Depends on the country you're from. If you've a Syrian embassy in your country, you can get a visa before you leave. I'm from the Netherlands and we don't have a Syrian embassy in our country, so for us it was no problem to get our visa at the airport in Aleppo. Only took 10 minutes. Costs: somewhere between 25 and 30 euro's.

WikiTravel has some good information although I'm not sure how reiable it is. I was in lebaon last year and the Lebanon/Syria border was well documented as taking 3-4 hours if you did not pre-arrange a visa. I was also in Turkey, and did not go to Syria from there but was told the border crossing at Nusaybin, Turkey into Syria was quite good.

I tried three weeks ago with a japanese and he was blocked in the border with Antakya, Turkey. I tried again with a mexican in the border of Lebanon and it was OK. My personal feeling is that it depends on the officer you get. If it's possible, try to get a vise beforehand.

Now adays visa is issue at any borders of syria, i got my visa at the land border when i crossed via train from turkey too, this land border name is Maedan Ekbess, Visa cost is different upon your nationality... for more about syria please check: http://www.iranguidedtours.com/?page_id=71 Good Luck