Latvia

In the ancient and medieval world, the territory of today's Latvia was known for its particular significance to commerce. The famous route from the Vikings to the Greeks mentioned in ancient chronicles stretched from Scandinavia through Latvian territory, along the river Daugava, to the Kievan Rus and Byzantine Empire. In the 12th century, German traders arrived, bringing with them missionaries who attempted to convert the pagan Finno-Ugric and Baltic tribes to the Christian faith. The Germans founded Riga in 1201, making it the largest and most powerful city on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea during the Late Middle Ages.

After gaining independence in 1918, Latvia achieved considerable results in social development, economy, industry and agriculture. On 16 June 1940, Soviet foreign minister Vyacheslav Molotov presented the Latvian representative in Moscow an ultimatum, accusing Latvia of violating a pact and conspiring against the Soviet Union. The Soviet forces invaded Latvia soon after and "People's Governments" were formed to provide a legal backing for a complete takeover, followed by Latvia being incorporated into the Soviet Union on 5 August 1940. Nazi Germany occupied the country the following year, ruling Latvia until the Soviet Red Army reoccupied the country in 1944. Both Nazi Germany and the USSR under Stalin were extremely brutal and murderous during their rule: the Nazis and their local collaborators murdered over 90,000 Latvians, including 75,000 Latvian Jews, while the Soviets, also having local collaborators, threw well over 90,000 Latvians into Siberian Gulags, from which many never returned, and had many thousands arrested locally, with many being shot or tortured.

During the time of the Iron Curtain, when Latvia was a province of the Soviet Union, the concentration of heavy industry was enormous. All contacts with the West were strongly regulated during that period and everyone who was found to possibly have any contact with anyone abroad could be subject to accusations of conspiracy against the state. The Baltic region had the reputation of having the highest literacy rate and being the most urbanized in the Soviet Union. During the Soviet era, the Russian minority (less than 10% of the population before occupation) was supplemented by heavy immigration from other Soviet republics, especially Russia.

After 1990 there was a desire by Latvians to get rid of everything Russian: only Latvian is an official language, and 60% of school classes have to be held in Latvian even in Russian-medium schools. While many ethnic Russians have emigrated, many remain and they present a unique case of citizenship law only mirrored by the situation in Estonia. People who are not descended from people who were citizens before the Soviet occupation and have not been nationalised are officially classed as "non-citizens". This is a category distinct from statelessness: they are given special passports and they have the unlimited right to reside in Latvia but can't vote in elections or hold certain civil service jobs. Especially older "non-citizens" tend to hold on to their weird limbo status, both because of unwillingness to learn Latvian and be subjected to the nationalisation test, and because a Latvian non-citizen passport allows visa-free travel to Russia whereas a Latvian citizen passport does not. The Russian minority is a strong factor in the culture and politics of the country, and Daugavpils, the second biggest city, has an ethnic Russian majority.

Latvia's economy grew rapidly after independence in 1991. Later the 2008 global recession and the financial crisis hit Latvia hard, bringing severe economic contraction and high unemployment rates and it took until 2017 for the country's economy to recover fully. Most Latvians work in the services sector.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 caused the loss of a key trading partner, and GDP growth has slowed.

The best time to travel to Latvia is during Summer, from June up to early-September, as it is warm during that period (around 15°C to 20°C) and various local foods are available. While the start of December is usually mild with temperatures staying above freezing, snowfall can be expected during the Winter season, January and February, and the temperatures can drop to around -30°C for short periods of time. Springs and autumns are fairly mild.

Latvia is generally flat and does not feature high mountains. The highest point in Latvia is Gaizinkalns, peaking at 312 m (1,024 ft) above sea level, just west of the town of Madona in central Latvia.

Half of Latvia is covered with forests that are abundant in wildlife. There are many small lakes scattered around the country, especially in the south-eastern Latgale region. Valleys carved by rivers can be seen with sections featuring sand cliffs on their banks. As heavy industry declined in the country it has the effect of an increasingly clean ecological environment.

Official visitor information site (in English). Can also be found in Estonian, Lithuanian and Russian among other languages.

Latvia is a member of the Schengen Agreement. See Travelling around the Schengen Area for more information on how the scheme works, what countries are members and what the requirements are for your nationality. In summary:

There are normally no immigration controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty; there may be such controls temporarily, such as in connection with important events and various crises.

The operators may carry out identity checks before passengers board international flights, ferries or trains, even between Schengen countries.

Citizens of the EEA countries and Switzerland do not need visas to travel in the Schengen area, and may stay up to 90 days with no requirements other than having a valid ID card or passport. See European Union#EEA citizens.

Normal visas granted by any Schengen member are valid in all countries that have signed and implemented the treaty (with exceptions for some overseas territories). The granting country may offer additional rights (such as longer stays or right to work) that apply only locally.

Riga International Airport (RIX IATA) is the only airport in Latvia with regular international flights and is 10 km southwest of Riga. Bus 22 operates on a route from the airport to the centre of Riga (and vice versa), a ticket from the driver costs €2. Alternatively, you can buy yellow e-tickets (for 1, 3 or 5 days) from the Narvesen kiosk just outside the airport. Various other methods of transport are available on-site such as taxis.

Alternatively, you can fly to Kaunas in Lithuania and take the Flybus to Riga.

The Estonian company Elron operates one daily train each way between Tallinn, Estonia and Riga (via Tartu and Valga). Elron also operates two daily trains from Tallinn to Valga, from where trains operated by the Latvian company Vivi connect, going to Riga. The Lithuanian company LTG Link operates a daily train between Vilnius and Riga. In addition, the Rail Baltica project, underway as of 2024, intends to create in much more frequent rail services between the Baltic countries and onwards to Central Europe.

Because of the Russian war on Ukraine, services to and from Russia and Belarus have been suspended.

If you travel by train via Daugavpils on your way to or from Riga, you might need to stay in Daugavpils overnight for the connection. For that reason, you may be better off taking a bus or a plane when travelling between Riga and Vilnius.

There are international bus connections to anywhere in Europe, including frequent service to Tallinn and Tartu in Estonia, and Vilnius and Kaunas in Lithuania.

Notable bus route operators:

Ecolines

Eurolines Lux Express offers free coffee and more legroom than Simple Express service

Flybus connects Riga and Kaunas and Vilnius

FlixBus has buses from Tallinn, Warsaw, Vilnius and Kaunas to Riga

The Tallink Silja line between Stockholm, Sweden and Riga is suspended as of spring 2023.

Stena Line operates ferries between Nynäshamn, Sweden and Ventspils and between Travemünde, Germany and Liepāja. One-way travel time is 8½ hours from Sweden and 27 hours from Germany. Stena Line offers regular one-way and roundtrip tickets, with or without a car. A pedestrian roundtrip on the line from Sweden begin at €34, with bicycle at €40 for a roundtrip. A recliner in a silent room is €10 extra for both ways. Pets are welcome, but a pet cabin is required without extra charge to a regular cabin.

DFDS - operates ferries between Karlshamn, Sweden and Klaipeda, Lithuania. An alternative route if you come from Denmark or the southernmost part of Sweden. Klaipėda is just 50 km away from the Latvian border when going north on the A13 national road. One-way travel time is 14 or 16 hours depending on departure. DFDS offers regular one-way and roundtrip tickets, with or without a car. A pedestrian roundtrip begin at €86; with bicycle at €106 for a roundtrip.

For those travelling by private boat, regular marinas are very few and still in their infancy (2019).

Kuiviži, small town in the Bay of Riga, at the mouth of the Krišupe; Kapteiņu osta

Riga, the capital city of Latvia; the City Yacht Club is right across the old town on the Daugava river

Jūrmala, Marina Jurmala is on the Lielupe river.

Ventspils on the west coast, Ventspils Marina

Pāvilosta, small town on the west coast, at the mouth of the Saka; Pāvilosta Marina

It might be possible to arrange something with the authorities of other ports: Salacgrīva, Skulte, Saulkrasti, Engure, Mērsrags, Roja, and Liepāja.

The road known as Via Baltica links Warsaw, Poland and Tallinn, Estonia going through Kaunas, Lithuania and Riga.

Coming from the west, you might want to skip driving a thousand kilometres through Poland and Lithuania – unless you specifically want to visit them – by taking an overnight ferry from Germany or Sweden to Latvia or Lithuania. The price of the ferry voyage is comparable to the cost of driving.

If you have a driving licence issued by another country in the European Union, you can use it continuously in Latvia just like in the issuing country. According to the law, residents of other countries have to obtain a Latvian driver's licence after having lived 6 months in Latvia, however, this only involves a theoretical exam, which can be taken in English, German, French or Russian.

National and regional roads in Latvia have been through a process of update since the accession to the European Union. All national roads are paved and are signposted in red with numbers from A1 to A15. Most of the national roads are also part of the European route grid of roads. 84% of the regional roads are paved and they are signposted in blue with numbers from P1 to P133. 78% of local roads are gravel roads and they are signposted in grey with numbers from V1 to V1489 — on maps, but not necessarily on the roads. The only motorway in Latvia is a 12-km stretch of the A7 around Ķekava, opened in 2023. Some national roads around Rīga are built to expressway standards and some have higher speed limits (110 km/h, indicated by signs) but are not classified as motorways.

All gas stations around the country are self-service and available 24/7. Cirkle K, Neste and Viada operate gas stations all over the country, and there are many local companies as well. Diesel fuel and gasoline with octane ratings of 95 and 98 are widespread. Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, autogāze) is quite common as well. Electric cars are not widespread as the network of charging stations has not yet developed to be viable for casual, everyday usage. The two main providers of public electric charging for vehicles are e-mobi and Elektrum.

International car rental companies are represented and there are cheaper rental companies as well. There are many offices around Riga, including some at Riga Airport. You can see the list at the website of Riga International Airport. CityBee offers smartphone app based car rental.

Standard speed limits for motorcycles, cars and vans without trailers with a total weight of less than 7.5 t are 50 km/h on urban roads, 90 km/h on non-urban roads and 80 km/h on non-urban gravel roads — unless otherwise stated by traffic signs. Traffic enforcement cameras (fotoradars) are signposted and placed all over the country. It is common practice that local (slower) speed limits are only signed where they begin and not where they end. Even though it is permitted to drive 80 km/h on gravel roads, it is very uncomfortable to do so. The gravel also varies and on some stretches it can be a very bumpy ride and very dusty too when the weather is dry. When planning for your trip ask someone who knows whether the shortest route is gravel or not. Sometimes it can be faster to drive a longer trip on asphalted road compared to a shorter route on gravel road.

In Latvia, a lit green arrow traffic light, no matter in what direction it shows, does not give right of way, which is different from other European countries. The green arrow signal allows passage only when the way is clear, without having to wait for a proper green signal. Trams (streetcars) have right of way and a fine may be given for obstruction of their passage. It is not allowed to pass a tram when it stands still at a route stop where people has to cross the street from the sidewalk.

Finding a parking place is quite easy around Latvia, except in the capital Riga, where fees apply in the city centre. There is disc parking in some towns around Latvia.

The driving culture in Latvia is quite aggressive and hazardous. Almost none of the national and regional roads outside metropolitan Riga have emergency stopping lanes (shoulders) along the road. You will quickly realise that you perhaps are the only one that adheres to the standard speed limits, many heavy trucks drive 90 km/h. Some drivers with potent cars insist on overtaking at the slightest chance of squeezing through, even though there is no clear view of incoming traffic. There is significantly less traffic during evenings and nights.

It is prohibited to use any motorized vehicle in the territory of dune zones (usually 200m-1 km from sea shore).

Headlights must be turned on during driving all year round. Tyres intended for use in winter are compulsory from December 1 to March 1. The use of studded tyres is prohibited from May 1 to October 1. The use of safety belts is compulsory for both drivers and passengers. Children not taller than 150 cm must be transported in an appropriate child seat or on an appropriate support. Drivers are not allowed to use a mobile phone while driving unless a hands-free system is used. The permissible alcohol level is up to 0.5 ‰, but up to 0,2‰ for novices having a driving license for less than 2 years. The car's registration papers (tehniskā pase) and driver's license must be always available when driving.

The train network is fairly solid in Latvia, connecting larger cities. The rolling stock is partly of Soviet origin, partly electric Škoda trains, produced in Czechia and purchased in the 2020s. The passenger cars on domestic lines are of the open-compartment type, whereas on the international lines of the closed-compartment type. The trains are a reliable way of getting around, delays are uncommon.

Domestic lines that run daily are the ones between Riga and Skulte, Sigulda, Krustpils, Jelgava and Tukums (via Jūrmala). Other destinations run less frequent. The west coast of Latvia is rather poorly serviced with only one departure a week between Riga and Liepāja. Domestic train service is provided by the company Vivi. Timetables with pricing information are also available at 1188.lv.

Trains can be cheaper than other methods of transportation and you generally do not need to be worried about them being packed, except possibly some peak days during the summer season.

There are several stations in Riga on both sides of the Daugava river, the central station (Rīgas Centrālā stacija or Rīgas-Pasažieru) is the one next to the old town. Jūrmala has several stations as well. The station in Majori is the one you need when going to the beaches and the Jūrmala city centre. Ķemeri station in western Jūrmala is the closest to the national park. Jēkabpils is just across the Daugava river when you get off at the station in Krustpils.

You can buy a train ticket before boarding the train at the station or you can buy one on the train from the personnel (but buying on the train costs €0.50 more). Some smaller stations' ticket offices may open late and close early or be closed for breaks during the day, generally due to the lack of passengers departing from said stations at those times. A timetable of trains will be available by the ticket office. Tickets can also be purchased online or on Pasažieru vilciens or Mobilly phone app. If you have an online ticket you just need to show the QR code to the train personnel. There is no seat reservation.

There is a narrow gauge railway operating between the cities of Gulbene and Alūksne in the north-east of Latvia. Along the route, there are various tourist-orientated points of interest.

The three biggest cities (Riga, Daugavpils and Liepāja) each have their own tram systems. While they date to the turn of the century (Riga and Liepāja) or the immediate post-WW2 era (Daugavpils) they have been modernised and well maintained since independence and there are even new low-floor trams on order to replace the older rolling stock.

Riga and its metro area has an extensive transit network consisting of 50 bus routes, 22 trolleybus routes and 8 night bus routes operared by Rīgas satiksme. The route numbering plans for tram, trolleybus and bus routes are not integrated and both busses and trolleybuses might look the same, which means you might mistake a trolleybus for a bus or vice versa. The routes with the same number usually don't tend to overlap. Tickets are purchasable in ticket machines, stores, mobile applications, such as an official applicationor Mobilly, and from bus 22 drivers.

The other largest cities also usually have their own bus networks, such as Jūrmala, Daugavpils, Liepāja, Ventspils, Jelgava, Rēzekne, Jēkabpils, Valmiera, and Talsi. Valka has a bus route 3 also serving Valga in Estonia. Other cities and towns might also have city transit routes integrated into regional bus network and have 4-digit route number.

Other bus routes are served by various private companies that differ between regions, unlike for trains. The bus connections stretch all around the country and getting around using buses is usually fairly simple. The best way to receive information about buses in Latvia is from the inquiries service 1188.lv, from the Autoosta Website, or at a local bus station. Express buses connect major cities and serve with a reduced count of stops along the way and can save time.

Tickets can be bought at ticket offices, on the buses when boarding, or online. If buying tickets in advance, that can usually be done up to 10 days prior to departure. Luggage can be placed in the trunk of the bus, which might even be required depending on the bus company and the size of the bag. You might be charged extra and receive an additional ticket or voucher for the luggage, depending on the policies of the company.

If you plan on leaving Riga during Friday or Saturday, you might find the buses to be crowded as travelling by bus is the most common method of travelling between cities in many regions and many head out of Riga for the weekend. If you buy a ticket from the ticket office at the bus station you are departing from beforehand during this period, you can board the bus before others.

Some bus operators provide WiFi access on board, which are usually free of charge and provide good coverage throughout the whole trip.

Ride-hailing is available in Latvia.

Bolt. The most anticipated provider. Includes many towns. (updated Jul 2020)

Forus Taxi (smartphone app)

Officially registered taxis can be recognized by the vehicle registration plate with black text on a yellow background, whereas ordinary cars have registration plates with a white background.

Yachting is for the very well off Latvians and regular marinas are very few and still in their infancy. The City Yacht Club in Riga is right across the old town on the Daugava river. Marina Jurmala in Jūrmala is on the Lielupe river. Pāvilosta Marina and Ventspils Marina are both on the Latvian west coast. It might also be possible to arrange something with the authorities of other ports. There is no public transport by boat between Latvian ports.

If you are going from Riga to Jūrmala during the summer, a very romantic way is to travel by river cruise boats: mainly two-deck motor boats with place for around 60 to 100 people. They usually depart from Riga centre in the morning and return in the afternoon. There are cruises in the Riga Canal, passing through the Daugava river. Ask in the tourism information centre for more details and pricing.

Cycling is generally not the safest method of getting around the country, especially at night. There are not many cycling paths around the country so you may find yourself biking close to cars very often. When in cities, many locals cycle along pedestrian paths to avoid the traffic. Some sidewalks around Riga have markings splitting off one side for cyclists and the other for pedestrians, but this is often not the case in other cities around the country. You will probably encounter people who do not respect the markings.

Cycle in the early morning to avoid the majority of traffic. The main rush hour when heavier traffic can be expected is from 17:00-20:00. Your bike should be equipped with reflectors and front and rear lights. Wear reflective clothing, especially if cycling after dark.

An interesting option may be to travel on a guided bike tour. Companies offering cycling tours in the region include UTracks. The international BaltiCCycle project may provide you helpful information regarding cycling in the region

Hitchhiking in Latvia is generally a good way to get around. You might encounter some difficulties if your destination is not on the way to a larger city. Your main difficulty may be getting around Riga as there is no clear by-pass road. The amount of local traffic can make hitching very difficult as locals will usually stop at Riga.

Drivers may be hesitant to pick up tourists that they expect to only speak English, which many Latvians do not understand. It is harder than other eastern European countries to hitch-hike in Latvia.

Hence, success is very volatile. You might be lucky within 10 min (along the larger roads), or you might just wait 1½ hr without anyone stopping, especially in remote areas with less traffic. Do not count on getting picked up eventually, but be sure to know when the last bus departs.

There are no domestic flights within Latvia.

Latvia has many picturesque 1-3 day hiking trails and is very popular with cyclists. For reliable (offline) maps of the region and comprehensive map information, consult OpenStreetMap, which is also used by this travel guide, and by many mobile Apps like OsmAnd (complex with many add-ons) and Organic Maps (easy but limited).

Old City Riga and Riga Town Hall Square, Riga, Architecture and History

Sigulda Castles, Sigulda, Architecture and Nature

Cēsis Medieval Castle, Cēsis, Architecture and History

Jūrmala Beach, Jūrmala, Recreational

Basilica of the Assumption, Latgale, Architecture and Heritage

Rundale Palace, Zemgale, Architecture and Museum

Ventspils Beach, Ventspils, Recreational

The Great Ķemeri Moorland, Riga region, Nature

Cape Kolka, Kurzeme, Nature

Narrow Gauge Railway, Alūksne, Recreational

When thinking of Europe, Latvia is usually not one of the first countries to come to people's mind. Being buried under the big iron no-go blanket of the Soviet Union until regaining its independence in 1991, Latvia is just now being discovered by larger tourist crowds to be surprised by the charms of this Baltic country.

Latvia's dynamic capital, the historic city of Riga, is a great place to spend some time. It is the home to the beautiful Old Town, full of magnificent Jugendstil architecture, winding cobblestoned streets and many steeples, while yet staying a modern, metropolitan city with a vibrant nightlife and a strong economic impulse, to the extent that the rise of the modern buildings is threatening the Old Town's World Heritage listing. Riga's vibe moves many travellers, perhaps due to the strong contrasts between the old and the new or maybe because of the seemingly painless blend of Latvian and Russian cultures, as almost half of the city's inhabitants are of Russian origin. You can get a sense of the city by wandering through the various large parks all around the city, strolling around the historic neighborhoods and kicking back in one of the cafés or outdoor terraces. Among Riga's notable sights are Riga Cathedral, St. Peter's Church and the lively Central Market. See Riga#See as well for some more ideas.

30 minutes from Riga is one of the best and multicultural sea resort towns of Latvia, Jūrmala. It can be found with beautiful beaches, houses, promenade and the nice Dzintari Forest Park.

Although Riga is by far the country's main tourist destination, there are a bunch of other places worth visiting. 40 km to the east from the capital lies Sigulda, with several castles such as the nicely reconstructed Turaida Castle, and the deep Gūtmanis Cave. The town is in the Gauja valley and has been called the "Switzerland of Latvia" for its steep cliffs and banks. It's known for its winter sports opportunities and provides a great chance to explore the fine nature around the town.

Further northeast towards the Estonian border, Cēsis, one of the country's oldest towns, can be found. It has a charming city centre with cobblestoned streets, historic wooden buildings and an impressive castle complex.

The coastal city of Liepāja is known to Latvians as "the city where the wind was born", due to the sea breeze it constantly gets. It has a nice beach and a charming town centre with a colourful mixture of architectural styles ranging from wooden houses and spacious parks to Art Nouveau and concrete Soviet-era apartment buildings. Liepāja's Karosta neighbourhood was built in the late 19th century as a naval base for Tsar Alexander III and was later used by the Soviet Baltic Fleet. Its splendid seaside panoramas, former military prison and fortress are preserved now making it a popular tourist sight.

Besides Liepāja, Ventspils, further north, is a modern sea resort town with an arty touch and well worth a summer vacation. From here and around Cape Kolka, the Livonian Coast, a remote and isolated coast landscape with wild beaches, sand dunes and lighthouses can be found. There are also some nice lighthouses worth visiting between Ventspils and Liepāja.

Kuldīga, southeast of Ventspils, is the home of Europe's widest waterfall ledge as a part of Venta Rapid. Even though only two metres high, its size makes it a nice sight. Together with the historic town, it is worth exploring.

Jelgava, on the way from the Lithuanian border towards Riga, has two fine sights in baroque style, the Rundāle Palace less than 40 km southeast of the city and the Jelgava Palace in the city centre.

Around 40 km north-east of the second largest city in the country, Daugavpils, is the colossal white Basilica of the Assumption. It is the most important Catholic church in Latvia and is locally also known as Aglona Basilica, as Aglona is the name of the village it is located in.

There are many interesting old castles maintained around Latvia. The Association of Latvian Castles, Palaces and Manors (Latvian: Latvijas Piļu un muižu asociācija) has information along with photos on their website. Sometimes the castles may be reserved for private events.

Most event tickets and schedules are available at bilesuparadize.lv

New Year's Eve Jaunā Gada svētki (31 December–1 January) — Most locals celebrate with their families, but you are likely to see events taking place on the streets as well.

Easter (Lieldienas) — Annually in April, you can usually find events in town centres, such as traditional Easter celebrations with swings and egg fights.

Summer solstice celebration (Vasaras saulgrieži) Traditional celebrations are held in many places throughout Latvia. The most popular one takes place in Sigulda.

Jāņi or Līgo, June 23-24, across Latvia. Latvians celebrate the summer solstice with Jāņi — the midsummer festival. Before the celebration, flea markets are held in many places.

White Night (Baltā nakts), in Rīga, annually, in the beginning of September.

Count of May (Maija Grāfs), in Rīga, annually in the middle of May, has medieval tournaments, witch trial, traditional dances.

Medieval Day at Cēsis Castle (Cēsu Pils Viduslaiku diena) in Cēsis, is held annually, on the first Saturday of August.

Semigallians Days in Tervete (Zemgaļu svētki Tērvetē) is held annually, on the second Saturday of August, 30 km SWvof Jelgava.

Seeburg Viking Festival Dzīvās Vēstures festivāls in Grobiņa, close to Liepāja, is held annually, last Sunday of May. The west coast of Latvia has Viking heritage dating to 9th century.

Latvian Song and Dance Festival (Latvian Vispārējie latviešu Dziesmu un Deju svētki) in Riga, is an annual song and dance festival in July, with an even larger festival every 5 years. One of the key cultural events in Latvia, which started in 1873 as a singing festival.

Festival of World Music (Ārpasaules mūzika Tiguļkalnā festivāls), in Talsi, annually, beginning of June. National and foreign folk music performed on the highest hill in Talsi.

Riga Rhythms Festival (Rīgas Ritmi festivāls) in Riga takes place annually, at the end of June/start of July.

Positivus festival in Salacgrīva takes place annually, mid-July. It is Latvia's largest music festival, featuring various international artists in a relaxed environment.

Saulkrasti Jazz Festival in Saulkrasti, annually, at the end of July. Latvian and foreign musicians perform by the sea.

Bauska Country Music Festival in Bauska, annually, for 2 days, mid-July. European and U.S. country musicians perform.

Laba Daba near Līgatnes novads, next held in August 2026. The "good nature" festival of music and outdoor activities.

International Ice Sculpture Festival in Jelgava, annually, at the start of February.

International Baltic Ballet Festival in Riga in April.

Latvia Beerfest in Riga, annually, at the end of Mayus the largest international beer festival in the Baltic states.

Cēsis Art Festival (Mākslas festivāls Cēsis) in Cēsis, annually, July-August.

There are many different winter sports opportunities such as snowboarding, cross country skiing, downhill skiing etc. Major skiing facilities include Rāmkalni, Baiļi and Zviedru Cepure. Some of the slopes are open late at night, but accessing them by public transport can sometimes be a challenge or turn out to be flat out impossible.

After Easter, as it gets warmer and rivers start to get more water from melting snow, kayaking down the rivers is one of the favourite activities for younger people.

Football is a summer game in Latvia. The men's national team play at Skonto Stadium in Riga. 10 clubs play in Higher League and 14 in Future League.

Also, marathons are quite popular in Latvia. More entertaining marathons like Jāņu naked marathon (Jāņu nakts pliko skrējiens) take place in Kuldīga on Jāņi day.

Lattelecom Marathon (Lattelecom Rīgas maratons) in Riga in the middle of May is the biggest sport marathon held since 2007 in Latvia.

Playground in Ropaži, 40-min drive from Riga in Mid-July is a youth festival of sports on water, land and air (e.g. longboarding, SUP, wakeboarding, hydro-cycles, mountain bikes, slack line).

Cycling Festival and Cycling Night (Kuldīgas Velofestivāls) held at the end of May in Kuldīga is the largest non-commercial bicycle marathon in Latvia.

Due to the low population density, large parts of Latvia are covered by forests and wetlands. There are four national parks and many nature preserves/parks in place around the country that can be explored, hiked, and camped in by nature-loving travellers. The largest national park, and major tourist attraction with its popular towns and cities, is the densely forested Gauja National Park in the Gauja river valley in the Vidzeme region. Remote, lonely and mysterious lies the Great Ķemeri Moorland inside the Ķemeri National Park of the Riga region, with a planked walkway and observation platform. Another, but less touristy national park is the Rāzna National Park in the Latgale region. Last but not least, the Slitere National Park protects the stunning Cape Kolka in the Kurzeme region, where the Gulf of Riga meets the Baltic Sea.

This allows for:

Bird watching – Very popular, since Latvia is an important autumn stopping grounds for migratory birds in Europe.

Trekking – Many opportunities at various difficulty levels exist, starting with short walks in old parks up to several day camping and boating trips. Due to the general openness of Latvians towards nature, camping is possible virtually anywhere (except for private ground), even inside of national parks.

Mushroom hunting – This seems to be the secret national sport of Latvians. Taking the train through the countryside or just walking in the forests, you will notice bunches of people all over the place, especially in September, looking for mushrooms and billberries. Even in the remotest region, when you thought, this would be a good place for a naked dip in the Baltic Sea, beware, there could always be people in the woods collecting tons of what nature provides them with.

Stroll around – This is popular near Sigulda and in the Vidzeme region in general, especially in the autumn when the leaves of the trees take on different shades of colour, turning red and yellow.

Latvia has one of the longest sand beaches in Europe. The sea generally has a very slow slope. In July and August the water is warm enough for swimming. One of the best beaches is the coast southwards from Liepāja because is by the open sea, not the gulf as by Riga, meaning it receives cleaner water, brighter sand and there are not as many people there due to it not being very close to massively populated areas. The salt level in the sea is fairly low and you may not even need to wash after swimming due to that. When the air temperature rises to 30°C, the water temperature still stays around 20°C, which makes it very refreshing after a long session of sunbathing.

Latvia has various spas that are an excellent way to relax. Although the popular holiday resort town of Jūrmala can sometimes be a bit crowded, it offers some of the best options as well as a fine beach.

Latvia is full of places where you can see and experience the cultural heritage by for example participating in traditional food making & tasting and listening to authentic folk songs. The Latvian rural tourism association Lauku ceļotājs published a Latvian and Estonian cultural heritage map with the English title of "Worth Seeing" in cooperation with the Estonian rural tourism association Eesti Maaturism. This map contains useful information about cultural heritage sites with practical information such as about accommodation sites, with preference for rural tourism. The map can be downloaded online or obtained from a Lauku ceļotājs office in Riga.

Latvia uses the euro, like several other European countries. One euro is divided into 100 cents. The official symbol for the euro is €, and its ISO code is EUR. There is no official symbol for the cent.

All banknotes and coins of this common currency are legal tender within all the countries, except that low-denomination coins (one and two cent) are phased out in some of them. The banknotes look the same across countries, while coins have a standard common design on the reverse, expressing the value, and a country-specific design on the obverse. The €2 obverse is also used for different designs of commemorative coins. The design of the obverse does not affect the coin's acceptability.

Latvijas Banka (The Latvian National Bank) is the only place you can get commemorative €2 coins at nominal value and exchange euro banknotes to smaller or larger denomination euro banknotes without having to pay a fee. This can be done at the branch in Riga. Latvijas Banka's cashier's office in Riga also exchanges Latvian lats issued 1993 to 2013 at a fixed rate against euro.

Tax free stores have their signs clearly displayed.

ATMs are widely available throughout Latvia, including in Riga International Airport and even in many small towns.

Banks will accept traveller's cheques with a fee, usually equal to or greater than 1% of the amount exchanged or a flat €10.

If you are an EU student, bring your ISIC. Many places (museums, bus, etc.) in Latvia have great discounts for EU students with an ISIC.

The tipping culture of Latvians is generally fairly reserved: usually rounding up the bill (around 5–10%) is enough, but not necessary. Make sure to check your receipt, as some (but few) establishments may automatically include a tip in the bill as service charge. Tips is dzeramnauda (drink money) in Latvian.

Amber is sold in most souvenir shops. If you are lucky, some can sometimes be found on the Baltic Sea shore after a storm. Be careful looking for amber on beaches in western Latvia - the sea near Liepāja is polluted with phosphorus, which looks exactly the same, but can catch fire after drying out.

Smoked (black) ceramics in the Latgale region

Silver jewellery

Pirts (Latvian style sauna) items: Fragrant oils, honey and herb based massage creams, felt caps for sauna, intended to protect the proteins of hair in the extreme heat, and various other items.

Mittens with ornaments: Hand-made, representing traditional culture.

Wool products: Indoors slippers and shoes, vests, jackets, hats, etc.

Dark (rye) bread (Rupjmaize) gives more energy than the common white (wheat) bread. Best bought fresh and not stored for overly long periods of time.

Riga Black Balsam (Rīgas Melnais balzams) is a traditional Latvian herbal liqueur made using many natural ingredients. The original recipe of Abraham Kunze, a druggist, was said to have cured mysterious illness of visiting Catherine the Great in 1755.

Bee products: Honey of various kinds, such as with nuts, bee pollen, propolis and beeswax candles are just some of the various local products that can be purchased.

Laima is the leading sweets producer in Latvia. Products are available in almost all grocery and convenience stores all around the country, with specialized Laima stores in the larger cities.

Skrīveru produces the popular soft fudge Gotiņa and other related products. They are available in almost all grocery and convenience stores all around the country.

Speciality shops are open mostly from 08:00 to 18:00 on weekdays, 08:00 to 16:00 on Saturdays and closed on Sundays. Grocery shops and supermarkets are open every day. Some close at 20:00 while others, especially larger supermarkets, close at later times such as 24:00. Convenience stores, such as Narvesen, are usually open 24/7.

Aibe, Lidl, Maxima, Mego, Rimi and top! have shops and supermarkets all over Latvia.

Also there are Circle K, Kool, Narvesen, Rimi express and Virši convenience stores.

Many of the good offers are only available with either an app or a customer card. The Rimi customer card is known to be available to foreigners, the others have not been tested. All that is needed to register a Rimi customer card is a mobile phone number where text messages can be received to confirm the registration. The physical customer card is sold for €1 in the stores. The Rimi customer card can also be used in Rimi stores outside of Latvia.

Contemporary Latvians usually eat three meals a day. Breakfast is normally light and usually consists of sandwiches or an omelette, with a drink, often milk. Lunch is eaten from 11:00 to 15:00, and tends to be the main meal of the day; as such it can include a variety of foods, and sometimes also soup as a starter and a dessert. Supper is the last meal of the day, with some choosing to eat another large meal. Consumption of ready-made or frozen meals is now common.

It is important to keep in mind that in Latvia the whole concept and meaning of words cafeteria (kafejnīca), canteen (ēdnīca) and restaurant (restorāns) is different compared to that in other countries. A kafejnīca (cafeteria) is not just a coffee shop and usually serves all kinds of meals that would be expected from a restaurant with the difference being that in a kafejnīca is a lower class food place where you will usually have no table service and have less service in general. An ēdnīca (canteen) will refer to a canteen for schools, universities, factories and the likes. They are usually very cheap and can sometimes have limited access. A restorāns (restaurant) is generally considered a highbrow facility, while it is similar to a kafejnīca, the standards of service and culture for a restorāns are much higher. The line between being a kafejnīca and a restorāns can be very thin in some instances.

In the open air markets of Rīga and other cities and towns, local fruits, vegetables and mushrooms can be purchased. Examples are freshly picked wild strawberries and blueberries from local forests, big strawberries, apples and rhubarb pies. Keep in mind that, of course, these are mainly available during the summer and fall seasons.

Karbonāde (pork schnitzel), karbonāde ar kaulu (grilled pork chops) and cūkas stilbs (pork knuckle) are all-time favourites.

Kartupeļi (potatoes) are served with everything and they're usually either boiled, fried, boiled and then fried or mashed. Sometimes griķi (boiled buckwheat) is eaten instead of potatoes - it's very tasty with skābais krējums (sour cream). Kāposti (cabbage) also plays a major role in most Latvian meals. Sometimes it's served cold as a salad or hot as a side dish like skābie kāposti (sour kraut). Pelēkie zirņi (grey peas) is another side dish worth trying: big, brownish-grey round peas are boiled and then fried with bacon and usually served with kefir or sour cream.

Latvia is much richer in milk products than other Western countries. Biezpiens (which is cottage cheese), skābais krējums (sour cream), kefīrs and a lot of varieties cheeses with different flavours. A cheese similar to smoked gouda, but softer, is the cheapest and, arguably, tastiest variety. There are various tastes available for purchase in most grocery stores. A Latvian specialty is the biezpiena sieriņš which is a quark with a sweet taste (the most popular manufacturers of the snack are Kārums and Baltais).

A traditional Latvian cheese that is in the picture to the right, is Jāņu siers (caraway cheese); this is traditionally served during the celebration of Jāņi or midsummer.

Soups are commonly made with vegetables and broth or milk. Frikadeļu zupa (meatball soup), noodle soup, zirņu zupa (pea soup), biešu zupa (beetroot soup), sorrel soup and nettle soup are usually consumed by Latvians. There is a special cold beetroot soup (aukstā biešu zupa) that can be prepared in various ways and is made to suit a warm summer day.

The most traditional and exotic Latvian dish is maizes zupa (literally "bread soup"), which is the sweet soup made from rye bread and fruits. Also, the already mentioned biezpiena sieriņš is quite sweet and tasty. Zefīrs is a soft marshmallow-ish type of sweet. Rabarberu pirāgs (rhubarb cake) is really worth trying.

Two main local sweets manufacturers Laima and Skrīveru Saldumi are well known and they offer a variety of sweets ranging from chocolate bars of various kinds, to candies, to marmalades, fruits in chocolate, biscuits and more. It comes with glazing and without, in various tastes. A caramel sweet named gotiņa (translated as little cow) is worth a try. These two companies sell some of their sweets in nice gift packages, which may be handy to bring souvenirs home.

Latvian dark (rye) bread is heavy and flavourful and goes well with hearty Latvian meals such as pea soup, potatoes and schnitzels. It is believed to be healthier than the white bread.

Rupjmaize is a dark bread made from rye, and is considered a national staple and should be tried.

Saldskābā maize is a bread made from a mixture of rye and wheat.

Pīrādziņi are buns filled with bacon and onion. A classical display of Latvian cuisine.

Kliņģeris is a sweet pretzel-shaped bread that is usually served as a dessert on special occasions, such as name day.

If you want to try some really traditional dishes, then try these:

boiled potatoes with quark

oat and pea kissels

Ķīselis. Thickened, stewed fruits (usually cherry or rhubarb). Served for dessert.

grey peas with salted pork fat (fatback)

Siļķe ar biezpienu. Herring with cottage cheese.

siļķu pudiņš (casserole made from herring and boiled potatoes)

sklandrausis (or sklandu rausis) is a traditional dish in Latvian cuisine which has a Livonian origin; it's a sweet pie, made of rye dough and filled with potato and carrot paste and seasoned with a caraway

asins pankūkas (pancakes made from blood)

maizes zupa (sweet bread soup)

cold soups (served when it's hot outside)

Fruits and vegetable of this region are mostly organic, because they are often low efficiency home-grown produce.

Some other noteworthy foods:

Buckwheat (Griķi). Eaten as the main course.

Sauerkraut (Skābēti kāposti).

Smoked cheese (Kūpināts siers). Goes very well with wine.

Eel (Zutis).

Cutlet (Kotlete).

Chanterelle sauce (Gaileņu mērce). A sauce from the edible chanterelles in sour cream. Usually served with potatoes.

Camping in natural parks and reserves, and on vegetated sand dunes (usually around 200m-1km from the seaside) is strictly prohibited unless posted signs say otherwise. Around half of Latvian forests are government-owned, and camping there is legal at all times throughout the year, but areas where campfires are permitted are limited. For a map of such public forests Latvian State Forest agency website or in the designated app.

Most rural land is private, but camping on it is usually acceptable, but it is always a good idea to ask for a permission from the land owner as you can be declined the right to stay on privately owned land even if for a single night; however, most people are understanding and will gladly let you camp. Keep in mind that staying very close to someone's home or staying at the same place for more than two days is generally considered bad manners. Follow your common sense in general. There can be free campsites that are indicated accordingly, especially in the national parks. Commercial campgrounds operated by small businesses are also becoming more popular around Latvia. Some even have wooden installations with roof, saving you the tent to carry. However, it is hard to make them out.

As of 2021, there is a law that allows passage and picking mushrooms, berries, nuts and weeds (but not camping) in any forested land, be it private or state-owned. Passage is allowed along any river or lake (4 meters wide strip) on private properties.

Always adhere to inscriptions and flags on sea beaches, which might prohibit swimming on a specific day or in specific weather. The sea can sometimes be quite deceiving: Northern currents can bring very cold water (even 4–5°C in July) to Latvian coasts on a hot day; the cold water can cause shock in the body and can end tragically.

It is very dangerous to swim close to piers even in calm weather — sea currents, hitting the pier, form whirlpools that even a strong swimmer might not get out of.

Also, there is unreasonably high death toll, caused by swimming in lakes and rivers during summer and winter. Adhere to good advice when swimming.

112 — the common emergency number, just like in other EU countries

110 — state police

113 — ambulance

114 — natural gas related emergencies

The country code for Latvia is +371. If you plan to stay in Latvia for more than a couple of days, it may be cheaper to buy a local SIM card including voice, text and data. Prepaid SIM cards and separate renewal vouchers can be bought in almost all gas stations, kiosks and supermarkets. All operators are generally similar in their pricing and offered services. eSIM is not widespread yet. There are only 4 operators (listed alphabetically):

Bite (no English)

LMT (not fully in English)

Tele2 (no English)

Zelta Zivtiņa, ZZ (subbrand of Tele2; has English)

Tele2 and Bite have a network sharing agreement, gradually merging their networks in Latvia and Lithuania.

If you plan to stay in Latvia for several months, then it is definitely cheaper and more convenient to get a contract (post-paid service). You can get a contract with truly unlimited internet traffic for €22 – no speed curtail with heavy use – and unlimited domestic "normal" calls and SMS. There are at least 2 operators that provide unlimited internet on weekly basis for €3/week (without speed curtail), which is extremely flexible and cheap.

For an unknown reason, Latvian mobile operators are quite desperate for clients (maybe because of the small population), and they try to gain competitors' clients. If you have stayed for longer than a year and you have post-paid contract, you can often get discounts with your operator of up to 50% by "threatening" to change operator.

Free WiFi is often available in hotels, cafés, libraries, intercity buses and the Riga International Airport. Ask by the cash register or information desk if there does not seem to be an open network available.

File sharing, p2p or streaming of copyright-protected content is illegal in Latvia, but users that download torrents for personal use are never prosecuted or tracked. Shaping of p2p-traffic is very uncommon.

The postal service in Latvia is run by Latvijas Pasts. Post offices can be found all over the country. Post boxes are blue and yellow with the postal logo, and most of them are emptied once every workday, a few of them even on Sundays and holidays. The Latvian postal service is reliable, but sending anything but postcards and letters can feel quite bureaucratic to Westerners. Long queues are a common thing in post offices, so it might will save you up to 30 minutes if you use their mobile app to reserve a place in queue.

As of January 2026 a postcard or an ordinary letter up to 20 grams is €2.35 within Latvia, €3 for destinations within the EU and €4.41 for rest of the world.

Ordering from countries outside of EEA and EU one additionally has to pay VAT to get the parcel through customs: it can be done on the Latvian Revenue Service website.