Aleppo Governorate · Syria
Where to stay in Aleppo
Aleppo is a city in Aleppo Governorate, Syria, home to about 2,004,000 people.
- Best months
- April, October and November
- Nearest airport
- ALP6 km · Aleppo International Airport
- Currency
- SYPSyrian pound
- Time zone
- Asia/Damascus
- Language
- Arabic
About
About Aleppo
Aleppo is a city in northern Syria, which serves as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the country's most populous governorate. With an estimated population of 2,098,000 residents as of 2021, it is Syria's largest city by urban area, and the second-largest city in the country, being the most populous until it was surpassed by Damascus, the capital of Syria.
Aleppo is a beautiful and historic city. As it is in any Muslim country, the call to prayer is called out from mosques five times a day starting in the early morning. Aleppo's muezzins are traditionally well known for their beautiful calls to prayer. Aleppo is a fairly conservative city. Dress appropriately to avoid any problems and to avoid standing out too much. Men should wear shirts and trousers and women should not wear anything that is too revealing. If you follow that simple dress code you should not have any problems.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Aleppo
See
- Citadel of Aleppo
- Al-Madina Souq
- Central Synagogue of Aleppo
- Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower
- Aleppo Public Park
- Khan al-Saboon
- National Museum of Aleppo
- Bimaristan Arghan
- Popular Traditions Museum
- Great Mosque of Aleppo
- Al-Saffahiyah Mosque
- Al-Tawashi Mosque
Do
Walk around the city at least a few times to really get a feel for what it is like. It is a vibrant and lively place that will continually surprise you. Any amount of time spent walking around the city will reveal another historical site or point of interest. Check out the Christian section of the city to see a different part of Aleppo. If you want to shop for clothes, al-Telal street is bustling nearly every night with crowds checking out the shops and street stands piled high with every type of clothing imaginable.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Aleppo
13 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Baron Hotel | 1911 | 1.1 km |
| Sheraton Aleppo Hotel | 2007 | 0.8 km |
| Souq Khan al-Jumrok | 0.4 km | |
| Adliye Hanı, Halep | 0.3 km | |
| Farrayin Hanı | 0.3 km | |
| Hacı Musa es-Sîvî Hanı | 0.2 km | |
| Keten Hanı, Halep | 0.1 km | |
| Kurtbek Hanı | 0.2 km | |
| Nahhasin Hanı | 0.3 km | |
| Salha Hanı | 0.3 km | |
| Şûne Han | 0.3 km | |
| Ulabiye Hanı | 0.3 km | |
| Venedikliler Hanı | 0.4 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Aleppo
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Aleppo are April, October and November. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 37 °C; January is the wettest, with about 73 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Aleppo: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Aleppo International Airport (ALP), about 6.4 km from the city centre in a straight line; Hatay Airport (HTY, 80 km) and Gaziantep Oğuzeli International Airport (GZT, 88 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
It is possible to travel overland from Damascus independently or by bus. There are also buses from Gaziantep in Turkey (but before buying a ticket see Syria and check the latest travel advice from your country and info re visas). Flights operate to major regional cities including Istanbul, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait City, Amman, and Jeddah. Airlines serving the airport include Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Jazeera Airways, SunExpress, and the national carrier SyrianAir. Some routes, particularly those to Turkish resort cities such as Antalya and Izmir, may operate seasonally.
Getting around
Taxis are everywhere, probably more taxis than people. They are easy to take and very affordable but just make sure it is a licensed taxi. Minibuses: Called "serveece", these are small white vans that drive around and you can hop on and off by signalling to the driver. They get very full in rush hours. Rental cars: Hertz and other rental car agencies are available in Aleppo but the driving can be very hectic and if you are not accustomed to driving in a place with few rules and almost no regard for street signs you should probably not attempt to drive on your own.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ALP · Aleppo International Airport
HTY · Hatay Airport
GZT · Gaziantep Oğuzeli International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Aleppo
Eat
The area around Aleppo is famous for its pistachio farming, so be sure to try the baklava and other pistachio-based sweets while you're here. Common Syrian street food like falafels and shwarma are excellent and available throughout the city. In the souks you will also find tiny restaurants with a few stools serving up dishes like Fuul (pronounced “fool”), a bean soup served with fresh bread, onions and mint. If you are adventurous, look for the men frying curry-flavoured pancakes near the entrance to the souk. The pancakes are wrapped in bread and topped with hot sauce. Also try to buy some of the freshly made pita bread that is sold everywhere as it is delicious.
Drink
Alcohol is permitted but not widely available. You can find stores selling liquor on a few streets near the clocktower. Try Zaki al-Arsuzi (across from Al Kommeh restaurant) and Jbrail Dalal streets. There is a liquor store a few metres away from the Aleppo Hotel (on a side street from the clocktower). In the new city there is a store at Al Hateb square. Restaurants and hotels that cater to Westerners will generally serve alcoholic beverages. There is one local beer, called Al-Sharq, while the Damascus brew Barada may also be found. Neither are exactly lethal - 3.7% and 3.4% respectively.
Stay safe
See the warning on the Syria article for more information. Many buildings in the city, particularly in the Salaheddin neighborhood and surrounding areas, have been damaged severely by the civil war. Buildings can and do collapse, often with deadly consequences. Stay away from buildings that have sustained heavy damage or look structurally unstable.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Aleppo: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Aleppo?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Aleppo are April, October and November. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 37 °C; January is the wettest, with about 73 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Aleppo?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Aleppo International Airport (ALP), about 6.4 km from the city centre in a straight line; Hatay Airport (HTY, 80 km) and Gaziantep Oğuzeli International Airport (GZT, 88 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Aleppo?
Syrian pound (SYP).
Nearby
Destinations near Aleppo
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.