Riga, LatviaPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Latvia
Latvia, made simple: Art Nouveau streets, white sand beaches and deep green forests
Latvia sits in the middle of the three Baltic states, a small country of pine forests, a long empty coastline and a capital with more Art Nouveau buildings than almost anywhere in Europe. It is relaxed, good value and easy to travel, but Schengen entry rules, short winter days and a language few visitors know can raise questions. This guide answers them so you travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flySchengen entry, new border checks, seasons and packing, answered
- LandingRiga airport, the bus into town, cards, SIM cards and your first night
- Your days in LatviaOld Riga, the Central Market, beach days in Jūrmala and castles in the Gauja valley
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain cards, tipping, transport tickets and typical budgets so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Latvia should feel like a calm, curious adventure, not a worry. We answer the questions about entry, money, transport, weather and safety before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Coming back from Dublin, London, Oslo, Toronto or Chicago to see family, or looking for a grandparent's farm in Vidzeme or Latgale? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your LatviaCity breaks, beaches, castles, forests or the wild Kurzeme coast: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules for your passport, the right season and current travel advice, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for restaurants, cafés, bars, museums, markets and stays across the country.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link Riga, Jūrmala, Sigulda, Cēsis, Kuldīga and Liepāja at a relaxed pace.
Everything your Latvia trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Riga, Jūrmala, Gauja National Park, Kuldīga and Liepāja, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, cafés, bars, museums, nature trails and stays, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Riga and stays in every corner of the country.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Latvia trip
Riga, the beach, the Gauja valley and the Kurzeme coast
Most first trips start with three nights in Riga: the medieval Old Town, the Art Nouveau quarter, the Central Market in its old Zeppelin hangars and an evening by the Daugava. Take the train to the wooden villas and white sand of Jūrmala, then head north east to Sigulda and Cēsis in Gauja National Park for castles, caves and river valleys. With more time, go west to the old town and waterfall of Kuldīga and the music city of Liepāja on the Baltic. A week shows you the heart of Latvia; ten days lets you add the wild west coast.
- Alberta iela, the showpiece street of Riga's Art Nouveau
- A sunset walk on the long beach at Jūrmala
- Turaida Castle and the Gauja valley from Sigulda
- Venta Rapid in Kuldīga, the widest waterfall in Europe
Start with the destinations
See how the capital, the coast, the forests and the west fit together.
Latvia destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Latvia rewards a little preparation: entry rules checked for your passport, a plan for Midsummer when the whole country heads to the countryside, warm layers even in June, and a pace that leaves time for a sauna and a long lunch. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic train and bus times between towns
- The right season for long summer nights, golden autumn or snow
- Day trips that are easy and those worth a night
Where to go in Latvia
From the Art Nouveau capital Riga and the seaside resort of Jūrmala to the castles of Gauja National Park, the old town and waterfall of Kuldīga and the music and beaches of Liepāja.
Riga
Riga
A medieval Old Town, world class Art Nouveau streets, a giant food market and a relaxed riverside capital.
Read the guidePhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Jūrmala
Jūrmala
A long white sand beach, carved wooden villas in the pines, spa hotels and a bog boardwalk at Ķemeri.
Read the guidePhoto: Adbar, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Vidzeme
Gauja National Park
Latvia's largest national park: medieval castles, sandstone cliffs, caves, canoeing and the towns of Sigulda and Cēsis.
Read the guidePhoto: Pudelek (Marcin Szala), CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kurzeme
Kuldīga
A UNESCO listed old town of red roofs and wooden houses beside the Venta Rapid, the widest waterfall in Europe.
Read the guidePhoto: Karlis Ustups, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kurzeme
Liepāja
A breezy port city with long beaches, a dazzling concert hall, rock clubs and the haunting Soviet naval town of Karosta.
Read the guidePhoto: Wellstar69, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Latvia safe to visit?
Yes, Latvia is generally safe, with low violent crime. Watch for pickpockets in Old Riga and be careful with inflated bar bills in a few late night venues. Read your own government's travel advice before you go.
Do I need a visa for Latvia?
Latvia is in the Schengen area, so the rules depend on your passport. Many visitors can stay visa free for short trips, and the EU Entry/Exit System registers non EU travellers at the border. Check the Latvian Ministry of Foreign Affairs site for your nationality.
What currency does Latvia use?
Latvia uses the euro. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, though a little cash helps at markets and in small country guesthouses.
How many days do I need in Latvia?
Three days covers Riga and a day in Jūrmala. A week adds Sigulda, Cēsis and Rundāle Palace, and ten days lets you include Kuldīga and Liepāja.
When is the best time to visit Latvia?
Late May to early September brings long evenings, beach weather and festivals, including Midsummer on 23 and 24 June. December has Christmas markets, and late September brings golden forests.
Do people speak English in Latvia?
Yes, especially younger people and anyone working in tourism. Latvian is the official language, and Russian is also widely spoken, particularly in Riga and Daugavpils.
Ready to find your Bliss in Latvia?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.