Syria remains closed to most tourism as of 2025. The ongoing conflict that began in March 2011 has destroyed significant portions of the country's infrastructure and left large areas under contested or non-governmental control. The United States Department of State maintains a Level 4 travel advisory for Syria, instructing US citizens not to travel to the country due to terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, and armed conflict. The United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office advises against all travel to Syria. Most European governments, Canada, and Australia maintain similar prohibitions. Damascus International Airport reopened to limited commercial flights in 2022 after years of closure, but scheduled international service remains minimal compared to pre-2011 levels. Overland entry from Lebanon through the Masnaa crossing is theoretically possible for holders of Syrian visas, though this crossing has closed intermittently due to security conditions. The Turkish border remains largely closed except for limited humanitarian access points. Jordan opened the Nassib border crossing in 2018 but vehicle traffic remains restricted.
Visa requirements for Syria mandate advance application through Syrian embassies or consulates. The government does not issue visas on arrival at any entry point. Tourist visas typically require sponsorship by a Syrian travel agency registered with the Ministry of Tourism. Processing times exceed four weeks in most cases. The Syrian government denies entry to holders of Israeli stamps in their passports. Journalists require separate media accreditation through the Ministry of Information in Damascus, a process that can take several months and frequently results in denial. The United States and several European countries closed their embassies in Damascus in 2012 and maintain no consular services inside Syria. Citizens of these countries cannot seek assistance from their governments while in Syrian territory.
Damascus, the capital, contains the operational seat of government and most functioning ministries. The city remained largely under government control throughout the conflict, though suburbs including Douma and Eastern Ghouta experienced years of siege warfare before government recapture in 2018. The Old City of Damascus, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979, sustained damage to portions of its historic fabric, particularly in the Jobar district where fighting destroyed several traditional courtyard houses. The Umayyad Mosque in the center of the Old City remained structurally intact, though the surrounding Hamidiyah Souq experienced periods of closure and reduced commercial activity. Damascus International Airport lies approximately 25 kilometers southeast of the city center. Public electricity in Damascus operates on a rationing schedule, typically providing power for several hours followed by outages of equal or greater length. The Syrian pound lost more than 90 percent of its value against the US dollar between 2011 and 2023, creating parallel exchange rates between official and black market systems.
Aleppo, historically Syria's commercial center and largest city by population, experienced extensive urban destruction between 2012 and 2016 when control was split between government and opposition forces. The eastern portions of the city remained under opposition control until government recapture in December 2016. The Ancient City of Aleppo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, sustained severe damage. The minaret of the Great Mosque of Aleppo, built in 1090, collapsed in April 2013 during fighting. The historic souks of Aleppo, which comprised more than 13 kilometers of covered markets dating to the 14th century, burned in September 2012 and sustained structural damage from artillery fire. The Citadel of Aleppo remained largely intact structurally but its access bridge was damaged. Reconstruction work on the Great Mosque's minaret began in 2018 with support from UNESCO and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, using original construction techniques and salvaged stone blocks. Syrian government forces regained control of all of Aleppo city by December 2016, but reconstruction of destroyed neighborhoods proceeds slowly due to funding constraints and unclear property rights for destroyed buildings.
Palmyra, the desert oasis city located 215 kilometers northeast of Damascus, changed hands multiple times during the conflict. The Islamic State controlled the ancient site from May 2015 to March 2016 and again from December 2016 to March 2017. During these occupations, the group demolished the Temple of Bel in August 2015, the Temple of Baalshamin in August 2015, the Arch of Triumph in October 2015, and portions of the theatre. The group also destroyed the Tower of Elahbel and other tower tombs in the Valley of the Tombs. UNESCO placed the Site of Palmyra on the List of World Heritage in Danger in 2013. Russian and Syrian specialists began documentation for reconstruction in April 2016 after the first government recapture, but work halted when the site fell to the Islamic State again in December 2016. The Roman theatre, though damaged, retained its basic structure. The tetrapylon, of which only one of the original 16 columns remained standing after Islamic State occupation, was reconstructed using a combination of original and replica elements in 2017. Access to Palmyra requires special permission from Syrian authorities and military clearance due to ongoing demining operations as of 2023.