दीर एज़-ज़ोर

Understand

Deir ez-Zor is a relatively young city (Ottoman period) so does not contain any spectacular ruins - though there are many extraordinary archaeological sites in the region. The city is flanked on one side by the Euphrates river and on the other by the stretch of desert which leads to Palmyra. It is not a tourist-oriented city, which can add to some of its appeal if you have come from Palmyra. There is a museum to visit and a famous suspension bridge over the Euphrates as well as a small souk.

Get around

Deir ez-Zor is not a big city so it is easy to walk around. The Euphrates is about a 10 minute stroll from the main street. Taxis are also available.

See

There is a well-maintained, thoughtfully laid out, clean museum - a surprise given that most museums in Syria seem to be shrouded in dust, dirt and covered by broken roofs. Here you will find some background on the many tells in the surrounding area. The museum is open from 09:00, every day except Tuesday.

There is also a famous suspension bridge over the Euphrates and various archaeological sites around Deir ez-Zor (Halabiya and Zalabiya, Qal'at Rahbeh, Qal'at Rabah).

Do

From Deir ez-Zor it is possible to visit two sets of Mesopotamian ruins (Dura-Europos and Mari) that lie between the city and the Iraqi border and beside the Euphrates River. Both sites can be easily visited in a single day from Deir ez-Zor by catching one of the many minibuses that run from the city towards the Iraqi border along Highway 4 as they are less than 1 km from the highway. Traveling southwards from Deir ez-Zor the first ruins that are reached are Dura-Europos and about 10 km further south is the complex of Mari. Returning minibuses to Deir ez-Zor can be flagged down on the highway.

Buy

thumb|upright=1.2|March 8 Square (in 2005)

There is an ATM in Deir ez-Zor which will take foreign cards at the Commercial Bank of Syria on the main street.

Eat

Deir ez-Zor seems to specialise in kebab restaurants. Meat is finely chopped and mixed with onions and spices, then grilled over charcoal and served with grilled tomatoes, salad, garnishes and ayran (a drink of diluted yogurt). The price is set by the weight of the meat and a normal meal is 250 g of meat per person.