Tourism

General Information
More Information
Distance between the Syrian Cities
Flag and Anthem

Syrian Cities

Southern Provinces

Damascus
Historical Spots of Damascus
Damascus Province

Mid-West Provinces

Homs
Palmyra
Hama
Apamea
Syrian Coast
Summer resorts
Historical Spots

North-Eastern Provinces

Aleppo
Raqa
Deir Ezzor

The Syrian coast consists of long stretches of beach and green mountains. These mountains are mostly covered with pine and oak trees, and their slopes touch shore. This landscape repeats itself from Ras al Bassit in the north to Tartus in the south.

• The Beaches:

The Syrian seashore is about 175 km long, and its numerous beaches are distinguished by soft sand, unpolluted sea, moderate climate and clear blue sky.

• Ras Al Bassit:

Located on the northern part of the Syrian shore, about 40 km to the north of Lattakia; it is one of the most beautiful spots on the Mediterranean: a wide bay, with clean water and clean sand, surrounded by mountains and green hills. Chalets, camping sites and restaurants along the shore make Ras al Bassit all the more attractive to visitors.

• Lattakia:

Lattakia is Syria's main sea-port on the Mediterranean (186 km southwest of Aleppo). It has retained its importance since ancient times. Lattakia was one of the five cities built by Saluqos Nikator in the 2nd century B.C. He named it after his mother, Laudetia.
Not many ancient remains have survived in Lattakia, but there are four columns and a Roman arch from the time of Septimus Severus (circa 200 A.D.), in addition to a beautiful Ottoman construction called 'Khan al-Dukhan', which is now a museum.
Lattakia is the sea-gate to Syria. It is well-provided with accommodation, and is well-placed as a base from which to explore the coastal regions of the country.
There are beaches, mountains, archaeological sites and many relics of the Crusaders, all within a few hours from each other.
Mention should also be made of the historically important Ras Sharma, only 16 km to the north of Lattakia. This is the site of Ugarit, the kingdom that had golden past in administration, education, diplomacy, law, religion and economics between the 16th and 13th centuries B.C. It is the kingdom that gave humanity the first alphabet in the world. This alphabet is still preserved on a clay tablet at the National Museum in Damascus.
Jableh is another Syrian seaside town, 28 km to the south of Lattakia.

• Banyas:

This city is located on the Syrian coast, 55 km to the south of Lattakia. It was an ancient Phoenician seaport. The Greeks called it Balemia. It was famous for its orchards and its export of wood. Today it is better known for its oil refinery. It still contains citrus fruit orchards surrounded by green hills. On one of the hills is the imposing al-Marqab Citadel, a huge fortress of black basalt stone.

• Tartus:

The second most important Syrian seaport on the Mediterranean (90 km to the south of Lattakia). It was called Antaradus by the Phoenicians and Tortusa by the Byzantines. Tortusa was to become one of the main supply ports for the Crusaders and a military base of considerable importance. It was held by the templars, but recovered by Salaeddin in 1188.

• Arwad:

This is the only island in Syria, and it is located 3 km from Tartus.
It was an independent kingdom named Aradus in the days of the Canaanites. It was often mentioned in inscriptions because of its importance in commerce and seafaring.
Arwad provided shelter for those escaping from foreign invasions in ancient times, especially for the people of Amrit in the south of Tartus.