Cities and regions／Syria
City or town ·

Damascus

Damascus contains a living Old City shaped by Aramaean, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad and Ottoman layers, including the Umayyad Mosque. However, the official advisories consulted recommend against travel to Syria, so any tourist visit should be postponed.

Stone lane and historic architecture in Damascus Old City.
Photo by mori dad Source: Pexels Licence: Pexels License
The place

What makes it special

  • Old City with walls, gates, markets, caravanserais and courtyards.
  • Umayyad Mosque and the continuity of urban and religious traditions.
  • World Heritage in Danger since 2013.
Courtyard and arcades of the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus.
Photo by Vyacheslav Argenberg Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 4.0
Historic Bab Touma gate in Damascus Old City.
Photo by mori dad Source: Pexels Licence: Pexels License
Travel atlas

Articles in Damascus

Guides to this place

1 article

Damascus

Viajalo Editorial

Guides to this place

1 related guides

Stone lane and historic architecture in Damascus Old City.

Ancient Damascus: Why the Trip Should Be Postponed

The heritage of Damascus’s Old City deserves thoughtful preparation, but current conditions mean it cannot responsibly be approached as a tourist getaway.

Read guide →
Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 13/09/2026