10 amazing reasons to visit Latvia right now (2024)

ByMiriam Hours Last Updated
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Looking for reasons to visit Latvia? Let me convince you with these great facts about this Baltic country!

Visit Latvia

I have this good friend from Latvia. Ever since I met her, she has talked about the awesome Riga and how super double awesome it is.

Each time she gets back from Riga, she tells me how much sushi she’s had, or how great her Latvian hairdresser was, or how cheap things were. I once asked her how she kept her skin so soft. “I go to the spa. In Riga.”

Of course, she does.

So, I finally decided to visit Latvia myself, and I can honestly say that you should go, too!

It really IS that great, that cheap, and that awesome. And, there are so many reasons to visit Latvia.

Let’s take a look!

Read next: Why you should visit Latvia right now

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10 amazing reasons to visit Latvia

1. A cool medieval vibe

If you’ve never been to Europe, let me just say that Europe has the coolest medieval vibe IN THE WORLD.

Think haunted old castles, half-timbered houses, and cobblestone streets, some with city walls and towers. We have Dracula, the Lord Impaler. Need I say more?

However, whereas the medieval feel in Dubrovnik reminded me of Game of Thrones, I was taken back to an old heathen setting when I visited Latvia.

It felt like a place with tales and sagas, festivals celebrating nature, and with old, ancient folks dancing.

Visit Latvia
Do you sense the atmosphere?
Visit Latvia
The restaurant Rozengrāls. Go here if you want to splurge

2. Riga is affordable

Compared to Scandinavia and Western Europe, it’s very affordable to visit Riga.

Food, hotel, and transportation are cheap, and you can see all the major sights on foot because Riga is fairly small. It’s definitely a budget-friendly destination.

You know what? I didn’t spend a dime on sightseeing.

Food

A decent meal will only set you back 7 EURO. Budget meals cost €7-8, midrange are €8-16 and high-end are €15-30.

If you want traditional Latvian food without paying a fortune, go to Lido. It’s a restaurant network with a huge buffet for a set price of €16.

Lido serves lots of different soups, like Latvian cold beetroot soup and borscht, but also sausages, red meats, fish, and salads.

Accommodation

A dorm bed is €10-25, a midrange hotel is €25 and up, while a high-end hotel is €80 and up.

Transportation

Riga is best explored by foot, but you can also take the tram. It’s easy and you can buy tickets at Narvesen (kiosk), on the tram, or at your hotel/hostel. A ride on the tram can cost you as little as 1 euro.

You can choose between many different kinds of tickets, including tickets for one (€1.15), two (€2.30), four (€4.60), five (€5.75), ten (€10.90) and twenty (€20.70) rides, or tickets good for one (€5), three (€10) or five (€15) days of travel.

Get more info about ticket types and prices here.

And to my Danish and other Northern European readers: plane tickets are insanely cheap. From Copenhagen, they get as low as €33 for a return ticket and it’s only a 1.5-hour flight.

Visit Latvia
A yellow E-ticket for the tram. The ticket every traveler should go for

3. There’s free WIFI

And did I mention the free WIFI?

As a travel blogger and incurable WIFI-addict, I was stoked to find out that there’s an internet connection everywhere and most of it is free.

Visit Latvia

4. Stunning Baltic architecture

Another memorable thing about Latvia is the Baltic architecture, especially the Art Nouveau.

I recognized the churches and bell towers from what we have in Denmark and from Gdansk, but aside from that it was totally different.

Visit Latvia
Entrance to the Old Town
Visit Latvia
The Three Brothers
Riga, Latvia
The Nativity of Christ Cathedral
Riga, Latvia
House of the Blackheads

5. It’s a fairly hidden gem

The fact that Latvia is still fairly undiscovered only makes it more charming.

You’ll see tourists and other travelers in Riga, but it is by no means overrun or crowded like many other European capitals.

In my opinion, it has the perfect balance of authenticity and tourism.

❄️ Read next: 15 unforgettable things to do in Riga in winter

Riga, Latvia

6. It’s green and lush

You can visit Latvia all year round, but you should know that winters are frosty with temps dropping to -10 degrees.

If you visit from June to September, the streets will be alive, parks will be lush, and flowers bloom around gardens and the many green areas in Riga.

Riga, Latvia
Riga, Latvia
Riga, Latvia

7. It’s the perfect spa getaway

The best thing about Latvia though is the criminally cheap spas. Only in Asia have I had such amazing and extremely stupefyingly EPIC massages as in Latvia.

Ohmygoodness! And did I mention how cheap they were?!

I spent a whole day at ESPA Riga, a luxurious five-star spa, having facials, body scrubs, hour-long massages, pool and sauna time topped off with a gourmet 2-course meal and champagne.

The total price? Only €170.

We’re talking about the very best Latvia has to offer here, so of course it’s totally possible to get much cheaper spa experiences, too. If you were to get the same experience in Denmark, you would be paying over twice as much.

Riga, Latvia
Riga, Latvia
The pool and sauna area

8. Insanely cheap sushi

I come from a land where sushi is as expensive as gold. In Denmark, I pay €10 for one roll with 8 pieces. In Riga, I pay €4.

Latvians seem to have a thing for sushi because I saw sushi everywhere! My favorite place was Tokyo City, which is a hip restaurant chain.

They have this ongoing offer where you get 2 for the price of 1. So I ordered 1 Philadelphia roll and 1 salmon nigiri, but instead, I got 2 rolls and 2 nigiri for the same price.

Ps. Their menu cards are in Latvian, but there are big images of all the food so it’s easy to see what’s what.

Riga, Latvia
I’ll be back, Tokyo City!

9. A rich history

On a more serious note, Latvia has a long history of occupation.

For the past 500 years, it has been under foreign occupation, and The Museum Of Occupation gives you a glimpse into what the country has overcome.

Close by, you’ll find The Freedom Monument honoring soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920).

Both places are free to visit.

Riga, Latvia

10. Beautiful views

And last but not least – let’s not forget the views.

I don’t know if I was lucky or if the sunsets are generally this good, but I definitely saw some outstanding sunsets in Latvia.

It’s a great place, really. I stayed on a low budget and still got a high-end experience. Latvia is one of those places where you really get the most for your money, especially because it’s in Europe which is generally super expensive.

I’m definitely going back.

Riga, Latvia
Riga, Latvia

Don’t miss out on these posts about Riga

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Latvia is a great destination where you can get by on a low budget and still get a high-end experience. Riga is one of those places where you really get the most for your money, especially because it’s in Europe which is generally super expensive.

Miriam Risager is the founder of Adventurous Miriam. She has traveled to 62 countries in the past 18 years and has done most of it solo. She helps over 100,000 people per month plan their travel adventures across the world.

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58 Comments

      1. Hi miriam,
        i am planning to go in july month to riga and from there latvia and estonia.
        I have pinged you on insta and tweeted also.Please reply me i need some more info.

        Reply

  4. I enjoyed your review about Riga! I have family there so I visit often and will be going this summer!! You should next write about the wonderful Latvian food and Beer they have there! Though I look forward to reading about your visit to the SPA!!

    Reply

    1. Thanks, Linda! That’s a great idea! I was so consumed with the sushi that I neglected Latvian food. But at least now I have a great reason to come back 🙂

      Reply

  5. Thank you for the lovely post Miriam, I really enjoyed reading it.. I am from Latvia (living in the Isle of Man) and I am extremely proud of the country I came from. Thank you for the beautiful post! 🙂

    Reply

  7. My wife will be heading there tomorrow from Houston, Texas, USA where are temps are in the 70’s this time of year. She is nervous about the colder weather there. Any recommendations about dress.

    Reply

    1. Hi Mike, I spoke to my friend who just returned from Riga this Monday and she says it’s -15 degrees. Make sure to dress in layers and wear wool or/and fur, especially on your head.

      Have a great trip!

      Reply

    1. I like it a lot, too 🙂 Have you been there after dark when the bridge lights up? I missed that unfortunately, but I’ve heard it’s beautiful.

      Reply

  11. Thanks for sharing this wonderful post with us. By seeing your pictures one can know how beautiful Latvia is. Riga has plenty of nightspots to entertain stag parties during the evenings as well. A popular place to start is the Old Town, and particularly in the Town Hall Square.

    Reply

    1. Thanks Flora, and thanks for stopping by. One of the great things about Riga is that it caters to many different types of people and travelers. And, it’s perfect for a weekend getaway.

      Reply

  12. Thanks for good words about my country!
    Judging from images You have not been much outside Riga and then it is like judging whole France only by seeing Paris – there is a lot to see in Paris but even more – outside it. The same is true for Latvia 😉 To my mind most of the country is more welcoming, civilised and orderly than Riga. Try Kuldīga, Cēsis, Sigulda – you would be pleasantly surprised. Or Liepāja. And lots of nature with nature trails and wonders, cosy restaurants and country residences in between.

    Reply

    1. You’re absolutely right, Gatis. You can’t judge a country just by visiting one city. I guess with this post I wanted my readers to see Latvia as a destination and not just Riga. Personally, I’d love to return in the winter and explore the nature and countryside.

      Reply

  13. Hey Miriam!

    Thanks for a great article! Glad to see that you loved Riga so much. The article is really light-hearted.

    Keep on travelling and writing, you’re the real MVP! 😀

    Reply

  15. I can’t find the Riga list of things to do and see? Could you direct me?

    Riga sounds great. Did you do Tallinn too? I think Tallinn looks sublime.

    Reply

  16. Great Blog! Beautiful pictures. I am Kaveri, from India. Varun plan to visit Latvia in July. I was wondering what other places you would suggest we visit other than Riga and Jurmala.

    Reply

    1. Hi Kaveri,
      I’ve only been to Riga, so I don’t have any other suggestions for Latvia. You could always take a day trip to Lithuania or Estonia though. Have a great trip!

      Reply

  17. Hi Miriam!

    I loved your blog about Riga, it’s very informative! I’m going to Latvia in July. I’m curious as to how safe it is for young solo women traveling there?

    Reply

    1. Hi McKenzie,
      Thanks so much! Riga is safe for solo female travelers so no need to worry. I went there alone in the summer, too, and didn’t feel unsafe or vulnerable.

      Just use common sense, like don’t walk alone in deserted areas when it’s dark and beware of pickpockets and scammers. And stay away from the outside market area close to the Central Market – this area seemed very poor, dirty and unprotected. In the center, you can walk anywhere alone, no problem.

      Have an amazing trip – Riga is great!

      Reply

  18. You nailed it. I just returned from Latvia…side tei P from Copenhagen…and it’s just as you have described. Soooooo inexpensive. 5 star hotels for 50 Euro and spa deals too good to imagine. Food was cheap, but the quality was lacking. Very friendly people and no crowds. Amazing destination.

    Reply

  20. Latvia seems so stunning and definitely worth exploring, Miriam! It’s great to learn that it can be explored on foot and that there is free wi-fi almost everywhere. How many days would you recommend staying there to see all the highlights?

    Reply

    1. It’s a great country and somehow magically not overrun with tourists. I’d say 2-4 days in Riga would be suitable to get a good impression of the capital. I was there for 4 days and felt like I had lots of time 😀

      Reply

  21. Nice post about the beautiful Latvia country. i will visit in April to Riga. there is possible to find Indian restaurants. Please give me some more tips and information.

    Reply

  22. This world is full of surprises and there isn’t any doubt that a passionate traveler cannot just stop exploring the beautiful and breath-taking places.

    Reply

  24. I was just looking for an article about Latvia, its history, food, real estate. Thank you very much, very interesting and necessary article for me.

    Reply

  26. Hey
    The currency of Latvia is euro. There are several plural forms of the name ‘euro’. These are euro, euros. The symbol used for this currency is €, and it is abbreviated as EUR. Therefore, when you go there, do not forget about it.

    Reply

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