Syria's ancient Palmyra draws tourists despite scars of war

Destruction is still visible in the Syrian city of Palmyra following the country's long conflict, and it could take years before archaeological excavation missions receive permits to resume work there, a local official said.

Palmyra's ancient city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was seized by Islamic State militants in 2015 and partially destroyed before it was recaptured by the Syrian army.

Hasan al-Ali, head of antiquities in Palmyra, said local visitors and tourists have been gradually returning to the city since the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.

"According to current statistics, the number of foreign visitors who have arrived in Palmyra after Syria’s liberation exceeds the hundreds, while (the number of) domestic visitors exceeds the thousands," he added.

Mohamed Abdul Latif, a hotel manager in the modern part of the city, said visitor numbers remain modest and below initial expectations. He said the deteriorated infrastructure left by war is making recovery difficult.

At its peak in 2010, Syria attracted 10 million tourists, many of them Westerners. That all changed in 2011 with the onset of the civil war.

In the first half of 2026, Syria attracted 3.52 million visitors, including Syrian expats and foreign visitors, with a 111% increase compared to the same period in 2025, state news agency SANA reported earlier this year.

Palmyra, located in Syria's central desert, was one of the country's most important tourist destinations before the war and is renowned for its monumental ruins blending Greco-Roman architecture with Persian and local influences.

Camera: Karam al-Masri, Editing: Hamuda Hassan, Production and Writing: Kinda Makieh/Reuters