Ranking Syria Sites

Visit Syria Guide: Planning your trip? Forget the outdated resources. This essential guide is your ultimate time-saver: we have researched, rated, and prioritized over 120 historic sites. Use our rankings to organize your itinerary, save valuable time, and ensure you spend your money only on the truly unmissable treasures of Syria. This definitive Visit Syria Guide is the only preparation you need.

No.	Site Name	Location / City	Foundation / Primary Era	Visit Duration	Rating
1	Palmyra (Tadmor)	Homs Desert	20th C. BCE (Mari Tablets)	4 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
2	Umayyad Mosque	Damascus	8th C. CE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
3	Ancient City of Damascus	Damascus	30th C. BCE	6 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
4	Krak des Chevaliers	Homs (Talkalakh)	12th C. CE	3 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
5	Aleppo Citadel	Aleppo	3rd C. BCE (Fortification)	3 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
6	Bosra (Roman Theater)	Daraa	1st C. BCE	3 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
7	Al-Madina Souq	Aleppo	13th C. CE	3 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
8	Souq Al-Hamidiyeh	Damascus	18th C. CE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
9	Qalaat Samaan (St. Simeon)	Aleppo (North)	5th C. CE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
10	Al-Tekiyeh al-Suleimaniyeh	Damascus	16th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
11	Qasr al-Azm	Damascus	18th C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
12	Khan Asad Pasha	Damascus	18th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟🌟
13	Aleppo Old City	Aleppo	60th C. BCE	4 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
14	Maaloula	Rif Dimashq	1st C. CE	3 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
15	Ugarit (Ras Shamra)	Latakia	15th C. BCE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
16	Apamea	Hama Countryside	3rd C. BCE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
17	Dura Europos	Deir ez-Zor	3rd C. BCE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
18	Hama Old City (Norias)	Hama	30th C. BCE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
19	Qalb Lozeh	Idlib (North)	5th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟🌟
20	Serjilla	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
21	Al-Bimaristan al-Arghuni	Aleppo	14th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟🌟
22	Beehive Houses	Aleppo Rural	Traditional	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟🌟
23	Qalaat Najm	Manbij	13th C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
24	Maarat al-Naaman Museum	Idlib	16th C. CE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
25	Al-Mushabak Basilica	Aleppo (North)	5th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟🌟
26	Shaizar Castle	Hama	12th C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟🌟
27	Al-Bimaristan al-Nuri	Damascus	12th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟🌟
28	Deir Mar Jerjes	Wadi al-Nasara	6th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟🌟
29	National Museum	Damascus	20th C. CE	3 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
30	Damascus Citadel	Damascus	1st C. BCE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟
31	Salah al-Din Castle	Latakia Mountains	12th C. CE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
32	Al-Marqab Castle	Tartus Coast	12th C. CE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
33	Masyaf Castle	Hama Mountains	12th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟
34	Deir Mar Musa	Nebek	6th C. CE	3 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
35	Sednaya	Rif Dimashq	6th C. CE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
36	Maktab Anbar	Damascus	19th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
37	Damascus Old Bazaars	Damascus	13th C. CE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
38	Arados (Arwad Island)	Tartus	20th C. BCE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
39	Ebla (Tell Mardikh)	Idlib Countryside	30th C. BCE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
40	Amrit	Tartus	30th C. BCE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟
41	Qatna (Tell Mishrifeh)	Homs Countryside	18th C. BCE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟
42	Ibn Wardan Palace	Hama Desert	6th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
43	Tartus City (Cathedral)	Tartus	12th C. CE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
44	Latakia City	Latakia	2nd C. BCE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
45	Qalaat al-Mahalbeh	Latakia Mountains	11th C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
46	Qalaat Yahmur	Tartus	12th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
47	Qalaat al-Khawabi	Tartus Mountains	12th C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
48	Al-Zeitoun Church	Damascus	19th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
49	Aramo	Latakia Mountains	10th C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
50	Suweida Attractions	Suweida	1st C. CE	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
51	Al-Madrasa al-Aadiliyeh	Damascus	12th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
52	Al-Madrasa al-Zahiriyeh	Damascus	13th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
53	Al-Hijaz Train Station	Damascus	20th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
54	Deir Mar Yaqoub	Qara	6th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟
55	Yabrud	Rif Dimashq	Paleolithic / Roman	2 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
56	Qalaat al-Shamamis	Salamiyah	1st C. BCE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟
57	Abu Qubeis Castle	Hama Mountains	10th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
58	Al-Dumeir Temple	Rif Dimashq	3rd C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
59	Deir al-Shirubeim	Sednaya	3rd C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
60	Beit Ajqabash	Aleppo	18th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
61	Beit al-Aqad	Damascus	15th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
62	Al-Madrasa al-Jaqmaqiyeh	Damascus	15th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
63	Homs Attractions	Homs	1st C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
64	Qalaat al-Rasafeh	Raqqa Desert	6th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟
65	Barad	Aleppo (North)	4th C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟🌟
66	Kharab Shams	Aleppo (North)	4th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
67	Deir Turmanin	Idlib (North)	5th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
68	Qalaat Kaluta	Aleppo (North)	2nd C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟
69	Qasr al-Banat	Dana (North)	5th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟
70	Jeradeh	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
71	Qatura	Aleppo (North)	2nd C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
72	Babisqa	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
73	Baqirha	Idlib (North)	2nd C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
74	Ruweiha	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟🌟
75	Jisr al-Shaghur Bridge	Idlib	13th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
76	Al-Madiq Castle	Hama (Apamea)	3rd C. BCE	30 Mins	🌟🌟🌟
77	Mount Qasioun	Damascus	Prehistoric	1 Hour	🌟🌟
78	Ananias Chapel	Damascus	1st C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
79	Sergiopolis (Resafa)	Raqqa Desert	3rd C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟
80	Mari Kingdom	Deir ez-Zor	29th C. BCE	1 Hour	🌟🌟
81	Zeus Baetocaece	Safita Mountains	9th C. BCE	1 Hour	🌟🌟
82	Ain Dara Temple	Afrin (North)	13th C. BCE	45 Mins	🌟🌟
83	Canatha (Qanawat)	Sweida	1st C. CE	1.5 Hours	🌟🌟
84	Cyrrhus (Nabi Houri)	Aleppo (North)	3rd C. BCE	1 Hour	🌟🌟
85	Jaabar Castle	Raqqa	10th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟
86	Alheer Palace	Palmyra Desert	8th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟
87	Deir al-Salib	Hama Countryside	6th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟
88	Al-Andarin	Hama Desert	6th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟
89	Qalaat al-Kahf	Tartus Mountains	12th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟
90	Daraa City (Omari Mosque)	Daraa	7th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟
91	Ithriya	Hama Desert Road	3rd C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
92	Qalaat al-Maniqeh	Jableh Countryside	11th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟
93	Deir Mar Elias	Tartus/Hama	6th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
94	Al-Maqataa Church	Hama Countryside	5th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
95	Burj Heidar	Aleppo (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
96	Kafr Nabo	Aleppo (North)	2nd C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟
97	Sheikh Suleiman	Aleppo (North)	5th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟
98	Fafertin	Aleppo (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
99	Deir Seita	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
100	Shinshirah	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟
101	Banabel	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
102	Bab al-Hawa Arch	Idlib (Border)	6th C. CE	15 Mins	🌟🌟
103	Basufan	Aleppo (North)	5th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
104	Sarmada Columns	Idlib (North)	2nd C. CE	15 Mins	🌟🌟
105	Al-Dana (Tomb)	Idlib (North)	2nd C. CE	15 Mins	🌟🌟
106	Deir Sunbul	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
107	Al-Bara (Baros)	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	1 Hour	🌟🌟
108	Beit Khalid al-Azem	Damascus	18th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
109	Qara (Old Churches)	Qalamoun	4th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟🌟
110	Haran al-Awamid	Rif Dimashq	3rd C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
111	Deir Mar Touma	Sednaya	6th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟🌟
112	Qalaat al-Arimeh	Tartus	12th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟
113	Qalaat al-Ileiqeh	Baniyas	12th C. CE	45 Mins	🌟
114	Qalaat Bani Qahtan	Latakia Mountains	12th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟
115	Burj al-Sebi	Tartus Coast	12th C. CE	15 Mins	🌟
116	Batuta	Aleppo (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟
117	Kimar	Aleppo (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟
118	Sinkhar	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟
119	Behyo	Idlib (North)	5th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟
120	Beshandlaya	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟
121	Meghara	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟
122	Meskaneh	Aleppo (East)	12th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟
123	Qarqbizeh	Idlib (North)	4th C. CE	30 Mins	🌟

How to Plan Your Trip

When you visit Syria, it is impossible to see everything in one trip. We have graded these sites to help you prioritize using this comprehensive Visit Syria Guide.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Global Icons (Must-See)

These sites are the reason travelers decide to visit Syria. If you visit Syria and miss these, your journey is incomplete. This Visit Syria Guide identifies these as non-negotiable stops.

• Palmyra: The legendary “Bride of the Desert” founded in the 20th C. BCE. Even in its damaged state, the scale of history here is unmatched.
• Damascus & Aleppo: These are two of the oldest continuously inhabited cities on earth. The Umayyad Mosque and Aleppo Citadel are not just buildings; they are pillars of human civilization.
• Krak des Chevaliers: Widely considered the most important preserved medieval castle in the world, essential for any visit to Syria.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 The Regional Powerhouses

The Visit Syria Guide classifies these sites as spectacular and well-preserved. They often provide a better, more intimate visitor experience than the busy 5-star sites. If you plan to truly experience the depth of history, your visit to Syria must include these Regional Powerhouses.

• The Dead Cities (Serjilla, Qalb Lozeh): Walking through these 4th-century ghost towns is a unique experience. Qalb Lozeh is particularly important as the architectural grandmother of Europe’s Gothic cathedrals.
• Islamic Heritage: Sites like Khan Asad Pasha and Al-Bimaristan al-Arghuni showcase the sophistication of Ottoman and Mamluk architecture.
• Ancient Kingdoms: Ugarit gave the world the alphabet, and the Hama Norias show 3,000-year-old engineering still turning today.

🌟🌟🌟 The Hidden Gems

For the traveler who wants to go deeper, these are the Hidden Gems listed in the Visit Syria Guide. These are perfect if you are staying for more than 7 days and want to truly visit Syria beyond the main tourist routes. Use this Visit Syria Guide to discover these peaceful retreats.

• Coastal Castles: While Krak gets the fame, Salah al-Din Castle and Al-Marqab offer stunning Mediterranean views and fewer crowds.
• Spiritual Retreats: Sednaya and Deir Mar Musa are active monasteries perched on cliffs, offering incredible peace and history dating back to the 6th Century.

🌟🌟 & 🌟 Specialist Sites

These locations are for the “completest” traveler looking for niche experiences on their visit to Syria. They include remote ruins like Mari Kingdom (academically vital but visually subtle) or the scattered minor ruins of the Dead Cities like Batuta and Kimar. Every traveler using this Visit Syria Guide should know where these sites are located, even if they don’t plan to stop.

Planning Your Journey

• Use the chart within this Visit Syria Guide as your roadmap. By focusing on the high-rated sites first, you ensure that your trip to visit Syria is not just a vacation, but a journey through the most significant chapters of human history. Thank you for choosing this Visit Syria Guide!
• The “Safe Loop”: Most tourists focus on the Damascus-Homs-Tartus-Aleppo corridor. This grants access to almost all 5-Star and 4-Star sites listed in your Visit Syria Guide.
• Access Warning: Sites listed in “Idlib” or “Aleppo (North)” (The Dead Cities) or deep desert sites (Mari, Dura Europos) may require special permission or may be inaccessible depending on the current security situation. Always check local guidance before you decide to visit Syria. For the latest routing advice, consult the Visit Syria Guide.

Your Next Steps: Finalizing Your Journey

We are confident that this meticulously compiled Visit Syria Guide is the only resource you need to unlock the unparalleled historical treasures of the country. This comprehensive Visit Syria Guide provided over 120 rated sites, covering every significant era and region, ensuring you plan smarter, not harder. The journey through Syria offers a profound, unforgettable connection to the past.

Let the rankings and duration times provided in this definitive Visit Syria Guide empower you to make informed choices that maximize your experience and minimize logistical stress. We encourage you to revisit the top-rated sites and start drawing your final map today. This Visit Syria Guide ensures your entire journey is organized, historically rich, and truly unforgettable. It is time to stop planning and start exploring. Use this Visit Syria Guide as your key to the world’s oldest continuously inhabited land.

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Sources & References:

UNESCO – World Heritage Centre: https://whc.unesco.org

Archnet – Architecture & Heritage Database: https://www.archnet.org

World History Encyclopedia: https://www.worldhistory.org

Syrian Heritage Archive Project: https://syrian-heritage.org

Global Encyclopedia: Wikipedia