GARAJ’ PULLMAN (OU HARASTA)
Read moreThe 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.
GARAJ’ BAB MOUSSALA OU GARAJ’ DERA
Read moreSouth of Damascus (Ezra, Dera, Souweida). Attention, no direct link to Overnight from the garaj'Bab Moussala (take a bus in Somarieh).
GARAJ’ ABBASSEEN
Read moreFor 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.
GARAJ’ SOMARIEH
Read moreLarge 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.
GARAJ’ MICROBUS
Read moreThere 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.
GARAJ’ BARAMKEH
Read moreUseful only to go to the airport. Departure every half hours. 40 LS go.
AÉROPORT INTERNATIONAL DE DAMAS
Read moreCouncil: 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).
PULLMAN ET QADMOUS
Read moreA 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.
GARAJ' PULLMAN
Read moreThe 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).
GARAJ' BAB ANTAKIA
Read moreThis 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.
NAHAS TRAVEL & TOURISM
Read moreBooking of airline tickets any destination.
GARE D'ALEP
Read moreAll 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.
TAXIS AL TATEF
Read moreConvenient if you want to move around Tartous.
VISEMAR LINE
Read moreFor Alexandria (Egypt): tickets from 87 €, 8 hours of travel. For Venice (Italy): tickets from 177 €, 86 hours of travel!
GARE CFS
Read moreIt 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.