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(Last updated: 17 Mar 2010)
Visas
For those seeking information about Syria, travel to Syria and Syrian visas, a good place to start is with the website of the Syrian Embassy in Canberra.
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Syria's road network is excellent, and buses are frequent and cheap - most Syrians use the bus, as very few have their own car.
Bus types include the traditional coach, minibuses and Japanese vans known as microbuses. Service taxis operate on the major bus routes but are considerably more expensive than microbuses.
Syria's trains are modern, cheap and punctual, but the stations are usually out of town. The main line connects Damascus, Aleppo, Deir ez-Zur, Hassake and Qamishle with a secondary line along the coast.
There are a few car-rental companies in Syria, but rates are around 50 per cent higher than in the West and petrol is expensive and hard to find. If you do choose to drive, remember that Syrians drive on the right.
(Source: Lonely Planet - Syria Transport) |
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Time zones and time differences
Syria is eight hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time..
To find out the current time in Damascus, view the World Clock. |
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Dialling codes
Syria's country code is 963.
For calls to Syria from Australia dial: 0011 + 963 + area code + telephone number
For calls from Syria to Australia dial: 00 + 61 + area code + telephone number
For further information (eg. area codes) please visit the White Pages - international dialling codes.
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Business hours in Syria are Saturday to Thursday, 8.00am-2.00pm.
All government offices, banks and Muslim firms close on Fridays and remain open on Sundays.
Christian firms are generally open on Fridays and closed on Sundays.
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Public holidays
January 1 – New Year's Day
February 26 – Mouloud (Birth of the Prophet)
March 21 – Revolution Day
March 21 – Mothers' Day
April 4 – Easter
April 5 – Orthodox Easter
April 17 – Independence Day
May 1 – Labour Day
May 6 – Martyrs' Day
September 11 – Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan)
October 6 – Liberation War Day
November 17 – Eid al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice)
December 7 – Islamic New Year
December 25 – Christmas Day
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Electricity and water
Syria’s power supply is 220 volts, 50Hz 1, 3 phases, 2, 3 wires. The European two-pin plugs are the most common.
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