Things to Do in Damascus in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Damascus
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Spring weather brings comfortable temperatures for walking Damascus's Old City - you'll actually enjoy spending 4-5 hours exploring the covered souqs without overheating. Those stone corridors stay naturally cool, and the 20°C (68°F) highs mean you can wander without sweating through your clothes.
- March sits right at the tail end of Syria's rainy season, which means the countryside around Damascus is genuinely green. The Anti-Lebanon mountains still have snow on the peaks while wildflowers bloom in the valleys - it's the only time of year you'll see this contrast. Day trips to Maaloula or Sednaya are visually stunning right now.
- Tourist numbers remain relatively low in March compared to April-May. The Umayyad Mosque, Azem Palace, and Straight Street feel manageable. You can actually photograph the courtyard mosaics without timing your shots around tour groups. Hotel rates haven't hit spring peak pricing yet either.
- Local produce markets overflow with seasonal citrus, especially bitter oranges for making marmalade and fresh almonds. The food scene shifts toward lighter dishes after winter - you'll find more salads with wild greens foraged from the Ghouta region, and restaurants start serving outdoor seating as evenings warm up.
Considerations
- Temperature swings between day and night are dramatic - that 16°C (29°F) difference means you'll need actual layers. Mornings start cold enough for a jacket, midday you're in short sleeves, then by 7pm you're layering again. Packing becomes annoying because you need both warm and cool weather clothing.
- Those 10 rainy days aren't predictable afternoon showers - they're full weather systems that can settle in for 24-48 hours. When it rains in Damascus, the Old City's limestone streets become slippery, some unpaved areas turn muddy, and outdoor archaeological sites like the Street Called Straight become less pleasant. You'll want solid backup indoor plans.
- Dust storms occasionally blow in from the Syrian Desert, particularly in late March. The sky turns yellowish, visibility drops, and that fine dust gets everywhere - your camera gear, your sinuses, your hotel room. Locals call these khamsin winds, and they can last 1-3 days when they hit.
Best Activities in March
Damascus Old City Walking Tours
March weather makes this ideal for spending entire mornings exploring the UNESCO-listed Old City without heat exhaustion. The covered souqs maintain comfortable temperatures even when it's 20°C (68°F) outside, and the variable cloud cover means you're not squinting in harsh sunlight when photographing the Umayyad Mosque's courtyard. Start at 9am when shops open but tour groups haven't arrived yet - you'll have the Khan As'ad Pasha practically to yourself. The city's 2,000-year-old Roman gates, Byzantine churches, and Ottoman-era homes all benefit from the soft spring light.
Maaloula Mountain Village Excursions
This Christian village where Aramaic is still spoken sits 56 km (35 miles) north of Damascus in the Anti-Lebanon mountains. March is genuinely the best month - the mountains are green, wildflowers bloom on the hillsides, and the Mar Sarkis monastery looks dramatic against snow-capped peaks in the background. The drive takes 90 minutes through landscapes that are brown and dusty by May. You'll visit the blue-painted monastery, walk through the narrow gorge, and hear one of the world's oldest languages spoken in daily life. Bring a jacket - it's noticeably cooler at 1,500 m (4,920 ft) elevation.
Traditional Hammam Experiences
Damascus's historic bathhouses provide perfect refuge on those rainy March days when outdoor plans fall apart. The 800-year-old Hammam Nur al-Din and other restored Ottoman baths offer the full treatment - hot room, scrubbing, massage, tea afterward. The experience takes 90-120 minutes and feels especially good when it's damp and cool outside. March humidity levels at 70% mean your skin actually appreciates the deep moisture treatment. These aren't tourist traps - locals still use them weekly, particularly on Fridays.
Ghouta Agricultural Region Tours
The fertile oasis surrounding Damascus is at peak greenness in March after winter rains. This network of orchards, farms, and ancient water channels supplied Damascus for millennia. March brings almond blossoms, early apricot flowers, and fields of vegetables that disappear by summer's heat. You'll visit working farms, see traditional irrigation systems still functioning, taste fresh produce, and understand why Damascus was called the Pearl of the Desert. The landscape turns brown by May, making this genuinely seasonal.
National Museum of Damascus Visits
Syria's premier archaeological museum reopened with restored galleries showcasing artifacts from Palmyra, Ebla, Ugarit, and Damascus itself. March's unpredictable weather makes this essential backup planning - when rain settles in or dust storms blow through, spend 3-4 hours here instead of fighting the elements. The collection spans 11,000 years of human civilization. Recent restoration work means galleries look better than they have in years. The reconstructed Dura-Europos synagogue alone justifies the visit.
Mount Qasioun Sunset Viewpoints
This mountain overlooking Damascus offers panoramic city views, particularly dramatic in March when variable weather creates interesting cloud formations and light. The 1,151 m (3,776 ft) summit sits directly north of the Old City. March evenings are cool but not cold - perfect for spending 90 minutes watching sunset over the city and staying for early evening lights. Local families picnic here on weekends. The drive up takes 25 minutes from central Damascus through neighborhoods you wouldn't otherwise see.
March Events & Festivals
Nowruz Spring Festival
The Persian New Year celebration on March 21st is observed by Damascus's Kurdish and Persian communities, particularly in neighborhoods like Rukn al-Din. You'll find special foods like samanu wheat pudding, haft-seen ceremonial tables in some restaurants, and families picnicking in parks. While not as elaborate as celebrations in Iran, it offers insight into Damascus's cultural diversity. Some restaurants prepare special Nowruz menus for the week surrounding the equinox.
Damascus Spring Flower Markets
Throughout March, temporary flower markets appear in neighborhoods as local growers sell spring blooms - jasmine, roses, citrus blossoms, and wildflowers from the Ghouta region. The largest market sets up near Marjeh Square on weekend mornings. Locals buy flowers for homes and the graves of relatives. It's not a formal festival but a seasonal tradition that shows Damascus at its most colorful. The markets typically run until early April when heat kills the blooms.