Latvia | The Gem of the Baltics | Cultural Capital of Riga

Latvia isn’t somewhere you’ll want to simply pass through. It’s somewhere you’ll want to stay.

Home to tranquil landscapes

Theatrical architecture

Fascinating history

Latvia –

A small country with a big heart

Where nature and modernity collide.

A tranquil landscape of lakes, woods, white-sand beaches and towering sand dunes make Latvia the ideal place for a relaxing retreat.

Forests cover around 45% of the country, making it one of the greenest places in Europe. While cycling, trekking or gently meandering, you will be likely to find a slice of untouched nature all for yourself.

Come and discover the so-called ‘Gem of the Baltics’.

Riga has a lively café culture, and is awash with stylish boutiques, bistros and cultural institutions. In the summer its sunny squares are swarming. In the winter it resembles a Christmas card – fitting for the place where the first Christmas tree was erected.

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Practical information

This information can be useful when traveling to this beautiful country

Climate

Due to the vicinity to the Baltic Sea, the weather in Latvia can change quickly. The coldest month is January with an average of -6°C while July has an average of 19°C. Nevertheless frost can occur even till mid-June!

Public Transport

Riga has an efficient and user friendly public transportation system consisting of trains, trolleybuses and busses to go around the capital.

Internet

WiFi is offered by many hotels and also available in various public places – cafes, hotels, business centers, airport and bus terminals.

Money

Latvia’s previous currency was “Lats” until it was replaced by the Euro in 2014.

Shopping

Shopping in Riga takes visitors back in time when walking along the cobbled streets of the Old City. The main shopping spots in the Old Town are Valnu street and Basteja Pasaza with huge concentration of fashion shops and famous brands’ boutiques.

VAT Refunds

Citizens and residents of a country outside the EU can claim a Value Added Tax (VAT) refund when shopping in stores with “tax free shopping” signs. A minimum purchase per shop is required. When approaching the refund point, please make sure that you have the following with you: Your goods, your Global Blue tax-free form, your passport/ID.

Activities

Gauja National Park

The Gauja National Park is the largest national park in Latvia. The park is characterised by its rich diversity, rock outcrops and cultural monuments.

Riga Central Market

Riga Central Market is Riga's largest food market and is notable for featuring on the UNESCO World Heritage list thanks to its Neoclassicism and Art Deco building.

St. Peter’s Church

St. Peter's Church is a Lutheran church situated in Latvia's capital. It is both Gothic and Romansque in style and dates back to 1209.

Rundale Palace

Rundale Palace is one of only two major baroque palaces built for the Dukes of Courland. Admire its lavish interiors and stroll through its French style gardens.

House of Black Heads

Built in the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried merchants in Riga, the building was destroyed during the Second World War and subsequently rebuilt by the people between 1966 and 1999.

Did you Know?

This information can be useful when traveling to Latvia

See Itineraries

The two million Latvians are called “The Singing Nation”. They treasure their folk songs as they truly represent the Latvian culture.
The official language is Latvian, but most people speak English as well.
Latvia has one of the oldest flag in the world, dating back to the 13th century.
The capital Riga has about 4,000 wooden houses – more than any other European city.
Riga is home to one of the oldest and biggest markets in Europe: Riga Central Market.
Ventas Rumba Waterfall in the west of Latvia is the widest waterfall in Europe.

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