Safety in Syria: what overland travellers should know
Our summary of the country advice published by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Viaggiare Sicuri) on 11 August 2026.
Safety
- Travel advised against — Travel to Syria for any purpose is advised against, tourism included and even as part of a package organised by an agency. After the change of power of 8 December 2024 the security situation remains volatile: the central government does not control the whole country, there have been clashes in several regions, and Israeli air strikes on selected targets and US raids on ISIS-linked sites continue. Anyone who goes, at their own risk, is asked to keep movements to the essential minimum and monitor the situation constantly.
- Areas to avoid — Rural areas and the outskirts of cities are to be avoided because of the risk of attacks and crime. Avoid the inland part of the coastal region, periodically hit by violence between Sunnis and Alawites, and the north-east, which the government is taking back from the Kurdish SDF militias and where armed clashes can flare.
- South and border zones — Travel to the south of the country is also advised against, both where Druze militias are in control around Sweida and in the areas occupied or raided by Israeli forces, meaning Mount Hermon, Jabal al-Shaykh, and the strip along the southern Lebanese border. North of Aleppo the Turkish armed forces hold a security belt. In the central districts of Damascus and Aleppo the heavy security presence makes the setting feel relatively safe, but maximum caution still applies.
- Terrorism — The country remains particularly exposed to attacks by jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda or ISIS, which may deliberately target westerners. Since 6 January 2026, fighting in the north-east between pro-government forces and Kurdish militias has allowed hundreds of ISIS prisoners to escape from local jails. The sensitive targets are military and institutional sites, infrastructure such as airports, places of worship and any crowded place, and local security forces are not yet strong enough to counter the threat everywhere.
- Kidnapping and crime — Crime rates are high and the risk of kidnapping, robbery, killings and violence persists across the country. The fragmentation of territory favours armed gangs, robbery and racketeering in areas such as Idlib and the north-east, made worse by displaced populations. Avoid any journey inside the country, above all alone and at night.
- Earthquakes — Syria is a seismic risk country. The two very powerful earthquakes of 6 and 20 February 2023 struck the north, in particular the governorates of Aleppo, Idlib, Hama and Latakia, killing thousands and badly damaging buildings.
Before you rely on this
This is our summary of advice written by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italian travellers, published on 11 August 2026. We summarise in good faith, but we cannot guarantee it is accurate, current or complete, and we take no responsibility for decisions made on the basis of it. Rules change without notice and are applied by officials at the border, not by websites. Always read the original source and the travel advice your own government publishes for Syria before you travel. GuideMeet has no way of checking whether an individual guide meets any standard mentioned here — ask them directly.
Source: Viaggiare Sicuri — Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, updated 11 August 2026. Last checked by GuideMeet on 2026-09-20.