Things to Do in Aleppo, Syria - Aleppo Attractions
Things to Do in Aleppo
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Historic Sites • Military Bases & Facilities
Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Speciality & Gift Shops • Flea & Street Markets
Architectural Buildings • Educational sites
Historic Sites
Flea & Street Markets
Flea & Street Markets
Religious Sites
Historic Sites • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Architectural Buildings • Religious Sites
Speciality & Gift Shops • Points of Interest & Landmarks
Health Clubs • Architectural Buildings
What travelers are saying
- Syria Scope travelDamascus, Syria3 contributionsThe Aleppo Citadel stands as a majestic fortress, proudly showcasing centuries of history and resilience. This imposing structure is an iconic symbol of Aleppo, serving as a testament to the city's rich past and cultural significance.
As you approach the towering walls of the citadel, you are instantly transported back in time. The sheer size and commanding presence of the fortress leave a lasting impression, evoking a sense of awe and admiration. Walking through its ancient gates, you embark on a journey of exploration and discovery.Written June 18, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Mathias S332 contributionsWhile the monasticism started in Egypt, Syria was an early follower. St Simon the Elder's (late 4th-first half of 5th century) innovation was that he stood on a pillar for many years. He attracted much attention. Pilgrims would gather under the pillar and ask him for a benediction, so Theodoret of Cyrrhus compared it to a lighthouse attracting ships from far away. People would sell minatures of the pillar of St Simon even in far-away places of the Roman Empire.
After his death, his pillar was surrounded by a great cross-shaped building, including a church and 3 houses for the pilgrims. It was allegedly the biggest religious building of its time. Monks would live nearby too.
The monastery was destroyed at least twice in 11th century, during the fights between Byzantium and the Muslims of Aleppo. The monks were slaughtered and I'm not sure if it recovered after it.
In any case, the place was later on used as a citadel, hence its current name.
The decorations are quite nice. I was most impressed by the capitels of the pillars which are like leaves moved by a wind.
It is located on the border with Turkey, and to get there from Aleppo is not completely easy, but managable.
On the way from Antioch to this place there's, still in Syria, the church in "Qalb Lozeh", ruined, but still nice.
There used to be another stylite, St Simon the Younger, and his place is located in Turkey already.Written April 13, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Mathias S332 contributionsThere are several "dead cities" in Syria, and this one is arguably the nicest of them.
These are late antiquity cities, abandoned probably due to Persian or Arab conquests of Syria in early 7th century.
The city consists of buildings in light-greyish stone:
- tombs
- houses
- churches
While there was a young guy collecting a fee (unwilling to accept my reduction), no-one really checks what are you doing there.
Therefore, we used to climb the churches and houses or the figues that grew inside the houses, and have fights inside the houses with the figue fruit. It was great fun, although probably it's not what one should do there.
It's hard to get there, one has to take some private transport (hotels in Hama offer that).
I was there twice.Written April 13, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Vista TravelSyria22 contributions- The Citadel: The Citadel of Aleppo is a large medieval fortified palace in the centre of the old city of Aleppo, northern Syria. It is considered to be one of the oldest and largest castles in the world. the Citadel dates back at least to the middle of the 3rd millennium BC.
- The Caravanserais: The city of Aleppo is known for the many Caravanserais there are beautiful and distinctive building style and founded to be an economic force.
- The Souks: For centuries, the souks of Aleppo were the beating heart of this great trading city. The name Aleppo conjures images of the cornucopia of goods to be found in the city's markets – from spices and traditional sweets to textiles, carpets, and famous Aleppo soap.Written May 20, 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Mathias S332 contributionsAleppo was an important city from very early days, and a capital of several Muslim states since half of 10th century.
The Old Town is worth a visit mostly for the citadel with the magnificent Mamluk-era gate.
The Umayyad Mosque is quite nice, although it lost its original mosaic decoration when it was burnt by the Byzantines, and the 11-th century minaret collapsed during the recent civil war.
The bazaar (souq) is very nice, with covered narrow lanes and a lot to buy: materials, clothes, but mostly the famous natural soap of Aleppo. Interestingly, the spices' sellers sometimes form the spices inside glass in different patterns, like, for example, the flag of Lebanon etc. There are good goldsmiths all around the city, often Armenians. I value my silver cross from there, just like my wooden boxes covered in pearl mass. Sadly, the bazaar was damaged during the civil war.
The city walls are extant on in many places, with some nice gates remaining. But not everywhere.
There are some old churches and mosques, but most of them are not very interesting.Written April 13, 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - THOMASFROMDAMASCUSSyria3,972 contributionsThe Aleppo Omayyad Mosque also called the Great Mosque of Aleppo was virtually destroyed during the Syrian Civil War and now they are expeditiously restoring it to its previous grandeur and spender.
The Mosque was built in 715 where in the minaret was added in the 11th century. The minaret is square and only a single structure, both are somewhat unusual in Arabic construction in those days and the minaret was connected to the adjoining souq.
Early in the Syrian Civil War the mosque and its’ only minaret were destroyed as fighting was taking place in the surrounding and massive Aleppo Souq. Some people say that the minaret was used by snipers as it was quite tall and offered a great view over the old city of Aleppo, therefor it was practically destroyed.
We had a special tour of the reconstruction taking place in the mosque and on the minaret and it is taking a great deal of time, but you can visualize what it will look like in a few more years.
It is being restored in a painstaking process as they want to use each of the original stones used in the original minaret. The Chief Reconstruction Engineer of the entire mosque project told us that each stone that lay in the rubble of the destroyed minaret were numbered and then by use of a three-dimensional computer its’ original location was identified. It appears that the minaret was about sixty to seventy percent completed.
The interior of the main mosque is also under renovation and is coming along very well. The majority of the wood-works and interior plastering have been completed.
So we are hoping that during our next visit to Aleppo we will see some further completion of this very important reconstruction of this famous Aleppo Omayyad Mosque.Written October 3, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - tinky_in_arabiaRiyadh, Saudi Arabia94 contributionsI just wonder how this place is now. During my visit, this was one on of most vibrant and unforgettable locales of Aleppo, bustling with traffic and people going about their daily errands. Lots of local shops around the square, the olive stalls with those colorful varieties are wonderful.Written November 27, 2014This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- DanaDamascus, Syria32 contributionsEbla, also spelled Tell Mardikh, ancient city 33 miles (53 km) southwest of Aleppo in northwest Syria. During the height of its power (2600-2240 BC), Ebla controlled northern Syria, Lebanon, and parts of northern Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) and enjoyed trade and diplomatic relations with countries as far away as Egypt, Iran, and Sumer.
The excavation of the mound (the hill) now known as the site of Ebla began in 1964 with a team of archaeologists from the University of Rome led by Paolo Mattai. In 1975, Matai's team found the archives of Ebla, dating back to the third millennium BC. More than 17,000 cuneiform tablets and clay fragments have been discoveredWritten July 25, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - ArzivHajinianYerevan, Armenia42 contributionsplace 2 waist ur time & rilax with small waterfalls.....
its include many different restaurants & cusines,
its special 4 runing & walking sportWritten August 18, 2012This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - THOMASFROMDAMASCUSSyria3,972 contributionsOne of the most favorite tourist attractions in the Old City of Aleppo has always been the Aleppo Souqs.
During Syria’s Civil War the Aleppo Souqs sustained the most intensive destruction of any area within the city of Aleppo.
The souqs were built around the XXX century and was quite large. They contained many shops; mosques; hammams (Bath Houses} and old Caravansaries.
We had a special tour of the reconstruction taking place in all the Aleppo Souq area by the Syrian Minister of Tourism and with the Chief Reconstruction Engineer. So we had a chance to walk through the many souqs which compose the true Aleppo Souq Area.
We were all astonished by the amount and speed of the reconstruction taking place within the majority of the numerous souqs.
It was also a pleasant surprise that many of the old Bab’s {doors} between the different souqs were still intact and were reattached in their original positions.
While visiting Aleppo you must look at this new and more beautiful rebuilt Aleppo Souq.Written October 4, 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - aylinyrdIstanbul, Türkiye10 contributionsThe only problem is that they didn't have any informative signs or labels in English at the time of my visitWritten March 21, 2012This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- ImadHaidarAleppo, Syria7 contributionsAn old, almost 100 years old privately owned in Azizye neighborhood in Aleppo-Syria
basement of the building used to have tunnels connecting with old tunnels of old Aleppo.Written December 20, 2015This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
