Layered with empires—from Arameans and Romans to Umayyads and Ottomans—Syria is a crossroads of faith, food, and architecture. Damascus, often called the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city, dazzles with the Umayyad Mosque, Azem Palace, and the covered Souq al‑Hamidiyyeh, while the coastal city of Latakia opens onto gentle beaches and the Bronze Age city of Ugarit.

For families, this 7-day itinerary balances short walking days in the Old City with beach time, light hikes, and flexible afternoons. Expect generous mezze, grilled meats, and iconic sweets (don’t miss the elastic mastic ice cream at Bakdash). Bring cash in small denominations—card acceptance varies—and confirm opening hours on the ground.

Important note: Conditions can change. Check your government’s travel advisories, arrange logistics with licensed local operators, and verify sites’ status the day before. Many travelers route flights via Beirut or Gulf hubs and use private, vetted transfers into Syria. Travel by daylight and keep plans adaptable.

Damascus

Damascus is a maze of stone lanes, brass-studded doors, and jasmine-draped courtyards. The Old City is compact and walkable; families can mix big hitters (Umayyad Mosque, Azem Palace) with snack breaks in historic cafés and easy museum visits.

• Top sights: Umayyad Mosque, Azem Palace, Souq al‑Hamidiyyeh, Khan As’ad Pasha, Straight Street (Via Recta), Bab Touma quarter, National Museum of Damascus.
• Family-friendly bites: Courtyard restaurants offer space for kids and broad menus of mezze (hummus, mutabbal, fattoush), grills, and fresh juices.
• Stay: Browse Old City guesthouses and city-center hotels on VRBO Damascus and Hotels.com Damascus.
• Getting in: Compare regional flights via Trip.com Flights and Kiwi.com. Many travelers enter via neighboring hubs, then arrange a licensed daytime car transfer to Damascus.

Day 1: Arrival in Damascus (Old City first tastes)

Morning: In transit.

Afternoon: Check in near the Old City. Start with a relaxed walk through Souq al‑Hamidiyyeh—let kids scout spices, soaps, and copperware. Treat yourselves at Bakdash, the 19th‑century ice cream institution famous for stretchy booza rolled in pistachios.

Evening: Visit the Umayyad Mosque courtyard around golden hour (dress modestly; headscarves and coverall robes are usually provided for visitors). Dinner at Naranj on Straight Street for Aleppine‑Damascene classics—try cherry kebab, kabab halabi, and pomegranate‑bright muhammara. Tea afterward at Al‑Nawfara Café, known for traditional storytelling.

Day 2: Palaces, khans, and souqs

Morning: Breakfast in a leafy courtyard at Beit Jabri (foul, hummus, fresh bread, mint tea). Tour the Azem Palace, a gem of Damascene domestic architecture, then step into the vast caravanserai Khan As’ad Pasha for echoing domes and photo‑worthy light.

Afternoon: Browse artisan lanes off Straight Street for inlaid wood, textiles, and handblown glass. Lunch at Al Khawali—order mixed grills, stuffed vine leaves, and laban drinks. If energy allows, hop to the National Museum of Damascus for a short, curated visit; highlights rotate and labels vary, so go for big pieces and mummies that keep younger travelers engaged.

Evening: Stroll Bab Touma’s Christian quarter. For dinner, book a table in a restored house such as Beit al‑Wali’s restaurant atmosphere (courtyard seating and a mezze‑forward menu), then grab pistachio baklava from a nearby sweets shop.

Day 3: Faith and daily life in the Old City

Morning: Visit the House of St. Ananias (tradition ties it to the early Christian community) and churches around Bab Sharqi. Coffee at a small roastery on Straight Street; try cardamom‑scented Arabic coffee or fruit smoothies for kids.

Afternoon: Picnic or playground time in Tishreen Park. Late lunch in the Midan district for street‑food staples—shawarma, falafel, and fresh juices—then a quick stop for roasted nuts and sesame sweets to take on the road tomorrow.

Evening: Free time to revisit a favorite souq aisle. Dinner repeat at your favorite spot or try a lighter spread of lentil soup, spinach fatayer, and grilled halloumi at a casual Old City café.

Day 4: Day trip—Maaloula and Sednaya (subject to conditions)

Note: Only undertake this with a licensed local operator after confirming current security and site access the day before. If conditions aren’t suitable, swap for extra Damascus museum/souq time.

Morning: Early departure to Maaloula, famous for its cliffside monasteries and traces of Western Aramaic. Visit Mar Takla Monastery and the narrow gorge; keep walks short with kids.

Afternoon: Continue to Sednaya to visit its hilltop monastery and views. Lunch at a village restaurant—grilled lamb, tabbouleh, and yogurt‑cucumber salad are reliable family pleasers.

Evening: Return to Damascus before dark. Casual dinner near your hotel—manakish (za’atar flatbread) and labneh plates make an easy end to the day.

Latakia

Latakia (ancient Laodicea) pairs a relaxed Mediterranean corniche with markets and parks, plus excellent day trips to the archaeological site of Ugarit and the Roman theater at Jableh. It’s a gentler pace after Damascus—great for sand time, boat rides in season, and seafood feasts.

• Top sights: Ugarit (Ras Shamra), Jableh Roman Theater, Latakia Corniche, local beaches and beach clubs.
• Family rhythm: Mornings for ruins or swims, afternoons for naps and ice cream promenades, evenings for fish grills on the waterfront.
• Stay: Compare seafront hotels and apartments on VRBO Latakia and Hotels.com Latakia.
• Getting there from Damascus (Day 5): Private car/van via the M5 and coastal highway: ~4.5–5.5 hours in normal conditions. Expect roughly US$120–200 for a sedan, US$180–280 for a van, daytime only. Limited rail services have operated sporadically—verify locally if any are running; otherwise stick to vetted drivers. For air options in the region, compare on Trip.com Flights. If trains resume regionally, check Trip.com Trains, but confirm on the ground.

Day 5: Transfer to Latakia and sunset on the corniche

Morning: Depart Damascus after an early breakfast; pack snacks and water. Family photo stop at a safe roadside viewpoint if your driver recommends one.

Afternoon: Check in and stretch out with a beach walk. Grab a late lunch at a seafront fish grill—choose your catch (sea bream, mullet) and ask for it simply char‑grilled with lemon and thyme; order fries and fattoush for an easy kid‑friendly spread.

Evening: Corniche stroll for ice cream and people‑watching. Dinner light: corn on the cob from a street cart, or a simple bowl of shorbat adas (lentil soup) at a casual café if you want something warm.

Day 6: Ugarit and Jableh—ancient worlds by the sea

Morning: Head to Ugarit (Ras Shamra), ~20 minutes north of Latakia. This Late Bronze Age city yielded one of the world’s earliest alphabets; among foundations and palace walls, kids can hunt for column bases and gate lines. Bring hats and water; shade is limited. Entry fees fluctuate—carry small bills in local currency.

Afternoon: Drive ~40 minutes south to Jableh to see its remarkably intact Roman theater set just above the modern town. Lunch nearby on grilled chicken, rice, and salad; fresh pomegranate or orange juice is usually available in season.

Evening: Back in Latakia, opt for a sit‑down seafood dinner—fried calamari, tahini salad, and rice for the kids; spicy sayadiyah (fish with caramelized onions and rice) for adults. Early night.

Day 7: Easy beach morning and departure

Morning: Free swim time and sandcastles. If seas are calm and local operators are running, consider a short, family‑safe boat ride close to shore—book via your hotel and insist on life jackets for everyone.

Afternoon: Check out and transfer to your onward hub. For flight comparisons across the region, use Trip.com Flights or Kiwi.com. Leave ample buffer time for checkpoints and border formalities.

Evening: In transit.

Where to eat and drink—quick picks you can plug into any day

• Damascus breakfasts: Beit Jabri (courtyard plates of foul, eggs with awarma, fresh bread); small Old City bakeries for za’atar or cheese manakish.
• Damascus lunches: Al Khawali (classic mezze and grills); casual shawarma/falafel stands in Midan for fast, budget‑friendly bites.
• Damascus sweets and coffee: Bakdash (stretchy mastic ice cream); Al‑Nawfara Café (tea, lemonade, and a peek into café traditions).
• Damascus dinners: Naranj (inventive Syrian staples on Straight Street); Beit al‑Wali’s restaurant atmosphere for a quieter courtyard meal.
• Latakia family eats: Seafront fish grills where you pick your catch; order mezze, grilled bream, fried calamari, and rice; fresh juices and kunafa for dessert.

Budget notes (mid-range, family of four)

• Meals: US$5–10 per adult for casual lunches; US$10–18 per adult for sit‑down dinners with mezze. Kids can share portions.
• Transport: Damascus–Latakia private transfer US$120–200 (sedan), daylight only; local taxis are cash‑based—agree on fare before riding.
• Entries: Museum/site fees vary; carry small local‑currency notes. Some religious sites request modest dress or small donations.

With Damascus’ mosques, palaces, and souqs up front and Latakia’s coasts and ruins to close, this itinerary keeps days short, flavorful, and flexible for a family. Build in buffers, confirm conditions daily, and let the scent of fresh bread, jasmine, and sea breeze guide the pace.