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Latakia
City in Syria

Latakia

Latakia, officially Lattakia, is the principal port city of Syria and capital city of the Latakia Governorate located on the Mediterranean coast.

Plan a trip to Latakia→From Aleppo

Historically, it has also been known as Laodicea in Syria or Laodicea ad Mare. In addition to serving as a port, the city is a significant manufacturing center for surrounding agricultural towns and villages. According to a 2023 estimate, the population of the city is 709,000, its population greatly increased as a result of the Syrian Revolution, which led to an influx of internally displaced persons from rebel held areas. It is the 5th-largest city in Syria after Aleppo, Damascus, Homs and Hama. Cape Apostolos Andreas, the north-eastern tip of Cyprus, is about 109 kilometres (68 mi) away.

Get in

Getting to Latakia

  1. 01
    Latakia International Airport
See

Worth seeing

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. 01
    National Museum of Latakia
  2. 02
    Ruins of Ugarit

    The ancient Phoenician city that lays claim to developing one of the first written alphabets in the world.

  3. 03
    Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
  4. 04
    National Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Latakia
Do

Things to do

In the city center, the American street attracts the young and fashionable at night. Also the Zira'a quarter and around the university are hip upcoming parts of the city. Free public beach near Al Siwar, N35.50097 E35.78184. The free public beach at the bottom of the cliff below Al Siwar Restaurant is neither particularly clean nor safe due to the debris in the sand. Free public beach near South Corniche Park.

Eat

Where to eat

Al Siwar (On the corniche). Probably the best-known restaurant among locals, with a beautiful view of the sea. Thus, one of the more expensive options in Latakia, but still moderately priced. Serves good Syrian mezze and kebabs, as well as fish. Spiro (On the corniche). Probably the best-known seafood restaurant among locals. Reasonably priced, is famous for having good, fresh fish.

Text adapted from Wikipedia and Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photograph: Victor.ibrahiem.photographe (CC BY-SA 3.0), Wikimedia Commons.