Damascus

Damascus is often described as one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, and the Old City wears that history lightly: Roman gateways, Ottoman caravanserais and family workshops share the same narrow lanes. Behind plain stone walls, many traditional houses open onto courtyards with fountains, citrus trees and painted reception rooms.

Beyond the walls, the modern city has leafy residential districts, busy shopping streets and Mount Qasioun rising to the north-west. Staying here also puts you within reach of day trips to Maaloula, Bosra and the mountain resorts of the Qalamoun.