Aleppo, Beyond the Monuments

Aleppo’s stories are written in its streets

Unlike a fast-paced introduction to Aleppo, this journey protects two complete days in the city and three nights to enjoy its atmosphere. Visit the UNESCO-listed ancient streets, but also enter the world of family-run soap makers, neighbourhood churches, local kitchens and people keeping old traditions alive. We favour conversations and cultural encounters over cramming distant castles into the same day. The Ancient City of Aleppo has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986.

Five days, with Aleppo at the heart

We adapt sightseeing to real travel times, opening arrangements, your interests and your entry or departure route.

Day 1

Damascus: a first conversation with Syria

Begin with the human side of Damascus: the friendly street sellers, quiet courtyards and bustling markets that make the city feel alive. Walk with your guide through a chosen stretch of the Old City rather than rushing from monument to monument. Learn to read the layers of architecture, from the Roman remains beside the souks to the changing uses of historic homes. Stop for a taste of local sweets, a coffee and conversation with shopkeepers. The city offers an engaging first introduction to Syrian hospitality before the journey to the north. Your guide will adjust the walking route to your actual arrival time, leaving room for a relaxed Syrian dinner or an early evening if you have travelled a long distance.

Damascus

Day 2

Maaloula and a first evening in Aleppo

Take the road north to Maaloula, nestled between striking cliffs. Explore the village’s Western Neo-Aramaic heritage and, where accessible, enter an historic religious site to learn how languages and community traditions are maintained. Continue through Syria’s changing landscape towards Aleppo, pausing for lunch and local stories along the way. Instead of squeezing the Citadel into the same day as the drive, we deliberately keep the evening free for your first real encounter with Aleppo. Check into your hotel, stroll through the surrounding streets and experience a local dinner, from grilled specialities to neighbourhood favourites. Three nights in the city mean you can begin discovering it without constantly packing a suitcase.

Aleppo

Day 3

The Citadel and the old trading city

Explore the commanding Citadel and its ceremonial gateways, courtyards and viewpoints with a guide who can connect its stonework to the histories of the city below. From the fortress, follow Aleppo’s old commercial streets and the surviving or restored areas of its souks. The Ancient City is UNESCO World Heritage-listed, but its significance is not confined to the past: merchants, restorers and residents continue to shape its future. Where visits are possible, stop by a caravanserai, a historic mosque exterior or a carefully selected architectural detail. Rather than trying to fit all Aleppo into one day, we set aside time for photographs and unhurried encounters. This leaves the next full day for the people, kitchens and crafts that reveal another side of the city.

Aleppo

Day 4

The Aleppo that locals know: crafts and neighbourhoods

The extra day is where this tour becomes different. Meet the makers of Aleppo’s famous ghar soap, if a workshop is available to welcome guests, and learn how olive and laurel oils become the carefully cut and stamped blocks that made the craft famous. UNESCO recognised the craftsmanship as intangible cultural heritage in 2024. Next, explore the life of an accessible Christian neighbourhood, church or historic house, and learn about the different communities that shaped Aleppo. Let lunch become part of the discovery: try grilled kibbeh, a local pastry or another dish that captures the city’s rich culinary influences. Depending on your interests, your guide can help arrange a conversation with a local artisan or artist. A trip to Saint Simeon can be substituted for some of these experiences if you prefer archaeology.

Aleppo

Day 5

Hama and the journey south

Enjoy one last breakfast in Aleppo before the journey south. Stop in Hama if your departure schedule allows, to see the great wooden norias beside the Orontes and hear how these waterwheels supported the city’s historic irrigation. Continue towards Damascus or your planned transfer point. Since this is an overland departure day, we arrange the timing around your actual flight or border crossing rather than squeezing in a distant fortress and risking an exhausting journey. For travellers who want to visit Krak des Chevaliers, we can propose an extra night or modify the itinerary with realistic driving and sightseeing times. This journey’s lasting impression is the time spent connecting with Aleppo, not the number of sites ticked off.

Departure or optional extra night

Meet the people behind Aleppo’s legendary soap

Traditional Aleppo ghar soap is made with olive and laurel oils, then cut, stamped and dried using skills passed through generations. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed the Craftsmanship of Aleppo Ghar Soap on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

We can try to arrange a visit to a working soap factory, meet local producers and learn about this beloved Syrian craft. The visit depends on the workshop’s opening arrangements and whether the makers are available to welcome guests.

Where your journey can take you

Choose the highlights that interest you most. These are potential stops, not a guarantee that every attraction can be visited in five days.

Characterful hotels in Damascus and Aleppo

This itinerary proposes one night in Damascus and three nights in Aleppo. We’ll confirm the properties, rooms and arrangements that suit your party.

Boutique heritage · Aleppo

Dar Halabia

An atmospheric Aleppine guesthouse, ideal for travellers who appreciate traditional courtyards and local character.

Comfort option · Aleppo

Riga Palace

A different accommodation style for guests seeking conventional hotel comforts during their Aleppo stay.

Courtyard stay · Damascus

Via Recta Hotel

A welcoming traditional house setting in Old Damascus, convenient for the first and final nights.

A journey arranged around you

We can help plan entry from Damascus Airport or discuss transfers through Lebanon or Jordan. The final day, departure point and other travel details will shape the schedule, so the actual route is confirmed before booking.