Before I start my 12 best places to visit in Latvia, I would like to give you an introduction about why to go there. Latvia is best represented as a tapestry of the sea, lakes and forests, as a huge untouched park, with only one real city – Riga, the capital of Riga. The nation may be small, but it provides enormous personal space.
A slice of pristine nature, whether it’s trekking, hiking or dreaming, can still be secured for yourself on a beach of white sand among dunes covering the pine. With any regional force invaded, Latvia has greater cultural dimensions than its neighbors, but it has less homogeneous people. Here people like being the least pragmatic and most creative in the Baltic region. They show that there are countless festivals and a cheerful and devilish spirit – well, a subdued northic version of it.
1-Riga
Gothic spire dominating the cityscape of Riga may mean austerity, but the spirit and flesh of the lively world-wide city, the largest of the Baltic capitals, is flammable art néo-flamingo. As all people from the north, it is quiet and reserved on the outside, but in its hip bars with contemporary art centers and in its cool experimental restaurants there are some potent chemis.
Only a quick drive away from the sea resort of Jūrmala, which has a beautiful white-sand beach, is Riga next to a gulf called itself. But if you are looking for solitude and a cherished setting, glorious sea dunes and forests of blueberry, you can start outside the city.
2-Jūrmala
Jūrmala (pronounced yoor-moh-lah) in the Baltic Sea version of the French Riviera is a long line of villages of Preußa-style, each distinct in form and nature. Jūrmala was still a spot to “sea” and see even at the height of Communism. Now a visible portion of the people is composed of Russian tycoons and their beautiful wives. Rich fashionistas glorify their beach wear while adoring the sun between spa services. In the summer weekend, when jetsetters and daytripers from Rigans flock to the resort city for some real enjoyment in the heat, the vehicles block the road.
The 32-km streak of Jūrmala includes 14 municipalities. You’ll want to go directly to the centre of the action if you do not have a car or a bicycle: Majori and Dzin Alta. A 1 km long peat path, Jomas Iela, links these two districts and, with its tonnes of tourist-centered places, it is known as the main drag of Jūrmala. As with the majority of the restaurants and hotels of Jûrmala, unlike many other cities in Europe, they are a few blocks from the beach that leaves the sea (slightly) unchanged.
3-Ventspils
Ventspils has become one of the most stunning and dynamic cities in Latvia, with fantastic oil and shipping resources. The air is shiny and tidy, with well-preserved buildings in a variety of cheery colors. Even the towering equipment of the industry is covered in vibrant colors.
But it wasn’t all the smiles or rainbows to be seen on Latasia’s greatest and busiest harbour – in the 12th century Ventspils was a strategic ice-free place for origins of Course, the Livonic orders of the 13th century, the Hanseatic League of the 16th century, and the U.S.S.R. in modern times. While locals coddle their beer and claim that there is little to do, visitors will enjoy a weekend of bright beaches, immersive mu town squares and breathtaking, old town streets with an impressive boutique and café. Take advantage of this beer.
4-Liepāja
It is a port city of rugged red-brick storage, moored torpedo boats and a prison of old age for its key tourism, and it also has one of the best beaches in Latvia, generating such a disproportionate amount of great Latvian artists. Liepāja has not fitted for any cliché. This rough-and-rough-the-lines atmosphere transforms Liepaja into somewhat Manchester-like musical sounds, but its quest for the identity in fact is just beginning.
The third largest city in Latvia, which was established by the Order of Livonia in the 13th century, was not a significant success until Czar Alexander III deepened a harbor. So, why not go to the beach for R & R? Liepāja is low on sights. A small green belt named Jūrmala Park works as an amusement belt between the soft dunes and tatty city Centre.
Karosta, 4 km north of central Liepāja, was an ex-Russian naval base, off limits for everyone during the Soviet occupation, surrounded by around a third of the city borders in Liepāja. Proof of occupation persists from the ageing military barracks to the hideous Soviet-style concrete building buildings (many abandoned). Karosta is best explored by bicycle or by car, as sights are reasonably widespread. There’s a lovely beach so take your bathing suit on a humid day.
5-Kuldīga
Even if there was no Niagara of its own kind, the beautiful old Kuldiga would be a success with salmon floating over its chute for a good measure. Kuldiga is also the site where the absorption into the age of chevalery is not being ruined by day-tripping cameras—a spot far too far from Riga, as Latvians are known as ‘the largest waterfall in Europe.’ During his heyday Kuldîga was the capital of the Duchy of Courland (1596–1616) (or Goldingen, as his German founder called him) but during a Great war heavily weakened and could never recover his old lustre any more. This explosion from past times today is a favorite location for shooting movies of the period.
6-Bauska
In those days Bauska is now well regarded as the hopping point of the majestic Rundāle Palace, once the main seat in the Duchy of Curland. Before you, though, you can check out the little, lovely castle of Baus tornado Castle. €4.0/€2 Nov-Apr. / h9am-7pm May-Sep., until 6pm Oct. to 5pm Nova-Apr. Check out the museum adult/study, €5/€2.5 May-Oct. It sits on a picturesque hillock that flows in parallel between two rivers – Mūsa and Měmele.
It was built by a duke of Courland and completely intact, one from the Livonian Order, lying in ruins and the other. Within the latter is an exhibition of local heritage. Look closely at the grey bricks of the façade of the new castle – they seem to be flourishing out of the wall, but obviously this is an optical illusion – each brick has a cissle on the lower left of the corner to get the audience to believe that they see the shadow.
7-Rundāle Palace
Rundâle Palace is a memorial to the aristocratic ostentation of the 18th century, constructed for Born Ernst Johann Biron (20160–1672), the Duke of Courland and Semigallias, and rural Lat Ambrassa is the first building to be constructed. Ernst Johann was born to the Russian duchess of Courland and began his career as a bride and lover of Anna Ioanovna.
When she was Rus died empress, she gave her the duchy, but he lived in St Petersburg with her and was converted into the empire’s most influential politician. He was appointed in 1736 to construct a summer resi resi residuum near Bauska, by Italian architect Bart Todayolomeo Rastrelli of the St Peterburg Winter Palace. Later, the Russian writers criticised Biron for initiating a period of terror, but his position in persecuting the aristocracy was excessively considered by many of its antetorians.
The Empress declared Biron the Regent of Russia in her bed of death, and two months later her rivals arrested him. The judgement was turned into exile. For another 22 years the incomplete Palfala was a blank shell until Ernst Johann returned from home, forgiven by Catherine II. The house was resumed by Rastrelli and completed in 1768. Four years back, at the age of 82, Ernst Johann passed away. Since the Duchy of Cour umland was absorbed into the Russian Empire in 1795, the palace was occupied (and altered) by the Succession of Russian nobles.
8-Gauja National Park
This is a beautiful field with virgin pine trees, this park in the area of Na Līgatne, runs from the Sigulda castle to the peaceful Valmiera. Founded as the first national park in 1973, Lat Senvia preserves a rather leafy hinterland which is popular for hiking, biking, camping, canoeing and a wide variety of off-fitness activities. Gauja National Park has no entry charge.
9-Sigulda
With a name which sounds like a magical ogress, the gate to the Gauja is not shockingly an enchanted place with wonderful surprises concealed behind each tree. Locals proudly refer to their city as ‘Latvia’s Schweiz,’ but you would be very disappointed when you are ex-sown looking at the glory of a rugged snow-capped domain.
Rather, Sigulda blends its own bridge with scenic trails, adventure activities and legendary 800-year-old castles. Sigulda is situated on the East side of the Gauja River opposite Modern Sigulda Castle and stretches between three castles. Take your own walking trip of a short version of the biggest hits in Sigulda, and don’t hesitate to trip on the cable car.
10-Daugavpils
The second biggest town in Latvia is simply so remote that from some of its many points of view you can see the surrounding countryside along with the Daugava River on which it is located. Daugavpils, mostly Russian, has the undeserved image of a gritty Soviet city of Gotham—most of which are Latvians who have never been there. In real terms, it has a pretty well-preserved historical Centre and a powerful fortress that recalled the days when it was a Russian provincial imperial town with a prosperous Jewish community.
It is also quite cosmopolitan today, as a Russian Language Study Center in the EU it is reinventing itself. Mark Rothko, the city’s biggest star, crossed the ocean to become one of America’s most influential artists in the 20th century. The New Contemporary Center of Art, one of the best in the world, bears its name. During the two Polish uproars of the 19th century and a house away from home for the Tsars who explored the west of their realm, the Napoleonic Wars Fortress served as an imperial fortress.
11-Rēzekne
REZEKNE pokes its head furtively from a huge muddle of abandoned factories to the residential block. The city was severely pounded by artillery fire in the Second World War when much of its torrents were pulverized. There is not much to keep a tourist in town nowadays; however, the many trains and buses make the peaceful Lakeland more southward. From the Rězekne II train station (north) to Bus station (south) the main road, Atbrīvošanas Alejā, runs along the central square along the way.
Māra, a monument which was demolished twice by the soviet authorities in the 1940s and only restored in 1992, stands in the Centre of the square. The words ‘Vienoti Latvijai’ mean ‘United Latvia.’ Further down on the road there is a little hill with a unique atmosphere, Rězekne Castle and the large tourist information Centre in the immediate neighborhood with little information about the Lake Latgale area surrounding the settlement.
12-Ludza
The Little Ludza was founded in 1177, the oldest city in Latvia, just a hop from the Russian frontier. The small village and commercial post was established around Ludza’s Castle, which was built by German crusaders in 1399 in the east front of the Livonian Order at the intersection of two lakes (known as Big Ludza and Little Ludza). Since 1775 the castle has been in ruins, and the mixture of decaying brick and grey smoky blocks has been eerie and majestic and makes an excellent place to enjoy a picnic overlooking the spirals and rivulets of the church down the hill.
The Ludza Craftsmen Center has three associated workshops in which local arts and craftsmen perfect the trade. An outstanding collection of local handicrafts. If you go ahead, you too will explore the long-standing ways of spinning yarn, pottery and weaving. A selection of old instruments is available to see and a typical Latgian costume for photography.
Final thoughts:
The People:
Casual hellos aren’t popular on the street, but Latvians are a welcoming, polite community. Some would find that the society has a touch of caution, but this caution, which most possibly responds to international law, helped maintain the unique culture and language during periods of transition. With the world opening, Latvia is rapidly fading this slight xenophobia. People become safe in the freedom of their nation and younger generations have access to a more cosmopolitan culture (particularly because young people speak almost always trilingual Latin, Russian and English).
Traditionally Latvian women were responsible for protecting the family and home through traditional songs, folklore and stories. The men would protect the land, blessed by these carefully guarded customs. Women are still high in the household today but they have influential political and business positions – while equity between women and women is still a bit of a fight. More than 41% of the nation’s CEOs are women, and Vaira Vāže-Freiberga was Latvia’s most noted president.
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