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DAHAB

Hidden Syria

Beyond the landmarks

39 lesser-known places out of 97 documented in DAHAB — quiet, unguided and often unmarked.

Historic Damascene Houses, Syria

Hidden gem of the week

Historic Damascene Houses

The Damascene courtyard house is a building type in its own right: an inward-facing home around a paved court with a fountain, decorated iwan and painted wooden rooms. Many are now restaurants, guesthouses or cultural ve

Hidden gems on the map39 places in this view
Historic Hammams of Damascus, Syria
Hidden gem

Historic Hammams of Damascus

Steam, stone and domed light

Old Damascus · Damascus

Barada Valley, Syria
Hidden gem

Barada Valley

The river that made Damascus

Barada Valley · Rif Dimashq

Qalamoun Mountains, Syria
Hidden gem

Qalamoun Mountains

Dry ridges and rock villages

Qalamoun · Rif Dimashq

Ghouta Orchards, Syria
Hidden gem

Ghouta Orchards

The oasis belt

Darayya · Rif Dimashq

Old City Gates of Aleppo, Syria
UNESCOHidden gem

Old City Gates of Aleppo

Where the walls opened

Old Aleppo · Aleppo

Historic Hammams of Aleppo, Syria
Hidden gem

Historic Hammams of Aleppo

Domes over hot stone

Old Aleppo · Aleppo

Ancient Villages of Northern Syria, Syria
UNESCOHidden gem

Ancient Villages of Northern Syria

The Dead Cities

Saint Simeon Region · Aleppo

Afrin Countryside, Syria
Hidden gem

Afrin Countryside

Olive hills of the north-west

Afrin · Aleppo

Al-Hawash, Syria
Hidden gem

Al-Hawash

Green edge of the Homs countryside

Al-Hawash · Homs

Lake Homs, Syria
Hidden gem

Lake Homs

Open water in the Homs gap

Homs · Homs

Talkalakh Hills, Syria
Hidden gem

Talkalakh Hills

Where the valley meets the border road

Talkalakh · Homs

Apamea, Syria
Hidden gem

Apamea

A colonnade nearly two kilometres long

Qalaat al-Madiq · Hama

Shayzar Castle, Syria
Hidden gem

Shayzar Castle

A ridge above the Orontes

Shayzar · Hama

Al-Ghab Plain, Syria
Hidden gem

Al-Ghab Plain

Wetland farmland under the mountains

Al-Ghab Plain · Hama

Ras Ibn Hani, Syria
Hidden gem

Ras Ibn Hani

A Bronze Age site on the shore

Latakia · Latakia

Kassab, Syria
Hidden gem

Kassab

Forest town near the border

Kassab · Latakia

Seven Lakes, Syria
Hidden gem

Seven Lakes

Still water in the mountains

Al-Haffah · Latakia

Ras al-Bassit, Syria
Hidden gem

Ras al-Bassit

Dark sand and clear water

Ras al-Bassit · Latakia

Wadi Qandil, Syria
Hidden gem

Wadi Qandil

A valley that ends at the sea

Wadi Qandil · Latakia

Umm al-Tuyour, Syria
Hidden gem

Umm al-Tuyour

A quiet cove on the north coast

Ras al-Bassit · Latakia

Al-Samra, Syria
Hidden gem

Al-Samra

Northern shoreline

Ras al-Bassit · Latakia

Al-Kafrun, Syria
Hidden gem

Al-Kafrun

Summer town of the valley edge

Al-Kafrun · Tartous

Tartous Coastal Villages, Syria
Hidden gem

Tartous Coastal Villages

Small harbours and rocky bays

Tartous · Tartous

Serjilla, Syria
UNESCOHidden gem

Serjilla

A late-antique village still standing

Serjilla · Idlib

Al-Bara, Syria
UNESCOHidden gem

Al-Bara

Pyramid tombs among the olives

Jabal Zawiya · Idlib

Jabal Zawiya, Syria
Hidden gem

Jabal Zawiya

The limestone massif

Jabal Zawiya · Idlib

Harim Castle, Syria
Hidden gem

Harim Castle

A fortified mound in the north-west

Harim · Idlib

Ariha Hills, Syria
Hidden gem

Ariha Hills

Olive slopes and stone villages

Ariha · Idlib

Hauran Plain, Syria
Hidden gem

Hauran Plain

Wheat, basalt and old villages

Hauran Plain · Daraa

Qanawat, Syria
Hidden gem

Qanawat

Temples among oak and water

Qanawat · As-Suwayda

Salkhad, Syria
Hidden gem

Salkhad

A crater-top citadel

Salkhad · As-Suwayda

Jabal al-Arab, Syria
Hidden gem

Jabal al-Arab

Volcanic highlands and vineyards

Jabal al-Arab · As-Suwayda

Golan Slopes, Syria
Hidden gem

Golan Slopes

Volcanic hills and open pasture

Golan Slopes · Quneitra

Al-Rusafa (Resafa), Syria
Hidden gem

Al-Rusafa (Resafa)

A walled desert pilgrimage city

Al-Rusafa · Raqqa

Dura-Europos, Syria
Hidden gem

Dura-Europos

A frontier city above the river

Al-Salihiyah · Deir ez-Zor

Halabiye, Syria
Hidden gem

Halabiye

Byzantine walls at a river gorge

Halabiye · Deir ez-Zor

Khabur Valley, Syria
Hidden gem

Khabur Valley

The river of the northeast

Khabur Valley · Al-Hasakah

Amuda, Syria
Hidden gem

Amuda

A northern border town

Amuda · Al-Hasakah

Civilizations behind the hidden places

Access roads, opening times and current conditions for hidden places are not verified by DAHAB. Information being verified — travel responsibly and check locally before setting out.