12 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Syria - Atlas Obscura

Unusual
Attractions
in Syria

Palmyra

Mysterious lost empire of the Silk Road.

Added by heatherdoodle

Krak des Chevaliers

Ruins of the Crusaders' headquarters.

stanestane

Added by stanestane

Balshoon, Syria

Dead City of Serjilla

1500-year-old ghost settlement slowly faded away.

serflac

Added by serflac

Musyaf Castle

The Syrian headquarters of alleged hashish-smoking assassins.

serflac

Added by serflac

Church of Saint Simeon the Stylite

What is left of the pillar of Saint Simeon, the voluntary martyr who climbed the column to give his sermons, remaining perched there for thirty-seven years.

colindickey

Added by colindickey

An-Nabk District, Syria

Deir Mar Musa al-Habashi

This ancient mountain monastery welcomes all manner of faith in an effort to keep Christians in Syria.

A FOSTER

Added by A FOSTER

Norias of Hama

Only a handful of these gorgeous historic waterwheels remain but even those are in danger from local unrest.

ahvenas

Added by ahvenas

Set Zaynab, Syria

Sayyidah Zaynab Mosque

This ornate mosque is said to hold the remains of Muhammad's granddaughter beneath its dome of pure gold.

A FOSTER

Added by A FOSTER

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Unique
Food & Drink
in Syria

Desert Truffles

Gastro Obscura

Ingredients & Condiments

Desert Truffles

So strong is Kuwaitis’ love for this seasonal delicacy that an entire market gets set up just for its sale.

Gastro Obscura

Rohini Chaki

Added by Rohini Chaki

Are we missing a unique food or drink in Syria?

Explore Syria

Launch Map

Syria Leaderboard

Places Added

Places Edited

Places Visited

Recent Syria Activity

Zurc wants to go to Palmyra

Zurc wants to go to Musyaf Castle

Zurc wants to go to Krak des Chevaliers

tomdodd wants to go to The Citadel of Aleppo

houseofnight35 wants to go to Church of Saint Simeon the Stylite

Stories
About Syria

Accept no substitutes: Authentic Aleppo soap bears its maker's mark, and the Arabic name for the city of its origin.

In Syria, War and Modernity Are No Match for the World's Oldest Soap

The artisans of Aleppo keep plying their ancient trade, one bar at a time.

by Nora Wallaya

August 01, 2019

Students at work in Mafraq.

Syrian Refugees Are Learning Stonemasonry to Rebuild Their Country

The apprentices hope to restore damaged buildings and monuments after the war ends.