VISIT LATVIA
This Baltic state is characterized as a vast untainted grassland with just one genuine city — its cosmopolitan capital, Riga— and a tapestry of sea, lakes, and woodlands.
Currency
€ - Euro (1€ ≃ 1,05$ ≃0,86£)
POPULATION
1,8 millions
MAIN LANGUAGE
Latvian
AREA
64,589 km²
TIME ZONE
UTC+2 / UTC+3
FLAG
🇱🇻
Latvia might be small, but should not be overlooked when considering a trip to Europe. This nation is inexpensive, secure, and provides a landscape filled with broad beaches, historic castles, and vast, expansive forests. Its capital, Riga, boasts a huge central market, art nouveau buildings, and a quaint medieval Old Town. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that everyone who travels there believes Latvia to be an underestimated destination.
There are a couple of things to know before travelling to Latvia:
Water: Tap water is considered safe to drink in Latvia.
Driving: Traffic drives on the right-hand side of the road. The main speed limits are as follows: 50 kph / 30 mph on main roads within built-up areas, 90 kph / 55 mph on public roads outside urban areas, and 100 or 110 kph on some designated roads (only during March 1 – November 1).
Plugs: Two plug types are used in Latvia: C and F, which both have two grounding holes. Latvia operates on a 230V supply voltage and 50Hz frequency.
Tipping: As a general rule – although welcome – tipping is not compulsory nor expected in restaurants and cafés in Latvia. If you appreciated the service, it is common to tip about 10% of the bill.
Payment: Bank cards – either debit or credit cards – are widely accepted across Latvia, the most common ones being Visa and Mastercard. American Express cards can be used in fewer places. The use of cash money is still very common, especially for low-value purchases, so it is a good idea to keep a small number of bills and coins with you.
Basic language: Sveiki = Hello, Laba Diena = Good morning; Ardievu = Goodbye; Jā = Yes; Nē = No; Paldies = Thank you; Liels paldies = Thank you very much; Lūdzu = Please; Esi laipni gaidīts = You're welcome; Atvainojiet = Excuse me; Diena = Day; Nakts = Night; Bonsoir = Good evening; Ar labunakti = Goodnight; Kungs = Mister; Kundze = Ma'am
Holidays and closing days: Many shops in Latvia are open daily, especially major shopping centres; smaller businesses might close on Sunday. There are 10 official public holidays in Latvia: New Year's Day (January 01), Good Friday, Easter Monday, Labour Day (May 01), Declaration of Independence Day (May 04), Midsummer Eve/Līgo (June 23), Midsummer Day/Jāņi (June 24), National Day (November 18), Christmas (December 24-25-26), New Year's Eve (December 31). On these days, most businesses and offices will be closed, and many attractions may be shut or have limited opening hours.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The information below is provided merely as an indication and applies for short-term tourism visa purposes only. Before your trip to Latvia, or if you are planning to come to Latvia for another purpose (work, studies, ...), check the official information on the Latvian government website: https://www.mfa.gov.lv/
No visa is needed if you are a citizen of one of the following countries:
Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czechia; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg, Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland
Visa-free but limited to a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Albania; Andorra; Antigua and Barbuda; Argentina; Australia; Bahamas; Barbados; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Canada; Chile; Colombia; Costa Rica; Dominica; El Salvador; Georgia; Grenada; Guatemala; Honduras; Hong Kong; Israel; Japan; Kiribati; Macao; Malaysia; Marshall Islands; Mauritius; Mexico; Micronesia; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; New-Zealand; Nicaragua; North Macedonia; Palau; Panama; Paraguay; Peru; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; Samoa; San Marino; Serbia; Seychelles; Singapore; Solomon islands; South Korea; Taiwan; Timor-Leste; Tonga; Trinidad and Tobago; Tuvalu; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; United Kingdom; United States of America; Uruguay; Vatican; Venezuela
Visa required (Schengen visa) if you are a citizen of one of the following countries: Afghanistan; Algeria; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Bahrain; Bangladesh; Belarus; Belize; Benin; Bhutan; Bolivia; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cambodia; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Comoros; Congo; Congo (Dem. Rep); Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast); Cuba; Djibouti; Dominican Republic; Ecuador; Egypt; Equatorial Guinea; Eritrea; Eswatini; Ethiopia; Fiji; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; India; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jamaica; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kosovo; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Laos; Lebanon; Lesotho; Liberia; Libya; Madagascar; Malawi; Maldives; Mali; Mauritania; Mongolia; Morocco; Mozambique; Myanmar; Namibia; Nauru; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; North Korea; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian territories; Papua New Guinea; Philippines; Qatar; Russia; Rwanda; Sao Tome and Principe; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Sierra Leone; Somalia; South Africa; South Sudan; Sri Lanka; Sudan; Suriname; Syria; Tajikistan; Tanzania; Thailand; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Uzbekistan; Vanuatu; Vietnam; Yemen; Zambia; Zimbabwe
December – February: Winter in Latvia is cold, especially in January and February. Still, there are some activities to keep yourself busy and entertained, like Riga's Christmas market and cross-country skiing. During winter, the temperatures in Riga usually range from -6°C (21F) to 1°C (34F).
March - May: Springtime in Latvia is characterised by erratic weather: a pleasant, clear sky might be quickly replaced by rain and wind. It is also the optimum time to go boating. Although the Gauja is the most well-liked river for this pastime, one of the fastest is the Amata.
June - August: Use the summer months to explore the Baltic Sea coastline or unwind on the beautiful white sand beach at Jurmala, a Latvian sea resort city. During summer, the temperatures in Riga usually range from 10°C (50F) to 24°C (75F).
September - November: Mid-September onwards sees a sharp drop in temperature. That said, at this time of year, Gauja National Park offers particularly stunning vistas of colourful trees. In Latvian nature reserves and parks, like Ķemeri National Park, you can learn more about the distinctive bog ecology.
Pick a (Latvian) destination
Make your choice from the list below or the map to access all the articles related to specific cities or regions of Latvia.
LATVIA HIGHLIGHT ATTRACTIONS
HIKE IN GAUJA NATIONAL PARK
One of Latvia's most unspoiled natural areas, where you can go hiking, bike, and take in the scenery along the Gauja River.
EXPLORE RIGA
This lively capital city is an open-air museum containing over 800 Art Nouveau structures, plus Romantic, Gothic, and Baroque buildings.
WALK THE KEMERI BOG TRAIL
Visitors of the Great Kemeri bog can enter a world of moss, miniature pine trees, tiny black ponds, and the scent of wild rosemary by walking along the boardwalk.
VISIT THE RUNDALE PALACE
Nicknamed 'The Latvian Versailles', this palace is a monument to 18th-century aristocratic ostentatiousness.
ENJOY THE BEACH IN JURMALA
The seaside resort of Jurmala, which is stretching 33 km and is only a 20-minute drive from Riga, provides relaxed beaches and lively nightlife.
ALL LATVIA BLOG ARTICLES
RIGA
Coming soon
JURMALA
Coming soon
GAUJA NATIONAL PARK
Coming soon
KEMERI NATIONAL PARK
Coming soon
