Driving in Syria in Summer: A Heat Plan for Your Rental Car

Why summer needs its own plan

Summer is the busiest season for family visits and returning expats, and it is also when inland Syria — Damascus, Homs, Hama, Aleppo — is at its hottest. Afternoon temperatures well above 35°C are normal in July and August, and a car parked in the sun becomes far hotter inside. None of that stops a trip, but it changes how you plan it.

At pickup: check the air conditioning first

Before anything else, start the engine and run the air conditioning on full for a few minutes:

• Does it blow cold, not just cool? It should be clearly cold within a couple of minutes.
• Does it work at idle, not only when moving?
• Do all the vents work, including the rear ones if you have passengers in the back?

If something is not right, say so at the handover, not an hour later on the highway. Our pickup checklist covers the rest of the inspection.

When to drive

• Intercity legs early in the morning. Leaving at 7 or 8 means the hottest part of the drive is over by midday.
• Avoid the 1–4 pm window for long stretches when you can. That is when the car, the road and the driver all work hardest.
• Evening driving in the city is fine and often pleasant — but plan intercity legs to arrive before dark.

What to carry

• More water than you think, for everyone in the car — and keep it out of direct sun.
• A sunshade for the windscreen. It makes a real difference to the steering wheel and seats when you return.
• A phone mount out of direct sun. Phones overheat on dashboards and switch off navigation at the worst moment.
• Light cover for children. Rear side windows get full sun on east–west roads.

Habits that help

• Park in shade whenever there is any, even if you walk a little further.
• Air the car before you get in. Open the doors for a minute, then run the air conditioning.
• Never leave a child, an older person or a pet in a parked car, even briefly. Interior temperatures climb fast.
• Keep fuel well above a quarter. Running the air conditioning increases consumption, and stations are not evenly spread on every route.
• Watch the temperature gauge on long climbs — the Bloudan road, the climb from the coast towards Aleppo. If it rises towards the red, slow down and stop safely.

Which car for a hot trip?

For a family in summer, size and good rear air matter more than engine power. If you are travelling with grandparents or small children, ask for a car with rear vents. See our family car rental guide.

If something goes wrong in the heat

Get everyone out of the sun first, then call. Our roadside support guide explains what to ask before you need it.

Start with the Damascus car rental page or the Aleppo car rental page.