Travel to Latvia — everything you need to know
When to go to Latvia?
- June – August — Baltic summer : Long bright days (17–22°C), lively Jūrmala beaches, festivals (Jāņi, Europe's wildest Midsummer). The best season for Riga.
- December – January — Baltic Christmas : Riga's Christmas markets (Dome Square), traditional festivities, snowy forests. Cold (-5°C) but a unique atmosphere.
Weather in Latvia
Check the weather city by city, starting with Riga.
- Riga: daytime highs from 1 to 23 °C depending on the season, 56 mm of rain per month on average.
- Jūrmala: daytime highs from 1 to 23 °C depending on the season, 50 mm of rain per month on average.
What to do in Latvia?
Latvia is the heart of the Baltic states: Riga, its capital, boasts Europe's largest collection of Art Nouveau architecture (800 UNESCO-listed buildings) and a medieval Hanseatic Old Town. The sandy beaches of Jūrmala (35km of coastline), the castles of Gauja and the primeval Slītere forest make Latvia an affordable nature and culture destination.
Riga — Art Nouveau and Hanseatic
Riga has Europe's largest collection of Art Nouveau buildings: 800 structures adorned with masks, atlantes and floral ornaments, concentrated in the Alberta iela district. The medieval Old Town (UNESCO) with Dome Cathedral (home to the largest organ in the Baltic states), the House of the Blackheads and cobbled streets is one of the most beautiful in Northern Europe.
Highlights : Alberta iela — Art Nouveau street, masterpiece by Mikhail Eisenstein, House of the Blackheads (15th c.), rebuilt — golden façade, Dome Cathedral and its historic organ (13th c.), Riga Central Market — housed in converted zeppelin hangars.
Jūrmala — Sandy beaches and wooden villas
Jūrmala is the historic seaside resort of the Russian and Soviet nobility: 35km of fine sandy beaches on the Gulf of Riga (warmer water than the open Baltic), and a unique row of carved 19th-century wooden villas in the pine forest. Just 30 minutes by train from Riga, it's the essential summer getaway for locals.
Highlights : Majori Beach — white sand and warm gulf waters, Carved Art Nouveau wooden villas in the pine forest, Jomas iela — lively pedestrian street with cafés and markets.
Gauja National Park — Castles and sandstone
Gauja National Park is Latvia's largest: the Gauja river has carved red sandstone cliffs and caves into the forest. Sigulda, nicknamed 'Latvian Switzerland', is surrounded by three medieval castle ruins (Sigulda, Turaida, Krimulda) in the woods. A two-day trip from Riga.
Highlights : Turaida Castle (13th c.) and round tower in the forest, Gutmanis sandstone cave — the largest cave in the Baltic states, Red sandstone cliffs along the Gauja.
Rundāle — the Baltic Versailles
Rundāle Palace is the Versailles of the Baltic states: designed by Rastrelli (architect of the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg) for the Duke of Courland in the 18th century, its 138 rococo rooms and French-style gardens are among the finest in Northern Europe. 80km from Riga, it makes for a half-day excursion.
Highlights : Golden Hall of Rundāle Palace — Latvian rococo at its finest, Rundāle's French-style gardens — rose beds, Exhibition on 18th-century court life, Bauska village and its ruined castle at the confluence of two rivers.
Travel budget for Latvia
Latvia has used the euro since 2014. Prices are 30–40% lower than in Western Europe. Riga is the most expensive of the three Baltic capitals but remains very affordable. Public transport is cheap and efficient.
- Backpacker : 50–80 €/j — Hostel + local food + public transport
- Comfort : 90–160 €/j — 3★ hotel + restaurants + guided tours
Practical tips for travelling to Latvia
- Flight from Paris : ~3h (Air Baltic direct CDG–Riga, Ryanair Beauvais–Riga). Several flights per week.
- Visa : No visa required — Schengen area. French national ID card is sufficient.
- Currency : Euro (€). Cards accepted everywhere. Cash useful in markets and rural areas.
- Language : Latvian. English well spoken by young people. Russian understood by everyone over 40.
- Electricity : Type C/F (European) — 230V. No adapter needed.
- Health : No special precautions. EHIC valid. Ticks in the forests — long trousers recommended in summer.
- Nature : 55% of the territory is covered in forest. Latvians pick mushrooms and berries in autumn — a national pastime. Forests are freely accessible.
- Kvass : Kvass is the national drink: a lightly fermented, low-alcohol, refreshing beverage made from rye bread. Worth trying at the Central Market.
Compare Latvia with other destinations