Tartus is a very popular tourist destination. It has beautiful sandy beaches and resorts in store for the visitors. Its rich history is evident in the architecture of the city.
The crusader architecture is best exemplified in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa. It now serves as the town’s museum. It houses various Syro-Phoenician, Roman Byzantine, Frank and Muslim antiques.
The old city is the historic centre of the city. It includes an old twelfth-century wall that has helped retain the charm of the old city.
In the older part of the city lies the magnificent Castle of the Templars. Built in late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, the castle is now mostly in ruins. The moat of the fortress still separates the old city from the new city on the northern and eastern side.
Other attractions in the city include Beit El Baik Palace and Hosn Suleiman Temple. The nearby Arwad Island, the only inhabited island of Syria, can be visited from here.
Besides the Cathedral, other attractions include the old city and a city wall that preserves the beauty of the old city. The beaches and water are clean, and the accommodations are excellent. There are many hotels and restaurants in the area.
Other nearby attractions include Baniyas, Qalaat Yahmur, Qalaat Areimeh, Draykish, Qalaat Kadmous, Amrit, Safita, Crac des Chevaliers, Meshta al-Helu, and the Monastery of St. George.
Visemar Ferries, a Venice-based shipping compan, has recently launched two new routes connecting Venice to Tartus in Syria and Alexandria in Egypt.
