Finally Together Again: Visiting Family and Friends in Damascus with LEAV

Damascus is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. At the same time, it is a vibrant and ever-changing city. Between the walls of the Old City and modern cafés, in small workshops and on bustling streets, you’ll experience how tradition and everyday life coexist. All this makes encounters with family and friends so intense: you share memories, discover new things and feel just how much these places are part of your own life story.
Anyone travelling to Syria, especially to Damascus, often plans their days around appointments and family visits. Nevertheless, it’s worth scheduling in short breaks for exploration, in the spirit of a spontaneous short trip: take a quick breather, soak up new impressions, and see a familiar neighbourhood with fresh eyes. This turns a simple reunion into a journey that will stay with you for a long time.

To unwind after busy days with the family, a view from above helps. Mount Qasioun offers sweeping views, especially at sunset. In parks such as Tishreen Park, you’ll find space for quiet chats or a little picnic. Ask your loved ones about their favourite spots; they’ll often show you sides of the city that aren’t in any guidebook.
Places for a quiet get-together in between:

• Courtyard cafés in the Old City
• Tea rooms in the late afternoon
• Roof terraces with views over the rooftops
• Souk al-Hamidiyya just before the shops close
• Mount Qasioun at sunset

Can’t wait to reunite with your family in Damascus? Book your flight now for your next trip to see them.

A trip to Damascus requires a bit of advance planning. Check early on which entry requirements apply to you and review your insurance cover. Allow for some extra time and keep up to date with the latest developments by checking with official sources regularly.
LEAV operates direct seasonal flights to Damascus. As flight schedules in the region can change at short notice, it’s still worth being flexible: book rebookable tickets, allow some leeway in your dates, and discuss with your family there well in advance what arrival time would suit best.

It is advisable to take out travel cancellation and international health insurance – pay particular attention to emergency treatment and medical repatriation, and check whether the policy is valid at all in countries subject to travel warnings.
For flights outside the Schengen Area, you are responsible for checking the entry requirements yourself – including your passport (note the minimum validity period), visa, proof of a confirmed onward or return flight ticket, and any other requirements. We cannot provide any binding information on passport and visa matters. Please contact the relevant embassy for this.

• Clarify in good time
  Enquire about entry requirements at the relevant Syrian diplomatic mission abroad before making any firm plans.
• Secure your documents
  Keep digital and printed copies of your most important documents, stored separately from the originals. Our travel checklist provides a structure for this.
• Create a contact list
  Make a note of telephone numbers for family, the embassy or consulate, and your insurance provider; mobile internet is not reliable everywhere.

The best time to visit depends on your plans and family commitments. Spring and autumn are usually pleasant; summer can be very warm, whilst winter can be cool and wet. Find out about recommended vaccinations and local medical facilities. A handy plug adapter and a power bank are often worth their weight in gold in everyday life.

• Weather at a glance
  Light clothing in summer, a jacket for cool evenings and comfortable shoes for the old town.
• SIM and internet
  Check in advance whether you’ll be able to get a local SIM or if you’d prefer to use roaming.
• Small gifts
  Sweets, photos or everyday items from your home town make welcome souvenirs; just bear in mind the details regarding your baggage allowance.

Find out about the current exchange rate and whether card payments are accepted. Having small change for taxis, markets and snacks is handy. For larger expenses, it’s a good idea to set aside a contingency budget. Discussing things with your family helps you plan realistically for shared meals, trips and shopping.
Nothing forgotten before departure? Our travel checklist shows you, step by step, what still needs doing at home.

Visits to Damascus are usually about people, not to-do lists. Plan meet-ups with plenty of flexibility and build in rest days. Cooking together, short trips or a visit to neighbours add variety without overloading the day. That way, you’ll have enough energy for the encounters that really matter to you. Even short explorations in the style of a short trip reveal new facets of the city – perhaps an hour in a spice shop, an evening stroll or a coffee in a popular neighbourhood. If you stay open-minded and keep your plans flexible, the city will adapt to your rhythm, not the other way round.

Share rituals: breakfast on the balcony, baking bread together, a visit to relatives, an afternoon in the grandparents’ garden. Capture those little moments with a few photos, without constantly staring at your screen. If you’re travelling with children, you can use playgrounds, parks or child-friendly cafés as anchor points; you’ll find ideas for these in our checklist for family holidays. Especially during multi-generational visits, it’s worth scheduling set times for the grandparents: short, quiet moments often mean more than a packed programme.

In many families, bringing a small gift is an integral part of a reunion; it is less of an obligation and more of a gesture of affection. If you’re unsure what would be appreciated, it’s best to ask the family in advance what they currently need or what would make them happy. At the same time, you can often expect overwhelming hospitality in Damascus: several invitations on the same day, spontaneous visits, and endless refills of tea. A bit of planning helps you keep on top of things without dampening the warmth of the occasion.
Small gestures that mean a lot to the family:

• Choose gifts carefully
  Coffee, sweets or small everyday items from your town are usually better received than expensive presents.
• Listen rather than plan
  If you take the time to listen to the family’s stories and memories, you’ll often get more out of it than from a packed programme of outings.
• Respect household roles
  Offer your help, but don’t impose yourself. Many families have set routines that you can slot into.
• Set aside time for the elderly
  A quiet afternoon with the grandparents often leaves the strongest memories.

Small restaurants, traditional patisseries and tea rooms are ideal settings for conversation. Ask your loved ones about their favourite spots; this way, you’ll discover neighbourhoods you might have missed before. If the situation allows and your family recommends it, short trips to the surrounding area can provide a welcome change of pace. Plan these only in close consultation with your hosts and using up-to-date information – safety is always the top priority.
Typical family rituals during a visit to Damascus:

• Breakfast together on the balcony
• Sunday kibbeh with the extended family
• Afternoon tea and pastries
• An evening stroll through the neighbourhood

Are you travelling to Damascus with children to visit family? Our family holiday checklist will help you prepare with ease.

Travelling to Damascus has become much easier these days: LEAV operates seasonal direct flights to Damascus Airport. This means you avoid the hassle of a stopover at a hub, and you’ll arrive at your family’s home with a single ticket and without having to change flights.
As flight schedules in the region can still be subject to last-minute changes, it’s still worth keeping an eye on flight status and not scheduling your travel dates too tightly. Agree with your family in good time when you’ll meet at the airport and who will be picking you up.

The route to Damascus International (DAM) is operated seasonally. If possible, keep your travel dates somewhat flexible; this will make it easier to find a date that suits your family’s plans. And because VFR visits often last longer than a short holiday, it’s worth looking at both the outbound and return flights together at an early stage.

• Flexibility with dates
  Leaving a day or two’s buffer makes it easier to rebook if plans change.
• Book early
  The choice of dates is greatest at the start of the season – which is particularly advantageous for longer stays.
• Real-time communication
  Share flight numbers and arrival times with your loved ones well in advance.

A family visit to Damascus needs to be well organised. As an airline, LEAV takes you to Damascus on its seasonal direct service – no stopovers, with a single ticket and a dedicated contact person for your flight.
In the LEAV flight search, you can see the available dates for the season and, by using flexible travel dates, find the time slot that suits your family. You can then conveniently sort out everything else relating to fares, luggage and check-in online.

Use the flexible date fields to compare several departure dates rather than committing to a single date. This makes it easier to find a date that fits in with family events, school holidays or public holidays.

• Use open search
  View connections within a wider timeframe before you commit.
• Be aware of peak seasons
  The Damascus route is seasonal – if possible, plan your visit within this period.
• Choose your fare wisely
  If you need flexibility, a rebookable fare is a better option than the cheapest entry-level price.

LEAV operates a modern Airbus A320 fleet. On every scheduled flight, you’ll receive a free drink – water, tea or coffee – along with a small snack. If you’d like more, the LEAVtaste range offers additional drinks, snacks and hot meals, including vegetarian and vegan dishes as well as meals labelled as halal-compliant. You can find out what’s currently being served on the On Board page.

If you’re travelling with children or elderly relatives, it’s worth reserving your seats – this way, you’re guaranteed to sit together. If you’d like more legroom, you can book an XLEAV seat; this can be done up to 72 hours before departure. Additional baggage can also be added at a later stage, which is handy if the gifts for the family take up more space than you’d thought. You’ll find further information on travelling with children in our travel information section. You can check in online from 72 hours before departure – this saves time at the airport.
Ready for your next reunion? Find your flight now using the LEAV flight search and plan your trip with peace of mind.