Stand on the hill at the centre of Aleppo and the city arranges itself around you: the Citadel of Aleppo rises from its mound, and from almost anywhere in the streets below you can see it. That single view is the clearest introduction to a place whose inhabited history reaches back millennia and whose old city, damaged in the Syrian civil war, is now the subject of ongoing reconstruction.
This guide suits travellers who want to understand a city through its architecture, its markets and its places of worship rather than through a checklist of attractions. Much of what makes Aleppo worth your time is in the old city and in the Jdeydeh quarter, where churches, mosques, khans and courtyard houses sit close together.
What follows covers the sights named in the source material, with practical notes on how to combine them, and a one-day plan that strings the strongest of them together. Walking is the best way to see the city: any amount of time spent on foot will reveal another historical site or point of interest.
Top things to do in Aleppo
1. Citadel of Aleppo
The Citadel of Aleppo sits on a hill in the centre of the city and is visible from almost anywhere. Use of the hill dates back at least to the middle of the 3rd millennium BC, while the current structure dates from the 13th century. It survived the fighting relatively intact, and daily tours were running as of 2026.
Because it is the city's central landmark, it makes a natural first stop and a useful orientation point for everything else you plan to see. Check ahead that tours are running on the day you intend to visit.
2. Al-Madina Souq
Al-Madina Souq runs to almost 13 kilometres in total length and was once the largest souq in the world, selling gold and silver, boxes, clothing, fabric and soap. It was severely damaged during the civil war; a small part called al-Saqatiyah reopened in 2019.
Bargaining is encouraged, and knowing some Arabic will get you a much better price. Plan to visit the reopened section rather than expecting the full length of the souq to be walkable.
3. National Museum of Aleppo
The National Museum of Aleppo on Baron St is an archaeological museum documenting the history of Syria. It was hit by missiles in 2016 and most artifacts were evacuated; after extensive reparation it reopened in October 2019.
Pair it with the Citadel of Aleppo, since both deal with the deep history of the city and its region, and allow time for the collection rather than treating it as a quick stop.
4. Bimaristan Arghan
Bimaristan Arghan is a former mental hospital turned into a museum. Entrance is free, and you can wander around exhibits that include old medical equipment, herbs and biographies of famous Arab scientists.
The main attractions are the courtyard and two separate spaces reserved for the mentally ill, so do not rush past the building itself on the way to the display cases.
5. Popular Traditions Museum
The Popular Traditions Museum is housed in Beit Achiqbash in the Jdeydeh quarter, a prime example of an Aleppine courtyard mansion built in the mid 18th century. Badly damaged during the civil war, the mansion has now been reconstructed and the museum has reopened.
Combine it with the other sights of Jdeydeh, including the Church of the Dormition of Our Lady, which is in the same quarter.
6. Great Mosque of Aleppo
Also known as the Umayyad Mosque of Aleppo, this is the largest and one of the oldest mosques in the city, built between the 11th and 14th centuries. Its minaret, dating back to 1090, along with other parts of the mosque, was destroyed during the Syrian civil war in April 2013, and both the mosque and its minaret are to be rebuilt in the coming years.
Visit with an awareness of what is under reconstruction, and treat the rebuilding itself as part of what you are seeing.
7. Al-Madina Souq's al-Saqatiyah section and al-Telal street
If you want to shop for clothes, al-Telal street is bustling nearly every night, with crowds checking out the shops and street stands piled high with every type of clothing imaginable. It pairs naturally with the reopened al-Saqatiyah section of Al-Madina Souq.
Go in the evening, when the street is at its liveliest, and keep your bargaining to the souq rather than the fixed-price shops.
8. Central Synagogue of Aleppo
The Central Synagogue of Aleppo was built in the Byzantine period, perhaps as early as the 9th century before BCE. It is one of the city's older places of worship and adds a different layer to a walk through the old city.
Fold it into a walking route rather than making a special trip, since the source material gives no separate practical detail for it.
9. Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower
Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower was built in 1898–99 and is a symbol of the city. It is a straightforward landmark to find and a convenient meeting point.
Use it as a marker when orienting yourself between the souq area and the rest of the centre.
10. Aleppo Public Park
Aleppo Public Park is a 17-hectare public park, centrally located, and features a large number of sculptures and statues. It offers a break from the density of the old city streets.
Come here when you want to slow down between sights rather than as a destination in itself.
11. Khan al-Saboon
Khan al-Saboon is one of the historic khans of Aleppo, the commercial buildings that served the city's trading role. It is worth including on a walk through the old city's market architecture.
Combine it with Al-Madina Souq, since both belong to the same commercial fabric.
12. Al-Saffahiyah Mosque
Al-Saffahiyah Mosque was built in 1425. It is a Mamluk-era mosque and a compact stop on a walk through the historic quarters.
Group it with the other mosques named here, such as Al-Tawashi Mosque and Banqusa Mosque, if you are following the city's Islamic architecture.
13. Al-Tawashi Mosque
Al-Tawashi Mosque dates back to the Mamluk period. It was built in 1348 by Safi ad-Dine Jawhar al-Allani al-Tawashi and enlarged in 1537 by Saadallah bin Ali bin Osman al-Malati.
Its two building phases make it a useful comparison with the other Mamluk mosques nearby.
14. Khanqah al-Farafira
Khanqah al-Farafira is a former Sufi monastery, completed in 1244 AD. It is one of the older religious structures named in the source material.
Include it on the same walking route as the mosques of the old city.
15. Banqusa Mosque
Banqusa Mosque was built in 1386 AD. It is a small historic mosque that fits easily into a walking itinerary.
Visit it alongside Al-Tawashi Mosque and Al-Saffahiyah Mosque to see several centuries of mosque building in one area.
16. Churches of Jdeydeh and the Christian section
Check out the Christian section of the city to see a different part of Aleppo. The Church of the Dormition of Our Lady is in the Jdeydeh quarter, a Greek Orthodox church built during the first half of the 15th century, and Mar Assia al-Hakim Church was built in 1500.
Other churches named in the source material include Forty Martyrs Cathedral, an Armenian Apostolic church first constructed in 1491; the Cathedral of Saint Elijah, an Eastern Catholic (Maronite) church built in 1873; Bethel Church, an Armenian Evangelical church built in 1937; the Church of Saint Francis of Assisi, a Catholic church built in 1937; the Cathedral of Saint Ephrem the Syrian, a Syriac Orthodox cathedral built in 1926; the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, the main cathedral of the Syriac Catholic Church in Aleppo and an imposing modernist structure built in 1970; and the Cathedral of Saint Joseph, seat of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Aleppo, built in 1972. Set aside a half day to walk the quarter rather than trying to see them all at once.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start at the Citadel of Aleppo, the central landmark visible from almost anywhere in the city, and check that daily tours are running. From there, walk down into Al-Madina Souq and spend time in the al-Saqatiyah section that reopened in 2019, bargaining as you go.
Afternoon: Visit the National Museum of Aleppo on Baron St, which reopened in October 2019 after extensive reparation, then continue to Bimaristan Arghan, where entrance is free and the courtyard and the two spaces reserved for the mentally ill are the main attractions. If time allows, add the Popular Traditions Museum in Beit Achiqbash, the reconstructed 18th-century courtyard mansion in the Jdeydeh quarter.
Evening: Walk the Christian section of the city, taking in the Jdeydeh quarter and the Church of the Dormition of Our Lady, then finish on al-Telal street, which is bustling nearly every night with shops and street stands piled high with clothing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Citadel of Aleppo open to visitors?
Daily tours were running as of 2026. The citadel survived the fighting relatively intact, and the current structure dates from the 13th century, though the hill has been in use since at least the middle of the 3rd millennium BC.
Can I still visit Al-Madina Souq?
A small part of the souq called al-Saqatiyah reopened in 2019. The souq as a whole was severely damaged during the civil war, so expect to see only part of its almost 13-kilometre length.
Which museums have reopened in Aleppo?
The National Museum of Aleppo reopened in October 2019 after extensive reparation, following missile damage in 2016 and the evacuation of most artifacts. The Popular Traditions Museum, housed in the reconstructed Beit Achiqbash mansion, has also reopened.
Is there a part of the city that feels different from the old city?
Yes. The Christian section of Aleppo is worth checking out to see a different part of the city, particularly the Jdeydeh quarter with its churches and the courtyard mansion that houses the Popular Traditions Museum.
Start by deciding how many days you can give to the old city and the Jdeydeh quarter, then build your walking routes around the Citadel of Aleppo and Al-Madina Souq.