Damascus Governorate district, Syria

Places to visit near Damascus

Damascus is a city in Damascus Governorate district, Syria, home to about 1,569,394 people. Within 50 km by road there are 143 places to visit — 30 forts & heritage, 41 hill stations & viewpoints, 22 mosques & dargahs and 16 churches. The must-see places are Sulaymaniya Takiya (1 km), Tankiz Mosque (1 km) and نصب ساحة المرجة (1 km).

Updated · Distances are road estimates · Open Damascus on the map

Damascus at a glance

Location
Damascus Governorate district, Syria
Population
about 1,569,394
Coordinates
33.5102° N, 36.2913° E
Places within 50 km
143 (36 must-see)
Best time to visit
October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for mosques & dargahs and churches

Top places to visit near Damascus

Ranked by how worth the drive they are from Damascus: must-see places and the closest well-loved spots first. Open a place for photos, today’s visitor status, timings and directions.

More places near Damascus

Things to see near Damascus, by type

Forts & heritage near Damascus

62 forts & heritage within 100 km of Damascus. The closest is Sulaymaniya Takiya (1 km). Best time: october to february.

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Hill stations & viewpoints near Damascus

56 hill stations & viewpoints within 100 km of Damascus. The closest is Mount Kassioun (4 km). Best time: october to february for cool, clear air.

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Mosques & dargahs near Damascus

23 mosques & dargahs within 100 km of Damascus. The closest is Wtkya Al Molaoya Mosque (1 km); the best-known is Tankiz Mosque (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Churches near Damascus

23 churches within 100 km of Damascus. The closest is Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus (2 km); the best-known is Cathedral of Saint George (3 km). Best time: year-round.

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Museums near Damascus

9 museums within 100 km of Damascus. The closest is National Museum in Damascus (1 km). Best time: year-round.

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Parks near Damascus

7 parks within 100 km of Damascus. The closest is حديقة المدفع (1 km); the best-known is Sebki Park (1 km). Best time: year-round, evenings.

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A one-day trip from Damascus

5 of the best places within 60 km, in driving order so you don’t double back: about 6 km on the road.

  1. Start in Damascus
  2. 1 km Sulaymaniya Takiya · heritage site, Damascus Governorate
  3. 1 km Saif Al-Din Yalbugha Mosque · mosque, Damascus Governorate
  4. 1 km نصب ساحة المرجة · heritage site, Damascus Governorate
  5. 1 km Tankiz Mosque · mosque, Damascus Governorate
  6. 1 km Darwish Pasha Mosque · mosque, Damascus Governorate
  7. 1 km Back to Damascus

Plan a longer trip from Damascus — the planner adds a place to stay each night and keeps the route to one loop.

From travellers near Damascus

No traveller has reported from around Damascus yet. Been to one of these places recently? Open it and post what you found — is the waterfall flowing, how crowded was the temple, is the beach safe — so the next visitor knows before they drive.

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How to reach Damascus

    All places near Damascus by distance

    Within 15 km of Damascus

    15–50 km — half-day trips

    50–100 km — one-day trips

    Count by type (within 100 km)

    Places near Damascus by type
    TypeWithin 50 kmWithin 100 kmNearest
    Forts & heritage3062Sulaymaniya Takiya (1 km)
    Hill stations & viewpoints4156Mount Kassioun (4 km)
    Mosques & dargahs2223Wtkya Al Molaoya Mosque (1 km)
    Churches1623Mariamite Cathedral of Damascus (2 km)
    Other attractions1111Statue of Saladin (1 km)
    Museums79National Museum in Damascus (1 km)
    Parks77حديقة المدفع (1 km)
    Wildlife, forests & gardens27Zaki Al Arsouzi Park (2 km)
    Caves45مغارة الدم (4 km)
    Lakes, dams & reservoirs13Birkat Sha`ya (32 km)
    Waterfalls12Lacapitale.babsharqi (3 km)
    Buddhist sites11Our Lady of Saidnaya Monastery (28 km)
    Treks01Lebanon Mountain Trail (66 km)

    Damascus: questions travellers ask

    What are the best places to visit near Damascus?

    Sulaymaniya Takiya (heritage site, about 1 km), Tankiz Mosque (mosque, about 1 km), نصب ساحة المرجة (heritage site, about 1 km), Saif Al-Din Yalbugha Mosque (mosque, about 1 km), Darwish Pasha Mosque (mosque, about 1 km), مسجد ومدرسة السيبائية (mosque or dargah, about 1 km).

    How many tourist places are there within 50 km of Damascus?

    143 places on Spotwander: 30 forts & heritage, 41 hill stations & viewpoints, 22 mosques & dargahs, 16 churches, 11 other attractions.

    Which is the nearest fort to Damascus?

    Sulaymaniya Takiya, about 1 km by road; نصب ساحة المرجة (1 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest viewpoint to Damascus?

    Mount Kassioun, about 4 km by road; Jabal As Sawwani (6 km) is next.

    Which is the nearest dargah to Damascus?

    Wtkya Al Molaoya Mosque, about 1 km by road; Tankiz Mosque (1 km) is next.

    What is a good one-day trip from Damascus?

    Start in Damascus, visit Sulaymaniya Takiya, then Saif Al-Din Yalbugha Mosque, then نصب ساحة المرجة, then Tankiz Mosque, then Darwish Pasha Mosque, and drive back — about 6 km by road in all.

    What is the best time to visit places near Damascus?

    October to February for forts & heritage; October to February for cool, clear air for hill stations & viewpoints; year-round for mosques & dargahs and churches.

    Towns near Damascus

    Sources: places from OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata and GeoNames; Damascus’s location and population from GeoNames. Data sources & credits.