Travelers are advised to avoid the border between Syria and Iraq. Syria is known for its ancient cities and archeological sites. Damascus, its capital, is regarded as the oldest inhabited city in the world. Aleppo, the second largest city in Syria, is famous for its citadel, souqs (markets), hammams (public baths) and ancient khans (rest houses). Other tourist attractions in Syria include the magnificent Ummayyad Mosque in Damascus, Crusader Castle (Krak des Chevaliers), the Roman theatre in Bosra, the archaeological site of Qala'at Samaan near Aleppo, and the Temple of Bel (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) in Palmyra. Homs, the commercial capital of Syria, and Latakia, a picturesque holiday resort on the Mediterranean coast, are also worth visiting.

Many international airlines have direct flights to Syria from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Regular car ferry services connect Syria with Bodrum in western Turkey, which is well connected to Italy and Greece. Bus services run across the desert from Damascus to Istanbul (Turkey), Amman (Jordan), Beirut (Lebanon) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).