grand covered market of Damascus stretching 600 meters beneath a vaulted iron roof. Leads directly to the Umayyad Mosque and sells everything from textiles and clothing to souvenirs.
Where: Old City, Damascus
Hours: 9AM-8PM daily
Al-Buzuriyah Spice Souq
Aromatic spice market crammed with hundreds of varieties of herbs, spices, dried fruits, and traditional remedies. One of the most atmospheric markets in the Middle East.
Where: Near Umayyad Mosque, Damascus Old City
Hours: 8AM-6PM daily
Souq Al-Nahaseen (Copper Souq)
Traditional copper and brass market where artisans hammer out trays, pots, lanterns, and decorative items by hand. Watch craftsmen at work and purchase directly from makers.
Where: Old City, Damascus
Hours: 9AM-5PM Sat-Thu
Aleppo Souq al-Madina
The largest covered historic market in the world stretching over 13 km of vaulted galleries. Famous for Aleppo soap, silk, spices, and traditional crafts in a UNESCO-listed setting.
Where: Old Aleppo (UNESCO Heritage Site)
Hours: 9AM-7PM Sat-Thu
Medhat Basha Souq (Copper Market)
One of the oldest covered souqs in Damascus with distinctive vaulted stone ceilings. Specializes in copperware, antiques, and traditional household items.
Where: Old Damascus
Hours: 9AM-6PM Sat-Thu
Souq Al-Bzouriyeh (Seed Market)
Ancient market specializing in seeds, nuts, dried fruits, and traditional herbal preparations. Less touristy than the main souq, offering authentic local shopping experience.
Where: Old City, Damascus
Hours: 8AM-5PM Sat-Thu
Shopping districts
Neighbourhoods known for retail.
Old City Damascus Souqs
The interconnected network of souqs in Damascus Old City is the heart of Syrian commerce. Wander through distinct sections for spices, textiles, gold, copper, and antiques.
Best for: Traditional crafts, souvenirs, spices, antiques
Shaalan Street
Damascus's main modern commercial street with international brands, clothing stores, electronics, and pharmacies. Good for everyday items and some local boutiques.
Best for: Clothing, electronics, pharmacies, everyday goods
Abu Rummaneh
Affluent Damascus neighborhood with boutiques, galleries, and upscale home goods stores. Good selection of high-quality traditional crafts and contemporary Syrian design.
Best for: Upscale shopping, galleries, home décor
Old Aleppo Souq
The world's largest covered historic market with specialized sections for soap, spices, silk, gold, and traditional crafts. Partially restored after conflict damage.
Best for: Aleppo soap, traditional crafts, northern Syrian specialties
Bab Touma Area
The Christian Quarter of Damascus Old City with wine shops, boutiques, and artisan workshops. Unique selection compared to the Muslim quarter souqs.
Best for: Wine, local crafts, artisan goods, unique souvenirs
Malls & modern shopping
Air-conditioned, international brands, and food courts.
Cham City Center
One of Damascus's larger modern shopping centers with international and local retail brands, supermarket, food court, and cinema. Located in Mezzeh district.
Hours: 10AM-10PM daily
Souq Saroulja Commercial Center
Modern commercial complex in central Damascus with a mix of local and regional brands, cafes, and services. Good for everyday shopping needs.
Hours: 9AM-9PM Sat-Thu
Al-Andalus Mall Aleppo
Shopping mall in Aleppo with local retail brands, food court, and family entertainment. Convenient for travelers staying in Aleppo's modern districts.
Hours: 10AM-9PM daily
Bargaining tips
Negotiate like a local.
Bargaining is expected in traditional souqs but not in fixed-price shops - look for price tags as a guide
Start your counter-offer at 50-60% of the asking price and meet somewhere in the middle
Walking away often prompts a better price offer - be polite but decisive
Learn a few Arabic words like 'bikam?' (how much?) and 'ghali' (expensive) to show respect
Buy multiple items from one vendor to negotiate a better overall price
Morning visits to markets often yield better prices before vendors have made sales
Customs & restrictions
What you can and can't take home.
Restrictions: Cannot export archaeological artifacts, antiques over 100 years old, or items of historical significance without government permit
Tax Refund: No VAT refund system currently in place for tourists in Syria
Duty Free: Allowances vary by country - check with your country's customs for import limits on Syrian goods, particularly tobacco and alcohol
Shipping: International shipping from Syria is limited and unreliable - carry purchases with you; postal services unreliable for international parcels