Umayyad Mosque
MosqueA defining landmark of Damascus and one of the city's most important religious and architectural sites.
Old damascusEditorial recommendation
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FEATURED CITY
Begin with Damascus
Walk through one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities, where sacred history, scholarship, craftsmanship, and everyday life remain closely connected.
Old Damascus40+ placesThe walled city — souqs, gates, and the Umayyad Mosque.DamascusWalkable areaExplore AreaBab al-Saghir15+ placesHistoric cemetery quarter and places of remembrance.DamascusWalkable areaExplore AreaAl-Salihiyah30+ placesHillside quarter of schools and shrines on Mount Qasioun.DamascusWalkable areaExplore AreaAl-Qaymariyah12+ placesLanes of courtyard houses between the mosque and Bab Touma.DamascusWalkable areaExplore AreaSarouja10+ placesOttoman-era market quarter just outside the walls.DamascusWalkable areaExplore AreaAl-Midan18+ placesThe pilgrims' road south — mosques, food, and craft.DamascusWalkable areaExplore Area
PLACES WITH A STORY
Sacred and historical sites
Explore places of worship, learning, remembrance, architecture, and public life across Syria.
Al-Azm Palace
Historic palaceA carefully preserved example of Damascene domestic architecture and courtyard design.
Old damascusRating coming soon
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Bab al-Saghir Cemetery
Historic cemeteryA historic cemetery containing numerous gravesites and places of religious remembrance.
Bab al-saghirNew listing
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Historic Damascene Schools
Historic schoolExplore the educational institutions that shaped centuries of scholarship in the city.
DamascusNew listing
View PlaceMAJALIS
Gatherings in the city
Weekly majalis and study circles in the mosques of Damascus, Aleppo, Homs and Bosra al-Sham — anchored to the prayer times, not the clock. Browse them on the map or the calendar.
24 gatherings
Qur'anic SciencesA course in the foundations of tafsir — 12 lecturesQa'at al-Nur, Faculty of Sharia — Damascus University · DamascusMondays, after dhuhr
Qur'anic SciencesA course in the foundations of tafsir — 12 lecturesQa'at al-Nur, Faculty of Sharia — Damascus University · DamascusWednesdays, after dhuhr
Dhikr & AwradAdhkar of the last part of the nightShaykh Muhyi al-Din Mosque — Salihiyya · DamascusSundays, 45 minutes before the fajr adhan
Tasawwuf & SulukAl-Fath al-Mubin · Bahjat al-Nufus wa'l-AhdaqTalha b. Ubaydillah Mosque — Baghdad Street · DamascusSundays, between maghrib & isha
Tasawwuf & SulukAl-Hikam al-'Ata'iyya — Ibn Ata'illahShaykh Muhyi al-Din b. Arabi Mosque — Salihiyya · DamascusMondays, after maghrib
Tasawwuf & SulukAl-Nasa'ih al-Diniyya wa'l-Wasaya al-ImaniyyaTalha b. Ubaydillah Mosque — Baghdad Street · DamascusTuesdays, after fajr
SiraAl-Sira al-NabawiyyaShaykh Muhyi al-Din b. Arabi Mosque — Salihiyya · DamascusWednesdays, after maghrib
HadithAl-Taj al-Jami' li'l-UsulShaykh Muhyi al-Din Mosque — Salihiyya · DamascusTuesdays, after asr
HadithAl-Taysir — commentary on al-Jami' al-SaghirAl-Shamsiyya Mosque — Muhajirin · DamascusWednesdays, after isha
Tasawwuf & SulukHayat al-Sahaba · Ihya' Ulum al-DinUmayyad Mosque (Bani Umayya al-Kabir) · DamascusMondays, after asr
Tasawwuf & SulukIhya' Ulum al-Din — al-GhazaliUmayyad Mosque (Bani Umayya al-Kabir) · DamascusSaturdays, after dhuhr
HadithJuz' Birr al-Walidayn — Imam Muhammad b. Isma'il al-BukhariAl-Sinjaqdar Mosque · DamascusThursdays, directly after asr
SiraLessons in the prophetic biographyAl-Razi Mosque — Baramkeh · DamascusTuesdays, after dhuhr
Dhikr & AwradMajlis of dhikrShaykh Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi Mosque · DamascusWednesdays, after asr
Dhikr & AwradMajlis of dhikrShaykh Muhyi al-Din Mosque — Salihiyya · DamascusSundays, after fajr
Tasawwuf & SulukMajma' al-Ahbab wa Tadhkirat Uli al-AlbabAl-Shamsiyya Mosque — Muhajirin · DamascusWednesdays, between maghrib & isha
Tasawwuf & SulukMinhaj al-'Abidin — al-Ghazali (d. 505 AH)Al-Naoura Mosque — Thawra Street · DamascusWednesdays, after maghrib
HadithRiyad al-Salihin — Imam al-NawawiShaykh Muhyi al-Din b. Arabi Mosque — Salihiyya · DamascusFridays, after jumu'a
HadithSharh Sunan al-TirmidhiUmayyad Mosque — Mihrab al-Sahaba · DamascusThursdays, one hour before the maghrib adhan
Tafsir of the Qur'anTafsir of Imam al-BaghawiAl-Shamsiyya Mosque — Muhajirin · DamascusThursdays, after fajr
Tasawwuf & SulukTanbih al-Mughtarrin · Al-Taqrirat al-SadidaShaykh Muhyi al-Din Mosque — Salihiyya · DamascusSaturdays, between maghrib & isha
Tasawwuf & SulukTarbiyatuna al-Ruhiyya — Sa'id HawwaAl-Hasan Mosque — Midan · DamascusThursdays, announced at the mosque
FiqhThe book of worship from Matn al-Ghaya wa'l-Taqrib — al-Qadi Abu Shuja'Abu Bakr al-Siddiq Mosque — Bosra al-Sham · Bosra al-ShamSaturdays, before maghrib, until isha
SiraWasa'il al-Wusul ila Shama'il al-Rasul — al-Nabhani (d. 1350 AH)Al-Taynabiyya Mosque, Abu Habal — Midan · DamascusMondays, between maghrib & isha
GO BEYOND SIGHTSEEING
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UPCOMING PROGRAMS
Travel with purpose
Summer Youth Program
A summer experience designed to connect young participants with Syria's history, culture, community, and spiritual heritage.
Details coming soonRihlah: A Summer Learning Retreat
A guided summer learning experience bringing together study, travel, reflection, and companionship.
Details coming soonSyria Tour
A curated journey through Syria's sacred, cultural, and historical landmarks.
Details coming soonTRAVEL WITH CONFIDENCE
Everything you need before arriving
Prepare for your trip with practical guidance written for international visitors.
Before You TravelEntry guidance, preparation, documents, money, connectivity, and essential information.Local EtiquetteUnderstand local customs, dress, hospitality, religious spaces, and respectful photography.Getting AroundLearn how to travel within Damascus and between Syrian cities.AccommodationCompare hotels, guesthouses, short-term rentals, and neighborhood options.Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit
Travel conditions and entry requirements may change. Always confirm current information through relevant official sources before traveling.
THE JOURNAL — UPDATED WEEKLY
Understand the people and stories behind the places
New articles, guides, and photo essays are published here regularly.
A Short History of Damascus
An accessible timeline introducing the different periods that shaped the city.
Read moreUnderstanding the Historic Schools of Damascus
How educational institutions became part of the city’s religious and architectural landscape.
Read more
A Walk Through al-Hamidiyah Souq
Trades, sweets, and the rhythm of the covered market that leads to the Umayyad Mosque.
Read more
The Teachers Who Shaped the City
Generations of scholars whose circles met in the courtyards and madrasas of Damascus.
Read more
Caravanserais and the Old Trade Roads
How khans housed merchants, goods, and stories along the routes into Syria.
Read moreMore from the JournalGuides, essays, and photo stories from across Syria.Browse All ArticlesContribute
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