Can I use a card to pay for taxis in Syria, or should I carry local cash?
Locals in Syria told me cars for hire or taxis hardly use cards because of infrastructure issues. I took taxis in Homs, and cash was king. Taxi fares were negotiable but always paid with Syrian pounds. ATMs like those at the Commercial Bank of Syria made getting cash easier.
Taxi system in Syria is very much cash-based. I traveled around Aleppo and paid cash for all taxi rides. Cards were accepted only for some hotel shuttles near Sheraton Damascus, but those were rare. Local ATMs are available but you should withdraw cash regularly.
I stayed near the old city in Damascus and found that card payment isn’t an option for most taxis. Drivers usually expect cash and don’t have terminals. Carrying small bills made paying fares smoother, especially for rides from places like Umayyad Square or Al-Hamidiyah Souq.
In Damascus and Aleppo, taxis almost universally expect cash in Syrian pounds. Card acceptance for taxis is virtually non-existent, though some airport shuttle services might take cards. I always carried cash, withdrawing from ATMs like those at the Bank of Syria & Overseas, to cover taxi fares easily.