Damascus, Syria — Activities
Damascus Culture
The Syria Times and Syria Today (www.syria-today.com), both daily English-language newspapers, provide listings and descriptions of cultural events in Damascus. You can also check out the Ministry of Tourism's website for listings; however, it is updated sporadically (www.syriatourism.org).
Music and Dance
British Council
The British Council organizes many cultural events in Damascus.
Sharia Maysaloun, PO Box 33105 Damascus
Tel: (011) 331 0631.
Website: www.britishcouncil.org/syria
Dar al-Assad Opera House
The Dar al-Assad Opera House, near Midan Umawiyeen, holds concerts, theatrical performances and exhibitions arranged by the Ministry of Culture. It is the main cultural venue in Damascus.
Sharia Shoukri al-Quwatly, Damascus
Tel: (011) 245 7422.
Website: www.opera-syria.org
French Cultural Center
French Cultural Center, opposite the Alaa Towers Hotel in a side street off Sharia Yussef al-Azmeh, also organizes several cultural events in Damascus.
Off Sharia Yussef al-Azmeh, Damascus
Tel: (011) 231 6181.
Website: www.ccf-damas.org
Damascus Tours
Car and bus tours
The bigger hotels are connected to travel agents that can set up a guided tour of Damascus by private taxi or a group tour by bus. Good travel agents like Silk Road Travel, Adonis Travel and Jasmin Tours organize day tours of the city including the National Museum, the Azem Palace, the Umayyad Mosque, Saladin's tomb, Straight Street, the Christian Quarter, shopping in the Hamidiyyeh Souk, and a drive to Qassioun Mountain in the evening. They can also organize private tours to Palmyra, Aleppo or a village in the Anti-Lebanon Mountains by air-conditioned car.
Silk Road Travel
Tel: (011) 223 0500.
Website: www.silkroad-tours.com
Adonis Travel
Tel: (011) 513 4850.
Website: www.adonistravel.com/syria
Jasmin Tours
Tel: (011) 231 7597.
Website: www.jasmintours.com
