Money, cash and the Syrian pound
Two zeros came off the pound in January 2026. Cards and ATMs do not work for visitors: the cash you carry in is all the money you have in the country.
Syria runs on cash. In practice that means foreign cards are not accepted, ATMs will not pay out on a foreign card, and there is no paying online. The cash you bring in is all the money you have while you are there.
The new pound
The new Syrian pound entered circulation on 1 January 2026 and two zeros came off the currency: 100 old pounds became 1 new pound. The new notes are 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 and 500 pounds. Old and new notes circulated side by side through a ninety-day transition, after which the old ones were withdrawn through banks and authorised centres.
What that means for a reader: older prices online look a hundred times today’s. A 2024 article saying “fifteen thousand pounds” is talking about 150 pounds today.
The rate
In July 2026 the new pound stood at roughly 122 to the US dollar and roughly 139 to the euro. The rate moves; the figure on this page gives a sense of scale, not a basis for arithmetic. Ask the day’s rate before you change anything.
What to bring
US dollars or euros, clean and untorn. Worn notes or older series dollars may be refused. Small denominations make life easier: in a market, in a taxi and for tips, change for a large note often is not there. Work out the whole budget in advance against the number of days you are staying — drawing more money halfway through is not an option.
Changing money
Change at licensed exchange offices and banks. If a rate offered on the street looks better than the office rate, there is a reason for it; counterfeit notes and short counts are a real risk. Ask for the receipt on every amount you change.
Prices
No record on this site carries a fixed price; they say “variable — ask on site”. This page is the reason. On a rate that moves twice a year, a written price becomes wrong information within months.
Tips
- Cards and ATMs do not work for visitors; bring the whole budget in cash
- Bring clean, untorn US dollars or euros; worn notes can be refused
- Carry small denominations — change for a large note is often not there
- Two zeros came off in January 2026: old prices online look 100x today's
- Do not change money on the street; use a licensed office and keep the receipt
Transparency
- How this was chosen
- This page carries the fastest-ageing information on the site: visa rules, exchange rates, border crossings and SIM prices change several times a year. The verification date above says when the facts were last put through their sources; for anything later, check your own foreign ministry travel advice and a Syrian consulate. No figure that is not known for certain is written here.
- Facts checked
- August 2026
- Last updated
- August 20, 2026