Tadmur · Homs Governorate · Syria

Palmyra

ruinsancient citydesertgoogle verified

moderate

5/10

best: sunrise, late afternoon

remote, awe-inspiring, melancholic

A local would say...

A queen ruled the Roman Empire for a year from this desert city — and Rome still hasn't forgiven her.

Rising from the Syrian desert, Palmyra is one of the most spectacular ancient cities in the world — a UNESCO-listed Silk Road oasis whose colonnaded street, Temple of Bel, funerary towers and theatre stretch across 5km of golden ruins. Queen Zenobia's city shimmers in the heat haze against a backdrop of desert mountains.