Aleppo
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WARNING: Western governments advise against all travel to Syria, including Aleppo. Terrorist attacks, kidnapping and fighting between rival armies are common. Consular services are generally not available. |
Government travel advisories
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| (Information last updated 30 Nov 2023) |
Aleppo (حلب, Ḥalab) is the largest city in Syria - population 2.1 million. One of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world, it has a wealth of historical sites, and its old city is listed as a 
UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Understand
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As it is in any Muslim country, the call to prayer is called out from mosques five times a day starting in the early morning. Aleppo's muezzins are traditionally well known for their beautiful calls to prayer.
Aleppo is a fairly conservative city. Dress appropriately to avoid any problems and to avoid standing out too much. Men should wear shirts and trousers and women should not wear anything that is too revealing. If you follow that simple dress code you should not have any problems. Head scarves are not necessary unless you want to enter a mosque or church but even then grey robes are available at no extra charge.
Prior to the Syrian Civil War, Aleppo was known for its large Armenian community, many of whom were descended from refugees fleeing the Armenian Genocide, but it is unknown how many remain after the war.
Aleppo was the epicenter of the fighting during much of the Syrian Civil War which erupted as a result of the Arab Spring in 2010. Syrian government forces loyal to Bashar al-Assad eventually prevailed over the rebel groups following Russian intervention in 2016, thus returning all of the city of government control, but not before it had suffered over 30,000 deaths and much of the old city had been destroyed.
There are no hostile feelings towards Americans or Westerners in general (although Americans tend to be subjected to more scrutiny by the authorities than other nationalities). You could, however, find yourself in trouble if you engage in open criticism of and against the Syrian government or the president. Your best bet is to avoid political conversations all together just to avoid any possible problems. If you do engage in political discussions with Syrians, be aware that they might face intense questioning by the secret police if you are overheard. As a general rule, always assume that you are being watched by the plain-clothes policemen (mukhabarat). You will notice that not many uniformed policemen can be seen in the streets, but this is because the police have a wide network of plain-clothes officers and informants.
Friday is a holy day and most shops and historic sites are closed so plan accordingly for this.
Stealing is looked down upon and thus is not very common. Crime is generally low and you should feel safe to walk around in any part of the city at any time day or night. But as in any city, it's a good idea to keep an eye on your belongings, particularly in the souk.
Meals are a bit later than in the U.S. but similar to the times in some European countries. Lunch is from 13:00 to 15:00 and dinner around 20:00. Syrians take a siesta in the middle of the day, from about 15:00 to 18:00, but this means that the night life is very active. You can return to the markets and public squares that you visited during the day and by 22:00 they will be bustling with people selling food and treats and drinks. It is a like a street fair every night.
Aleppo is a beautiful and historic city, but is too dangerous to recommend visiting.
Climate
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Aleppo has a cool steppe climate. The mountain series that run along the Mediterranean coast, the Alawiyin Mountains and the Nur Mountains, largely block the effects of the Mediterranean on climate (rain shadow effect). More than 80% of precipitation occurs between October and March. It snows once or twice every winter. Average humidity is 55.7%.
Get in
[edit]As of 2019, travel to Aleppo is difficult as major highways are blocked by the civil war and travel on roads that are can take a long time due to frequent military checkpoints. It is however possible to travel overland from Damascus independently or by bus. Travel from Turkey is not possible.
By plane
[edit]As of 2023 there's a limited number of scheduled flight to Aleppo, including a few international flights per week, to Yerevan (EVN IATA) and Erbil (EBL IATA). However, flights often have to be cancelled at short notice as the airport is a frequent target of Israeli missile strikes.
- 1 Aleppo International Airport (مطار حلب الدولي) (7 km east of the city centre). ALP IATA.
By train
[edit]All long distance trains, including international trains, are cancelled indefinitely. Repairs on the route from Damascus via Homs and Hama have picked up pace, and there has been rumours that a limited number of passenger trains might return, however it is very unclear if or when this will happen. National operator CFS do run a local commuter train from the suburb and major refugee camp Jibreen, of little use to visitors.
- 2 Aleppo railway station (محطة قطار حلب) (About a kilometre northeast of the city centre). Also known as Baghdad station, as it was built as a major hub on the Berlin–Baghdad Railway, a late 19th/early 20th century project spearheaded by the German Empire with Ottoman support.
Get around
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Taxis are everywhere, probably more taxis than people. They are easy to take and very affordable but just make sure it is a licensed taxi.
Minibuses: Called "serveece", these are small white vans that drive around and you can hop on and off by signalling to the driver. They get very full in rush hours.
Rental cars: Hertz and other rental car agencies are available in Aleppo but the driving can be very hectic and if you are not accustomed to driving in a place with few rules and almost no regard for street signs you should probably not attempt to drive on your own.
See
[edit]- 1 Citadel of Aleppo. On a hill in the centre of the city and is visible from almost anywhere. Usage of the Citadel hill dates back at least to the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, but the current structure dates from the 13th century. The citadel survived the fighting relatively intact and there are daily tours as of 2017.
- 2 Al-Madina Souq. With a total length of almost 13 kilometers, this used to be the largest souk in the world and had all of the shopping you could want to do from gold and silver, boxes, clothing, fabric and soap. Severely damaged during the civil war. A small part of the souk called al-Saqatiyah reopened in 2019. Bargaining is encouraged and if you know some Arabic it will get you a much better price.
- 3 Central Synagogue of Aleppo. First built in the Byzantine period, perhaps as early as the 9th century before BCE.
- 4 Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower. Built in 1898-99 and a symbol of the city.
- 5 Aleppo Public Park (الحديقة العامة بحلب). A 17 hectre public park, centrally located. Features a large number of sculptures and statues
- 6 Khan al-Saboon (خان الصابون).
Museums
[edit]- 7 National Museum of Aleppo (متحف حلب الوطني), Baron St. Archaeological museum documenting the history of Syria, it was hit by missiles in 2016 and most artifacts evacuated. After extensive reparation, the museum re-opened in October 2019.
- 8 Bimaristan Arghan. A beautiful mental hospital turned into a museum. Entrance is free and you can wander around and look at exhibits, which include old medical equipment, herbs, biographies of famous Arab scientists and other interesting artifacts. The main attractions, however, are the courtyard and two separate spaces reserved for the mentally ill.
- 9 Popular Traditions Museum (بيت أجقباش في الجديدة). Housed in Beit Achiqbash, a prime example of an Aleppine courtyard mansion, built in the mid 18th Century. Badly damaged during the Civil War this mansion has now been reconstructed and the museum has reopened.
Mosques
[edit]- 10 Great Mosque of Aleppo (جامع حلب الكبير). Also known as the Umayyad Mosque of Aleppo is the largest and one of the oldest mosques in Aleppo, built between the 11th and 14th centuries. Its minaret, dating back to 1090 along with other parts of the mosque was destroyed during the Syrian civil war in April 2013. Both the mosque and its minaret are to be rebuilt during the coming years.
- 11 Al-Saffahiyah Mosque. Built in 1425.
- 12 Al-Tawashi Mosque. Historical mosque, dating back to the Mamluk period. It was built in 1348 by Safi ad-Dine Jawhar al-Allani al-Tawashi and enlarged in 1537 by Saadallah bin Ali bin Osman al-Malati.
- 13 Khanqah al-Farafira (خانقاه الفرافرة). A former Sufi monastery, completed in 1244 AD.
- 14 Banqusa Mosque (جامع بانقوسا). Built in 1386 AD.
Churches
[edit]- 15 Bethel Church. Armenian Evangelical church, built in 1937.
- 16 Cathedral of Saint Elijah (كاتدرائية القدّيِس الياس). Eastern Catholic (Maronite) church, built in 1873.
- 17 Church of Saint Francis of Assisi (كنيسة القديس فرنسيس الأسيزي). Catholic church, built in 1937.
- 18 Mar Assia al-Hakim Church (كنيسة مار آسيا الحكيم). Built in 1500.
- 19 Forty Martyrs Cathedral (كنيسة الأربعين شهيد). Armenian Apostolic church, first constructed in 1491.
- 20 Church of the Dormition of Our Lady (كنيسة رقاد السيدة العذراء) (In the Jdeydeh quarter). Greek Orthodox church built during the first half of the 15th century.
- 21 Cathedral of Saint Ephrem the Syrian. Syriac Orthodox cathedral, built in 1926.
- 22 Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption (كاتدرائية سيدة الانتقال). Main cathedral of the Syriac Catholic Church in Aleppo. An imposing modernist structure built in 1970.
- 23 Cathedral of Saint Joseph (كاتدرائية القديس يوسف). Seat of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Aleppo, built in 1972.
Do
[edit]Walk around the city at least a few times to really get a feel for what it is like. It is a vibrant and lively place that will continually surprise you. Any amount of time spent walking around the city will reveal another historical site or point of interest. Check out the Christian section of the city to see a different part of Aleppo. If you want to shop for clothes, al-Telal street is bustling nearly every night with crowds checking out the shops and street stands piled high with every type of clothing imaginable.
Buy
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Gold: Although the prices are as high as they have ever been, gold is still a worthwhile purchase here. There is a special gold pattern called the Aleppo weave or chain that is made only in Aleppo. All gold is sold by weight and is 22 carat.
Boxes: Aleppo is also famous for its intricate inlay work that can be found in boxes of all shapes and sizes. These boxes are beautiful and can be found at almost all of the shops in the souq. A great, affordable gift to take home.
Wraps/tablecloths: There are many nice wraps that can be worn as shawls or used as tablecloths that are also available everywhere in the souqs. Another good gift.
Sweets: Pistachios are everywhere in Aleppo and accordingly there are many different kinds of sweets made from the pistachio. These usually come in a decorative box and are yet another good gift.
Coffee and spices: It is impossible to walk through the souq without being caught up in the scent of freshly ground coffee and spices like cumin. You can also buy very ornate pots to make your coffee in.
Soap: One of the most famous Aleppine products is its olive oil soap. Many factories produce this using traditional techniques. The price varies depending on the proportion of olive and laurel oil, prices and assortment is better in the shops just in the 2 roads south of the Clock Tower rather than in the Souq's tourist traps, even if most shop keepers speak very little English (prices per kilo are clearly shown).
Eat
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The area around Aleppo is famous for pistachio farming, so be sure to try the baklava and other pistachio-based sweets while you're here.
Common Syrian street food like falafels and shwarma are excellent and available throughout the city. In the souks you will also find tiny restaurants with a few stools serving up dishes like Fuul (pronounced “fool”), a bean soup served with fresh bread, onions and mint. If you are adventurous, look for the men frying curry-flavoured pancakes near the entrance to the souk. The pancakes are wrapped in bread and topped with hot sauce. Also try and buy some of the freshly made pita bread that is sold everywhere as it is delicious.
For breakfast, a fresh glass of juice and cheese sandwich can be had from the juice stands near the clock tower. Many cafés also serve great ice cream for a treat.
If you are tired after a day of wandering around the souk, try one of the cafés near the base of the citadel. They offer light snacks and drinks, including a wide range of coffees and refreshing glasses of minted lemonade.
Travellers on a strict budget should be prepared to eat very similar meals everyday as there is not a lot of variety in the diet at the cheaper end of the range.
There are plenty of good restaurants around and meals are very affordable.
- 1 Haj Abdo. Having been around since 1885, Haj Abdo is considered the best parlor of ful - a stew of cooked fava beans - in town.
In the Christian Quarter (El Jedeide) district
[edit]- La Gondole, ☏ +963 21 4124095. Cafe and restaurant featuring a Swimming pool with a sitting table around the pool and outdoors bar under the sunshine.
- Al Mir, ☏ +963 21 3336580. Cafe and restaurant featuring a rerrace with views over the Aleppo Citadel.
- Beit Sissy. A particularly good choice. It has a beautiful courtyard and their shish kebab in cherry sauce is out of this world!
- Sheraton Hotel. It may seem wrong to come to Syria and head for the Sheraton but they do offer an excellent buffet breakfast, which, if you're willing to splurge, makes a nice change from the typical Syrian fare and will set you up well for a day of exploring. They also do a fine cup of coffee.
In Aziziyeh
[edit]- Al- Challal
- WANES Restaurant
Drink
[edit]Alcohol is permitted but not widely available. You can find stores selling liquor on a few streets near the clocktower. Try Zaki al-Arsuzi (across from Al Kommeh restaurant) and Jbrail Dalal streets. There is a liquor store a few metres away from the Aleppo Hotel (on a side street from the clocktower). In the new city there is a store at Al Hateb square. Restaurants and hotels that cater to Westerners will generally serve alcoholic beverages.
There is one local beer, called Al-Sharq, while the Damascus brew Barada may also be found. Neither are exactly lethal - 3.7% and 3.4% respectively.
A wide range of other beers from the Middle East and Europe can also be found, along with wines from Syria, Lebanon and France.
Arak is a local aniseed spirit which can be found at some small shops.
- 1 Al Attar Cafe (مطعم و كافتيريا العطار) (In front of Aleppo citadel). Popular café with magnificent views over the entrance of Aleppo citadel.
Sleep
[edit]Budget
[edit]- Al-Gawaher – Bab al-Faraj Street, Behind Library. Perhaps the best backpacker spot in Aleppo. Rooms have satellite TV and both en suite and shared bathrooms are very clean. Many have balconies and others overlook a common area, where travellers often meet to chat. The rooftop gives great views over the city and is another nice spot to spend the evening. Staff are friendly and English is spoken. Tours can be arranged to the Dead Cities, Apamea and other sites. The only possible downside is that staff are late risers and so getting breakfast can be a problem. Breakfast is not included. There is, however, free coffee and tea available 24/7.
- Hotel Alnagm Alakhdar (aka Hotel Green Star) – Around the corner from the Al-Gawaher on Sharia Hammam Al Tal (next to the Sheraton parking entrance off the Clock Tower end of Bab El Faraj - it could not be more central - 963-21-212 60 23, mob. 963 -944-25 76 45), it also has a nice roof terrace but the atmosphere is not nearly as lively. The rooms come with sinks and fans or aircom. There are no TVs in the rooms but two shared ones: one in the lounge and the second one on the top floor. Try and get one on the top floor that opens onto the roof terrace. Staff speak a little English but are very helpful. Breakfast is not included.
- Hotel Kaser Alandaloss - Just off Bab Al-Faraj Street, in sight of the clock tower on a small block, nestled between a couple of soap merchant stores. The rooms are nice, and they have excellent showers and a comfortable central area to sit, eat, use the internet. There's no option for breakfast, but if you want some tea or some food, they are more than likely to make some for you.
Mid-range
[edit]- 1 Dar Halabia Hotel, Bab Antakya (Inside the old souk), ☏ +963 933 100 068.
Splurge
[edit]- 2 Park Hotel, Baghdad Station St, ☏ +963 21 223 3283, fax: +963 21 2233250, info@parkhotelsyria.com. Located in the middle of the city centre. Ten minutes walk to the city centre, and 5 minutes by car to the old souks. Free WiFi internet access in all around the hotel with high speed line. Laundry and pressing service. Airport pick-up and drop-off service.
- 3 Sheraton Hotel Aleppo, Al Khandaq St, ☏ +963 21 212 1111. Reopened in 2018, this is the most luxurious hotel available in Aleppo. Despite its name, the hotel is not part of the Sheraton hotel chain.
Hotels that are closed as of early 2020:
- 4 Baron Hotel (Corner of Baron St and Yarmouk St). A colonial throwback - the hotel opened in 1909 - whose former guests include Agatha Christie (who wrote much of Murder on the Orient Express here), T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia), Ataturk and Teddy Roosevelt. During latter years the hotel developed the charm of a place that had seen better days. Residents and visitors alike also took the effort to pop into the bar to have a drink and marvel a showpiece at a bygone era. Bombarded during the civil war and forced to close in 2014, it is as of 2017 unclear if and when this historic hotel will reopen.
- Beit Wakil (from Jdeideh Square, walk down the street into the old city and turn right at the first alley, called Sissi St), ☏ +963 21 2117083, fax: +963 21 2117082, betwakil@scs-net.org. A great small boutique hotel in the Christian quarter. Renovated old building with a nice courtyard. The restaurant is very good but a bit touristy. Doubles US$121.
- Ramsis Hotel, ☏ +963 21 2111102, fax: +963 21 2216700, info@ramsishotel.com. Very centrally located close to the citadel and old Christian quarter, one minute away from the museum. A three-star, deluxe hotel. Very comfortable and well-furnished 28 rooms and 8 suites, a street side cafeteria (Down Town Cafe), an open terrace restaurant (The Green Roof), a gift shop, a news-stand and internet access.
Connect
[edit]An internet access in the old town and near the main attractions (the Citadel, the Souq and the Grand Mosque) can be found at Tara Cafe. It is located in the underground lair of the caravansary of the Adlliyah Mosque and provides standard rates for internet access. It is not an internet cafe, but rather a cafe that provides internet access as a service on laptops that can be rented by the hour.
The Friends Cafe Net is also located in the area of the Citadel. From the entrance to the Citadel, walk straight (south) to a block with shawarma & chicken outlets on the ground floor. The cafe is just behind the block in a small street called "Jnenyt al-Fariq(1)". From the outlets, follow the street to your right, turn left then immediately right.
The closest internet cafe to most of the budget hotels, in the Bab al-Faraj area, is the Concord, which is in an ice cream parlor and cafe by the same name. It charges an outrageous rate for Aleppo and Syria and general.
The other internet cafe within walking distance is at Adam Cafe, across the street from the Baron Hotel. Nevertheless, the internet cafe is in the bottom story of an all-male tea house which may make female customers feel uncomfortable. If you wander around the new Christian quarter of al-Aziziyeh you can find many internet cafes such as Area 51, Montana and Kool Net which offer high speed access. All of the aforementioned cafes provide discount cards for chunks of time.
Stay safe
[edit]Many buildings in the city, particularly in the Salaheddin neighborhood and surrounding areas, have been damaged severely by the civil war. Buildings can and do collapse, often with deadly consequences. Stay away from buildings that have sustained heavy damage or look structurally unstable.
Cope
[edit]Consulates
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Romania, Str. Al Sadiq 022 - Cart. Jamiliei, P.O. Box 8665, ☏ +963 21 2272111, +963 94 4377777, fax: +963 21 2246367. Honorary Consulate (Does not provide consular services. Instead, Romanian citizens in need of assistance should contact the embassy in Damascus.)
