Best things to do in Latvia
21.07.2023 - 07:33
/ roughguides.com
It's Latvia’s boisterous capital to which most visitors are attracted. However, to experience the true spirit of Latvia you’ll need to head into the spectacularly unspoiled countryside with its lakes, forests and sandy beaches. Here is our pick of the best things to do in Latvia.
The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to Europe on a Budget , your essential guide for visiting Europe.
A 20km string of small seaside resorts lining the Baltic coast west of Rīga, Jūrmala was originally favoured by the tsarist nobility and later drew tens of thousands of holiday-makers from all over the USSR. It continues to be a popular beach resort today, with its wide, clean, sandy beach backed by dunes and pine woods, and dotted with beer tents and climbing frames.
It pulses with sun worshippers during the summer, especially during the week-long music festival in July. The central resort of the Jūrmala strip, Majori is the best place to get off the train if you’re just here for the day.
Find more accommodation options to stay in Jūrmala
Sand beach in Jurmala, Latvia © Pavels Dunaicevs/Shutterstock
Without its grand 1930s Art Deco hotel to attract upmarket tourists, gamblers and spa-goers, the old resort of Ķemeri, just west of Jūrmala, has become something of a backwater. The town itself owes its existence to the park’s sulphur springs and the curative properties of the mud. These days Ķemeri attracts more nature lovers than spa-goers, as it is the perfect starting point for a hike through the Ķemeri National Park.
Founded in 1997, this 380 sq km (147 sq miles) Kemeri National Park is only a short distance from the sea. Made up of wetlands, swamps, raised bogs, forests and lakes, it is the perfect breeding ground for rare and not-so-rare species of flora and fauna.
Visiting the park is one of the best things to do in Latvia for nature lovers. It offers a variety of different nature trails with bird-watching platforms and several kilometres of wooden boardwalks over the swampy terrain.
Exploring the castle ruins and hiking trails of the gorgeous Gauja Valley is one of the most exciting things to do in Latvia. Encompassing a diverse range of flora and fauna, Gauja National Park covers more than 920 square kilometres of near-pristine forested wilderness, bisected by the 425km Gauja River. The valley is ideal for exploring by bike, as most of the hiking trails are accessible to cyclists.
Numerous “wild” campsites are located along the river’s banks and major campsites in Sigulda, Cēsis and Valmiera, at the north end of the park, can arrange overnight canoeing and rafting trips.
Riga is the largest, liveliest and most cosmopolitan of the Baltic capitals, with a great selection of accommodation to suit