Complete Guide to Holidays and Opening Hours in Syria
Travel-planning note — 6 November 2026: Holidays, closures, archaeological site access and business hours may change, and Islamic holiday dates depend on official confirmation. Some figures below come from 2025–early 2026 announcements. Use the tables for orientation, not as guaranteed current schedules. Confirm opening times with each attraction or your guide, especially before long journeys. See our Essential Travel Tips, attractions guide and group tours.
National and Public Holidays in Syria (2026)
Official Public Holidays (New List for 2026)
Originally compiled January 2026; reviewed for potentially misleading scheduling claims on 6 November 2026. The holiday table and opening times are planning references, not a verified live calendar.
End of Ramadan; most shops, banks, and offices close.
Eid al-Adha
Variable (4 days)
Major Islamic festival; public life slows down.
Islamic New Year
Variable
Quiet day, some offices closed.
Mawlid al-Nabawi
Variable
Prophet’s Birthday; minor closures.
Easter (Western)
Variable
Christian holiday; churches crowded.
Easter (Eastern)
Variable
Same as above; public transport may slow.
Christmas Day
December 25
Observed nationwide.
Liberation Day
December 8
New holiday marking the fall of the Assad regime. Large civic gatherings expected.
❌ Removed Holidays (No Longer Observed)
Former Holiday
Reason Removed
October 6 (October War Day)
Associated with Baathist era
May 6 (Martyrs’ Day)
Linked to regime commemorations
March 8 (Baath Revolution Day)
Political, replaced by Syrian Revolution Day
March 20 (Teachers’ Day)
No longer a public holiday
NEW: Citywide Business Hours — Damascus (effective late Oct 2025)
Damascus has unified opening/closing times for businesses. This affects your shopping, dining, and evening plans inside the city (museum/site hours below are unchanged).
Restaurants & cafés: service until 24:00 most days; until 01:00 after midnight on Thursdays & Saturdays.
Groceries/food stores: generally until 24:00.
Malls (and venues inside): operate to 01:00 after midnight.
Kiosks:24/7.
Fuel stations:24/7.
(Local categories like gyms/salons follow set windows; plan workouts before 23:00 and salon visits before 22:00.)
What this means for tourists: Plan shopping to finish by 21:00. Expect midnight to be the normal dining cutoff (book the late slot on Thu/Sat if you want the 01:00 extension). For late arrivals, rely on 24/7 kiosks and fuel-station minimarkets for basics; malls cover more needs until 01:00. Other Syrian cities may differ—treat these unified hours as Damascus-only unless your hotel confirms similar rules elsewhere.
Opening Hours of Major Archaeological and Cultural Sites
The following list includes Syria’s most visited historical sites and museums. It’s organized by city, with accurate hours, closing days, and special notes about seasonal changes.
On national holidays, expect government offices, embassies, and banks to close.
Tourist sites usually stay open, especially those managed by the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM).
During Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, small shops and local transport may pause for 2–3 days.
Religious sites (churches, mosques) can get busy during major feasts.
Best Planning Advice
Always confirm local hours before visiting remote sites.
Summer schedule (April – October): most sites open 9 AM – 6 PM.
Winter schedule (November – March): most sites close around 3 PM.
Tuesday is the most common maintenance closure day for archaeological sites.
Fridays see closures mainly for government offices and museums.
Recommended Yearly Planning Windows
Period
Travel Advantage
Notes
March–April
Stable weather, before Ramadan
Avoid Revolution Day (Mar 18) for smoother logistics.
May–June
Ideal climate, long daylight hours
Most sites on summer hours.
September–October
Cultural season, post-Eid calm
Good for photography and less crowds.
December
Experience Liberation Day (Dec 8) and Christmas celebrations
Expect some civic events and hotel rate changes.
Summary
Syria’s new holiday calendar (2025) simplifies travel planning — fewer political closures, more clarity.
Major sites: Access to Krak des Chevaliers, Bosra, the Umayyad Mosque and Ugarit must be confirmed individually; openings can change with conservation work, security conditions and local events.
Museum closing days: Some institutions close on particular weekdays, but do not assume Tuesday closures apply to all museums and citadels. Check the individual venue.
Winter hours: Some sites close earlier in winter; confirm the latest operating hours instead of relying on a universal 3–4 PM cutoff.
