Latvia · Local picks
100+ Places to Visit in Latvia
These are our favourite places across Latvia, from Art Nouveau Riga and the beaches of Jūrmala to the castles of Sigulda and Cēsis, the waterfall town of Kuldīga and the music city of Liepāja. Opening hours change with the seasons, so check each place before you go.
Places to Visit in Riga
Arts and Culture
- Old Riga (Vecrīga)
The cobbled medieval heart of the capital, a UNESCO listed maze of churches, guild halls and merchant houses. - House of the Blackheads (Town Hall Square)
A rebuilt Gothic and Renaissance guild house with a dazzling gabled façade, the postcard image of the city. - Riga Cathedral (Doma laukums)
The largest medieval church in the Baltics, with a famous historic organ and regular concerts. - Alberta iela (Art Nouveau District)
A short street of extravagant Art Nouveau façades with faces, dragons and peacocks on every building. - Riga Art Nouveau Museum (Art Nouveau District)
A restored period apartment with a breathtaking spiral staircase, a vivid look at life in Riga around 1900. - Latvian National Museum of Art (Esplanāde)
A grand restored museum with Latvian painting from the nineteenth century to the Soviet era. - Museum of the Occupation of Latvia (Vecrīga)
A moving, essential account of the Soviet and Nazi occupations and the deportations of Latvian families. - Corner House KGB Building (Centrs)
The former KGB headquarters, where guided tours show the cells and interrogation rooms. - Latvian National Opera and Ballet (Aspazijas bulvāris)
A white neoclassical opera house with strong opera and ballet seasons at friendly prices for Europe. - Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum (Brīvdabas muzejs)
Old farmhouses, windmills and churches from every region set in a pine forest by Lake Jugla. - Ķīpsala Wooden Houses (Ķīpsala)
An island of restored wooden houses across the river, quiet, photogenic and rarely busy. - Cat House (Vecrīga)
A yellow Art Nouveau building with black cats on its turrets and a famous local legend. - Three Brothers (Vecrīga)
Three side by side medieval houses that show how Riga homes changed over three centuries. - Mentzendorff's House (Vecrīga)
A seventeenth century merchant's home with painted walls and rooms furnished as they once were. - Riga Ghetto and Holocaust Museum (Maskavas forštate)
A sobering museum in the Moscow District remembering Riga's Jewish community.
Things to Do
- St Peter's Church Tower (Vecrīga)
A lift up the spire gives the best panoramic view over the Old Town roofs and the Daugava. - Freedom Monument (Brīvības bulvāris)
The symbol of Latvian independence, guarded by an honour guard that changes on the hour in the daytime. - Riga Canal Boat Trip (Pilsētas kanāls)
A gentle boat loop along the city canal and the Daugava, a lovely way to see the city from the water. - Spīķeri Quarter (Maskavas forštate)
Red brick warehouses turned into galleries, cafés and a riverside promenade beside the Central Market. - Latvian Academy of Sciences Viewing Platform (Maskavas forštate)
A Stalin era tower nicknamed Stalin's birthday cake, with a balcony view over the city. - Riga Motor Museum (Mežciems)
Vintage cars, Soviet leaders' limousines and race cars in a modern hall loved by families. - Riga Zoo (Mežaparks)
A leafy zoo in the garden suburb of Mežaparks, an easy tram ride from the centre.
Shopping and Markets
- Riga Central Market (Centrāltirgus)
Five former Zeppelin hangars full of smoked fish, rye bread, pickles, honey and seasonal berries. - Kalnciema Quarter (Pārdaugava)
Restored wooden houses that host a weekend market of local food, crafts and live music. - Āgenskalns Market (Pārdaugava)
A beautifully restored neighbourhood market hall with local produce, street food and a calmer feel than the Central Market. - Berga Bazārs (Centrs)
A nineteenth century shopping passage with boutiques, galleries and a farmers market on weekends. - Riga Christmas Market (Doma laukums)
Stalls of mulled wine, gingerbread and crafts on Dome Square from late November into the new year. - Latvian Crafts at Riga Central Market (Centrāltirgus)
Mittens, linen and wooden spoons sold beside the food stalls, good for gifts.
Nature and Outdoors
- Bastejkalns Park (Pilsētas kanāls)
A green hill and canal park in the centre with bridges, swans and boat rides along the city canal. - Mežaparks (Mežaparks)
A pine forest garden suburb with wooden villas, a lake beach and the vast song festival bandstand.
Restaurants
- Lido Atpūtas Centrs (Krasta iela)
A huge log cabin style buffet of Latvian home cooking, with a playground and seasonal ice rink. - Pelmeņi XL (Vecrīga)
A self service canteen for dumplings, soups and pancakes, cheap and filling in the middle of the Old Town. - Milda (Vecrīga)
Traditional Latvian dishes such as grey peas with bacon and rye bread pudding in a cosy Old Town room. - Rozengrāls (Vecrīga)
A candlelit medieval cellar restaurant with costumed staff and hearty dishes, theatrical but fun. - 3 Pavāru Restorāns (Vecrīga)
Three chefs cook playful modern Latvian dishes in an open kitchen with lively plating. - Vincents (Art Nouveau District)
One of Riga's long standing fine dining rooms, built around Latvian seasonal produce.
Cafés
- Rocket Bean Roastery (Miera iela)
Riga's best known speciality coffee roaster, with brunch in a bright industrial space. - Cadets de Gascogne (Centrs)
A French style bakery chain with croissants and pastries that locals love for breakfast. - Big Bad Bagels (Centrs)
Hand rolled bagels and good coffee, a favourite for a quick lunch between museums.
Bars and Nightlife
- Riga Black Magic (Vecrīga)
An old style café and bar built around Riga Black Balsam, with chocolates and herbal cocktails. - Skyline Bar (Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija)
A twenty sixth floor bar with sweeping views of the Old Town spires at sunset. - Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs (Vecrīga)
A big cellar folk club with Latvian beers, hearty food and live folk music most nights. - Labietis (Centrs)
A craft brewery bar that brews with ancient Latvian herbs and recipes. - Miera iela (Miera iela)
A bohemian street of cafés, bars and vintage shops, Riga's answer to a hipster quarter.
Events
- Riga City Festival (Citywide)
A late summer weekend of concerts, markets and fireworks celebrating the city's birthday. - Staro Rīga (Citywide)
A free festival of light installations across the city around Independence Day in November. - Līgo and Jāņi Midsummer (Citywide)
The biggest celebration of the year, with oak wreaths, bonfires, caraway cheese and singing until dawn. - Riga Opera Festival (Aspazijas bulvāris)
The National Opera's summer festival of the season's best productions.
Stays
- Grand Palace Hotel (Vecrīga)
An elegant classic hotel in a historic building in the quiet north of the Old Town. - Hotel Neiburgs (Vecrīga)
An Art Nouveau building turned boutique hotel with apartments looking over the Old Town. - Hotel Bergs (Berga Bazārs)
A stylish design hotel in a historic shopping passage, quiet but central. - Cinnamon Sally (Centrs)
A friendly backpacker hostel by the train and bus stations, good for meeting other travellers. - Pullman Riga Old Town (Vecrīga)
A modern hotel in the restored royal stables, at the edge of the Old Town.
Places to Visit in Jūrmala
Things to Do
- Jomas iela (Majori)
The pedestrian main street of the resort, lined with cafés, wooden villas and seaside shops. - Līvu Akvaparks (Lielupe)
A big indoor water park with slides and pools, a rescue for rainy days with children. - Cycling the Jūrmala Coast (Majori to Bulduri)
Flat forest and seaside paths make Jūrmala ideal for an easy bike ride.
Nature and Outdoors
- Majori Beach (Majori)
A wide white sand beach with shallow water, fine for a swim on a warm summer day. - Dzintari Forest Park (Dzintari)
A pine park with skate paths, playgrounds and a tall observation tower above the treetops. - Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk (Ķemeri National Park)
A boardwalk across a raised bog to a viewing tower, beautiful at sunrise and sunset. - Ragakāpa Nature Park (Lielupe)
A high, pine covered coastal dune with walking trails between the river and the sea.
Arts and Culture
- Dzintari Concert Hall (Dzintari)
A historic open air summer concert hall in the pines, with classical and pop concerts in the season. - Jūrmala Open Air Museum (Lielupe)
Old fishermen's houses, boats and nets showing the coast's life before the resort. - Rainis and Aspazija Summer Cottage (Dubulti)
The seaside summer home of Latvia's best known poet couple, now a small museum. - Wooden Villas of Jūrmala (Dzintari and Majori)
Hundreds of carved wooden summer houses, best seen on a slow walk or bicycle ride.
Restaurants
- 36.Line (Jaundubulti)
A beach restaurant with modern Latvian cooking and sea views at sunset.
Stays
- Baltic Beach Hotel (Majori)
A large spa hotel right on the beach, close to Jomas iela. - Hotel Jūrmala Spa (Majori)
A tall spa hotel with a rooftop bar overlooking the sea and the forest.
Places to Visit in Sigulda
Arts and Culture
- Turaida Museum Reserve (Turaida)
A red brick castle tower above the Gauja valley, with a folk song garden and an old wooden church. - Sigulda Medieval Castle (Sigulda)
Ruins of a Livonian Order castle with a stage and walkways in the old walls. - Krimulda Manor (Krimulda)
A classical manor house on the far side of the valley, with paths down to the river.
Nature and Outdoors
- Gūtmaņa Cave (Gauja National Park)
The largest cave in the Baltics, carved with centuries of graffiti and tied to the legend of the Rose of Turaida. - Paradīzes Kalns (Sigulda)
Paradise Hill, a quiet viewpoint over the forested Gauja valley. - Gauja River Canoe Trip (Gauja National Park)
Paddle the slow, sandstone lined river between Valmiera, Cēsis and Sigulda.
Things to Do
- Sigulda Aerial Cable Car (Sigulda)
A cable car swinging high over the Gauja valley between Sigulda and Krimulda. - Sigulda Bobsleigh and Luge Track (Sigulda)
Ride a bob down an Olympic training track, on wheels in summer and ice in winter. - Tarzāns Adventure Park (Sigulda)
Rope courses, toboggan runs and zip lines on the valley slopes, great for families.
Cafés
- Mr. Biskvīts (Sigulda)
A cheerful café and bakery for coffee, cakes and simple lunches.
Stays
- Spa Hotel Ezeri (Sigulda)
A lakeside spa hotel at the edge of town, quiet and green.
Places to Visit in Cēsis
Arts and Culture
- Cēsis Medieval Castle (Cēsis Old Town)
Explore a Livonian Order castle by candle lantern, with towers to climb and a lovely park below. - Cēsis History and Art Museum (Cēsis New Castle)
The museum in the new castle, with a tower view over the old town and castle park. - Āraiši Lake Fortress (Āraiši)
A reconstructed ninth century Latgalian lake fortress on an island, with a ruined castle nearby. - Ungurmuiža Manor (Raiskums)
A rare wooden baroque manor house with painted interiors and an old oak avenue. - Vidzeme Concert Hall Cēsis (Cēsis)
A modern concert hall that brings top classical and jazz performers to a small town.
Things to Do
- Cēsis Old Town (Rīgas iela)
Cobbled streets, wooden houses and St John's Church in one of Latvia's oldest towns.
Events
- Cēsis Art Festival (Cēsis)
A summer festival of art, music and theatre in historic buildings across town.
Nature and Outdoors
- Zvārtes Iezis (Amata)
A tall sandstone cliff above the Amata river, with a short trail and a famous devil legend. - Ērgļu Klintis (Gauja National Park)
The Eagle Cliffs, high sandstone walls above the Gauja with a riverside walk. - Maija Park (Cēsis)
A pretty park with a pond and swans below the castle, good for a picnic.
Places to Visit in Kuldīga
Nature and Outdoors
- Venta Rapid (Kuldīga)
The widest waterfall in Europe, low but broad, where fish leap upstream in spring. - Alekšupīte Waterfall (Kuldīga)
The tallest waterfall in Latvia, falling between old houses in the centre of town. - Abava Rapid (Sabile)
A small, quiet waterfall in a green valley near the wine hill.
Arts and Culture
- Kuldīga Old Town (Kuldīga)
A UNESCO listed old town of red tiled roofs and wooden houses along a little river. - Old Brick Bridge (Kuldīga)
One of the longest brick road bridges in Europe, framing the Venta Rapid. - Kuldīga District Museum (Kuldīga)
A villa museum with local history and a collection of playing cards from around the world. - Sabile Wine Hill (Sabile)
One of the most northerly open air vineyards in the world, on a terraced hill above the Abava.
Things to Do
- Riverbank Walk to the Venta Rapid (Kuldīga)
In warm weather locals wade across the top of the falls on the shallow rock shelf.
Places to Visit in Liepāja
Arts and Culture
- Karosta Northern Forts (Karosta)
Crumbling coastal forts half sunk into the sea, dramatic at sunset. - Karosta Prison (Karosta)
A former military prison with tours that recreate its harsh past, and even an overnight option. - St Nicholas Orthodox Naval Cathedral (Karosta)
A golden domed cathedral built for the Russian navy, rising over the old military town. - Great Amber Concert Hall (Centrs)
A glowing amber coloured concert hall, home to the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra. - Holy Trinity Cathedral (Centrs)
A church with one of the largest mechanical organs in the world, with a tower to climb. - Liepāja Museum (Centrs)
A local museum in an old merchant's villa with amber, history and the city's story.
Nature and Outdoors
- Liepāja Beach and Seaside Park (Jūrmalas parks)
A long sandy beach backed by a big park of old trees and walking paths. - Lake Pape Nature Park (Pape)
Wild horses and aurochs roam a coastal meadow reserve south of the city.
Shopping and Markets
- Pētertirgus Market (Centrs)
The covered town market for fish, smoked meats, vegetables and berries.
Things to Do
- Latvian Musicians' Walk of Fame (Rožu laukums)
Bronze plaques honour Latvian rock and pop musicians in the city of music. - Old Port Promenade (Vecā ostmala)
A canal side boardwalk with yachts and evening light, good for an easy stroll.
Bars and Nightlife
- Fontaine Palace (Centrs)
A legendary rock club and bar in an old wooden building, with live music most nights.
Events
- Summer Sound (Liepāja Beach)
A big summer music festival on the beach with Latvian and international acts.
Stays
- Hotel Promenade (Vecā ostmala)
A hotel in an old granary on the waterfront, close to the centre.
Places to Visit in Rundāle
Arts and Culture
- Rundāle Palace (Pilsrundāle)
A baroque palace by Rastrelli with gilded rooms and a French style rose garden.
Places to Visit in Ventspils
Things to Do
- Ventspils Castle (Ventspils)
A Livonian Order castle with modern exhibits in a tidy, family friendly port town.
Nature and Outdoors
- Cape Kolka (Kolka)
The point where the Gulf of Riga meets the open Baltic, with storm swept beaches and migrating birds. - Pāvilosta (Pāvilosta)
A small surfing and sailing village on the west coast with a wide empty beach.
Places to Visit in Daugavpils
Arts and Culture
- Mark Rothko Art Centre (Daugavpils Fortress)
An art centre in a nineteenth century fortress in the painter's home town. - Daugavpils Fortress (Daugavpils)
A huge, little visited nineteenth century fortress with barracks and ramparts.
More to Explore
We are still checking these with fresh sources, so confirm opening times before you go.
- Max Cekot Kitchen (Pārdaugava, Riga)
A chef's tasting menu restaurant that has helped put modern Latvian cooking on the map. - Istaba (Centrs, Riga)
A quirky upstairs restaurant and gallery above a little shop, with a daily chef's menu. - Fazenda Bazārs (Centrs, Riga)
A wooden house restaurant with homely seasonal cooking and a relaxed, romantic feel. - MiiT (Lāčplēša iela, Riga)
A relaxed café with simple vegetarian friendly food and a bicycle workshop vibe. - Parunāsim (Vecrīga, Riga)
A tiny hidden café with candles and antique furniture tucked behind the Old Town lanes. - Daugava Islands and Lucavsala (Lucavsala, Riga)
A green river island of allotment gardens, meadows and a small beach used mostly by locals. - Jūrmala City Festival (Majori, Jūrmala)
A summer weekend of concerts, beach events and fireworks along the coast. - Sigulda Opera Music Festival (Sigulda Castle, Sigulda)
A summer festival of opera and classical concerts on the castle ruins stage. - Hotel Segevold (Sigulda, Sigulda)
A small modern hotel close to the castle and the valley trails. - Riežupe Sand Caves (Kuldīga, Kuldīga)
Candlelit tunnels through sandstone near the river, cool even in summer. - Kuldīga Town Festival (Kuldīga, Kuldīga)
A summer weekend of concerts, markets and fun by the river. - Kuldīga Guesthouses (Kuldīga, Kuldīga)
Small family guesthouses in old town houses are the best way to stay here. - Pastnieka Māja (Centrs, Liepāja)
A restaurant in the old post office building serving Latvian and local seafood dishes. - Riga Street Art Walk (Ķīpsala and Pārdaugava, Riga)
Murals and street art across the river from the Old Town, best explored on foot.