Backpacking or traveling in Syria?

• Syria is a beautiful country, full of wonderful ancient architecture, culture, hospitable people and extraordinary nature. Think ancient ruins, vast deserts and beautiful beaches, all while enjoying delicious food.
• Whether and how you can travel and backpack in Syria depends heavily on the political and military situation and the region you are going to. So check carefully for the latest updates.
• Activity spotting: experience the lively bazaars of Damascus; visit the citadel and souq of Aleppo; admire ancient Roman Palmyra and the elite's tomb towers; experience Krak des Chevaliers, a real medieval castle; relax on the beach in Latakia; sleep under the stars in the desert of Syria; relax in Tartous; eat delicious food every day; experience the ultimate hospitality.
• Animal spotting: gazelles, caracal, Syrian wolf, striped hyena, steppe eagle, black kite, flamingos, desert dragon, desert rattlesnake, desert beetles.
• Food spotting: mezze of course! Enjoying all kinds of small bites including hummus, baba ghanoush, tabouleh, fattoush, warak enab (stuffed vine leaves). But also dishes like Kibbeh, shawarma, makdous, fatteh, pita bread, manakish, harira, baklava and so on!

Studying in Syria?

• There are several universities in Syria that offered average-good education before the war.  
• The best universities offer particularly good studies in engineering and medicine.
• Study cities: Damascus, Homs, Aleppo.
• Language: Arabic, with some programs (partly) in English.

Internship in Syria?

• It is not easy to find an internship in Syria.   
• Probably your best chance is with humanitarian organizations, in health care or education.   
• You may also be able to get an internship in journalism or environmental protection projects.
• Competencies: intercultural communication, problem-solving skills, dealing with conflict situations, flexibility and adaptability, resilience and stress management.

Doing volunteer work in Syria?

• Actually, the same applies here as for internships.   
• Volunteering is particularly focused on rebuilding the country, landscape and people.

Working in Syria?

• Due to the long war, employment in Syria has changed a lot. Like internships and volunteering, jobs are mainly focused on reconstruction and relief work. Consider jobs with NGOs, in construction, architecture, education and health care. However, it is necessary to have at least basic knowledge of Arabic.
• Work culture: As in many Arab countries, the Syrian work culture is highly hierarchical.    
• Respect for supervisors and elders is important.    
• Decisions are often made by the leadership, and direct criticism of those in higher positions is usually avoided.     
• Many businesses, especially in the private sector, are family businesses. Relationships and trust play a crucial role in business interactions. It is common to use family ties and personal connections to arrange business.

Working as a digital nomad in Syria?

• Syria is not a popular country for digital nomads. Although it is a beautiful country, with a rich culture and beautiful landscapes, there are many challenges that make it difficult to be a digital nomad.
• Not only security risks, but also the limited infrastructure and facilities and the small expat community make it difficult.
• Favorite locations: Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Tartus.

Living in Syria?

• Syria, in stable times, is a wonderful country to live in. It is a country with a lot of history, natural beauty and friendly people.  
• It is also relatively cheap to live in.
• Before the war, many expats came to Syria to work in the petroleum industry or in international politics.   
• There were many international schools and good private clinics. So a suitable country for families when this starts up again with the arrival of more expats.
• Most expats live in Damascus, Homs, Aleppo, Latakia and Tartus. But the livability of these places also greatly depends on current situations.
• Climate: Mediterranean!   
• Mild winters and hot summers.
• Culture: Syria is a culturally and religiously diverse country. There are different ethnic groups, such as Arabs, Kurds and Armenians, and religious communities, including Sunni and Shiite Muslims, Christians and Druze. Religion plays an important role in daily life and is generally respected.
• Syria has a rich history of literature, music, dance and architecture. Before the war, the country was famous for its traditional crafts, such as carpets, mosaics and wood carvings. Many of these cultural traditions remain despite the devastation of the conflict.
• The country is quite conservative, though.    
• For women, this means dressing modestly, especially in public places. Men should also dress appropriately.
• Beware though... There are still considerable security risks and the political situation is unstable, so be prepared for this if you are thinking about moving to Syria and check carefully which regions are suitable.
• Infrastructure can also leave something to be desired, with power outages and unstable internet.
• Health insurance: the health care system has been severely damaged by the conflict, causing shortages of medicine and personnel. For good care, you will probably have to go abroad. So get your own well-covered health insurance.

Stories, tips and experiences from Syria