DamascusCapital
Syria · Country profile
Damascus is among the oldest continuously inhabited capitals of the world, a layered and storied city of the eastern edge of the Mediterranean whose history unfurls across more than ninety centuries of settlement. The old city of the capital, enclosed within the ramparts of its ancient walls, holds the great mosque of the Umayyads, built over the church and the temple that came before it, the covered souks of the bazaar with their arcades and their crafts, and the famous straight street of the age of the Romans. The modern districts, the national museum and the great houses of the old quarters keep the intellectual and the political life of the country, while the gardens of the outskirts of the city and the green of the Barada stream soften the desert climate. Broken, resilient and profoundly beautiful, the old capital remains one of the great soul-places of the Arab world.
About Damascus
Damascus is the capital of Syria. The city's documented population is around 2,500,000 people. For visitors from abroad, the local currency is the Syrian Pound (SYP) and Arabic is spoken; the dialling code is +963.
The Oldest Still-Living Capital of the Wider World
Damascus is an ancient, layered capital whose old city, cramped, fragrant and golden under the late sun, holds the essential human archaeology of the Near East. The days are built on the Umayyad mosque, the souks, the straight street, the great houses and the museums, all of it walkable, all of it astonishing. The security of the country is slowly opening to the visitor, but the wise traveller keeps the current advice, moves with a guide and stays flexible. Its calm courtyards, its humming bazaars and the staggering depth of its history make it one of the most moving capitals a traveller can reach.
The Milder Seasons, the Flexible Pound and the Guide on the Ground
The climate is gently extreme, with the crisp, rainy winters and the long hot summers, and the spring and the autumn the kindest windows. The reconstruction of the travel rules is moving fast, so the check of the latest advice is essential before any plan, along with the local support on the ground. The pound of Syria is the currency in a fast-moving rate, the Arabic the language with the French and the English in the hotels. The old city, the museum and the nearby villages and monasteries of the Qalamoun edge fill the days, and the dress stays modest near the great mosque.
The Umayyad Mosque, the Covered Souks and the Straight Street of the Romans
The great mosque of the Umayyads, one of the holiest and most beautiful buildings of the Islamic world, holds the shrine of John the Baptist beneath its vast golden courtyard. The souks of the old city, running under the vaults of the ancient arcades, sell the damask silk, the soap, the copper, the spices and the jewellery that give the craft of the capital its global fame. The national museum preserves the treasure of the ancient sites of the country, from the fortress of the desert to the synagogue of the Euphrates, and the straight street and the old houses of the quarter of the Christians close the extraordinary circle of the oldest capital.
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- Country
- Syria
- Population
- 2,500,000
- Capital
- Damascus
- Region
- Asia
- Currency
- Syrian Pound (SYP)
- Languages
- Arabic
- Calling code
- +963
- Country code
- SY
Frequently asked questions
Is Damascus the capital of Syria?
Yes — Damascus is the capital of Syria.
What currency do I need in Damascus?
The local currency is the Syrian Pound (SYP). Languages spoken in Syria include Arabic.
What is the dialling code for Syria?
The international dialling code for Syria is +963.
Flying out of Damascus? Check the entry requirements for your destination in our entry requirements tool before you fly.