Latakia

The city consists largely of white stucco highrises and streets lined with palm trees, and the most popular beaches are along the coast to the north of the city. Latakia is home to one of Syria's largest universities, Latakia University, and the city tends to be relatively socially progressive and liberal (by Syrian standards), with a mixed population of Christian, Alawi, and Sunni inhabitants.

• 1 Latakia International Airport (LTK  ^IATA) (about 20 km south of the city along the M1 motorway). As of 2026, the airport is closed and all flight operations have been suspended.  (updated Feb 2026)

Overland travel is limited, but buses connect with regional cities along the Syrian Coast. Bus travel from other cities, such as Aleppo, Damascus, Hama and Homs, is possible but arrangements have to be made on the ground. Expect long delays due to security checkpoints.

As of 2018, trains are limited to a twice daily service from Tartous, taking about 1 hr 15 min. Long distance trains from Aleppo and Damascus are cancelled indefinitely. 2 Latakia railway station is located at the major roundabout Yemen Square (ساحة اليمن).

The Latakia region is known for its diversity of landscapes, from the green mountains to the sandy beaches, with many important archeological sites, such as the Saladin Castle (a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2006) and the ruins of Ugarit, close enough to see on a day trip from Latakia.

• 1 National Museum of Latakia (المتحف الوطني في اللاذقية).  (updated Jun 2018)
• 2 Ruins of Ugarit (أُوجَارِيت). The ancient Phoenician city that lays claim to developing one of the first written alphabets in the world. Located about 20km north of Latakia, it can be reached by an organized tour from a hotel in the city, or, for those who are confident in their bargaining skills, can be reached by taxi, but it is important to arrange for joey to come pick you up in the taxi to wait (for a fee), since the road near the Ugarit entrance is not heavily trafficked by taxis for the return trip.  (updated Jun 2018)
• 3 Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (كنيسة قلب اليسوع الأقدس). Catholic church completed in 1933.  (updated Jul 2021)
• 4 National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Latakia (الكنيسة الإنجيلية المشيخية الوطنية في اللاذقية). A small historic Evangelical church, dating back to 1876.  (updated Feb 2024)