- Riga has one of the world's finest collections of Art Nouveau buildings
- The beach resort of Jūrmala is just 30 minutes from the capital by train
- Gauja National Park offers castles, caves and canoeing an hour from Riga
- Good flight links from the UK and cheaper prices than Scandinavia
- Airports
- Riga International (RIX)
- Flight time
- about 2h40 from London to Riga
- Best time to go
- May-September; December for Riga's Christmas market
- Currency
- Euro (€)
Latvia is the middle of the three Baltic states and home to the region's biggest city, Riga. Its UNESCO-listed centre mixes a medieval old town with streets of extravagant Art Nouveau facades, and its huge Central Market is housed in old Zeppelin hangars. Outside the capital, Latvia is mostly forest, lakes and empty white-sand beaches, with castles and manor houses hidden in the countryside.
Flights from London take about two hours 40 minutes, and Latvia is two hours ahead of the UK. Plugs are the European two-pin type (C and F) and cars drive on the right. English is widely spoken in Riga, and Russian is also heard. See our Europe guide for nearby countries.
Entry requirements
Latvia is in the EU and the Schengen area. British passport holders can usually visit visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period across Schengen countries. Your passport should have been issued within the last 10 years and be valid for at least three months after you leave. The EU's Entry/Exit System registers your fingerprints and photo on arrival. Rules change, so check GOV.UK foreign travel advice before booking.
Where to go in Latvia
Riga
Riga's old town has the House of the Blackheads, St Peter's Church with its lift to a viewing platform, and the Three Brothers, a row of medieval houses. Walk to Alberta and Elizabetes streets for the city's most ornate Art Nouveau buildings, and browse the Central Market for smoked fish, rye bread and local produce. The Latvian National Museum of Art and the Occupation Museum are both worthwhile.
Jūrmala
A string of seaside villages along a 30 km sandy beach, Jūrmala has long been the Baltic's favourite resort. Pine forests, wooden villas and spa hotels give it a relaxed feel, and it is an easy day trip from Riga.
Gauja National Park
Latvia's oldest national park centres on the Gauja river valley. Sigulda has Turaida Castle, sandstone caves and a bobsleigh track you can ride, while Cēsis has a medieval castle where you explore by lantern light. Canoeing and hiking are popular in summer.
Rundāle Palace and Bauska
South of Riga, Rundāle Palace is a baroque palace designed by Rastrelli, architect of St Petersburg's Winter Palace, with formal French gardens. It makes a good day trip combined with the castle at Bauska.
Kurzeme and the west coast
Kuldīga has one of Europe's widest waterfalls, Ventas Rumba, and a pretty old town. On the coast, Liepāja has a music scene and the old Karosta military district, and Cape Kolka is a wild spot where the Gulf of Riga meets the open Baltic.
Best time to visit Latvia
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Spring (April-May) | Cool, fresh and quiet; parks blossoming |
| Summer (June-August) | Warm, long days, Midsummer (Jāņi) festivities, beach weather |
| Autumn (September-October) | Golden forests, harvest, fewer visitors |
| Winter (November-March) | Cold and dark, often snowy; Christmas market in Riga's Dome Square |
Midsummer, on 23-24 June, is Latvia's biggest celebration, but many Rigans head to the countryside, so city shops and restaurants may close or run reduced hours.
Getting to Latvia from the UK
Riga is well connected, with direct flights from London on airBaltic, Ryanair and Wizz Air, and from several regional airports including Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow on some routes. Flight time is about two hours 40 minutes. Riga is a natural centre for a Baltic tour; buses reach Tallinn in Estonia and Vilnius in Lithuania in about four hours.
Getting around
Riga's old town is walkable, and trams, trolleybuses and buses cover the city. Bus 22 links the airport with the centre. Trains run to Jūrmala, Sigulda and Cēsis, and buses go almost everywhere else. Hiring a car is easy and makes sense for the countryside, Rundāle and the west coast. Bolt and other ride-hailing apps are cheap and widely used.
Money and costs
Latvia uses the euro, and cards are accepted almost everywhere. It is good value compared with Western Europe and Scandinavia: allow roughly €70-120 per person per day for a mid-range trip including accommodation. Watch out in some old town bars and clubs that target stag parties with inflated prices. A tip of around 10% is customary for good restaurant service.
Frequently asked questions
Is Riga good for a city break?
Yes. It has great architecture, good food and nightlife, and frequent flights, and three days is ideal.
Can you swim in the Baltic in Latvia?
Yes, in summer. Jūrmala's waters are shallow and usually reach around 18-20 °C in July and August.
What is the best Baltic capital to visit?
Riga is the biggest and liveliest, Tallinn has the most complete medieval old town, and Vilnius has baroque churches and a laid-back feel. All three make a great combined trip.
Is Latvia expensive?
Not especially. Accommodation and eating out are cheaper than in the UK, though prices in central Riga have risen.
Written by
Emma City breaks & deals editor
Emma plans city breaks the way other people plan the weekly shop: on a budget, with a spreadsheet and a backup plan. She covers city guides and deal-hunting.
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