Qamishle travel guide

Getting around

The only time you’ll need a taxi in Qamishle is if coming or going to the transport stations or to the border. The compact town centre is easily manageable on foot and when it’s not too hot, even the Turkish border and bus station are within walking distance.

Ins and outs

Getting there and away

The main bus station handles both the Pullman buses and most of the microbuses. It’s around 2 km to the southeast of the town centre. There are a few Pullman bus services per day from Damascus and Aleppo from here. The train station is a further 1 km or so to the southeast and has a daily overnight service from Aleppo. A taxi from either of these stations should not cost more than S£20-25. The separate microbus station, to the southwest of the town centre, has frequent services from Hassakeh. The airport is 3 km south of the town on the main road to Hassakeh and has services from Damascus. If you are arriving from the border with Turkey, a taxi to the town centre will cost about S£50 or it’s a 15-minute direct walk straight into town.

Qamishle

Air

Qamishle’s tiny airport is 3 km south of town. A taxi here will cost about S£75. Syrian Air operate 1 flight per day (except Tue) to Damascus (1½ hrs, S£2244). They have an office right in the centre of town, on Hafez al-Assad St (T052-420714) and at the airport (T-052-440330).

Bus

To get to the main bus station from the centre of town, head south along Zaki al-Arsuzi St, take the second available left turn and keep straight along this road for around 1.5 km. The bus station is on the right, shortly after a crossroads. There are a dozen or so private companies operating out of here with morning and evening departures to Aleppo and Damascus. The Damascus buses mostly go via Palmyra. Kadmous has 3 buses at 0930, 2230 and 2330 to Damascus (10 hrs, S£350), that go via Palmyra (6 hrs, S£330). They have 1 daily bus to Aleppo at 2200 (7 hrs, S£175).

Microbus

At the main bus station you can get microbuses to Malkiyeh (for Ain Diwar) (S£70), Derbassiyeh (for Ras al-Ain) (S£80), Tell Maruf (S£35), Tell Hamis (S£40) and Tell Brak (S£35). There’s another microbus station opposite the Gabrielle Restaurant to the southwest of town. From here there are frequent microbuses to Hassakeh (S£70) and Amuda (S£15). Microbuses depart when full.

Train

To get to the railway station, head south along Zaki al-Arsuzi St for 1 km to the large roundabout and turn left there; it is on the right after 2 km. There is 1 daily departure at 2150 to Aleppo (8 hrs, 1st class S£175, 2nd class S£115) via Hassakeh (1½ hrs, 1st class S£75, 2nd class S£50), Deir ez-Zor (2½ hrs, 1st class S£110, 2nd class S£75), and Raqqa (5 hrs, 1st class S£150, 2nd class S£100).

Orientation

The centre of town is Hafez al-Assad Street, between the Assad statue roundabout and the river. This is where you’ll find all the accommodation and lots of small restaurants. The main bus and train stations are off Zakl al-Arsuzi Street, which is the last road before the river. The separate microbus station is just off Al-Kouwatli Street (which runs southwest from the Assad statue roundabout), beside the football pitch. Gabrielle Restaurant is across the road from here. The Turkish border crossing is to the north of town.

Banks

CBS and Banque Bemo both have branches on Hafez al-Assad St, Sat-Thu 0800-1230. CBS change cash and Bankque Bemo have an ATM that takes foreign cards.

Medical services

The Al Razi Hospital, T052-427 303, is by the Assad roundabout and statue, and has some English-speaking doctors.

Post

The post office is open Sat-Thu 0900-1400.