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As-Safira

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City
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As-Safira (Syria)
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Practical info — As-Safira

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🌤 Weather — 5 days

📍 Nearby

Sights nearby

💡 Tips

  • Be mindful of the dress code in this traditionally minded city and always dress modestly.
  • Inquire in advance about the current security situation before traveling to rural areas.
  • Use the local shared taxis (microbuses) to get around cheaply between different neighborhoods.
  • Visit the souks in the morning when the selection of fresh agricultural produce is at its peak.

🍽 Food

🍽
Kibbeh

Taste the famous Syrian bulgur croquettes stuffed with minced meat at local downtown eateries.

🍽
Mahshi

Try stuffed zucchini and eggplants, often prepared here with exceptionally fresh vegetables from the region.

🍽
Halawet el-Jibn

Treat yourself to this sweet cheese roll drizzled with syrup at a traditional pastry shop.

🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots

🛍
Main Souk

Stroll through the covered market area to find spices, nuts, and dried fruits.

🛍
Agricultural products

Buy fresh olive oil and local fruits directly at the farmers' markets.

🧘
Olive groves on the outskirts

Seek out the quiet fields away from the center to feel the true agricultural atmosphere.

🧘
Courtyards of local mosques

Enjoy the peaceful silence in the courtyards outside of prayer times (modest dress required).

As-Safira lies about 25 kilometers southeast of Aleppo in a dry steppe that slopes down toward Sabkhat al-Jabbul, one of the largest salt lakes of Syria. This setting shapes both the climate and the economy of the town: the salt lagoons have provided edible salt for centuries, and the lake is a stopping place for many migratory birds, including flamingos. Historically the region was part of the Aleppine sphere of influence and a junction on routes leading into the middle Euphrates valley. The population of As-Safira has traditionally been mixed, with Sunni and Shia Arabs, Kurds and smaller Christian communities. Before the war the local economy combined irrigated farming, sheep and goat raising, and the large industrial facilities built in the surrounding area in the 1990s and 2000s, including one of Syria's biggest defense industry complexes.

Best time to visit & climate

The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Oct.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg °C681216212730302721137
Rain mm715941291961310284576

Geography

Population
63,708 (2020)
Coordinates
36.07580, 37.36220

Facts

  • As-Safira is located near Lake Jabbul, the largest salt lake in Syria.
  • The city was known in antiquity as Sipri.
  • As-Safira houses one of the largest flour mills in the country.
  • The salt lake is a significant sanctuary for flamingos.
  • The region is famous for the production of high-quality sea salt.
  • As-Safira lies on the strategic route between Aleppo and Raqqa.

Explore nearby

Notable places around

Sheikh Najjar Industrial CitySheikh Najjar Industrial City22 km · SEExplore →
Citadel of AleppoCitadel of Aleppo25 km · SEExplore →
Aleppo Public ParkAleppo Public Park27 km · SEExplore →
AleppoAleppo28 km · SEExplore →
Al-BabAl-Bab31 km · NEExplore →
Sabkhat al-JabbulSabkhat al-Jabbul33 km · NWExplore →
Qasr Ibn WardanQasr Ibn Wardan63 km · WExplore →
Church of Saint Simeon StylitesChurch of Saint Simeon Stylites63 km · SExplore →

Route planner — Car & Motorhome

Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.

Vehicle
Only stops with (optional):

© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService

Frequently asked questions

What is special about As-Safira?
The city is located near salt lakes and has a long history.
Can the salt lakes be visited?
Yes, you can explore the salt landscapes in the surrounding area.
Are there accommodation options?
Basic accommodation is available; for more comfort, it is better to travel to Aleppo.
What clothing is recommended?
Light, breathable clothing due to the hot, dry climate.
How do you get there?
Best from Aleppo via well-maintained roads.
As-Safira: where is it located?
As-Safira is located in Syria.
As-Safira: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is May, Jun, Oct.
As-Safira: why is it worth visiting?
As-Safira lies about 25 kilometers southeast of Aleppo in a dry steppe that slopes down toward Sabkhat al-Jabbul, one of the largest salt lakes of Syria.
View on map → The Top 50 Attractions → OpenStreetMap →
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Nearby cities

Aleppo — As-Safira (Syria)
Aleppo
Aleppo was the most populous city in Syria before the war and is a major commercial center in the north.
Al-Bab — As-Safira (Syria)
Al-Bab
Al-Bab is a city near Aleppo and a historic center for agriculture and trade in the region.
Manbij — As-Safira (Syria)
Manbij
Manbij is an ancient city in northern Syria, located near the Euphrates River and holding a strategic position.
Kobanî — As-Safira (Syria)
Kobanî
Kobanî, also known as Ayn al-Arab, is an important city in northern Syria near the Turkish border that gained worldwide fame.

History & landmarks

Great Mosque of Aleppo — As-Safira (Syria)
Great Mosque of Aleppo
One of the most important Islamic structures in Aleppo, situated deep in the heart of the ancient souks and considered an architectural j…
Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower — As-Safira (Syria)
Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower
A prominent landmark in the center of Aleppo, built at the end of the 19th century by the Ottoman governor.
Church of Saint Simeon Stylites — As-Safira (Syria)
Church of Saint Simeon Stylites
The remains of one of the oldest surviving Christian churches in the world, built on the site where Saint Simeon the Stylite lived.

Nature

Afrin — As-Safira (Syria)
Afrin
The Afrin River flows through the olive-grove-dominated northwest of Syria before returning to Turkey.

More places

Sheikh Najjar Industrial City — As-Safira (Syria)
Sheikh Najjar Industrial City
The industrial heart of Aleppo and one of Syria's most important economic centers, known for its textile and pharmaceutical production.
Citadel of Aleppo — As-Safira (Syria)
Citadel of Aleppo
A massive fortified palace in the center of one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities.
Aleppo Public Park — As-Safira (Syria)
Aleppo Public Park
A historic green space in Aleppo that offers residents a peaceful place to relax from urban life.
Al-Sabil Park — As-Safira (Syria)
Al-Sabil Park
One of the oldest and best-known parks in Aleppo, famous for its large water basins and shaded avenues.
Sabkhat al-Jabbul — As-Safira (Syria)
Sabkhat al-Jabbul
An important wetland and salt lake southeast of Aleppo, serving as a major wintering ground for flamingos.
Mount Simeon — As-Safira (Syria)
Mount Simeon
Mount Simeon is a limestone massif known for the ruins of the Church of Saint Simeon Stylites and the surrounding famous Dead Cities.
Kurd Mountains — As-Safira (Syria)
Kurd Mountains
Kurd Dagh is a mountainous highland in northwestern Syria, characterized by its dense olive groves and rich cultural history.
Tishrin Dam — As-Safira (Syria)
Tishrin Dam
An important dam and hydroelectric power plant on the Euphrates, located north of the Tabqa Dam near Manbij.