Syria Country Information
Currency
The Syrian unit of currency
is the Pound. The official organizational US exchange rate
is currently set at 46 pounds to a Dollar. However, for
personal use, the Syrian banks will exchange at around 50
pounds to a dollar. The SYP is not fully convertible. Syrian
Pounds can NOT be converted into dollars. Syrian Pounds
are not allowed to leave the country in amounts greater
than 5000 SYP. (100 USD). There are no ATM machines in the
country and not every store will accept a credit card.
 Languages
The official language is Arabic with French and English
understood in most major cities.
Shopping
Syria offers an array of shopping experiences from open-air
souks to modern shopping malls. All three cities- Damascus,
Aleppo and Homs have old souks. Their hours of operation
depend upon the season of year. In the winter the souks
close around 8, while in the summer they stay open until
10 or later. Most shops in the souk open around 10 am. Some
of the stores especially in the summer will close for lunch
- 2 pm to 5 pm. Syria also has modern shops and several
malls. Their hours of operation are from 10 am to 8 pm.
 Sightseeing
Points of interest in Syria include:
- Old Damascus City- Including Omayyad Mosque, Citadel,
Old City and the National Museum.
- Palmyra- fantastic remains of a Roman City
- Aleppo - Great Mosque, Citadel and the Old City.
- Bosra- remains of a Roman City including a Roman Theatre
- Krak des Chevaliers/ Qalaat Saladin/ Qalaat Marqab - old
Crusader's Castles
- Apamea - a city founded in the third century BC
Transportation
Taxis and services run throughout Damascus and other
large cities. Services and bus companies also run between
cities. Transportation is fairly cheap. The ride from
the Damascus Airport to Damascus costs around 14 USD.
While some drivers do understand English/French, it is
important to have the name of your destination written
down.
Important Links
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