Northwestern Syria

Northwestern Syria is the region around Aleppo, Syria. Home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Dead Cities and countless archaeological remains, it is as of 2023 contested by both the Syrian government, Turkish-backed rebels and Kurdish rebels. Travel in this region is both difficult and dangerous.

Cities

• 1 Afrin - large town in the northeastern corner of Syria.
• 2 Aleppo - second largest city in Syria, packed with history and culture despite being severely damaged during the civil war.
• 3 Idlib - major agricultural center.
• 4 Maarat al-Numan -
• 5 Saraqib - closest town to the ruins of Ebla.

Other destinations

• 1 Dead Cities – A series of towns which once formed part of Antioch. They have long since been abandoned but make an interesting stop for tourists. Al Bara boasts pyramidal tombs and formerly grand archways, now on modern farm land. Serjilla is another famous dead city.

Understand

The vast majority of the population in the Afrin Canton District, the northwestern corner of this region, are Kurdish. Kurdish is commonly spoken there, and the culture is much like that of Iraqi Kurdistan.

Get in

The international airport in Aleppo is functioning but services are very limited. There are domestic flights from the capital Damascus a few times per week and even sparser international flights from a few cities in the Middle East.

Travelling by car, taxi or bus is possible from Damascus along highway M5.

See

Aleppo, battered by the civil war and an earthquake, still contains numerous historic sites to visit. Shown here is its imposing Citadel.

Eat

The people of Aleppo are famed for their love of food and visitors will find a great variety of excellent Syrian dishes for a very reasonable price.

One dish which is particular to Aleppo is muhammara, a delicious, tangy, spicy red paste of olives and roasted peppers which is eaten warm with warm flatbread.

For excellent fresh, flame-cooked lamb kebabs, try the kebab cart near the clocktower.

Drink

Alcohol is available only in the Christian quarter of the city where you will find beers and wines (mainly from Lebanon) and imported spirits. The drinking culture in the Christian Quarter tends to be quite Mediterranean, with drinkers sharing a bottle of wine at a table with or after food.

There is an excellent fresh juice stall near the clock tower.

Stay safe

See Syria article for information on the security situation.