Latvia travel guide

Getting there

Riga International Airport is the largest airport in the Baltics; buses connect Riga with Tallinn and Vilnius, and ferries link Riga and Liepāja with Scandinavia and Germany.

Best time to visit: May–Sep – long days, beaches and the Midsummer festival.

Tougher months: November – dark and damp; winter from December is cold but atmospheric, with Christmas markets and snow.

Weather by month in Riga

• -1°J●
• 0°F●
• 4°M●
• 12°A●
• 18°M●
• 21°J●●
• 23°J●●
• 22°A●●
• 17°S●●
• 10°O●●
• 4°N●
• 1°D●

Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).

Time zone: Europe/Riga. Compare with your local time.

Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Latvia without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.

Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).

Official advisory: Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-04-01). Read the advisory.

Source and more: Latvia travel facts on RoamSun

Stay

Most trips to Latvia are based around Riga, Jūrmala or Sigulda. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.

Typical daily budget: about US$40–55 for a backpacker and US$90–160 mid-range, per person.

Source: RoamSun Latvia page · Browse hotel guides

Connect

Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.

Calling code: +371.

Mobile data: read the eSIM for Europe before you fly so the plan is installed and ready on landing.

Source: Advinne eSIM guide · RoamSun

Do

• Riga (Capital · UNESCO old town & Art Nouveau): The largest city in the Baltics blends medieval lanes, Art Nouveau boulevards and a lively food and bar scene.
• Jūrmala (Gulf of Riga · beach resort): A long beach resort town with spas and wooden villas, easily reached by train from Riga.
• Sigulda (Gauja National Park · castles & nature): A gateway to forest hikes, castle ruins at Turaida and adventure activities.
• Cēsis (Vidzeme · medieval town): A charming town with a well-preserved castle where visitors carry lanterns through the towers.
• Rundāle Palace (Zemgale · baroque palace): Latvia's grandest palace, set amid rose gardens in the countryside south of Riga.
• Kuldīga (Kurzeme · old town & waterfall): A picturesque town with a brick bridge, cobbled streets and the wide Venta waterfall.
• Liepāja (Baltic coast · port city): A city of music, beaches and the former military district of Karosta.
• Latgale (Eastern Latvia · lakes): A region of blue lakes, pottery traditions and the basilica at Aglona.

Things to do

• Stroll Riga's Old Town. Wander cobbled streets past the House of the Blackheads, St Peter's Church and medieval guild halls.
• Admire Art Nouveau architecture. Crane your neck at the fantastical façades of Alberta iela, one of the finest Art Nouveau streets in Europe.
• Browse Riga Central Market. Explore stalls of smoked fish, rye bread and honey in vast hangars originally built for Zeppelins.
• Tour Rundāle Palace. Visit a lavish baroque palace and its formal French gardens, designed by the architect of St Petersburg's Winter Palace.
• Hike in Gauja National Park. Explore sandstone cliffs, caves and medieval castles around Sigulda and Cēsis.
• Relax in Jūrmala. Walk a long white-sand beach backed by pine forest and wooden villas.
• Celebrate Midsummer (Jāņi). Wear a flower crown, jump over bonfires and eat caraway cheese with locals on the shortest night of the year.
• Visit Kuldīga. See Europe's widest waterfall, the low Ventas Rumba, in a charming red-roofed old town.

Source: full Latvia guide on RoamSun

Eat and drink

• Pelēkie zirņi – grey peas with bacon and onion
• Rupjmaize – dark, dense rye bread
• Smoked fish – sprats and other fish from the Baltic Sea
• Sklandrausis – sweet rye tart with carrot and potato filling

Source: RoamSun Latvia guide

Money and safety

Currency: Euro (EUR). Currency and plug checker.

Tipping: Around 10% for good service.

Emergency numbers: 112 general · 110 police · 113 ambulance.

• Latvia uses the euro; cards and contactless payment are widely accepted.
• ATMs are easy to find in towns and cities.
• Latvia is generally safe; watch for pickpockets in tourist areas and check bills carefully in nightlife venues.
• Use official taxis or ride-hailing apps rather than unmarked cars.

Source: RoamSun Latvia facts