Homs (حمص) is the third largest city in Syria. Much of the city was destroyed or damaged during the ongoing Syrian Civil War, particularly during the Siege of Homs (2011—14). Rebuilding began in 2018.

Understand

With a population of 1.6 million, Homs is the third large city in Syria after the capital Damascus and Aleppo. It is centrally positioned in Syria and is home to Al-Baath University among other institutes. There are many restaurants and hotels. The old name for the city of Homs is "Emissa" or "Emizza" but in standard Arabic it is called "Hims" and "Homs" is its informal name.

Homs is the birthplace of Hashim al-Atassi, the Syrian nationalist and former president of Syria.

Get in

There is no airport in Homs; however, you can reach the city by taxi, private car, or bus from the airports at Damascus, Aleppo, or Lattakia, or other ports of you are arriving from outside of Syria. There are bus stations in every city which provide service to reach Homs.

There are no trains to Homs, however services from Damascus are expected to return during 2020 or 2021.

• 1 Homs railway station. (updated Mar 2020)

See

• 1 Citadel of Homs (updated Dec 2017)

Mosques

• 2 Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque (updated Sep 2018)
• 3 Great Mosque of al-Nuri (updated Mar 2020)

Churches

• 4 Church of Saint Elian (updated Jun 2020)
• 5 Forty Martyrs Cathedral (updated Jun 2020)
• 6 Saint Mary Church of the Holy Belt (updated Jun 2020)

Do

Go to the mountains, 45 km from the city center:

• Mashta el Helou
• Marmarita
• Jwykhat
• Crack des Chevalier

There you can enjoy the cool weather, the beautiful view, or camp if you have a tent. A camping permit might be needed.

Eat

There are many restaurants in Homs in Ghouta street and Hamra street and others near city center.

If you are just passing though the city, definitely try the labneh shawarma at the big food stall inside the Homs bus station.

Drink

You can find many pubs and bars to have a drink, specially in Al Hamidiya street, and some in Al hadara Street.

Try Arak the local Syrian drink

Sleep

There are many hotels in Homs

• Assafeer Hotel in Alinsha'at is the most popular (5 stars)
• Homs Grand Hotel (HGH)
• other cheaper hotels near the city center and the Damascus road (in Arabic:طريق الشام)
• 1 Safir Homs Hotel (فندق سفير حمص), Ragheb Al Jamali St, ☏ +963 31 211 2400. (updated Sep 2017)

Stay safe

See the travel warning at Syria.