Damascus Travel Tips

Damascus: Key Travel Etiquette Tips

Damascus, the ancient capital of Syria, is a city rich in history and tradition. To ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience, both for yourself and the locals, here are some key cultural etiquette tips for travelers:

Greetings and Interactions:

• Salam (مرحبا): This means “hello” or “peace” in Arabic and is the most common greeting.

• Handshakes: A handshake is the standard form of greeting between people of the same gender.

• Shaking hands with men: If you are a woman, it is generally considered polite to shake hands with a man only if he initiates it.

• Greetings in general:

  • Formal: “Salam” is followed by a formal greeting like “As-salamu alaykum” (Arabic for “peace be upon you”) and is often appropriate when meeting someone for the first time.
  • Informal:
    • Between friends: It’s common to shake hands, hug, or kiss on both cheeks (if the woman initiates).

Dress Code:

• Modesty: Dress modestly, especially when visiting religious sites. For women, this means covering their hair with a scarf and wearing loose-fitting clothing that covers shoulders and knees.
• Clothing Options:
  • Women: Consider a scarf that can be easily adjusted to cover more or less of your head depending on the situation. In conservative areas, avoid revealing clothing like shorts, sleeveless shirts, or tight dresses and tops.
  • Men: While not as strict as for women, it’s still polite to dress conservatively, especially in Damascus when visiting mosques and religious sites.

Key Things to Remember:

• Greetings:

  • Always greet people with “Salam” (or “As-salamu alaykum” if appropriate) when entering a shop or home.
  • It’s customary to shake hands with men, including a handshake for the host and a nod/smile for anyone else you are introduced to.

• Shoes: In some cultures and contexts, removing shoes before entering homes or mosques is considered polite.

• Negotiation:

  • Haggling is expected in markets and for taxis.
  • Be respectful when negotiating and avoid being aggressive.

Other Tips:

• Respectful Behavior: In general, Syrians are very hospitable and appreciate polite behavior.

• Learn Some Arabic: While English is spoken by some, particularly in the tourism industry, learning a few basic phrases in Arabic (such as “Salam,” “Shukran” [thank you], and “Ma’a assalama” [goodbye]) will go a long way towards showing respect for the local culture.

• Photography:

  • Mosques: Ask permission before taking photos of people, mosques, or religious sites.
  • People: Be mindful when taking pictures of locals. A respectful approach and a willingness to ask for consent are crucial.

• Greetings in Damascus: Asking permission to take pictures is especially important in Damascus, where many locals consider it inappropriate to be photographed without consent.

• Photography Etiquette: It’s best to avoid photographing women, particularly those who are wearing traditional clothing.

Respecting Religious Practices:

• Dress: Remember the importance of modesty, especially when visiting religious sites. Remove your shoes before entering mosques and consider covering your head and shoulders as a sign of respect.
• Prayer Times: Be aware that there are five daily prayer times in Islam.
• During Prayer: It’s important to be mindful of this and avoid making loud noises or interrupting worshippers during these times.

Other Cultural Considerations:

• Respect for Elders: Remember to show respect to older people. This is a deeply ingrained cultural value.

• Arabic Hospitality: Be prepared for Syrians to be very hospitable. It’s common for them to offer you tea, coffee, or food. Accept these gestures of goodwill with a smile and a “shukran” (thank you).

• Greetings in Arabic:

  • Learn the basic greetings: “Salam” (hello) and “Ma’a assalama” (goodbye) are always polite.
  • Consider using “Shukran” (thank you) and “Ma’a as-salama” (goodbye) when appropriate.

• Personal Space: Be prepared for people to stand closer together than what you may be accustomed to in other cultures.

Remember:

• Respecting personal space is important, but Syrians are used to close physical contact during conversations and greetings.

• Hospitality:

  • Showing respect for local customs and traditions will help you have a more positive experience.

• Language Barriers: It’s always polite to be patient and understanding if communication is difficult due to language barriers.

• Greetings:

  • Use “shukran” (thank you) and “as-salamu alaykum” (peace be upon you) to express gratitude for any hospitality shown.

General Tips:

• Learn the basics of Arabic culture: This includes things like understanding their traditional dress code, religious practices, and social norms.

• Respect for Islam: Syria is a predominantly Muslim country. Be respectful of Islamic customs and traditions when interacting with locals.

• Arabic Language:

  • Learn some basic Arabic phrases before you go.
  • A simple “Salam” (hello) or “Shukran” (thank you) goes a long way.

• Greetings:

  • Respectful greeting:
    • “Salam” is the most common and polite greeting.
  • Say it with a smile and a slight nod of the head.

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Remember these tips:**

• Respectful Conversation:

  • Be respectful and mindful of volume when speaking.

• Greetings in Public:

  • In general, “Salam” is used for casual greetings, while “Ma’a as-salama” signifies a formal farewell.

Negotiation:

• Bargaining: Remember that it’s common practice to bargain in the markets, but always be polite and respectful when negotiating with other people.
• Respecting Customs:
  • Haggling is part of the culture in Damascus, so don’t hesitate to participate in this tradition.

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Remember:**

• Be patient and understanding during interactions.

• “Shukran”: Remember to say “thank you” (shukran) when someone shows you kindness or offers a service.

• Negotiation Etiquette:

• Photography: Ask permission before taking photos of people, especially women.** It’s considered polite to ask permission before taking pictures of people in Syria, but it’s important to remember that “no” is not always an acceptable answer.

• Social Norms:

  • Respecting the Elderly: Always greet older people with a respectful “Salam” and offer them your seat on public transportation.

• Haggling:

• Be polite:

Remember to say “Shukran” (respect) when someone shows you courtesy and respect.

Remember:

• Respectful: “Ma’a al-shaykh” is the phrase for “goodbye” and it’s important to say it with a smile and a sincere tone.

• Be respectful:

• Remember that “Shukran” is a polite way of saying “thank you” in Arabic, and be sure to use it when appropriate!

Other things to keep in mind:

• Public Displays of Affection: While hugs and kisses between friends are common, it’s important to avoid them with people you don’t know well.

  • Public displays of affection are not common in Syria.

• Respect for Personal Space:

• Be aware that it’s generally considered polite to be mindful of personal space and cultural norms when interacting with individuals, especially those from different backgrounds.

Clothing and Modesty:

• Dress modestly: “Shay” (modest) is the key!

Covering your shoulders and knees is a good idea in most situations. It’s best to dress as the locals do.

Respect for Clothing:

• Dress:

• Remember that Syrian women are often expected to cover their hair.

• Dress modestly: This is especially important when entering religious buildings, like churches and mosques, where dressing conservatively is a sign of respect.

  • Be aware that clothing norms vary depending on the context.

Other Tips:

• Respecting local customs: Always dress conservatively in Syria. This means covering your shoulders and knees. As a tourist, it’s important to be respectful of the local culture.
• Dress Code: Dress respectfully, especially when visiting religious sites.

Important: Dress conservatively.

This means dressing in a way that covers your shoulders and knees, even if you are not in a mosque or church.

Respecting Local Etiquette:

• Respectful attire: Cover your head with a scarf when entering a mosque and wear loose-fitting clothing that doesn’t reveal your arms or legs.

• Clothing: Remember to dress respectfully. This means covering your shoulders and knees and avoiding anything too revealing or flashy.

Important:

• Wear modest clothing: Be mindful of the fact that in some cultures, it is considered inappropriate for women to have their hair uncovered in public.

  • For religious buildings:**

  • Remove shoes: Remove shoes before entering a mosque (it’s a common courtesy).

• Respectful behavior:

Remember that “Shukran” (thank you) is a respectful gesture.

Clothing:

• Dress Code:

• This means dressing in a way that covers your head and knees.

• Dress for the occasion: Always be respectful of religious customs.

• Negotiating:

  • Be prepared to negotiate prices, especially in markets.

• Respecting local traditions: Respecting cultural norms is crucial.

Remember:

• To respect local traditions, it’s important to be aware of them and understand the importance of respecting them.

Dress:

• While it’s not mandatory for all women to cover their hair in Syria, many women choose to do so as a sign of respect for the local culture.
• Respecting local customs: Covering your head is not required as a tourist but can be

a way to show respect for the local religion and customs.

Important:

• Remember that “Ma’a al-shay” (thank you) is a polite phrase,

but remember that it’s crucial to respect the context of their culture.

• Photography: Be mindful of where and when you take pictures. It’s important to

ask permission before photographing people or religious sites.

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• Dress:

Respectful dress is a sign of respect for the local culture, which

is largely conservative.