What is the best time to visit Syria?

Best Time to Visit Syria

The best time to travel to Syria is during spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November).

Spring in Syria

Spring is the most popular time to visit Syria. The weather is mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit. The countryside is lush and green, with blooming flowers and trees. Popular attractions include the ancient city of Palmyra, the old city of Damascus, and the Crusader Castles. During this season, travelers can experience the Sham El Nessim festival, which is celebrated on the Monday after Easter.

Autumn in Syria

Autumn is another great time to visit Syria. The temperatures are still mild, ranging from the mid-50s to the mid-70s Fahrenheit. The countryside is still lush and green, and the air is filled with the scent of ripening fruits. Popular attractions include the ancient city of Palmyra, the old city of Damascus, and the Crusader Castles. During this season, travelers can experience the Eid al-Adha festival, which is celebrated with prayers, feasts, and gift-giving.

Month-by-month guide for traveling in Syria

Syria in January

Weather

January in Syria is typically cold, with temperatures ranging from 5°C (41°F) to 13°C (55°F). Rainfall is common, with an average of 5-7 days of rain in January. Snow is also possible in some parts of the country.

Events

• The Syrian Revolution Anniversary is commemorated on January 25th, marking the beginning of the Syrian Civil War in 2011.
• The New Year’s Day Parade is held in Damascus on January 1st, with military and cultural performances.
• The Damascus International Fair is held in the capital city from January 15th to the 25th, featuring international exhibitors and cultural performances.
• The Al-Hassan Mosque in Aleppo holds the annual Al-Hassan Festival from January 10th to the 20th, featuring Islamic art, music, and poetry.
• The city of Homs hosts the annual Homs International Festival from January 10th to the 20th, featuring cultural performances and art exhibitions.

Syria in January

Weather

January in Syria is typically cold and wet, with temperatures ranging from 10-15 degrees Celsius (50-59 degrees Fahrenheit). Snow is common in the northern and mountainous regions.

Events

• January 6th marks the Orthodox Christian celebration of Epiphany.
• January 7th is the anniversary of the start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011.
• January 15th is the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
• January 17th is the anniversary of the establishment of the Syrian Arab Republic in 1920.
• January 25th is the anniversary of the Ba’ath Party’s rise to power in Syria in 1963.

Syria in March

Weather

March in Syria is generally mild and pleasant, with temperatures ranging from 10-20°C (50-68°F). It is usually sunny during this time of year, but rainfall is not uncommon.

Events

• The International Damascus Film Festival is held in March, showcasing the best of Syrian and international cinema.
• The Al-Sham International Festival is held in Damascus in March, featuring traditional music and dance performances from around the world.
• The International Aleppo Book Fair is held in March, with booksellers from all over the Middle East and North Africa coming together to showcase their wares.
• The International Damascus Marathon is held in March, with runners from around the world participating in a race through the ancient city.
• The International Damascus Flower Festival is held in March, celebrating the beauty of Syrian flowers with displays, competitions, and more.

Syria in April

Weather

April in Syria is typically warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 15-25°C (59-77°F). The days are generally dry, but some light rain is possible.

Events

• The Syrian National Day, which marks the founding of the Syrian Arab Republic in 1946, is celebrated on April 17th.
• Easter is celebrated in April, and is a public holiday in Syria.
• The Damascus International Fair is held in April, and is the largest trade fair in Syria.
• The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is marked on April 4th.
• The International Day of Human Space Flight is marked on April 12th.

Syria in May

Weather

May in Syria is warm and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 16 to 28 degrees Celsius. The days are long and the nights are mild.

Events

• The International Damascus Festival takes place in May, celebrating Syrian culture and heritage. It includes a variety of activities such as music, theatre, and art exhibitions.
• The Damascus International Fair is held in May, showcasing Syrian industry and products.
• The International Damascus Marathon takes place in May, with runners from around the world taking part in the event.
• The Damascus International Film Festival is held in May, showcasing the best of Syrian film and television.
• May marks the beginning of the olive harvest season in Syria, with farmers harvesting olives from their groves.

Syria in June

Weather

June in Syria is typically hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to mid-30s Celsius (70-90°F). Rainfall is low, with an average of 2-3 rainy days per month.

Events

• The annual Damascus International Fair is held in June. This is one of the largest trade fairs in the Middle East, bringing together businesses from all over the world.
• The annual Damascus International Film Festival is held in June. This is one of the largest film festivals in the Middle East, showcasing the work of filmmakers from all over the world.
• The annual Damascus International Marathon is held in June. This is one of the largest marathons in the Middle East, attracting runners from all over the world.
• The annual Damascus International Music Festival is held in June. This is one of the largest music festivals in the Middle East, featuring performances by musicians from all over the world.
• The annual Damascus International Book Fair is held in June. This is one of the largest book fairs in the Middle East, bringing together authors and publishers from all over the world.

Syria in July

Weather

July is a hot month in Syria, with temperatures usually ranging from the mid-20s to the low-30s Celsius. Rainfall is low, with most of the rain falling in the first half of the month.

Events

• The Syrian National Day is celebrated on July 17th. This day marks the independence of Syria from France in 1946.
• The Damascus International Fair is held in July. This fair is a major event for the country, bringing together businesses and traders from all over the world.
• The Al-Nawroz Festival is held in July. This festival celebrates the beginning of the new year according to the Kurdish calendar.
• The Orontes Festival is held in July. This festival is a celebration of the culture and history of the region, with performances of traditional music and dance.
• The Hama Water Festival is held in July. This festival celebrates the region’s water resources, with activities such as boat races and swimming competitions.

Syria in August

Weather

August in Syria is typically hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from the mid-20s to mid-30s Celsius (high 70s to mid-90s Fahrenheit). Rainfall is minimal, with most of the rain falling in the northern regions of the country.

Events

• The annual Damascus International Fair is held in August, showcasing the latest products and services from Syrian businesses.
• The Syrian National Day is celebrated on August 17th, commemorating the country’s independence from French rule in 1946.
• The annual Aleppo International Festival is held in August, showcasing traditional Syrian music, dance, and cuisine.
• The annual Palmyra Festival is held in August, celebrating the ancient city’s rich cultural heritage.
• The annual Damascus International Film Festival is held in August, showcasing the best of Syrian and international cinema.

Syria in September

Weather

September in Syria is typically hot and dry, with temperatures ranging from the low to mid-30s Celsius (mid-90s Fahrenheit). There is usually little to no rain during this month.

Events

• The Syrian National Day is celebrated on September 17th, commemorating the country’s independence from France in 1946.
• The Damascus International Fair is held in early September, showcasing the country’s economic and cultural achievements.
• The Great Syrian Revolt of 1925 is commemorated on September 25th, marking the start of the country’s independence movement.
• The International Day of Peace is celebrated on September 21st, with events held throughout the country to promote peace and understanding.
• The International Day of Democracy is observed on September 15th, with events held throughout the country to promote democratic values.

Syria in October

Weather

In October, Syria experiences mild temperatures with average highs ranging from 24-28°C (75-82°F) and lows ranging from 15-20°C (59-68°F). Rainfall is common during this month, with an average of around 6-7 days of rain per month.

Events

• The Battle of Aleppo, which began in October 2012, is a significant event that took place in Syria during this month. This battle marked the start of a long-term conflict between the Syrian government and rebel forces.
• October is the month of the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha, which is celebrated by Muslims all over the world. This holiday marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and is celebrated with feasts and family gatherings.
• The Syrian National Day is celebrated on October 6th each year. This holiday marks the anniversary of the declaration of the Syrian Arab Republic in 1945 and is celebrated with parades, fireworks, and other festivities.
• The Damascus International Film Festival is held every October in the Syrian capital. This festival showcases films from all over the world and is an important event for the Syrian film industry.
• October is the month of the olive harvest in Syria. This is an important time of year for farmers in the region, as olives are an important source of income.

Syria in November

Weather

November in Syria is generally mild and sunny, with temperatures ranging from lows of 8°C to highs of 22°C. Rainfall is minimal, with an average of 1-2 days of rain throughout the month.

Events

• The International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is celebrated on November 25th. This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the issue of violence against women and girls.
• The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is observed on November 17th. This day is dedicated to remembering those who have been killed or injured in road traffic accidents.
• The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People is commemorated on November 29th. This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the plight of the Palestinian people and their struggle for self-determination.
• The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is observed on November 25th. This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the issue of modern-day slavery and human trafficking.
• The International Day of Persons with Disabilities is celebrated on December 3rd. This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the rights and needs of persons with disabilities.

Syria in December

Weather

December in Syria is generally mild and dry, with temperatures ranging from 10-20 degrees Celsius (50-68 degrees Fahrenheit). Rainfall is low, with a few days of light showers throughout the month.

Events

• The annual Damascus International Fair is held in December, showcasing Syrian culture and industry.
• The Damascus Marathon is held in December, attracting runners from around the world.
• The Aleppo International Marathon is held in December, with runners from around the world participating.
• The Damascus Film Festival is held in December, showcasing the best of Syrian cinema.
• The Aleppo International Music Festival is held in December, featuring performances from local and international artists.