Latvia Travel Guide on travel blog Wonderful Wanderings

Planning a trip to Latvia? Great! This Latvia Travel Guide will help you do just that.

Latvia is located in Eastern Europe, bordered by Russia, Estonia, Lithuania, and Belarus. It is a member of the European Union, NATO, the Council of Europe, the United Nations, and WTO among other organizations. In 1918 it declared independence and announced the creation of the Republic of Latvia.

Latvia is becoming an increasingly popular stop for individuals on eastern Europe backpacking trips and travelers who want to get away from the standard tourist trail. As an up and coming destination, prices are still low but there are loads of options available for tourists by way of accommodation and activities. Combine the Old Town of Riga, with Latvia’s gorgeous countryside and you’ve got yourself a real gem of a destination.

Latvia Travel Guide: Quick facts

Size: 24,938 sq mi or 64,589 km²

People living there: more than 1,953,200

Capital of Latvia: Riga

Governmental structure: unitary parliamentary constitutional republic

National day: November 18

Time zone: Eastern European Time / UTC+2 / GMT+2

Currency: euro (EUR)

Power voltage and socket type(s): 230V, plug type F. If these don't match with your devices, make sure to bring a universal adapter.

Official religion(s)/Freedom of religion: Freedom of religion. Christians are the biggest religious group in Latvia.

What language is spoken in Latvia? Latvian is the official language. Russian is spoken by many as well. In general, younger people will have an understanding of English, especially in the capital, but older people will probably not.

Drives on this side: right

International driver's licence accepted? no

Phone code: +371

Vaccinations needed? none other than those required for daily life in your own country

Can you drink the tap water? yes

Latvia’s Statistical Regions

1. Kurzeme

The westernmost region in Latvia, Kurzeme (“Courland” in English) has the envious privilege of enjoying the largest portion of Latvia’s coastline. The shore faces out towards the Baltic Sea and the beaches here are pristine. White sand dunes undulate before sloping down to flat ground and eventually reaching the water. When the sun is shining this place is perfect for sunbathing but the waters remain chilly all-year-round. It's a great region for a road trip.

Kurzeme is also home to the Lake Engure Nature Park – one of Europe’s most important waterfowl habitats. The lake is technically a lagoon and you’ll find bird-watching opportunities galore across and around its shimmering surface.

2. Latgale

Latgale is the easternmost region in Latvia and is probably the best place to visit for a truly authentic Latvian experience. The region is renowned for its numerous dazzlingly blue lakes. Drizdis and Ežezers are considered the most beautiful of the lakes, but feel free to make up your own mind on that.

Daugavpils, however, is one of the top attractions in Riga. The town sits near the Lithuanian and Belarusian borders and boasts a number of stunning mansions dating back to the 18th century. The bright white Catholic Church of St. Peter’s is impressive to behold but is completely overshadowed by the ten onion domes of the Orthodox Saints Boris and Gleb Church and the Daugavpils Fortress.

3. Pieriga

Pieriga is in the North of Latvia and occupies the entirety of the rest of its coastline, bar a small section reserved for Riga. It looks out on the Gulf of Riga, which has much calmer water than the neighboring Baltic Sea.

Pieriga is the calm before the storm of energy in Riga. It is the kind of place you go when you want to admire beautiful scenery and take leisurely walks along the coastline.

4. Riga

Riga is the thriving capital city of Latvia and it occupies a very desirable place on the country’s northern coastline. Almost a third of the entire country lives in the capital and yet it takes up just 304 of Latvia’s total 65,500 square kilometers. Riga is peppered with beautiful historical monuments, including the Riga Castle, Monument of Freedom and St. Peter’s Church.

If you’re looking for authentic Latvian goodies, the Central Market is a must. All kinds of weird and wonderful foods are sold here as well as some cute knick-knacks. Be sure to leave enough time in your schedule to check out the Three Brothers as well. These are the oldest residences in the city and they are absolutely tiny and positively adorable!

5. Vidzeme

The largest of Latvia’s regions, Vidzeme is known predominantly as the home of the fabulous Gauja National Park. This park is a hotspot for wildlife and nature, with the River Gauja carving its way through a dramatic gorge. The park also boasts some of the country’s most magnificent archaeological sites.

For even more nature, make your way over to Cesis, which buzzes with activity regardless of the season. You’ll find an abundance of hiking trails in this quaint town along with a healthy dose of historical sites – there’s something for everyone.

6. Zemgale

Zemgale runs along Latvia’s border with Lithuania in the South and is noticeably flatter than the rest of the country. In the northern part of this region, you will find a chunk of the Kemeri National Park, which has pools of healing mud and mineral waters.

In the Tervete Nature Park, you’ll find dozens of wooden sculptures of fairytale characters. This gives the park an unmistakably magical ambiance and makes it perfect for family trips. For a more urban landscape, head to Jelgava, a beautiful historical town with a decent vibe and an excellent history and art museum.

How to travel to Latvia

Latvia visa requirements

Most nationalities, including British, American, Australian, and Canadian can visit Latvia visa-free from up to 90 days. For a longer visit, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa.

Transportation

By bus

Eurolines offers a number of buses services from various points in Poland to Riga. There are also frequent buses with Lux Express from Vilnius, Lithuania, and Tallinn, Estonia into Riga. Other direct lines into Riga start in Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia; Minsk, Belarus; Berlin, Germany; and Prague, Czech Republic.

Note that the buses from Berlin and Prague can take up to 24 hours and are not the most convenient way to travel.

By train

You can take a train into Latvia from Valga, Estonia; Moscow and St Petersburg, Russia; and Minsk, Belarus. This is generally more comfortable than the bus though not necessarily more time efficient. These are currently the only countries that have trains in Latvia as the train tracks in Latvia are not compatible with much of the rest of Europe’s trains.

By ferry

Riga is connected by ferry to Stockholm Sweden and ferries make this crossing on a daily basis. The other major ferry link is between the Liepaja Passenger Port in Latvia and the city of Travemünde in Germany.

Look here for ferry routs, timetables, and prices.

Fly to Latvia

Riga International Airport is the main international airport in Latvia. However, the country does have two other, smaller, international airports: Liepaja and Ventspils.

If you're looking for flights, I recommend using Skyscanner. This site gives a good overview of your flight options as well as the prices. You can even set price alerts and see which month flights are cheapest.

How to travel around Latvia

Independent travel around Latvia

If you’re not into organized travel, you will be pleased to know that independent travel around Latvia is relatively straightforward. Public transport is dirt cheap and a day ticket for the buses in Riga will set you back a mere 5 euros. The capital of Latvia is navigable by bus, tram, trolley, and mini-bus.

There is an extensive rail and bus network that connects Riga to the rest of the country. The other main towns and cities in Latvia have their own internal bus networks too.

If you want full flexibility on your trip, get a rental car. There's not that much traffic in Latvia but you should be aware that many roads, especially in the countryside, aren't in the best state and that speeding is an issue. While Latvia's road circumstances have a bad reputation the country has been making progress over the last few years.

As for accommodation, there are plenty of hotels, hostels, and campsites scattered across the country. Naturally, the bulk of the accommodation is in the capital, but there are still options in the other regions. Latvia’s main tourist sites are also well serviced by public transport, making DIY day trips smooth and simple.

What to pack for Latvia

Latvia has what some people call “proper seasons”. This means that in the summer it can get pretty warm and in the winter it becomes seriously cold with a strong chance of heavy snow. Spring and fall tend to bring similar temperatures – mild during the day and chilly in the evening.

What to pack for Latvia in summer

sunglasses
suncream
swimwear
light clothing
hiking trousers
good walking sandals
a reusable water bottle

What to pack for Latvia in winter

Look her for a more detailed packing list for Latvia in winter.

What to pack for Latvia in fall and spring

The beginning of fall can be very mild while the end can be pretty chilly already, while the same principle works the other way around for spring. The most important thing to bring for these seasons, are layers so that you can adapt to the weather of the day and easily put something extra on in the mornings and evenings when it tends to be noticeably colder. A good jacket is a must too.

The best time to visit Latvia

The best times to travel to Latvia are undoubtedly late spring and summer, which fall between May and September. There is no guarantee what the weather will be like, but this is when you will have your best chance of sunshine. Latvia has some stunning natural beauty so you need clear skies and warm days to best enjoy what it has to offer.

If you love snow, then winter is the time to go. Just be aware that the days are short and so you'll have to plan accordingly.

What to eat in Latvia

Rye bread – comes in all different shades and is a popular breakfast food
Speck – fatty smoked bacon, traditionally served to field workers, eaten with fried onions
Sauerkraut – chopped pickled cabbage served alongside pretty much everything
Beetroot soup – bright purple soup made with beetroot, garlic, cream, and other ingredients
Pelmeni – Latvia’s equivalent of the Polish Pierogi, dumplings filled with minced meat, potato, or cheese
Sour cream – the Latvians smother everything with sour cream and it comes in all different consistencies
Bread soup – this is as weird as it sounds: rye bread, fruits, and cream, blended up and served as a dessert
Kvass – also made from rye bread, it is sweeter than beer and non-alcoholic
Smoked fish – including salmon, cod, and herring
Pickles – all different sizes and flavors and available by the kilo at the main market in Riga

Famous events in Latvia

Opening of Cesis Castle – the castle opens up properly for the summer with a medieval-themed event (May)
Riga City Festival – a festival of free events, including fireworks, craft markets, and pop up food stalls
Positivus Festival – a popular commercial music festival in Salacgriva, North Latvia (July)
Riga Christmas Markets – utterly magical cabins selling Christmassy trinkets and hot food and drinks (December – January)
Riga Restaurant Week – Riga’s restaurants go all out to impress foodies and offer incredible three-course meals starting from 15 euros (May and October)
Riga Marathon – one of the most scenic marathons in northern Europe (May)
Riga Light Festival – light installations often accompanied by sounds and performances at various locations across the city (November)
Song and Dance Celebration – a festival in honor of Latvian folk culture featuring dozens of ticketed events (July)
Summer Sound – big music festival set up on the beach, previous headliners include Calvin Harris and Cheat Codes (August)
Riga Opera Festival – a sophisticated event for lovers of the opera that brings in big crowds from abroad (June)

Public holidays in Latvia

New Year's Day
Good Friday
Easter Monday
Labor Day – May 1
Independence Day – May 6. If this is a weekend day, the next Monday is a holiday too.
Midsummer Eve
St John’s Day/Midsummer Day
Latvian National Day – November 18
Christmas Day
Second Christmas Day

Cultural customs to be aware of in Latvia

Latvia is a modern, progressive country and there are few things that might offend its citizens – aside from to them as Russians. There is no culture of dressing modestly nor is there a notable division between the genders.

Latvians consider pointing with a single finger to be a rude gesture, so use your whole hand rather than just one finger.

Latvia accomodation

I always use Booking.com to look for hotels, guest houses and bed and breakfasts. The site allows me to use a bunch of filters so I can easily find only those hotels that meet my criteria. If you're looking for a hotel in Latvia, I highly recommend you check there.

Sometimes I prefer staying at an apartment and on those ocassions, I use Airbnb.

Don't forget travel insurance

No matter how well you plan and research a trip, there are always things that happen beyond your control. Something might get canceled, you can get ill or hurt while traveling or one of your electronics might break or get stolen. When misfortune strikes, travel insurance has got you covered. I've had ongoing travel insurance ever since I started traveling to make sure I'm covered for every trip I go on. Don't have insurance yet? You can get a free quote here:

Basic phrases and their pronunciation

Hello
What’s your name?
I don’t understand
How do you say … in Latvian?
Yes
No
I don’t know
Goodbye
Please
Thank you

Sveiki (svay-ke)
Kā Jūs sauc? (kah you sowk)
Es nesaprotu (ess ness-ah-prow-too)
Kā latviešu valodā būs…? (kah lat-viayshu va-lohda boors)
Jā (ya)
Nē (nay)
Es nezinu (ess neh-zhinoo
Uz redzēšanos (ooz red-zehh-shuh-nohs)
Lūdzu (lood-zhoo)
Paldies (pall-dee-ess)

Is Latvia safe for tourists?

So, is it safe to travel to Latvia? Well, the only thing that can be a bit dangerous is the traffic. Road conditions away from the bigger cities aren't great and Latvians are known to speed quite a lot.

In terms of safety in the city, Latvia is very safe and is not known for having a particularly high crime rate. Petty theft and pick-pocketing can occur in built-up areas but this is easy to avoid by keeping your valuables hidden. Just use your common sense and you'll be fine.

The use of cash and cards in Latvia

Most establishments in Latvia will accept credit cards, but family-run businesses in rural areas might still require cash. You will also need cash to pay for goods in markets and to pay for public transport. It is recommended to carry a small amount of cash on you at all times, just in case. There are ATMs all over Latvia.

Calling abroad, WiFi and data use in Latvia

Those with a SIM card from an EU country don't have to pay roaming charges when calling, texting, or using data in Latvia. The same goes for some global phone plans.

If you don't have a EU SIM but still want to have unlimited data, check out Solis Wifi.

Skyroam offers both day passes and monthly subscriptions providing you with 4G data on your trips. I've been using their daily passes not just when I travel outside the EU (there are no roaming charges for me in the EU) but also as a backup in case I go over my phone's data plan.

Sounds good? Use the code WONDERFULWANDERINGS to get 10% off your order.
Check out Solis Wifi here.

Tipping in Latvia

In Latvia, tipping is not obligatory but it is a common thing to do when you've received good service. You can find some guidelines on who to tip what here.

A brief history of Latvia

The first human settlements in Latvia date back to around 10,000 BC. There were four distinct tribal groups in the Latvian territory and the country’s river Daugava was a principal trading route into Russia and southern Europe.

In 1201, Riga was founded by Germans and by the end of the century, the city had become an important trading capital. Due to its enviable location, it was often at the center of conflict between the State of the Teutonic Order, the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth, Sweden, and the Russian Empire.

Under Russian rule, Latvia went through a period of industrialisation and became one of the most modern parts of the Russian empire. However, the Latvian people were determined to break free and become autonomous. The War of Independence came after the Latvians declared independence in 1918. After many gruelling battles, the Soviet Empire recognised Latvia’s independence in 1920 and the rest of the international community followed suit a year later.

Today, Latvia is a small but thriving country with membership to a number of prominent global organisations. This might surprise you but Latvia has some of the fastest internet speeds in the world!

And that's it! I hope this guide is helpful in planning your own Latvia holidays. Feel free to let me know when you've been and how you liked it there.