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Voykit pocket guide · Syria
Maarat al-Numan
مَعَرَّةُ النُّعْمَانِ
Skip unless you have a specific interest in Ayyubid mosques or Dead Cities mosaics. Half a day covers the main sights; the town is a stop on the M5 between Aleppo and Damascus, not a base.
Maarat al-Numan is a small town in northwestern Syria with a 12th-century Ayyubid mosque, a medieval castle ruin and a museum that once held Dead Cities mosaics (damaged during the war, now open sporadically). The town sits on the M5 highway and sees frequent military checkpoints. Most travellers pass through rather than stay.
- Country
- Syria
- Local name
- مَعَرَّةُ النُّعْمَانِ
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold, possible rain)
- Stay
- 0 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- SYP
- Money
- Foreign cards and ATMs generally do not work in Syria: see Insurance & payments above.
- Daily spend
- Budget SYP 50,000–80,000 excl. bed · Mid SYP 80,000–150,000 excl. bed · High SYP 150,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 112 · Ambulance 110 · Fire 113
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Street food (sandwich or falafel) | SYP 5,000–10,000 |
| Restaurant meal (local dish) | SYP 15,000–30,000 |
| Taxi ride within town | SYP 5,000–10,000 |
| Museum entry | SYP 5,000–10,000 (check) |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- ALP · Aleppo International Airport
- About 70 km (43 mi) north; check if operational. Taxi or private car to Maarat al-Numan, about 1 h.About 43 mi (70 km) north; check if operational. Taxi or private car to Maarat al-Numan, about 1 h.
- DAM · Damascus International Airport
- About 300 km (186 mi) south; taxi or bus to Maarat al-Numan, about 3–4 h.About 186 mi (300 km) south; taxi or bus to Maarat al-Numan, about 3–4 h.
Typical fares
- Taxi Aleppo → Maarat al-Numan
- about SYP 50,000, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi within town
- SYP 5,000–10,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walking covers the centre. For the mausoleum (5 km (3.1 mi) southeast) or the castle, take a taxi or private car. Checkpoints are common on the M5.Walking covers the centre. For the mausoleum (3.1 mi (5 km) southeast) or the castle, take a taxi or private car. Checkpoints are common on the M5.
See and do
Known for
- Great Mosque of Maarat al-Numan (12th-century Ayyubid)
- Maarat al-Numan museum (mosaics from the Dead Cities)
- Medieval castle ruins
- Mausoleum of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Dead Cities | Taxi or private car, about 30–60 min to the nearest sites (e.g. Serjilla, al-Bara) | About 1–1.5 h |
| Aleppo | Taxi or bus on the M5, about 1 h | About 1–1.5 h |
| Idlib | Taxi or bus, about 30 min | About 45 min |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few small hotels and guesthouses; options are limited. Book ahead or ask locally.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | مرحباmarhaba |
| Thank you | شكراًshukran |
| How much? | كم؟kam? |
| Where is the museum? | أين المتحف؟ayn al-mathaf? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Frequent military checkpoints on the M5; carry your passport and visa at all times.
- The museum is open sporadically; ask locally or check before visiting.
- Last trains and buses run early; confirm schedules in advance.
Maarat al-Numan is in a region with ongoing security concerns. Military checkpoints are frequent. Read your government's travel advice before planning any trip. The town itself is quiet but the surrounding area can be unstable.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Maarat al-Numan yet. Suggested stay: 0 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Great Mosque of Maarat al-Numan (12th-century Ayyubid)
- Maarat al-Numan museum (mosaics from the Dead Cities)
- Medieval castle ruins
- Mausoleum of Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Maarat al-Numan, revision 5325083 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5325083
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/maarat-al-numan). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.