What is Homs famous for?
Homs is known for standing at the mouth of the Homs Gap, the only natural break between the coast and the interior, and for the Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque, whose facade banded in black basalt and white limestone tells you the stone language of the region in one look. Its wider fame comes from 65 kilometres west: Krak des Chevaliers, raised to hold the gap and one of the best-preserved Crusader castles anywhere.
Highlights
- The banded black-and-white facade of the Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque
- The Homs Gap: the only natural break between the coast and the interior
- Krak des Chevaliers, 65 kilometres west
- Lake Qattinah and the ancient dam that holds it
- The stretch where the Orontes runs through the city
What to see
Homs Citadel
An artificial mound southwest of the old city, rising 32 metres above the plain. No castle stands; what is here is stone-clad slope, wall stubs and deep layers.
Church of the Holy Belt
A Syriac Orthodox church in old Homs. It is named after the belt it keeps, and the low-ceilinged room below ground is the oldest part. Notes on visiting it.
The Khalid ibn al-Walid Mosque
The landmark of Homs: a mosque standing in a wide garden, its facade banded in black basalt and white limestone. The tomb of Khalid ibn al-Walid is inside.
Lake Qattinah
A lake west of Homs held by an ancient dam. Water at the mouth of the gap, birds and late-afternoon light — half an hour from the city, on the road to the castle.
Krak des Chevaliers
The best-preserved Crusader castle in the world. How to reach Qalaat al-Hosn 65 kilometres west of Homs, what to see inside, and how long the visit takes.
Transparency
- How this was chosen
- The answer on this page is written by hand. The lists are built from published records tied to this city and grow on their own as records are added.
- Last updated
- August 20, 2026