Latvia Travel Guide | Tourist4Tourist

Local time: 23:50
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Capital: Riga
Calling code: +371
Drive on the: right

Overview

Latvia, in the middle of the Baltic states, has Riga's UNESCO-listed Old Town, 500 km of empty sandy beaches and pine dunes, forests over half the country, the castles of Sigulda and Cēsis in the Gauja valley, and Kuldīga's wide waterfall.

Latvia is one of the three Baltic states, on the Baltic Sea. Its biggest attraction is the capital, Riga, whose Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The coast runs for about 500 km, mostly empty beaches of soft white sand and dunes covered with pine trees, and forests cover about half the country, with nature trails, national parks and reserves.

Beyond Riga there are the beach resort of Jūrmala, the castles of Sigulda and Cēsis in the Gauja National Park, Rundāle Palace, and the west-coast towns of Liepāja, Ventspils and Kuldīga, a UNESCO site since 2023. The best time to visit is summer, from June to early September. Latvian is the only official language, and English is widely spoken by the younger generation.

Riga Old Town: The UNESCO-listed historic centre of the capital, with Town Hall Square.
Gauja National Park: A forested river valley with the castles of Sigulda and Cēsis.
Jūrmala: A seaside resort of wooden houses just west of Riga.
Kuldīga: Wooden architecture, red-tiled roofs and Europe's widest waterfall.
Rundāle Palace: A palace and museum in the Zemgale region.
Cape Kolka: Where the Gulf of Riga meets the Baltic Sea.

Places to visit

City
Coast
Park
Historic site

Cities

Riga: The capital, with a long history and a UNESCO-listed Old Town.
Jūrmala: A popular seaside resort with wooden houses, just west of Riga.
Sigulda: A town with two castles, probably the most popular trip from Riga.
Cēsis: One of the oldest towns, with a castle complex and cobbled streets.
Kuldīga: The old capital of the Duchy of Courland, with wooden houses, bridges and a wide waterfall.
Liepāja: "The city of wind", known for its sandy beach, music events and the former military district of Karosta.
Ventspils: A modern, artistic and tidy seaside resort in the north-west.
Daugavpils: The second city, green and spacious, with a large fortress.

Beyond the cities

Gauja National Park (park): The largest national park, a densely forested river valley in Vidzeme.
Ķemeri National Park (park): Forests and mires, with a boardwalk across the Great Ķemeri Moorland.
Slītere National Park (park): A coastal national park on the Livonian coast.
Cape Kolka (coast): The cape where the Gulf of Riga meets the open Baltic Sea.
Rundāle Palace (site): A palace and museum in Zemgale.
Rāzna National Park (park): A less visited national park in the lake country of Latgale.

Regions

Riga region: The centre, home to about half the population, with white-sand beaches and pine-covered dunes.
Vidzeme: The north-centre, with the Gauja river and national park and the highest point in Latvia.
Kurzeme: The west, on the Baltic Sea, with old fishing villages and Livonian culture.
Zemgale: The flat, agricultural south-centre.
Latgale: The east, known for lakes and nature, with few tourists and a mix of cultures.

Things to do

See

Riga Old Town Riga: Architecture and history around Town Hall Square.
Castles of the Gauja valley Sigulda: The castles of Sigulda and the medieval castle of Cēsis.
Rundāle Palace Rundāle Palace: Architecture and a museum in the Zemgale countryside.
Kuldīga old town Kuldīga: Wooden architecture, cobbled streets and a waterfall ledge.

Do

Beaches Jūrmala: Long sandy beaches; the sea is warm enough for swimming in July and August.
Great Ķemeri Moorland Ķemeri National Park: A boardwalk and viewing platform across a remote bog.
Hiking and cycling: Many short hiking trails of one to three days across the country.
Sauna in the country: Guest houses and farm stays often offer a Latvian sauna (pirts).

Drink

Riga Black Balsam Riga: A 45% herbal liqueur, added to tea, coffee or cocktails.

Tours and tickets in Latvia PartnerGuided tours, day trips and attraction ticketsSee activities

Itineraries

Riga and the Gauja valley in 5 days (5 days)

Riga (3 nights): The Old Town, and a day at the beach in Jūrmala.
Sigulda (1 night): Castles and the Gauja National Park.
Cēsis (1 night): The medieval castle and old streets.

The Kurzeme coast in 7 days (7 days)

Riga (1 night): Start in the capital.
Cape Kolka (1 night): Where the gulf meets the open sea, in Slītere National Park.
Ventspils (1 night): A tidy seaside town.
Kuldīga (1 night): Wooden houses and the waterfall.
Liepāja (2 nights): Beaches on the open sea and Karosta.

Latgale in 4 days (4 days)

Daugavpils (2 nights): The second city and its fortress.
Rāzna National Park (2 nights): Lakes and quiet countryside.

Climate and best time to visit

Riga
	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Max °C	-2	-2	3	10	16	20	22	21	16	10	4	0
Min °C	-8	-8	-5	1	6	10	12	12	8	4	-1	-4
Rain mm	34	27	28	41	44	63	85	73	75	60	57	46

In Riga, average highs go from about −2 °C in January to 22 °C in July, and January and February nights average about −8 °C. July is the wettest month and February to March the driest. The best time to visit is summer, from June to early September, when it is warm and many local foods are in season; the sea is warm enough for swimming in July and August.

Early December is usually mild, but January and February bring snow, and temperatures can drop to around −30 °C for short periods. The FCDO warns of very cold, possibly hazardous weather from October to March, with snow delaying public transport. Spring and autumn are fairly mild.

Holidays and events

1 January 2026 · New Year's Day
3 April 2026 · Good Friday
5 April 2026 · Easter Sunday
6 April 2026 · Easter Monday
1 May 2026 · Labour Day
1 May 2026 · Day of the Convocation of the Constitutional Assembly of the Republic of Latvia
4 May 2026 · Day of the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia
10 May 2026 · Mother's Day
24 May 2026 · Pentecost
23 June 2026 · Līgo Day
24 June 2026 · Jāņi Day
18 November 2026 · Day of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia
24 December 2026 · Christmas Eve
25 December 2026 · Christmas Day
26 December 2026 · Second day of Christmas
31 December 2026 · New Year's Eve

Getting there and around

Main airports	RIX

Getting there

By air: Riga International Airport, 10 km south-west of the city, is the only airport with regular international flights; bus 22 runs to the centre. By train: Elron runs one daily train each way between Tallinn and Riga via Tartu and Valga, and LTG Link runs a daily train between Vilnius and Riga, as listed on Wikivoyage in October 2026. Services to and from Russia and Belarus are suspended. By bus: international coaches (Ecolines, Lux Express, FlixBus) connect Riga with Tallinn, Tartu, Vilnius, Kaunas, Warsaw and beyond. By sea: Stena Line ferries sail from Nynäshamn in Sweden to Ventspils (8½ hours) and from Travemünde in Germany to Liepāja (27 hours). The Silene–Urbani road crossing with Belarus is closed, and the FCDO advises against all travel to Belarus.

Getting around

Trains are reliable and connect the larger cities; services from Riga to Sigulda, Jelgava, Tukums (via Jūrmala) and Skulte run daily, but the west coast has only one train a day to Liepāja. Riga, Daugavpils and Liepāja have trams, and Riga has buses and trolleybuses. Always validate your ticket when you board: there are on-the-spot fines. There are no domestic flights. Use registered taxis with yellow number plates, a major company or a ride-hailing app, and agree the price first.

When driving, keep headlights on all year; winter tyres are compulsory from 1 December to 1 March. National roads are paved, but many local roads are gravel, and rural roads can be badly lit and poorly kept. Watch for wild animals in forests, especially at night. Canada warns that drivers are extremely aggressive and reckless and that drinking and driving is common. Vehicles registered outside the EU, including in the UK, must be declared online before entering Latvia. The FCDO says you can drive in Latvia with a UK driving licence and must carry your original vehicle registration documents, or you will not be allowed to take the vehicle back out of Latvia. Canada says you can drive with a valid Canadian driver's licence for one year, that the legal blood alcohol limit is 0.05%, or 0.02% with less than two years of driving experience, and that all vehicles must have a first aid kit and emergency travel equipment. It also says pedestrians must wear small reflectors from dusk until dawn on unlit roads or along roads in rural areas.

Flying to Latvia? PartnerCompare fares and find the cheapest datesSearch flights

Where to stay

Hotels: Comfortable and reasonably priced, from about €30 outside Riga and €60 in Riga, as listed on Wikivoyage in October 2026.
Guest houses and country houses: Family-run, some on farms, usually cheaper than hotels, many with a sauna.
Youth hostels: A small network, with dormitory beds at around €10 to €15, as listed on Wikivoyage in October 2026.
Camping: Legal in state-owned forests; ask the owner on private land.

Camping is strictly forbidden in natural parks and reserves and on vegetated dunes near the sea, unless signs say otherwise. Campfires are allowed only in limited areas.

Eat and drink

Dishes to try

Grey peas with fatback: A traditional dish of peas with salted pork fat.
Herring with cottage cheese: Siļķe ar biezpienu, a classic combination.
Boiled potatoes with quark: A simple traditional dish.
Sklandrausis: A sweet rye pie with potato and carrot filling, of Livonian origin.
Maizes zupa: A sweet bread soup.
Ķīselis: Thickened stewed fruit, usually cherry or rhubarb, for dessert.
Cold soups: Served on hot days.

Drinks

Beer (alus): The favourite drink, from big breweries such as Aldaris and Līvu and many local ones.
Riga Black Balsam: A 45% infusion of herbs, roots and spices.
Latvian wine: Made in small quantities by a few local wineries.

Tipping	Reserved: rounding up by about 5–10% is enough but not necessary. Check the bill, as a few places add a service charge.

Lunch, from 11:00 to 15:00, is often the main meal. A kafejnīca is not just a café but a simple restaurant, usually without table service, while a restorāns is more formal. Drinking alcohol in public, including in parks and streets, is illegal: the police can arrest and fine you.

Entry requirements and visas

Passport validity	Issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area

Passport	Entry	Max stay	Notes
EU / EEA	Freedom of movement		Free movement with a valid passport or national ID card.
United Kingdom	Visa free	90 days	90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area.
Canada	Visa free	90 days	Up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.

Other nationalities: check the official source below.

EES (Entry/Exit System): fingerprints and photo at the border, free

Latvia is in the Schengen area. UK and Canadian visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period without a visa, counting days in other Schengen countries; overstaying can lead to a ban of up to 3 years. At the border you may be asked for proof of accommodation, travel insurance with medical cover, a return ticket and enough money. Canada says you must be able to show proof of medical insurance for your whole stay, or buy it from a Latvian insurer on arrival. Non-EU visitors are registered in the EU Entry/Exit System; Canada notes that the ETIAS travel authorisation is not yet open for applications.

Vehicles registered outside the EU, including in the UK, must be declared online before you arrive; cars with Russian or Belarusian plates are banned. Cash of €10,000 or more must be declared, and meat and milk products cannot be brought into the EU. Rules depend on your passport: check the official link before you book.

Money and payments

Currency	Euro (EUR)

Latvia uses the euro. ATMs are widely available, including at Riga airport and in many small towns. The FCDO reports card fraud: use ATMs inside banks where possible, keep your card in sight when paying, and be wary of requests to re-enter your PIN. Some tourists have also been charged high prices for drinks.

Tax-free shops display clear signs. The Bank of Latvia in Riga exchanges old Latvian lats at a fixed rate.

Costs and budget

According to Eurostat, in 2024 the general price level in Latvia was about 77% of the EU average, food in shops about 105% and restaurants and hotels about 91%.

Health

Recommended vaccines	Routine vaccines, including measles (MMR), Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Tick-borne encephalitis, for extensive time outdoors where ticks are found, Mpox, for travellers at risk of sexual exposure
Malaria	None

Ticks are active from March to October and can carry tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease; Canada says the risk of tick-borne encephalitis is higher from April to November. Rabid dogs are not commonly found, but rabies vaccine after a bite may be available only in larger towns. With a European (EHIC) or UK (GHIC) health card you get medically necessary state healthcare; it does not replace travel insurance. For an ambulance call 113 or 112; 112 operators speak Latvian, English and Russian.

In remote areas medical help can take time to arrive, so carry a first-aid kit. Some doctors do not speak good English. Bring any medicines you need.

This is general information, not medical advice: check with a travel health professional before you go.

Safety

United States: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (2026-10-20)
Canada: Take normal security precautions (2026-10-20)
United Kingdom: No advice against travel (2026-10-20)

All three governments advise normal precautions. Pickpocketing and bag snatching are the main risks, especially in Riga's Old Town, the Central Market and the central train and bus stations; avoid unlit streets and parks at night. Drinks have been spiked in Riga bars, and some tourists have been overcharged: choose bars recommended by trustworthy sources. Car theft is common, so use car parks with CCTV and keep belongings out of sight. Drug penalties are severe, and drinking in public is illegal.

Canada notes that drones and debris from the war in Ukraine have entered Latvian airspace; the 112 Latvia app and sirens give official alerts. Access within 2 km of the Belarus border needs a special permit. At the beach, follow the flags: cold currents can bring very cold water even in July, and swimming near piers is dangerous. Emergency number 112.

Customs and etiquette

Latvians are fairly reserved and respect personal space; they do not usually greet strangers. Avoid asking about salaries, and leave personal, political or religious subjects until you know someone well. Holding doors and letting others board first is polite.

Wikivoyage reports that littering is against the law and that offenders may be fined. The FCDO says drinking alcohol in public, including in parks and in the streets, is illegal, and that the police could arrest and fine you; Canada says you can only drink alcohol in public in designated spaces. Illegal drugs, including cannabis, are strictly prohibited, and the FCDO warns of long jail sentences of up to 10 years and heavy fines, even when transiting through airports. Always carry a copy of your passport's photo page.

Language

Official languages	Latvian
English	Common

Hello	Sveiks! / Sveika! SVEH-eeks / SVEH-ee-kah
Please	Lūdzu LOO-dzoo
Thank you	Paldies PUHL-dyehs
Excuse me	Atvainojiet UHT-vay-noh-yeht
Goodbye	Uz redzēšanos ooz REHD-zehh-shuh-nohs
Do you speak English?	Vai Jūs runājat angliski? VUH-ee yoos ROO-nyaaht UHN-glys-kee
Cheers!	Priekā!

What to pack

Copy of your passport photo page: You should always carry one.
Warm clothes in winter: From October to March temperatures can drop to −25 °C or below.
Insect and tick repellent: Ticks are active from March to October.
First-aid kit and your own medicines: Help can be slow to reach remote areas.
Reflectors and lights for cycling: Cycle lanes are rare and traffic is fast.

Quick reference

Country facts

Capital	Riga
Population	1,847,785 (2025)
Area	62,230 km²
Time zone	Europe/Riga (UTC+2)
Calling code	+371
Driving side	right

Staying connected

SIM and eSIM	Prepaid SIM cards and top-ups are sold at almost all petrol stations, kiosks and supermarkets; the operators are Bite, LMT and Tele2, whose sub-brand Zelta Zivtiņa has an English service. eSIMs are not yet widespread.
Wi-Fi	Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels, cafés, libraries, intercity buses and Riga airport.

Staying connected in Latvia PartnerMobile data on your phone, without a local SIM cardGet an eSIM

Emergency numbers

Emergency	112
Police	110
Ambulance	113
Fire	112
Tourist police	+371 6718 1818 (Riga)

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Latvia?

Not for UK or Canadian citizens staying up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area. Check the official link before you book.

When is the best time to visit Latvia?

Summer, from June to early September; the sea is warm enough for swimming in July and August.

Do I need to validate my ticket?

Yes, on all public transport, as soon as you board: inspectors give on-the-spot fines.

Can I drink in public?

Generally no. The FCDO says drinking alcohol in parks and streets is illegal and can lead to a fine or arrest; Canada says you can only drink in public in designated spaces.

Should I tip in Latvia?

Rounding up by 5–10% is enough and not required; check whether a service charge is already on the bill.

Do I need the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine?

The CDC recommends it if you will spend a lot of time outdoors where ticks are found; ticks are active from March to October, and Canada puts the higher risk from April to November.

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