Major city · Syria
Baniyasبانياس
Half a day for the castle and a walk through the citrus groves; one night if you want a slow coastal stop between Latakia and Tartous.
Baniyas is a small Syrian coastal town known for its citrus orchards, a Crusader castle (Margat) on a hill, and a large oil refinery. It is a quiet stop between Latakia and Tartous, not a destination on its own. Most travellers use it for a few hours to see the castle and have a meal.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- SYP
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Nov
- avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Dec–Feb (cooler, some rain)
- Airport
- LTK
- Nights
- 1
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 Baniyas112 ▾
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 Baniyas, 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
- SafetyThe security situation in Syria is volatile.
- Emergency numbers112 police · 110 ambulance · 113 fire (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckLTK Bassel Al-Assad International Airport (Latakia) (About 50 km (31 mi) north; check current flight availability and security situation.).LTK Bassel Al-Assad International Airport (Latakia) (About 31 mi (50 km) north; check current flight availability and security situation.).
- Getting aroundThe town is walkable.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee at a cafécheckSYP 2,000–4,000
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi ride within towncheckSYP 5,000–10,000
- Museum or sight ticketEntry to Margat CastlecheckSYP 3,000–5,000
- Budget bedBudget guesthouse or hostel bed, a night, per personSYP 15,000
- Mid-range bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomSYP 70,000
- High-end bedMid-range hotel double room, a night, per roomSYP 120,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget SYP 30,000 · Mid SYP 70,000 · High SYP 150,000
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
- LTK Bassel Al-Assad International Airport (Latakia) (About 50 km (31 mi) north; check current flight availability and security situation.)LTK Bassel Al-Assad International Airport (Latakia) (About 31 mi (50 km) north; check current flight availability and security situation.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
Feb
Avoid
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
Mar
Best
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
Apr
Best
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
May
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Jun
not flagged
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Oct
Best
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Nov
Best
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
Dec
Avoid
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
Best: Mar–May, Sep–Nov. Avoid: Jul–Aug, Dec–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Jul (31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)), coolest Jan (8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C) low), wettest Jan (12 rain days), driest Jul (0). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Baniyas: 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
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8°C (46°F)46°F (8°C)
12 rd
Feb
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
10 rd
Mar
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
11°C (52°F)52°F (11°C)
9 rd
Apr
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6 rd
May
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
3 rd
Jun
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
1 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
0 rd
Sep
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
22°C (72°F)72°F (22°C)
2 rd
Oct
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
18°C (64°F)64°F (18°C)
6 rd
Nov
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
8 rd
Dec
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
9°C (48°F)48°F (9°C)
11 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
The town is walkable. For Margat Castle, take a taxi or a local minibus (service taxi) from the centre, about 10–15 minutes. Taxis are the main option for longer trips.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Margat Castle
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Taxi or minibus from Baniyas centre, about 10–15 min
The main reason to visit Baniyas; allow 1–2 hours at the castle.
Tartous
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Minibus or taxi south, about 30–40 min
Coastal city with a Crusader cathedral and a working port.
Latakia
goDoor to door: About 1.5 h
Minibus or taxi north, about 40–50 min
Largest city on the coast; more accommodation and dining options.
Krak des Chevaliers
goDoor to door: About 2.5 h
Taxi or private car east, about 1.5–2 h
One of the best-preserved Crusader castles; a full-day trip from Baniyas.
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.
City centre
Near the corniche and main market; limited options, check current availability.
Near Margat Castle
A few guesthouses on the hill; quieter, with views.
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 30,000–50,000 (check)
- Mid
- SYP 50,000–100,000 (check)
- High
- SYP 100,000+ (check)
Trip budget
| Mid-range hotel double room1 × 1 night × SYP 70,000 | SYP 70,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × SYP 70,000 | SYP 140,000 |
| Taxi from Baniyas to Margat Castle (return)1 × SYP 15,000 · check | SYP 15,000 |
| Minibus Baniyas to Tartous (one way)2 × SYP 5,000 · check | SYP 10,000 |
| eSIM for travel (about a week of data)2 × SYP 10,000 · check | SYP 20,000 |
| Buffer 15%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | SYP 38,300 |
| Trip total≈ SYP 146,700 per person per day, bed included | SYP 293,300 |
2026 estimate in Syrian pounds (SYP); prices are highly variable and subject to change. Check current exchange rates and availability.
Prices of common things
| Meal at a local restaurantcheck | SYP 10,000–20,000 |
| Taxi ride within towncheck | SYP 5,000–10,000 |
| Minibus to Tartous or Latakiacheck | SYP 5,000–8,000 |
| Entry to Margat Castlecheck | SYP 3,000–5,000 |
| Coffee at a cafécheck | SYP 2,000–4,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Check your government's travel advice for Syria before planning any trip.
- The oil refinery is a potential target; avoid the area north of town.
- Margat Castle may have limited opening hours; confirm locally.
- ATMs and credit card acceptance are unreliable; carry enough cash (SYP or USD).
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 112
- Ambulance
- 110
- Fire
- 113
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Baniyasبانياس
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 Baniyas → Margat Castle: about SYP 10,000–15,000, 10–15 min (check)
- Minibus Baniyas → Tartous: about SYP 5,000, 30–40 min (check)
- Minibus Baniyas → Latakia: about SYP 6,000, 40–50 min (check)
Say or show
- مرحبا — Hello (marhaba)
- شكراً — Thank you (shukran)
- كم؟ — How much? (kam?)
- نعم / لا — Yes / No (na'am / la)
- أين القلعة؟ — Where is the castle? (ayn al-qal'a?)
Syrian pound (SYP) is the local currency; USD is widely accepted for larger purchases. 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 Baniyas. 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, Sep–Nov · avoid Jul–Aug (hot and humid), Dec–Feb (cooler, some rain)
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Baniyas
Loading…
Was this useful?