Latvia

One of the three Baltic states, Latvia is known for the Art Nouveau architecture of its capital, Riga, and for forests, coastline, castles and manor houses scattered across the country.

Latvia lies on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea, bordered by Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. Its landscape is mostly plains, forests and lakes, with a long sandy coastline. The historic centre of the capital, Riga, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for its Hanseatic old town and a large number of Art Nouveau buildings. Other highlights include the seaside resort of Jūrmala, Sigulda and Cēsis in Gauja National Park, the Baroque Rundāle Palace, and the UNESCO-listed old town of Kuldīga. Summer, with its long daylight hours, is the best time to visit, and the Midsummer festival in late June is the most distinctive event of the year. Riga International Airport is the main gateway, and you can also travel to and from neighbouring countries by ferry or bus.

Destinations

• Riga
• Liepāja
• Kuldīga
• Ventspils
• Cape Kolka
• Cēsis
• Daugavpils

Itineraries

• Kurzeme Coast & Historic Towns Loop – Road trip around western Latvia, visiting Cape Kolka, Ventspils, Liepāja, and Kuldīga.
• Latvia Panoramic Road Trip Loop – From Riga to the Gauja Valley and Rundāle Palace, then looping around the Kurzeme Coast back to Jūrmala.
• Riga & Three Classic Surrounding Destinations – Based in Riga, connect the Old Town, Art Nouveau district, Jūrmala, Sigulda, and Rundāle Palace.
• Riga, Gauja & Tartu Railway Northbound – Travel car-free by train from Riga via Sigulda, Cēsis, and Tartu all the way to Tallinn.
• Baltic Capitals Route: Vilnius to Tallinn – Travel north from Vilnius to Riga and Tallinn, passing the Hill of Crosses, Rundāle Palace, and Pärnu