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Latvia may not be the first destination that comes to mind when you think about where to go for your next trip to Europe, but this beautiful and underrated country should really be on your radar.
I just returned from an organized trip to Latvia, and I was blown away by everything this destination had to offer!
If you’re looking for an underrated hidden gem for your next European escape, here’s why you should plan a trip to Latvia.
Off the beaten track
First and foremost: where exactly is Latvia? It is one of the three Baltic states in Northern Europe, located between Estonia in the north and Lithuania in the south.
Latvia is about the size of the US state of Massachusetts and is sparsely populated with fewer than 1.9 million inhabitants.
One of the best things about Latvia is that it is still off the beaten path, especially for American travelers.
You will not find crowds or negative effects of overtourism here.
It’s the perfect place to go if you want to discover an authentic hidden gem in Europe.
A charming capital
Riga is the logical place to start your trip to Latvia. This capital has a beautiful Old Town full of colorful historic buildings and cobbled streets, while the surrounding neighborhoods are filled with examples of 20th-century Art Nouveau architecture.
Nicknamed the Paris of the Baltics, Riga is a great city to explore for a day or two.
There are several cool museums worth visiting in Riga – the Riga Art Nouveau Center, the Latvian National Art Museum and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia are the ones you should visit.
One of my favorite things about Riga? The parks!
Between the old town and the city center there are a number of beautiful parks and green spaces where you can enjoy walking.
Where should you eat in Riga? These were some of my favorite restaurants:
- Lidojošā Varde: This cafe, whose name translates to The Flying Frog, is a great place for lunch. I loved sitting outside on their covered patio!
- Restaurant Neiburgs: A delicious and healthy restaurant where you can enjoy a delicious dinner.
- Gutenberg’s Terase: Riga’s best rooftop restaurant with views over the Old Town.
You shouldn’t miss either Black magica cocktail bar with a speakeasy atmosphere that also has a delicious range of Latvian chocolate and confectionery!
As for where to stay in Riga, I was met by Great Poet by Semarah and found this to be the perfect location, just a five minute walk from the Old Town and across the road from a park and the river.
Stunning natural beauty
Latvia is a surprisingly beautiful country. After spending a few days in the capital, you should get out of the city and see more of the countryside!
No, it doesn’t have the impressive mountains of Switzerland or the dramatic islands of Greece… Latvia’s nature, on the other hand, offers more tranquil beauty.
I loved the quiet beauty of it Gauja National Parkwhich includes the two popular tourist destinations of Sigulda and Cesis.
Kemeri National Park, which is close to the seaside resort of Jurmala, is another unique nature reserve to visit. It’s all swamps and wetlands, and there are wooden boardwalks that lead throughout the park so you can explore this unique ecosystem.
Escape the heat
I visited Latvia at the end of June and the weather was great. Every day it was in the late sixties or early seventies, and it was usually sunny, but never too hot.
Summer in Latvia is perfect because you can escape the heat of southern Europe and enjoy a mild, fresh climate instead. I loved being able to walk around outside for hours without sweating or worrying about getting sunburned the entire time.
With an increase in scorching summer temperatures and deadly heat waves, many travelers are avoiding traditionally popular destinations such as Italy, Greece and Spain during the summer months and instead look for a cooler alternative.
This is where Latvia is located perfect. You can actually be outside and enjoy nature during the summer, instead of counting down the minutes until you can be in an air-conditioned room again.
Lots of history
If you are a history buff, or like me, and enjoy exploring fairytale castles across Europe, Latvia will not disappoint you.
One of my favorite historical sights was Cesis Castle. This medieval castle has not been reconstructed like many other castles, so it preserves the true history of the place very well. It dates back to the 12th century, when Latvia was part of Livonia.
I also enjoyed visiting Rundale Palace. This 18th-century palace was built for the Duke of Courland (who ruled Latvia at the time) and features beautiful rococo architecture and beautiful gardens.
For more recent history I recommend visiting the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. This museum delves into the occupation of Latvia by the Nazis during World War II and the Soviets for 45 years afterward, culminating in Latvia’s independence in 1991.
Very safe
Is Latvia safe? Yes very much! As a solo female traveler, I felt incredibly safe the entire time I was in Latvia.
Latvia, like the rest of the Baltic countries, is extremely safe, which is one of the reasons that all three countries are popular with solo travelers.
In addition to having a very low crime rate, Latvia is also easy to navigate. You shouldn’t have any trouble getting around, whether you rent a car and drive yourself, or take trains and buses.
The level of English spoken in Latvia is quite high, especially in the areas popular with tourists. You should also have no trouble communicating while in Latvia.
Unique culture and traditions
Finally, one of the best reasons to visit Latvia is to experience the country’s unique culture and traditions.
For such a small country that was occupied for so long in the 20th century before gaining independence, I was amazed at how unique and well preserved Latvia’s culture and traditions are. For example, there are dozens of them thousands of recorded Latvian folk songs, many of which date back to Latvia’s pagan pre-Christian era.
It is not unusual for Latvians to wear traditional clothing for special occasions, and folk songs and dances are a point of pride.
I was in Latvia for the summer solstice, known as ligo in Latvia. This holiday is celebrated with folk songs, bonfires, flower crowns, traditional costumes and other traditions. Participate in a summer solstice celebration in the small town Ligatne was an experience I will never forget!
What to do in Latvia
So now we have the Why of visiting Latvia, but let’s talk about what you should actually do!
If you are short on time, I recommend basing yourself Riga. You can easily spend a whole day exploring the capital. From Riga you can easily make day trips to the seaside resort Jurmala (30 minutes by train) and the charming town Sigulda (1 hour and 10 minutes by train.)
However, if you have more time, I recommend renting a car so you can explore more of the country. With a few extra days you should also visit Cesis (home to beautiful old castles and a beautiful Gauja National Park) and Bauska (more historic castles and palaces – Rundale Palace is a must!)
How much time do you need?
I spent four full days in Latvia and this was it just now plenty of time to see many of the places I wanted to see, but I soon felt like I could spend a few extra days seeing and doing more!
At the very least, I’d say four days is a good amount of time for Latvia.
Especially if you combine a visit to Latvia with the neighboring Baltic countries of Estonia and Lithuania, you can spend about four days in each country without rushing too much, and you will be able to see more than just the capitals.
Speaking of which, I think combining a visit to Latvia with the other Baltic countries is a great idea. It’s super easy to travel between all three countries and they combine well for a two-week trip.
That said, Latvia stands alone as a destination, and if you have the time, you can easily spend a week or more in Latvia alone!
Travel to Latvia
There are no direct flights to Latvia from the United States, but you can easily fly to Riga from almost any major city in Europe.
If you combine a trip to Latvia with visits to the other Baltic states, you can easily take a bus from Tallinn, Estonia to Riga in under 4.5 hours, and on to Vilnius, Lithuania in just over 4 hours.
When it comes to transportation in the country, there are trains you can take from Riga to some destinations, but I think it’s best to have a car. This gives you maximum flexibility during your travels, and driving and finding free parking is very easy in Latvia.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
