The National Museum of Latakia

The National Museum of Latakia stands proudly on the city’s seafront in a building that began life in the 16th century as Khan al Dukhan — “The Khan of Smoke” — an Ottoman era caravansary built to serve the bustling tobacco trade. This khan was more than a merchant stopover; it housed travelers, traders, and private residences, and later became the residence of the Governor of the Alawite State during the French Mandate. In 1986, the Syrian Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums transformed the historic structure into a cultural landmark, preserving its arched stone architecture while filling its six exhibition halls with treasures from Syria’s coastal past. Visitors can explore artifacts from Ugarit alongside Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, and Islamic pieces, all framed by the building’s centuries old walls. The museum’s garden, dotted with Roman columns, capitals, and statues, offers a tranquil open air gallery just steps from the Mediterranean.