Getting between cities

There are three ways to move between Syrian cities and all three are on the road: coach, minibus and shared taxi. The railway collapsed during the war; trial runs took place between Aleppo and Hama in 2026, but there is not yet a line a traveller can plan around.

Coaches

Private companies run scheduled services between the larger cities. Tickets are cheap, the coaches are air conditioned and seats are numbered. On the main runs — Damascus–Aleppo, Damascus–Homs, Homs–Latakia — there are several departures through the day. Buying at the garage the day before makes catching the first morning service easier.

Minibuses and shared taxis

The minibus, or servees, holds about ten people: fixed route, fixed fare, leaves when full. A shared taxi takes four or five passengers, costs more than the coach but is quicker and has no timetable — it goes when the car fills. Over short distances, and at the hours when scheduled services thin out, this is the practical answer.

Times

Damascus to Homs on the M5 is about 160 kilometres, two hours. Damascus to Aleppo is 350 kilometres, four to five hours. Homs to Krak des Chevaliers is 65 kilometres, a little over an hour. Between Latakia and Homs the road crosses the mountains and the time depends on the route.

Checkpoints

Checkpoints on intercity roads are routine. Keep your passport within reach, do not take photographs from inside the vehicle, and answer what is asked calmly. Waiting time cannot be predicted, which is why leaving in the morning always beats leaving in the evening.

Hiring a car

Self-drive hire is not a common option for a foreigner. A car with a driver is taken by the day, and in practice that is the only sensible way to reach the outlying sites — Saladin Castle, Qasr Ibn Wardan, Palmyra. Agree the price before you set off and be clear about what it includes.