Practical information
Visas, border crossings, cash, SIM cards, getting between cities — where the plan is built.
145 Practical
How to get to Qamishli and Hasakah: airport status and the road east
Qamishli airport is not yet open to flights in September 2026; the nearest scheduled landing is Deir ez-Zor. Buses from Damascus run via Deir ez-Zor to Hasakah.
Festivals and fairs in Syria: the yearly calendar
The book fair in February, the Damascus International Fair in late August, heritage week and theatre festivals in between. When they ran in 2026 and where to look.
Where to stay in Latakia: the city centre or the Blue Beach strip
Latakia’s hotels are central, a walk from the bus garage and the museum; the Blue Beach strip to the north is chalet country and needs a car. Two options, no names.
Which apps work in Syria: VPNs, Google Play and geo-blocks
Google Play has worked without a VPN since January 2026 and Gemini since September, but blocks still vary by service and connection. What to install before you go.
How to get to Latakia: flights, buses and the Kessab crossing
Latakia’s airport is still closed to civilian flights. Come by bus from Damascus or Homs, or via the Kessab crossing from Turkey, and check the M4 closure first.
Dog bites and rabies shots in Syria: what to do and where to go
Wash a bite or scratch with soap and water for 15 minutes and get seen the same day. Rabies vaccine and serum are free at approved centres; what each wound needs.
How to get to Raqqa and Tabqa: roads, bridges and the 2026 situation
There are no flights to Raqqa or Tabqa; the nearest scheduled airports are Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor. The Aleppo road was cleared in 2026, and a key bridge reopened.
Travelling in Syria in bad weather: floods, storms and snow
In winter 2026 floods cut the old Damascus–Homs road and roads near Qusayr, and the Semalka bridge collapsed. Which roads close when, where to check, what to do.
Is the Latakia countryside safe? Access on the Syrian coast
What changed in rural Latakia and Tartus after the March and December 2025 violence: curfews, mined farmland, the fire season, and what to check before you set off.
Christmas, Easter and church feasts in Syria
Christmas falls on 25 December and Easter on two dates. Who may attend a service, what Bab Touma looks like in Christmas week, and why 2026 kept the feasts indoors.
Beach rules on Syria’s coast: swimwear, sea bans and lifeguards
Covered swimwear on public beaches, Western swimwear in hotels, no swimming on high-wave days: Syria’s Decision 294, the tourism police and where lifeguards work.
Filming and posting from Syria: media rules for visitors and content creators
No written licence rule covers travel vloggers yet, but the publishing bans are clear: six items and two laws. Faces, privacy and what follows a complaint in 2026.