Travel and transport agencies Syria

Rental of a vehicle for a minimum period of 3 days. The budget also has an office at Damascus airport and in the main cities of Syria.

The main bus station in Damascus. About companies from all over Syria, except for the south. Booking is not required. All companies offer roughly the same price, reasonably cheap. To find yourself among the many companies and aggressive rabatteurs, this is the name of the main ones:

:: office on the right of the entrance, which is determined by its blue facade.

Each counter corresponds to a destination, which is marked in English and Arabic on small signs suspended in the air. Air-conditioned and well-organized premises. The oldest and most common company in the country.

Al-Ahlia: slightly on the right of the entrance.

Departures every 30 minutes for the country's main cities.

:: to the left of the entrance.

Only company serving Bulgaria, departure for Sofia on Sunday and Wednesday, 3 500 LS.

For Turkey, head to Jet, Ait or Ozhan offices.

Several buses per day towards Istanbul via Antakya, most with a departure in the evening around 22 pm. The journey lasts 24 hours and costs 2 000 LS.

South of Damascus (Ezra, Dera, Souweida). Attention, no direct link to Overnight from the garaj'Bab Moussala (take a bus in Somarieh).

For the north (Nabek-Mar Moussa), the littoral, the Orontes, the Euphrates, the Djézireh (Aleppo, Homs, Hama, Lattakia, Tartous, Deir ez-Zor, Qamichli…). But beware, buses are not comfortable, non-air-conditioned, and departures are irregular. Finally, this type of bus called Hobhob stops all the time to take or deposit customers. The only advantage is lower rates.

Large garaj where ordinary buses are found and served. At the entrance, minibus for Bukein, (40 LS) and Bloudan (45 LS). Then the big buses for Dera, Souweida, Overnight.

Shared taxis mainly provide for large distances (liaison for Beirut and Amman). Prices are to be negotiated with the driver, depending on the other passengers and his mood. Count approximately 500 LS per head for Beirut and 700 LS for Amman.

You will also find buses for these two destinations, but departures are not regular and long journey times are much longer than with a shared taxi. The price is substantially the same.

There are several garaj garaj in Damascus. Not really a bus station, more places where the main services leave, the collective white minibuses. Among other things, they can join major garaj or connect strategic points in the city. The directions are marked in Arabic, better know the name of the place where you want to go and ask the driver if he goes there.

Jisr al-Ra (the Speaker's bridge). Services to go to Doummar and then take a minibus that will take you to Ain el-Fijé or the Vallée valley.

Bilal Place, rue An-Nasirah, next to the halls. Services for Seidnaya and Maaloula.

Useful only to go to the airport. Departure every half hours. 40 LS go.

Council: the exchange rate is identical throughout the country, and immediately change the money for several days.

Beware, there is still no cash point at the airport, only foreign exchange offices, saying that it is better or even essential to have cash or euros cuts on you upon arrival.

There is also a budget rental office located on the right side of the airport. For a normal car: 1 200 LS for a car with 7 seats: 1 700 LS. For rates and booking numbers from France, see «Get around» in chapter «Organize your stay». Be, as much as possible, among the first to get off the plane because the wait may be a bit long. Once the customs formalities are completed, you will arrive in the airport lobby. Please do not lose the yellow or blue satisfyingly form delivered at the entrance, you will be required every time you leave the territory.

Finally, last advice for return, keep 1 500 LS to pay the airport exit taxes (stamps buy in a counter near those of airlines).

You must enter the interior and ask for the ticket where you buy international cards (Bitaqat Doualieh). Maps at 350, 500 and 1 000 LS.

Cabins outside the telephone centre operate internationally (for communications prices, see "Think Smart" heading "On Site - Post and Telecommunications").

The staff were very friendly and helpful. This agency offers a very wide range of services: booking of hotels, guides, short or long stays. For the tour of Damascus with a car and a guide, count $ 110 per person. One day outside, for example Maaloula, Sednaya, Mar Moussa, $ 200 for a car and guide.

The boss, who is a fan of horses, speaks French a little. It proposes all kinds of circuits: cultural, equestrian, hiking, pilgrimage…

The two regular price ranges, for documents or packages (for fares, see "Post and telecommunications").

The location of the telecommunications centre is marked by a red and white red tower. The post, which is flanked by a dozen telephone booths, makes it possible to carry out regular postal operations, telephone, fax and receive faxes. For the remaining post service (closes at 14 h), go to the counter located at the bottom of the corridor which opens to your left immediately by entering the building. An adjoining building handles shipments of postal parcels throughout the world.

Rates: 35 LS for sending a letter of 30 g in France, 800 LS express.

Abdel and his son Houssam, owners of two hotels in the Souk (Dar Halabia and Al Kanadil), offer all kinds of tours in the desert, the visit of cities dead around Aleppo, the North and South in minibus, departures to Lake Asad, with possibility to sleep with the Bedouin… In short, a wide choice of services, in a friendly and family atmosphere.

Aleppo is so rich culturally that discovering it with a learned and perfectly francophone guide can allow you to take the full measure of it. To visit Aleppo, discover the region or even find a guide and driver to visit the whole country, you can turn your eyes closed to Abdullah Abdulhay.

We have experienced the skills and kindness of this former French teacher and a long guide.

Moreover, the many returns that have come to us about it are only praise.

The consulate has a list of French-speaking physicians and can provide information about the city of Aleppo for those who wish to settle there.

Has a list of French-speaking physicians.

A dozen companies congregate in the garaj, including Qadmous. Al-Ahlia is reliable and inexpensive. All companies offer the same price: for Aleppo 150 LS, Damascus 200 LS, Hama 90 LS, Tartous 70 LS. However, on some routes, Qadmous is faster and more economical.

Do not hesitate to follow the rabatteurs that landing you at the entrance of the bus station, much more busy filling their bus than dépouiller your purse they will direct you to the adapted bus. Ahlan offers departures every 30 minutes for Damascus in air-conditioned and comfortable buses.

However, when you arrive at the railway station of Lattakia, a cloud of taxi drivers casts on you! They are not the most honest- It is better to go back to the main street and take a taxi on the boulevard.

As in most cities, traffic can be slower. You must be patient or prefer walking on foot.

Also called Khan of Customs. It illustrates perfectly the grandeur of the caravanserais built in Ottoman times, in this case under Mourad Pasha, circa 1610.

Mohamed, the boss, is doing the utmost to satisfy customers and offers a multitude of excursions.

A very serious agency offering complete services: organisation of towers across Syria, car rental with or without drivers; and a guide spoken French. One of the agency's leaders, even francophone, will be happy to help you organise your trip. Possibility of making original excursions: housing of Bedouin tents in the desert, hiking, living in the living area…

The garaj'Pullman serves all destinations in Syria. Located in the fast lane connecting the large cities of Damascus, Homs, Hama. To go to the city centre, you can count between 50 and 100 LS by taxi.

As in Damascus, there are about companies. Al-Ahlia, Zeitouni and Qadmous are best rated for the quality of their services and punctuality. Damascus (250 LS), Homs (150 LS), Hama (100 LS), Simoen (125 LS), Hassaké (250 LS), Qamichli (300 LS), Deir ez-Zor (200 LS), Lattakia (150 LS), Tartous (205 LS).

To go to Turkey, several companies are grouped near the Al-Karnak square. Some price ideas: Antioch (250 LS), Ankara (1 700 LS), Istanbul (2 250 LS).

This small bus station in the heart of the city, opposite Bab Antakia, is very convenient because it combines the minibuses that cover Aleppo and its region over a radius of 100 km. From here you can take a public transport for St-Siméon via Deir Aza (150 LS) and also for other dead cities.

At the beginning of this garage, it is also possible to leave for Lebanon (Beirut and Tripoli, count 6 000 LS for a private taxi, 2 000 LS for a shared taxi) or Antakia on the Turkish border (3 000 LS). Head to white and yellow cars.

Booking of airline tickets any destination.

Booking of airline tickets any destination.

All routes indicated are daily. When two fares are indicated in parentheses, the lowest is in the second class and the other in the first. Due to the low price gap, it is better to opt for the first class cleaner and sometimes equipped with bunk.

Damascus: 4 h (140 LS), 5 h 40 and 16 h 45 (200 LS or 240 LS).

:: 6 h and 17 h 30 for fast trains, 6 h 48 and 15 h 50 for slower trains (135 LS or 160 LS).

If there is a train trip to Syria, it is that one! 6 h 48, the station chief makes great gestures, the retardataires rush into the cars, the fantastic epic begins. From the exit of Aleppo, a green tunnel is formed around the train. Trees, olive trees, grenadiers, scattered on the gentle slopes of the hills. The time of the journey is believed to be carried in the heart of Provence or in Italian Tuscany. The best option: the 6 h 48 train that allows you to attend sunrise!

Deir ez-Zor: 16 h 10 (176 LS).

:: 23 h 15 (275 LS).

Turkey, Gazientep: Tuesday and Friday.

Convenient if you want to move around Tartous. 

For Alexandria (Egypt): tickets from 87 €, 8 hours of travel. For Venice (Italy): tickets from 177 €, 86 hours of travel!

A name known to the French, for a busy day trips. With him, possibility to shape your itinerary according to your interests. Graduated in French, he speaks him fluently and is fluent in the history and culture of the Dead Cities and the region of Aleppo in general. In anticipation of your visit, you can send an email to the address indicated above.

It is connected to Aleppo and Damascus, Hama and Homs. For Damascus: 1 train/day at 10 h 30. For Aleppo: 2 fast trains at 6 h 25 and 17 h 20, 2 slow trains at 7 h 10 and 15 h 40.

A splendid «air» course in the Nahr el-Kebir gorge is available to reach Aleppo. The rails set a path in an ocean of greenery, one believed a moment transported in Tuscany or in the hinterland of Provence. If you have to take the train only once in Syria, do it for this journey. 145 LS in 2 ^nd class, 160 LS in 1 ^st.

Booking of airline tickets.

This company, opened in 2010, offers new vehicles.

Founded in 2003 by three enthusiasts of the desert landscapes of southern Africa, African Tselana has now become Tselana Travel and offers a wide range of destinations on all continents for travel away from the usual tourist circuits. Tselana Travel combines your desires (adventure, unusual, romantic, family, desert, honeymoon, diving, zen, safari ...) with its extensive knowledge of destinations to offer a custom trip incomparable placed under the sign of luxury and refinement.

Many Internet cafés compared to the size of the city, all open 24 hours a day and at the same price 50 LS/hour. Here are some addresses:

24. net, north of Mutanabbi Street

Planet Internet, at the corner of 8 Azar and Youssef Al-Azmeh

Orbit, at the corner of Falestin Street and Ibrahim Anano Street

Search, at the corner of rue Maghreb al-Arabi and Hamadani street