Latvia travel guide

Latvia may be the lesser known of the Baltic states, but with 500km of sandy coastline, treats to be foraged in the pine and spruce forests and the cosmopolitan culture of the capital, Riga, it's surely not going to remain that way for long. Sitting in the middle of the Baltic sandwich, as this Latvia travel guide reveals, it's superbly placed for tours which combine all three countries - click on our interactive Latvia map below to see our top highlights.

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Latvia travel guide

The collapse of Communism and being lumped in with neighbouring Baltic States, Lithuania and Estonia, kick started Latvia’s search for a national identity with several cultural differences still evident from one region to the next. Whether one sole identity is to be found foraging for mushrooms and berries amongst pine and spruce forests or perhaps along the wild sandy coastline that stretches for some 500km, who knows, but one thing is for sure: Latvia certainly needs to be investigated further.

Latvia is far from squashed as the middle sibling of the Baltics but more than holds its own in terms of wildlife filled forests and 500km of naturally wild, soft sand beaches.

Riga, the capital, is a good place to start and you’ll discover a cosmopolitan and contemporary city that is often considered culturally and architecturally wealthier than Vilnius and Tallinn. Outside of the capital, Rundāle Palace and Jurmala promise a couple of great day trip options with the town of Cēsis or the trails around Sigulda, in Gauja National Park, unlocking a little part of Latvia to call your very own.

Find out more in our Latvia travel guide.

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Latvia is...

perfectly positioned to accept travellers from either side of Baltic borders.

Latvia isn’t…

hilly but does boast an inordinate amount of forests and soft sand coastline; perfect for walking and cycling without the gradient.

Things to do in Latvia...

Walking tour of Riga. Riga is always best experienced with a local expert as details of the Freedom Monument, Laima Clock and ruined old city walls offer an intriguing insight into Latvia’s capital city. Doma Cathedral, St Peter's Basilica and Riga Castle will all, no doubt, feature on a walking tour with free time in the Central Market a great chance to get haggling for souvenirs. Taste the difference. Typical Latvian dishes are pork based and accompanied with heavy black bread, although, a recent trend towards promoting the country’s national identity through its food is starting to turn stereotypical Soviet style fodder into something much more, urm, foodie. Smoked fish, pickled veggies, fresh cheese and sklandrausis (sweet carrot pie) are all to be found in Riga’s markets and bakeries, alongside some seriously delicious saldējums (ice cream). As Latvia forms the rather generous filling in the Baltic state sandwich, taking a tour which combines Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia is certainly a tasty prospect. Border controls are practically nonexistent and as the Euro is used throughout there’s no pesky currency conversion required when moving from one seaside village or capital city to the next. A tri-country tour is an excellent means of threading together the history of the region as well as discovering those fascinating cultural nuances that make each Baltic state completely unique.

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Things not to do in Latvia…

Forget your beach blanket. Latvia’s 530km shoreline features endless beaches with towering white sand dunes and bluffs bookending ancient fishing villages selling smoked fish, beer and nostalgia. Latvia’s western coast has remained untouched by development and become one of Europe’s last remaining wild shorelines with the beaches at Jūrkalne, Slitere National Park and Liepāja, amongst the most picturesque. Stick to four wheels. Latvia’s made for leisurely cycling with quiet roads, low gradients and several coastal tracks leading cyclists past deserted beaches and whispering pine forests. The ride westwards from Riga to Jurmala is just under 40km and a well deserved swim in the Baltic Sea is all that’s required to freshen things up before returning to the saddle and exploring along the coast. Forage without friends. Billberries, lingonberries and cranberries bring a burst of colour to the mossy greens and browns of Latvia’s pine forests however, delve a little deeper and you’ll discover the amber ears of chanterelle and the toasted umbrellas of porcini mushrooms supplementing a smorgasbord of wild delights. As with any foraging mission, picking the right produce to go in your wicker basket is essential and hunting for mushrooms with a local guide is the best way to learn about Latvia’s love affair with nature as well as grabbing some free forest goodies into the bargain.