Tartous, Syria

Tartus is a city in Syria, the capital of Tartus Governorate. The city lies on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean sea bordered by the Alawite Mountains to the east. Tartus is 220 km northwest of Damascus and less than one hour drive south of Latakia. The island of Arwad, the only inhabited in Syria, is located a few kilometers off the shore of Tartus.

Tartus and the surrounding area are rich in antiquities and archeological sites. Various important and well known sites are located within a 30-minute drive from Tartus. The historic centre of Tartus consists of more recent buildings built on and inside the walls of the Crusader-era Templar fortress, whose moat still separates this old town from the modern city on its northern and eastern sides. Outside the fortress little historic remains can be seen, with the exception of the former cathedral of Notre-Dame of Tartus, from the 12th century. The church is now the seat of a museum.

Things to See & Do

* The old city of Tartus
* Margat Castle, north of the city
* The historic town of Safita
* Arwad island and castle
* The ancient cathedral of Our Lady of Tortosa, now used as the city museum

General Information

Cruise Season – Feb to Dec
Currency – Syrian pound (SYP)
Language – Arabic
Population – 93,000 approx.
Electricity – 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT/UTC plus two hours
International Country Telephone Code – + 963

Port Location – The port of Tartous is located on the outskirts of the city, a short distance from the downtown area of Tartous.

Travel Links – Tartus has a well developed road network and highways. The railway network connects Tartus to major cities in Syria, although only the Latakia-Tartus passenger connection is in service.
An international airport is fully operational at Al Basil, which is 80 kilometers north of Tartus. There is also a ferry boat link to the island of Arwad.