Latvia

Discover the beautiful fairytale castles, vibrant music festivals and breathtaking river valleys. The country is in the process of reinventing itself as a newly independent nation and is an excellent destination to visit before the tourist hordes of the future catch on.

Understand the Geography

Latvia, officially the Republic of Latvia, is a country in Northern Europe.

Latvia shares land borders with two fellow Baltic states – Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south – and both Russia and Belarus to the east. In the west, Latvia shares a maritime border with Sweden.

Cities in Latvia

• Riga - the capital city with more than 800 years old history
• Bauska - hosts old castle, yearly country music festival
• Cesis - old town in the heart of Vidzeme, castle and deep river valleys
• Daugavpils - second biggest town in Latvia. Features many factories and other industries.
• Jelgava - students' town
• Jurmala - recreational town, close to Riga. Popular holiday destination.
• Kuldiga - small town where old buildings are preserved. Features widest waterfall in Europe.
• Liep?ja - town on the Baltic Sea coast, which is always windy. Latvians believe that wind starts there and also famous Latvian musicians come from there.
• Rezekne - hearth of Latgale district
• Sigulda - popular town with many interesting castles and historic spots. Most popular attraction outside Riga for foreign tourists.
• Valmiera - industrial town, hosting also active cultural and academic life. There is also a university and theatre here.
• Ventspils - hosts one of busiest ports in Europe. It is possible to observe incoming ships.

Climate Conditions

The best time to travel to Latvia is from June to mid September, when it is warm and plenty of local food is available. January and February are the coldest months. October and November have autumn rains and daylight is short. You will probably not experience a very high comfort level while travelling in Latvia, so this is really a trip for active and self-motivated people.

How to Behave

It is very common to give up your seat for an elderly passenger on the public transport in Latvia. Always let the women board a train or bus first.

There are lot of dustbins on the streets and near shops. Throwing garbage on the street is unacceptable and is punishable. Also, pedestrians crossing against a red light are liable to be fined.