Aleppo Destination Guide

One of the oldest cities in the world, Aleppo has a number of impressive khans and a multitude of churches and mosques. Add to this the natural beauty of the region and it's not difficult to see why Aleppo is such a rage with tourists. Aleppo is also reputed for its great educational centres-the Islamic schools here are of a very high standard.

One of the most striking landmarks in Aleppo is the citadel. A splendid and ancient fortress, it is probably the oldest one in the vicinity. The strong, towering walls and gates are a testimony to superb foresight and engineering skill. The citadel stands atop a hill that dates back to the 16th century BC.

Use our Aleppo Destination Guide below to find out what there is to see and do in this fascinating city. You should also take a look at our Aleppo tours, which not only visit some of the biggest highlights of the city, but also give you an insight into the impressive history and culture of Aleppo. If you would like general information for your holiday in Syria, visit our Syria Country Guide.

Things to see & do in Aleppo

A famous monument in Aleppo is the 13th century citadel, which was erected on the remnants of earlier civilizations by the Seif al-Daula al Hamadani. The fortified entrance to the citadel is a classic example of the famed Arabian prowess in military architecture. On both sides, the north and the south, two huge towers rise above the moat. Not to be missed are the bathroom, the throne room and the small mosque.

Lying about 25 kilometres to the southeast of Idleb, Ebla has shot into prominence since certain archaeological discoveries proved it to be a hub of ancient civilization. Tal Mardikn excavations have proved that Ebla was a flourishing trade centre in the 2nd and 3rd century BC. A palace that was unearthed revealed more than 17000 tablets, which are supposedly Syria’s earliest instances of written documents.

If you’re a smoker, don’t miss the hooka cafés. A rage with the Aleppo locals, these cafés are easy to find and are an excellent way to savour the local culture first hand. Step in to mingle with the locals drinking tea, playing backgammon and perennially smoking hookas.

Situated to the north of Syria’s semi-desert, to the south of Euphrates, Rasafeh lies about 160 kilometres to the south-east of Aleppo. It is about 30 kilometres southwards down the Aleppo Raqqa road. The Rasafeh palace is a living testament to the passion that the third Omayyad Caliph, Hisham ibn Abdul Malik, had for the arts and architecture.

Known in the local language as the Qalaat Sam'aan, this ancient church is found almost 30 miles outside Aleppo. It can be easily reached by taxi. The church has supposedly been built in memory of the hermit, St Simeon the Stylite. Word has it that the site was selected since it had the pillar where Simeon used to pray. An important pilgrimage spot, it is renowned for its beautiful grounds. If you're looking to get out of the city for only a day, this basilica would be an ideal choice.

The souks are a testament to the originality of the people. Stretching for over ten kilometres and comprising of winding alleys, these covered souks are surprisingly spacious. Most of the souks are named after the various items featured there and you're bound to find a gold souk, copper souk, cotton souk and so on.

Generally, the souks have a fountain at the centre; very often, gardens with roses and jasmines in full bloom are also found. Considered to be a ‘living museum', many of these souks are a fantastic depiction of 15th century medieval life.

This church lies about 65 kilometres to the west of Aleppo. Dating back to the 6th century, it is a classic example of Syrian Byzantine art.

Not very far from the city of Aleppo are a series of ruins from the Byzantine and late Roman era. Together, they have been dubbed as The Dead Cities. The most famed of these is the Dead City of Qalaat Semaan, to the northwest of Aleppo. It has been named after the 5th century monk, St. Simeon Stylites, who chained himself to a rock and managed to stay alive for almost 38 years.

Ain Dara and Cyrrhus are other Dead Cities in the northwest. Qalb Lozeh and Harim are found in the west. The Dead Cities of Maarat al-Numan and Idlib Ebla consist of Bara (al-Kafr), Maarat al-Numan, Ruweiha and Serjilla, and are found to the southwest of Aleppo.

The most famous among the Dead Cities are perhaps Ebla and Idleb. Idleb is worth visiting for its unique museum and hotel. Not far from Idleb is Ebla, harking back to 2400 BC. Here, fifteen thousand clay tablets were unearthed during the 1970s, displaying the first alphabets as well as the symbols of international trade. The discovery sparked off a new enthusiasm in the history of civilization and the site continues to attract tourists in droves.

This mosque is the oldest Ottoman mosque in Aleppo. It's decorated with enameled ceramic tiles of Ottoman style.

Built in 1213  by the Umayyad Caliph al Walid, who earlier founded the Great Mosque in Damascus. It was destroyed in a fire in the 12th century and rebuilt with an enormous 45 meter minaret. Arranged around a vast courtyard, the mosque is extremely important to Muslims around the world

Most important baths in Aleppo are AL Nuhassien, Al Bayad ,Al Yalbagha, Al Nasiri, Azdamar, Al Sultan and Al Jawahiri. They were all built Between the 12'' and 15'' centuries