About Damascus
Syria’s capital, Damascus, was dominated by various civilizations for centuries and is a very important region in the history of humanity. After Aleppo, it is Syria’s second largest city with a population of approximately 2 million and 600 thousand.
Located in southwestern Syria, the Barada River passes through the city. This river is used to irrigate an area of approximately 375 square kilometers. There are charming cafes along the river where you can enjoy some tea. Damascus experiences a hot and dry climate. While the humidity is low in the summer the weather is very hot. During the winter the city experiences occasional rainfall and occasional snow.
The Umayyads, Alexander the Great, the Ottomans, and the French have played a role in the city’s history. Every civilization that ruled the area has contributed different things to the city’s culture. Some of the remaining structures from these cultures are the Umayyad Mosque, Train Station, and the Selahattin Ayyubid Mausoleum.
The Damascus International Airport, located 20 km outside of the city, is one of the most preferred methods of transportation. You can also reach Damascus by bus from Hatay, Turkey.
Transportation to Damascus City Center from Airport
Damascus Intl. Airport
Public transport in the city of Damascus is carried out by buses, minibuses and trains. However, tourists are advised not to use public transport for safety reasons. Public transportation services provided by the municipalities do not provide continuity and order due to military and political turmoil in the country. Another disadvantage of public transport is that all signs and warnings are in Arabic and most foreigners do not understand it.
Taxis are very common in Damascus. Although it is regarded as safer from public transport, it is best to get a taxi, which is recommended by your acquaintance or your hotel. In this big city, taxi driving is not a widely registered commercial business, but an extra and informal job for everyone who has a car. For this reason you should not expect a standard price tag or taximeter. You should definitely talk with the car owner about the place you will go ahead and determine the price. You can bargain without hesitation. In general, taxi fares are very good in Damascus. Although tourists are offered a higher rate than usual, you can see much cheaper prices in this city than in many other countries. Figures rise in the intense traffic of the city center, but fall as you move away from the center.
During your stay in the city, you can rent a car and have a relatively comfortable and free transportation option. Cheap gas prices also make it advantageous to rent a car. Prices for car rental in Damascus are also very reasonable. You should pay attention to the fact that the papers of the vehicle you are renting are complete and any scratches or damages are detected and recorded in advance. Traffic is very dense and complex throughout the city. Most of the drivers do not care about traffic rules. For this reason you should be very careful when driving. You can rent your car with a private driver.
If you do not have visa problems, you can get to Beirut in 1.5 hours by car. There are also bus services between Damascus and Beirut and the journey takes about 2 hours on average. The number of alternatives you can get to the city center from Damascus International Airport is limited. Especially during the period of civil war, state-run public transport services were stopped. On the other hand, there is a private bus service between the airport and the city center. Taxi and car rental are the other transportation alternatives that are often preferred.
Bus
There are bus stops at the terminal exit of the airport, but they are out of service for a while. It is not known yet when the buses will start to operate again. But shuttle buses of a private company are closing this gap. You can easily get to the city center by taking these buses for an affordable fee.
Taxi
Taxi usage is very common in Damascus. You can reach the city center at a convenient fare by taking a taxi from one of the taxi stands you can see in front of the airport. Since there is no taximeter in the taxis and there is no standard tariff, you should definitely negotiate with the driver about the fare. If possible, you can ask your hotel to send you a taxi; thus, you can get on a reliable taxi .
Car Rental
There are some car rental offices in Damascus Airport. By agreeing with one of these, you can have a comfortable means of transport throughout your trip. Prices are quite affordable. For this reason, you can also rent your car with a driver. Thus, you can have the opportunity to minimize the impact of the intense and turbulent traffic of Damascus.
Amman Civil - Marka Intl. Airport
Amman, the capital of Jordan, hosts the Queen Alia Airport, the largest airport in the country. Queen Alia Airport, 30 kilometers from the city center, is the most important airport in the country. Access to the city center from the Queen Alia Airport, which satisfies all the needs of its passengers with the services offered at the terminal buildings, is also very easy.
In Amman, where basic transportation options are available, it is possible to easily travel between the airport and the city center. We can list the transportation means that you can use to get to the city center from Queen Alia Airport, which is 30 kilometers away from the city center, as taxi, bus and car rental.
Taxi
You can quickly get to the city center from Queen Alia Airport by taxi. Taxis, which you can find in front of the terminal building at the airport, can take you to the city center at a reasonable cost. You can learn the taxi fares determined by the Jordan Transportation Organization Council from the signboard that stands next to the taxi parking area for the passengers.
Bus
The Sariyah buses that Queen Alia Airport offers to you allow you to travel between the airport and Amman easily. The Sariyah buses, which are a more affordable alternative to the taxi, can be accessed from North Bus Station, Housing Bank Complex, Fourth Circle, Fifth Circle and Sevent Circle stations. Buses, operating between 6:30 am and midnight, provide a reliable journey.
Car Rental
Another means of transportation you can choose is car rental. You can have a pleasant trip to the city center with the cars you can rent from car rental companies located at the terminal of Queen Alia Airport. Among the car rental companies you can choose from are Budget, Hertz, Payless, Europcar, Avis, National and Thrifty.
