Old Latakia: A Cultural Walk through Arches and Khans

Your introduction to Latakia can begin in a street rather than on a beach. The old city's landmarks invite questions about where a building stands, what it was used for and how it became part of a changing city. This is a suggested cultural outing, not an official marked route; adapt the order to access and transport.

Start with the Triumphal Arch

The Triumphal Arch is in the Saliba area. A September 2025 SANA report quotes the local antiquities department dating it to AD 195 under Septimius Severus. The report also mentions a proposed old-city route, which should not be treated as completed merely because it was announced. Source: the arch

Look first at the overall shape, then the columns, capitals and relation to the street. The surviving monument is a witness within a changing urban setting, not a complete preserved picture of Roman Latakia.

A khan and the city's trade

The Syrian archaeological encyclopedia connects Khan al-Hinta with grain storage and trade, locating it within the old city's commercial setting near the harbour. Its function helps turn an old facade into part of an economic story. Source: Khan al-Hinta

Before planning to enter a historic building, confirm whether it is accessible or in use. Viewing its facade from a public space may be enough to notice important details; not every historic building provides an interior tour.

The museum: connecting places and objects

Include Latakia Museum if visits are available. An April 2026 official inspection covered the museum, arch and other heritage locations and discussed conservation needs. An inspection report alone does not confirm public opening hours. Source: heritage-site inspection

Read object labels before photographing a display. The findspot, date and use connect an object to the region and help distinguish material from the city itself from objects discovered elsewhere in the governorate.

A short programme with time to notice

Choose two or three manageable stops and allow for a break. With children, simple questions can make the walk engaging: what did a khan do, why do two facades look different, and what does an object tell us that a photograph cannot?

Do not enter homes or working premises without permission, and ask before photographing people. The old city is a place where people live and work. Respecting that makes the visit richer and lets you experience a living city alongside its history.

Continue reading and plan your visit

• Latakia History: The City, Harbour and Historic Khans
• Latakia Museum and Khan al-Dukhan: A Building’s Story