Bloudan
The classic hill resort of Damascus, high in the Anti-Lebanon.
Updated 4 September 2026
Bloudan is where Damascus has always gone to breathe: a resort town at around 1,500 metres in the Anti-Lebanon, looking down over the orchards of the Zabadani valley, with springs, cherry trees and a century of summer-house tradition. Hotels and cafes fill with families on summer evenings; in good winters, snow brings a different crowd. The air, the water and the view are the whole proposition, and they have been enough since Ottoman days.
What's there
- The valley view - Zabadani's orchards from the mountain shelf.
- The springs - the waters the resort was built on.
- The summer evenings - cafe life in mountain air.
- The cherry season - the valley's famous early-summer crop.
When to go
May to October is the season; July and August are the great escape from the capital. June brings cherries. Snowy winters add a short cold season.
Good to know
The town is a resort, not a sight - come for climate and views. High-season weekends are crowded and prices rise. Conditions in the border mountains should be checked locally.
Nearby
Zabadani is below, and Damascus is east.
What to pack for Bloudan
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Broken-in walking shoes or boots - Grip and ankle support matter more than looks; never hike in brand-new boots. Find on Amazon
- Warm base layers - Merino or synthetic against the skin - never cotton, which chills when damp. Find on Amazon
- Layers + a waterproof shell - Mountain weather turns fast; a packable rain jacket saves the day. Find on Amazon
- An insulated + windproof jacket - A down or synthetic layer under a hard shell handles most cold. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.
