The main draw is Cote d'Azur, known locally as Blue Beach (pictured here), about 15 minutes' drive north of downtown — a resort strip of clean sand and clear water that was historically the country's most cosmopolitan beach scene, with paddleboats, waterskiing, and a cluster of hotels; it remains the best-equipped option, though amenities are simpler than before the war. Closer to town, the corniche offers walkable, if more basic, city beaches. For hotels, the Cote d'Azur de Cham Resort and Grand Latakia Hotel are the established beachfront options with pools and sea views, while in the city center the Ugarit Tishreen and Riviera hotels are reasonable mid-range bases.

(Note: this is an old photo - from 2009 - but scenes like this are starting to buzz again.) 

Read more in my post Syria Is Finally Free, but Is It Finally Ready to Visit Again? Plus 5 of Its Top Destinations.


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