Expect to pay in the region of S£1500 for the 30 minute ride to the city centre; taxi journeys to the city care far cheaper, from S£600. Negotiate and agree of the fare before departure as taxis are unmetered. Fares double after midnight.

Airport buses travel to and from Baramkeh bus station; the fare is S£70 including luggage charge.

Tel: +963 (0)11 444 3400/9.

US$30 or S£1500

Facilities include duty-free and souvenir shops, restaurants, a coffee shop and an Internet café. There is a bank in the arrivals hall, as well as an ATM, one of the few reliable terminals in Syria.

Arabic is the official, and most widely spoken, language. English is widely understood by many educated Syrians in the major cities.

The official currency is the Syrian pound (SYP), which is divided into 100 piastres. There are a few ATMs in the bigger towns, but not all cards are accepted. Credit cards are not widely used, but American Express and Diners Club are the most readily accepted. Travellers cheques are not accepted in most banks, and those that do require lengthy and complicated processes.

Local time is GMT +2 (GMT +3 from April to October).