Palmyra Traveler Essentials
- Safety rating
- 2/10
- Best time to visit
- Spring and autumn historically avoided the harshest desert extremes, security permitting.
- Population
- 0.1M
Overview
Palmyra is a legendary oasis city in the Syrian desert, whose UNESCO-listed Greco-Roman ruins once formed a glittering caravan crossroads ruled by Queen Zenobia. Despite deliberate damage during the war, its colonnaded streets and temples remain among antiquity's most evocative.
Getting around
There is no safe public transport; the site historically lay along the desert road from Damascus, reached by car.
Local etiquette
Dress conservatively and treat the damaged heritage with great respect. Heed all official guidance and avoid the area until it is deemed safe.
Safety
Palmyra and its surroundings remain extremely dangerous with severe security risks, and all travel is strongly advised against. The area has experienced conflict, looting, and unexploded ordnance.