Money and costs

Syria's currency is the Syrian pound (SYP), also called the lira (ليرة). On 1 January 2026 Syria began issuing a new, redenominated pound: two zeros were removed, so 100 old pounds equal 1 new pound. The change is nominal and does not change what money is worth.

The first new series is paper only. Wikipedia and the tour operator Saiga Tours list 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500-pound notes. The notes show plants and crops (for example wheat, olives, oranges, mulberries, roses), not people. bne IntelliNews (29 Dec 2025) gave a different list (5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500) without a 200 note. Al Jazeera simply says 10 to 500 pounds. Wikipedia says a second phase will add 1,000, 5 and 1-pound notes; we found no date for it.

The old notes are no longer legal tender. The Central Bank of Syria (CBS) said old notes could be swapped at exchange outlets until 30 July 2026 and stopped being legal tender on 31 July 2026, with no extension (Enab Baladi, 26 Jul 2026). After that, old notes can be handed in only at the Central Bank for five years, in batches of at least 100 notes, and the value goes into a Syrian bank account. In practice, travellers should not accept or bring old notes. One tour operator (Saiga Tours, July 2026) said old notes stopped being accepted from May 2026; this is earlier than the official end date, but shops may have refused them before 31 July.

Prices can still be quoted in old pounds by habit. A price of '10,000' for a coffee or snack usually means 10,000 old pounds, which is 100 new pounds. If a number looks 100 times too high, ask whether it is old or new (قديم / جديد).

Conversion

100 old SYP = 1 new SYP as of January 1, 2026

New notes in circulation from

1 January 2026 (Wikipedia also gives 3 January for general circulation) as of January 5, 2026

New note denominations (phase 1)

10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 SYP (one source lists 5 instead of 200) as of July 2026

Coins

No new coins reported; new series is paper only as of October 2026

Old notes – last exchange day at outlets

30 July 2026 as of July 26, 2026

Old notes – end of legal tender

31 July 2026; afterwards only via Central Bank for 5 years, min. 100 notes, credited to a bank account as of July 26, 2026

Sources:

• Enab Baladi (Arabic) – 'The Central Bank settles the debate: no old Syrian pound after the end of July' July 26, 2026
• Al Jazeera – Syria's new currency removes al-Assad family images, seeks to boost economy January 5, 2026
• bne IntelliNews – Syria strips two zeros off currency as citizens face 90-day deadline to swap old pounds December 29, 2025
• The National – No faces, no places: Syria unveils banknotes to replace Assad-era currency December 29, 2025
• Wikipedia – Syrian pound (article on the 2026 redenomination)
• Saiga Tours (tour operator) – The Syrian Pound in 2026: New Banknotes and the Current Exchange Rate July 16, 2026

There are two rates. The Central Bank publishes an official rate every working day. Exchange offices and traders use a market (parallel) rate, which has been higher than the official rate in 2026. In mid-October 2026 the market rate for the US dollar was about 13% above the official rate.

The official rate has been almost flat in new pounds since mid-2026: about 122 SYP per US dollar on 27 July, 15 October and 29 October 2026. The market rate has moved more: about 133 SYP per dollar on 27 July and about 138 on 15 October 2026. Rates change daily, so check before you exchange.

Where to check: the Central Bank's bulletin page cb.gov.sy/fx (in Arabic, with the official rate in new and old pounds). Two travel sources (In Your Pocket and Syrian Guides) point travellers to the private site sp-today.com for market rates; it is not an official source. When we opened cb.gov.sy on 31 October 2026, the pages carried a banner calling the site a trial version; the figures matched the bulletin reported by Banker News on 15 October.

Official rate USD (CBS)

122.00 SYP average (buy 121.50 / sell 122.50) as of October 29, 2026

Official rate EUR (CBS)

135.83 SYP as of October 29, 2026

Official rate GBP / SAR / AED / JOD (CBS)

162.41 / 32.51 / 33.22 / 172.07 SYP as of October 29, 2026

Official rate USD (CBS bulletin no. 193)

buy 121.50 / sell 122.50 SYP as of October 15, 2026

Market rate USD

buy 137.50 / sell 138.50 SYP (Sham News Network, via Banker News) as of October 15, 2026

Market rate EUR

buy 152.23 / sell 153.10 SYP (via Banker News) as of October 15, 2026

Official rate TRY (CBS)

buy 2.56 / sell 2.59 SYP as of July 27, 2026

Market rate USD / TRY

USD 132.50–133.25; TRY 2.78–2.82 SYP as of July 27, 2026

Rate at launch of new pound

about 111 SYP per USD as of January 5, 2026

Before redenomination (old pounds)

Official about 13,000 SYP per USD; market about 8,900–9,100 as of February 6, 2025

Official rate page

https://cb.gov.sy/fx as of October 31, 2026

Sources:

• Central Bank of Syria – Exchange rate bulletins (نشرات أسعار الصرف) October 29, 2026
• Central Bank of Syria – Official exchange rate bulletin, new and old pound October 29, 2026
• Wikipedia – Syrian pound (article on the 2026 redenomination)
• Banker News (Arabic) – Syrian pound rates, Thursday 15 October 2026 (cites CBS bulletin no. 193 and Sham News Network market rates) October 15, 2026
• Al-Ain News (Arabic) – Dollar price today in Syria, Monday 27 July 2026 July 27, 2026
• Enab Baladi (English) – Central Bank of Syria establishes regulations for foreign currency sales February 6, 2025
• Damascus In Your Pocket – Money & Costs in Damascus (published 2026-05-05, updated 2026-09-15) September 15, 2026
• Syrian Guides (tour operator) – Money in Syria: everything travelers need to know (published 2025-05-15, modified 2026-07-11) July 11, 2026

Change money inside Syria. Germany's Federal Foreign Office (30 Oct 2026) says Syrian pounds cannot be bought outside the country and that you can exchange money only at airports, banks and exchange offices; changing money on the street is not allowed. In October 2026 the Central Bank issued 755 warnings to shops doing exchange or money-transfer business without a licence, after inspections with the Interior Ministry (Central Banking, 12 Oct 2026). Use banks or licensed exchange offices and keep your receipts.

In Damascus, In Your Pocket (updated Sept 2026) found exchange offices across the city, including several in the Old City near Al-Hariqah Square and Bab Touma. It said rates differ little between offices.

The US dollar is the easiest currency to bring and change. Euros are also accepted but less preferred (Syrian Guides, July 2026). Saiga Tours (July 2026) says Turkish lira are also accepted and that many prices in Idlib are quoted in lira. Upscale hotels and restaurants often accept dollars and sometimes euros (Federal Foreign Office). Bring clean, undamaged, recent notes; exchange offices may refuse worn, marked or older-design notes or give a worse rate.

Sources:

• Auswärtiges Amt (German Federal Foreign Office) – Syrien: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Reisewarnung) October 30, 2026
• Central Banking – Syria clamps down on unlicensed exchange and transfer activity October 12, 2026
• Damascus In Your Pocket – Money & Costs in Damascus (published 2026-05-05, updated 2026-09-15) September 15, 2026
• Syrian Guides (tour operator) – Money in Syria: everything travelers need to know (published 2025-05-15, modified 2026-07-11) July 11, 2026
• Saiga Tours (tour operator) – The Syrian Pound in 2026: New Banknotes and the Current Exchange Rate July 16, 2026

Because cards rarely work (see below), most visitors bring their whole budget in cash. Declare foreign cash of 5,000 US dollars or more when you arrive. The Federal Foreign Office says this declaration lets you take the money out again when you leave.

Enab Baladi (July 2026) summarises the rules as follows. Foreign currency: you may bring in up to 500,000 US dollars or its equivalent, and you must declare 5,000 dollars or more. Non-Syrians may leave with up to 5,000 dollars, or with the amount they declared on arrival. Syrian pounds: a Central Bank circular limits travellers to 20,000 new pounds (about 164 US dollars at the official rate) when entering, leaving or in transit. Amounts above the limit, or not declared, can be seized. MRI Guide notes that this circular was not published and was confirmed informally.

Syrian citizens were for years required to change 100 US dollars at the border. Enab Baladi reported a suspension and later extensions of that suspension, but we could not confirm the current status. This rule did not apply to foreigners in the sources we found.

Declare foreign cash from

USD 5,000 or equivalent as of October 30, 2026

Max. foreign cash on entry

USD 500,000 or equivalent (2023 AML commission circular) as of July 2026

Max. foreign cash on exit (non-Syrians)

USD 5,000 or the amount declared on entry as of July 2026

Max. Syrian pounds in/out

20,000 new SYP (or 1,000,000 old SYP) as of July 28, 2026

Sources:

• Auswärtiges Amt (German Federal Foreign Office) – Syrien: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Reisewarnung) October 30, 2026
• Enab Baladi (English) – How much Syrian currency can travelers carry? (July 2026; exact day not shown)
• MRI Guide – Syria has new currency import/export rules July 28, 2026
• The New Arab – Syrians must exchange $100 into local currency upon return July 10, 2020
• Enab Baladi (Arabic) – 'Suspension of the decision to exchange $100 at the border' and follow-up 'extension of the suspension' (search-result titles only)

Do not plan on using a foreign card. On 30 October 2026 Germany's Federal Foreign Office still said that international credit cards cannot be used in Syria, including at ATMs and hotels, and that you must pay in cash.

Things are changing slowly. On 4–5 May 2026 the Central Bank allowed licensed banks and payment companies to work with networks such as Visa and Mastercard. On 9 May 2026 a first test took place in Damascus, and the local payment network Paymera (about 4,200 card terminals at the time) said visitors with Visa or Mastercard cards would be connected first. It plans 50,000 terminals by the end of 2026. On 26 August 2026, two days after the US removed Syria from its state-sponsors-of-terrorism list, QNB and Mastercard said participating hotels, restaurants and government offices could accept international Mastercard credit cards, and Visa carried out a test payment with Fransabank Lebanon and Paymera.

Gulf News (27 Aug 2026) stressed that this does not mean every merchant accepts international cards. Acceptance is limited to a small number of approved businesses, mostly upscale, and is being added gradually. If you plan to try a card, tell your bank before you travel and carry enough cash anyway. The US ended its comprehensive Syria sanctions programme in December 2025 but keeps targeted measures (Asharq Al-Awsat); individual banks abroad may still block payments to Syria.

In the other direction, the Central Bank said on 30 September 2026 that a Mastercard issued by a Syrian bank had been used for the first time abroad, at Dubai airport (Banker News). This mainly matters for Syrians and residents with Syrian bank accounts.

Federal Foreign Office position

International credit cards cannot be used; pay cash as of October 30, 2026

Central Bank allows banks to work with Visa/Mastercard

Decision announced 4–5 May 2026 as of May 5, 2026

First international card payments (pilot)

QNB/Mastercard at participating merchants; Visa test with Fransabank Lebanon and Paymera as of August 27, 2026

Paymera POS terminals

about 4,200 (May 2026); target 50,000 by end of 2026 as of May 9, 2026

Sources:

• Asharq Al-Awsat – Visa, Mastercard launch international card payments in Syria after US lifts terrorism designation August 27, 2026
• Gulf News – Syria now offers international card payments as financial system reconnects August 27, 2026
• Al-Monitor – Sharaa taps Visa as Syria reconnects to global finance: what to know August 27, 2026
• Enab Baladi (English) – Syria tests Visa and Mastercard payments after 15 years May 9, 2026
• dpa via Yahoo Finance – Syria opens up to global payment networks after years of isolation May 5, 2026
• Enab Baladi (English) – Syria Central Bank approves electronic payment system August 18, 2026
• Banker News (Arabic) – First payment abroad with a Syrian bank card, in Dubai September 30, 2026
• Auswärtiges Amt (German Federal Foreign Office) – Syrien: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Reisewarnung) October 30, 2026

ATMs exist in Syrian cities but are run on the local banking network and pay out Syrian pounds only (Saiga Tours, July 2026). The Federal Foreign Office (30 Oct 2026) says international cards do not work at ATMs. In Your Pocket (Sept 2026) says there are very few ATMs and advises against using the ones at the airport.

One travel website (BootsnAll, updated March 2026, no sources given) says ATMs in Damascus accept international cards. This contradicts the official German advice and the other sources, and we treat it as unreliable. We found no official list of ATMs that accept foreign cards, and no information on withdrawal limits or fees.

Sources:

• Saiga Tours (tour operator) – The Syrian Pound in 2026: New Banknotes and the Current Exchange Rate July 16, 2026
• Auswärtiges Amt (German Federal Foreign Office) – Syrien: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Reisewarnung) October 30, 2026
• Damascus In Your Pocket – Money & Costs in Damascus (published 2026-05-05, updated 2026-09-15) September 15, 2026
• BootsnAll – Syria in 2026: Palmyra, Damascus, and the Levant's ancient heart (updated 2026-03-06) March 6, 2026

If you run out of cash, a transfer is the main backup. Western Union's German website says you can send money to Syria for cash pickup only. It is paid out in Syrian pounds at agent locations, including selected Al Fuad branches, in Damascus, Homs, Aleppo and other cities. Online transfers from Germany are limited to 400 euros per transfer. The receiver needs ID such as a passport.

Syria made its first international SWIFT bank transfer since the war in June 2025, with an Italian bank (Reuters via Arab News, 19 Jun 2025). In August 2026 the Central Bank said international transfers and links to foreign systems would not be available right away under its new electronic payment framework (Enab Baladi, 18 Aug 2026). Do not rely on a bank wire for travel money.

Sources:

• Western Union (Germany) – Send money to Syria
• Arab News (Reuters report) – Syria completes first global SWIFT transfer since war June 19, 2025
• Enab Baladi (English) – Syria Central Bank approves electronic payment system August 18, 2026

Syria is still a cash economy for visitors. Small shops, markets, taxis and most cafes take Syrian pounds. Hotels often quote and accept US dollars; restaurants prefer pounds but sometimes take dollars; site tickets are usually paid in pounds (Syrian Guides, July 2026; In Your Pocket). Carry small notes. Some places accept dollars or euros and give change in pounds.

Syrians use mobile wallets, but they are not practical for short-term visitors. Sham Cash became the official channel for public-sector salaries in May 2025. At that time it was not in the Apple or Google app stores, merchants were mostly in Idlib, and the digital-rights group SMEX rated it high-risk (Majalla; Enab Baladi). Opening an account needs a lot of personal information. We could not confirm whether any wallet works with a foreign passport or a tourist SIM.

Tipping is common. Syrian Guides (July 2026) suggests about 10% in restaurants, 1–2 US dollars for hotel staff, 5–10 dollars per day for guides and drivers, and rounding up taxi fares.

Restaurant tip

about 10% as of July 11, 2026

Hotel staff tip

USD 1–2 as of July 11, 2026

Guide/driver tip

USD 5–10 per day as of July 11, 2026

Sources:

• The Majalla – Sham Cash: the problem with Syria's new digital salary app May 12, 2025
• Enab Baladi (English) – Sham Cash app: technical concerns and incomplete benefits May 8, 2025
• Damascus In Your Pocket – Money & Costs in Damascus (published 2026-05-05, updated 2026-09-15) September 15, 2026
• Damascus In Your Pocket – Where to stay
• Syrian Guides (tour operator) – Money in Syria: everything travelers need to know (published 2025-05-15, modified 2026-07-11) July 11, 2026

The prices below are ranges from travel publishers and tour operators, not official tariffs. Prices change quickly and are often quoted in US dollars even when you pay in pounds. Convert at the day's rate.

Accommodation: In Your Pocket (Sept 2026) gives 10–20 US dollars for budget, 30–90 dollars for mid-range and from 100 dollars for luxury in Damascus. Le Mag Voyage (June 2026) gives 30–60 dollars for a basic private room in Damascus and 60–120 dollars for a restored Old City house. BootsnAll (March 2026) gives higher figures: 40–70 dollars budget, 80–150 dollars mid-range and 200 dollars or more for high-end Damascus hotels. Le Mag Voyage says simple hotels in Aleppo, Hama, Tartous and Latakia are slightly cheaper than in Damascus. Hotels may bargain, especially for longer stays (In Your Pocket).

Site tickets: According to Syrian Guides, citing the Directorate-General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM), main sites cost 100,000 old pounds (1,000 new pounds, about 8 dollars at the official rate) from 1 January 2026. These include the National Museum and Azm Palace in Damascus, Krak des Chevaliers, Saladin's Citadel and the Bosra theatre. Smaller sites such as Khan As'ad Pasha and the Azm Palace in Hama cost 50,000 old pounds (500 new pounds). The source gives one price, not separate prices for foreigners and Syrians. In Your Pocket gives 4–8 dollars for state museums. Check opening status before you go: a Syrian Guides headline says the Damascus National Museum is closed to visitors.

Hotel, budget (Damascus)

USD 10–20 (In Your Pocket); USD 30–60 basic private room (Le Mag Voyage); USD 40–70 (BootsnAll) as of September 2026

Hotel, mid-range (Damascus)

USD 30–90 (In Your Pocket); USD 60–120 restored house (Le Mag Voyage); USD 80–150 (BootsnAll) as of September 2026

Hotel, upper (Damascus)

from USD 100 (In Your Pocket); from USD 200 (BootsnAll) as of September 2026

Street food

Shawarma about USD 1.20, falafel about USD 0.50 (Syrian Guides); USD 1–4 (Le Mag Voyage) as of July 2026

Local restaurant meal

USD 5–12 simple meal; dinner USD 10–20 as of June 23, 2026

Mid-range meal for two

USD 20–30 as of July 11, 2026

Upscale restaurant

USD 20–40+ per person as of June 23, 2026

Coffee / tea

USD 0.50–2 as of June 23, 2026

Water (330 ml) / soft drink

about USD 0.45 / USD 0.78 as of July 11, 2026

Taxi, short city ride

USD 2–8, agree the fare first as of June 23, 2026

Damascus airport bus

500 SYP from Baramkeh, 14 departures a day (unclear if old or new pounds) as of October 30, 2026

Intercity bus Damascus–Aleppo

'a few dollars' (no exact fare found) as of June 23, 2026

Private driver

USD 70–160 per day; Damascus–Aleppo USD 120–250 as of June 23, 2026

Guided day tour, Damascus

USD 40–100 (Le Mag Voyage); guide USD 50–75 per day (BootsnAll) as of June 23, 2026

Site ticket, major sites (DGAM schedule via Syrian Guides)

1,000 new SYP (100,000 old) from 1 Jan 2026 as of January 1, 2026

Site ticket, smaller sites

500 new SYP (50,000 old) from 1 Jan 2026 as of January 1, 2026

State museums

USD 4–8 as of September 15, 2026

Sources:

• Damascus In Your Pocket – Money & Costs in Damascus (published 2026-05-05, updated 2026-09-15) September 15, 2026
• Damascus In Your Pocket – Where to stay
• Syrian Guides (tour operator) – Money in Syria: everything travelers need to know (published 2025-05-15, modified 2026-07-11) July 11, 2026
• Syrian Guides (tour operator) – Syria sets new entrance fees for 2026 (attributed to DGAM) November 3, 2025
• Le Mag Voyage – Budget voyage Syrie June 23, 2026
• BootsnAll – Syria in 2026: Palmyra, Damascus, and the Levant's ancient heart (updated 2026-03-06) March 6, 2026
• Syrian Guides (tour operator) – How to enter and exit Syria right now (page modified 2026-10-30) October 30, 2026
• Zawya (press release) – Syria introduces government-backed programme to upgrade budget hotels
• Syrian Guides (homepage headline in search results) – 'Damascus National Museum Now Closed to Visitors'

This is our estimate per person per day, worked out from the price ranges above (sources dated March to September 2026). It excludes flights, visa and travel insurance. Treat it as a rough guide only. Prices change, and many visitors travel with a guide or driver, which costs more.

Budget, about 40–70 US dollars: a basic room (15–35 dollars), street food and simple local meals (8–15 dollars), short taxi rides or buses (5–10 dollars) and one site ticket (about 4–8 dollars). Mid-range, about 90–160 dollars: a mid-range or Old City boutique hotel (40–90 dollars), local restaurant meals (20–35 dollars), taxis (10–20 dollars), and sites or a half-day guide (15–30 dollars). Comfortable, about 250–450 dollars: an upper-range hotel (100–200 dollars or more), upscale meals (40–80 dollars) and a private driver or guide (70–160 dollars).

Other publishers give similar figures. In Your Pocket says 50–80 dollars a day for a budget traveller. Le Mag Voyage says 50–80 dollars for a very tight budget and 90–150 dollars for a careful traveller. BootsnAll gives higher numbers: 80–150 dollars budget, 150–200 dollars mid-range and 250–350 dollars comfortable. Add a reserve of 15–25% in cash (Le Mag Voyage's suggestion), because you cannot easily get more money in Syria.

Budget (our estimate)

USD 40–70 per person per day as of October 31, 2026

Mid-range (our estimate)

USD 90–160 per person per day as of October 31, 2026

Comfortable (our estimate)

USD 250–450 per person per day as of October 31, 2026

Sources:

• Damascus In Your Pocket – Money & Costs in Damascus (published 2026-05-05, updated 2026-09-15) September 15, 2026
• Syrian Guides (tour operator) – Money in Syria: everything travelers need to know (published 2025-05-15, modified 2026-07-11) July 11, 2026
• Syrian Guides (tour operator) – Syria sets new entrance fees for 2026 (attributed to DGAM) November 3, 2025
• Le Mag Voyage – Budget voyage Syrie June 23, 2026
• BootsnAll – Syria in 2026: Palmyra, Damascus, and the Levant's ancient heart (updated 2026-03-06) March 6, 2026

Official advice on travelling to Syria is strict. As of late October 2026, the UK FCDO advises against all travel to Syria, and Germany's Federal Foreign Office has a travel warning ('Vor Reisen nach Syrien wird gewarnt', as of 30 Oct 2026). Travel insurance may not cover trips against such advice. Check with your insurer and your bank, and read the latest advice from your own government before you go.

Sources:

• Auswärtiges Amt (German Federal Foreign Office) – Syrien: Reise- und Sicherheitshinweise (Reisewarnung) October 30, 2026
• UK FCDO – Syria travel advice: entry requirements October 27, 2026