Sixteen airlines now fly into Damascus, and the road from Beirut still takes three hours. Which route suits your trip, and what can go wrong.
Fly into Damascus, or cross by road from Beirut in about three hours. Around sixteen airlines now serve Damascus, including three direct Syrian Airlines routes to Europe. The land route avoids the risk of an airline refusing to board you on a visa on arrival, but border crossings with Lebanon can close without notice.
Two ways in, and the choice matters more than it looks. Flying is quicker and now far better served than it was a year ago. Crossing by land from Beirut is slower, cheaper, and sidesteps the one problem that stops people at the airport.
Damascus International is 25 km southeast of the city, about 30 to 45 minutes by road. As of August 2026 around sixteen airlines were serving it from roughly eighteen airports, a transformation from the handful operating two years ago.
Carriers serving Damascus include Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordanian, flynas, Jazeera Airways and Etihad, alongside the national carrier Syrian Airlines and the private Syrian airline Fly Cham. Syrian Airlines began flying direct to Amsterdam in July 2026, and added Copenhagen and Vienna in September, giving it three direct European routes. German carrier Sundair flew the first direct Berlin service in around fourteen years in August 2026.
There are still no direct flights from North America or East Asia, so expect to connect, most often through Istanbul, Doha or a Gulf hub.
Aleppo International also operates, which is worth knowing if your trip starts in the north.
Still the route many visitors use. Beirut to Damascus takes around three hours by road, crossing at Masnaa, and Beirut is served by far more airlines at far lower fares than Damascus. Crossings from Jordan at Nassib also operate.
The land route has one decisive advantage: no airline is deciding whether to let you travel. You simply arrive at the border, pay the visa fee in cash dollars, and cross, usually in minutes.
It also has a real risk. Crossings between Syria and Lebanon have been the target of clashes and bombings and can close without notice. Build slack into your plans, keep an alternative in mind, and take local advice on the day rather than relying on what was true last week.
Fly if your time is short, if you are coming from Europe on one of the direct routes, and if your airline has confirmed in writing that it will board you on a visa on arrival.
Go by land if your airline will not commit, if you want to keep the cost down, or if you are combining Syria with Lebanon anyway. Arrange the car through a Syrian operator rather than finding one at the border, and change money to dollars before you cross.
Yes. Around sixteen airlines were serving Damascus International as of August 2026, including Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordanian, flynas, Jazeera Airways and Etihad, plus Syrian Airlines and Fly Cham. Aleppo International is also operating.
Yes. Syrian Airlines flies direct from Amsterdam, which began in July 2026, and from Copenhagen and Vienna, which began that September. Sundair operated the first direct Berlin service in around fourteen years in August 2026.
By road, in about three hours, crossing at Masnaa. It is the route many visitors still use, because Beirut has far more flights at lower fares and the land border avoids any question of an airline refusing to board you.
No. There are no direct flights from North America or East Asia, so you will connect, usually through Istanbul, Doha or a Gulf hub.
About 25 km southeast of the centre, which is 30 to 45 minutes by road. Arrange the transfer in advance rather than negotiating at the terminal.