Discover Latvia
Rīga is Art Nouveau wearing a leather jacket.
Riga's elegant facades, deep forests and a quietly excellent craft and music scene.
Capital
Riga
Currency
Euro (€)
Best Time
May to September
Vibe
Elegant, calm, cultured
Budget
$$$Why Latvia
Latvia is the Baltic middle child — affordable, atmospheric, and full of surprises from forest spas to medieval old towns.
Must Try
- Black Balsam mixed with blackcurrant juice
- Rye bread soup (a sweet dessert!)
- Smoked fish from the Riga market
Must Visit
- Rīga's Art Nouveau district
- Jūrmala beach in summer
- Cēsis castle ruins
Before You Go
- Latvian and Russian are both spoken; English in cities
- The midsummer Jāņi festival is a real public holiday
- Cards work everywhere
Local Legend
The Bremen Town Musicians statue near Rīga's old town has its donkey's nose rubbed gold by passers-by — Latvians say one wish, made silently while touching all four animals, will come true. The donkey gets the most attention.
Explore by Category
What to Visit in Latvia
Cities
- Riga
Landmarks
- Rīga's Art Nouveau district
- Cēsis castle ruins
Nature Spots
- Jūrmala beach in summer
- Kuldīga's wide waterfall
Stories from Latvia
View allfirst-day
Local insight
A Black Balsam shot in a Rīga cellar bar tasted like 24 herbs arguing politely. The bartender, smiling, said: 'It's a medicine. Travellers just like travellers' medicine.'
hidden
A local legend
The Bremen Town Musicians statue near Rīga's old town has its donkey's nose rubbed gold by passers-by — Latvians say one wish, made silently while touching all four animals, will come true. The donkey gets the most attention.
sunset
The one line that stays
Rīga is Art Nouveau wearing a leather jacket.
4 Quizzes about Latvia
View allFood Lover Quiz
Which Latvia flavour matches you?
Destination Quiz
Which Latvia corner should you visit first?
Culture Quiz
Test your Latvia custom know-how.
Adventure Quiz
What's your Latvia adventure style?
On the map
Where is Latvia?
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