Major city · Syria
Maarat al-Numanمَعَرَّةُ 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.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- SYP
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold, possible rain)
- Airports
- ALP · DAM
- Nights
- 0
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Security advice in this region can change within a dayCheck your own government travel advice for Syria before …
- Middle East ↗Security advice in this region can change within a day; re-read your government's page before departure and again before any border or regional flight.
- Middle East ↗Public drunkenness, public displays of affection and offensive gestures or online posts can lead to arrest in the Gulf states and Iran; dress modestly outside beaches and hotels.
- Syria ↗Check your own government travel advice for Syria before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Syria ↗No independent tourist entry route is documented here.
- Syria ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Syria before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Maarat al-Numan112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Maarat al-Numan, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Foreign cards and ATMs generally do not work in Syria: see Insurance & payments above.Syria-wide
- SafetyMaarat al-Numan is in a region with ongoing security concerns.
- Emergency numbers112 police · 110 ambulance · 113 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckALP Aleppo International Airport (About 70 km (43 mi) north; check if operational.ALP Aleppo International Airport (About 43 mi (70 km) north; check if operational.
- Getting aroundWalking covers the centre.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Sit-down mealRestaurant meal (local dish)SYP 15,000–30,000
- Street or quick mealStreet food (sandwich or falafel)SYP 5,000–10,000
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi ride within townSYP 5,000–10,000
- Museum or sight ticketMuseum entrySYP 5,000–10,000 (check)
- Budget bedGuesthouse or basic hotel room, a night, per roomSYP 30,000
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse or basic hotel room, a night, per roomSYP 60,000
- High-end bedGuesthouse or basic hotel room, a night, per roomSYP 120,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget SYP 50,000 · Mid SYP 100,000 · High SYP 200,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- ALP Aleppo International Airport (About 70 km (43 mi) 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.)ALP Aleppo International Airport (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 186 mi (300 km) south; taxi or bus to Maarat al-Numan, about 3–4 h.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
Feb
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Mar
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Apr
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
May
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jun
not flagged
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Jul
Avoid
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
Aug
Avoid
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
Sep
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Oct
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Nov
Best
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
Dec
Avoid
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
Best: Mar–May, Oct–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)), coolest Jan (2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C) low), wettest Jan (8 rain days), driest Jun (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Maarat al-Numan: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
12°C (54°F)54°F (12°C)
2°C (36°F)36°F (2°C)
8 rd
Feb
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
7 rd
Mar
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6°C (43°F)43°F (6°C)
6 rd
Apr
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
10°C (50°F)50°F (10°C)
4 rd
May
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
2 rd
Jun
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
19°C (66°F)66°F (19°C)
0 rd
Jul
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Aug
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
0 rd
Sep
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
1 rd
Oct
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
3 rd
Nov
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
7°C (45°F)45°F (7°C)
5 rd
Dec
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
3°C (37°F)37°F (3°C)
7 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Walking covers the centre. For the mausoleum (5 km southeast) or the castle, take a taxi or private car. Checkpoints are common on the M5.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Dead Cities
goDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Taxi or private car, about 30–60 min to the nearest sites (e.g. Serjilla, al-Bara)
The museum in town holds mosaics from these sites; visiting the ruins themselves requires a car and a guide.
Aleppo
goDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Taxi or bus on the M5, about 1 h
Aleppo has more accommodation and sights; use it as a base instead.
Idlib
cautionDoor to door: About 45 min
Taxi or bus, about 30 min
Check current security situation before travelling.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Town centre
A few small hotels and guesthouses; options are limited. Book ahead or ask locally.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- SYP 50,000–80,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- SYP 80,000–150,000 excl. bed
- High
- SYP 150,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse or basic hotel room1 × 1 night × SYP 60,000 | SYP 60,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × SYP 100,000 | SYP 100,000 |
| Taxi from Aleppo (one way)1 × SYP 50,000 · check | SYP 50,000 |
| Local taxi for the day1 × SYP 30,000 · check | SYP 30,000 |
| Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | SYP 36,000 |
| Trip total≈ SYP 276,000 per person per day, bed included | SYP 276,000 |
2026 estimate in Syrian pounds (SYP); flights excluded. Prices are approximate and may vary.
Prices of common things
| 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) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- 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.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 112
- Ambulance
- 110
- Fire
- 113
Pocket card
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Maarat al-Numanمَعَرَّةُ النُّعْمَانِ
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
إلى هذا العنوان، من فضلكTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police112
- Ambulance110
- Fire113
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi Aleppo → Maarat al-Numan: about SYP 50,000, about 1 h (check)
- Taxi within town: SYP 5,000–10,000
Say or show
- مرحبا — Hello (marhaba)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- كم؟ — How much? (kam?)
- أين المتحف؟ — Where is the museum? (ayn al-mathaf?)
Syria uses Syrian pounds (SYP). US dollars are accepted for larger payments. Check current exchange rates.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Maarat al-Numan. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Mar–May, Oct–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (extreme heat), Dec–Feb (cold, possible rain)
- 2 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 3 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place pages with verified opening hours for the museum and mosque.
- Transport page with checkpoint locations and typical wait times.
- Safety page with current travel advice from foreign ministries.
Sources
Ask about Maarat al-Numan
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