Latvia: Travelling

Transportation From Airport to City Centre:

Airport	Distance	Taxi	Bus	Train	Car Rental
Riga (RIX)	11 km / 7 miles	EUR 8-15 / 15-25 min	EUR 0.60 / 30 min	-	Available

Means of Transport Recommended in the Rest of the Country

Train reservation services

Trains in Latvia

Major airlines

You Can Consult The EU Air Safety List. Look Also at the rating of the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Different Forms of Tourism

Historical

In Riga, in the historic center (the old town), there is a collection of Art Nouveau buildings realized between 1895 and 1912 by Mikhail Eisenstein. Thanks to this greatest concentration of buildings in this style, the historic center of Riga was included, in 1997, in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The monuments to visit are: Riga Cathedral, the Church of St Peter in Riga, The House of the Blackheads, the Nativity of Christ Cathedral in Riga.

Cultural

Once every five years the choirs of all the villages and all the towns gather in Riga to sing at the Festival of Song. They are not professional musicians but Latvians of different ages, education and convictions who sing together. Thirteen thousand people get up at half past five in the morning for the final rehearsal. In 2003, the Festival of Song and Dance was awarded UNESCO Unique World Cultural Heritage status.

Nature

The protection of nature is a current preoccupation, and, together with fortunate circumstances, it has produced good results - Latvia is recognized as a country with greater biological diversity than most other European countries. The country has unpolluted rivers and lakes, which in turn enclose prairies and forests; it also has fine sandy beaches which are clean and isolated, where you can walk for kilometers, without seeing any human beings or any trace of civilization. Latvia has three national parks: Gauja National Park (1973), Kemeri National Park (1997) and Slitere National Park (1999). There are other natural parks such as: Daugavas ieleja, Vecumu mezi, Bauska etc. The National Parks have an extraordinary variety of habitats, and many historical and cultural monuments. They play a fundamental role not only in the protection of nature, but also in research, education and recreation.

Religious

Because of its advantageous geographical situation, Latvia was invaded by neighboring countries and this largely determined the destiny of the country and its people. In the 13th century, a confederation of feudal nations by the name of Livonia, was set up under Germanic domination, which explains the strong presence of evangelical Lutheran churches. In Riga: the magnificent red brick gothic Cathedral of St Mary, the Church of St Peter, the Dome Cathedral in the center of the old town. There are several castles and palaces in Latvia such as Biron Castle in Jelgava, Rundale Palace, Bauska Palace etc.

Thermal

Not so long ago, the spas and well-being activities were reserved for a rich and famous clientele. Today they are open to everyone.

Beach

Jurmala is a Latvian town very popular with tourists, as it is located on the Bay of Riga, 25 km from Riga, 20 minutes' drive away. This city has 16 beaches.
The most well-known seaside resort is Majori, with Jomas Street, its main street, lined with small cafés and friendly restaurants, night clubs and shops. There are also beaches on the Baltic Sea, such as Ventspils.

Winter Sports

The town of Sigulda is a rest center, a place for tourism and winter sports. There are ski slopes and ski jumps. The town has sports facilities such as a toboggan slope which can hold official international bobsleigh competitions, or sledge or skeleton. The national sport is ice hockey.

Outdoor Activities

There are many possibilities for outdoor activities.

Shopping

Latvia is not considered as a center for shopping, but you can find almost all you need. The best place for shopping is Riga. Besides the markets, there are boutiques and shopping malls like the Central Gallery or Mols, with restaurants, pubs and night clubs.

Tourism Organisations

Information portal on tourism in Latvia

Health and Safety

Health Precautions

There are no vaccination requirements, but vaccination against tick-borne encephalitis is advisable if you are staying in the forest. Hepatitis A and B and typhoid vaccinations are also advisable.

For Further Information on Sanitary Conditions

International guide for travelers - Latvia

Time Difference and Climate

Time and Time Difference

It is %T:%M %A In Riga (GMT+2 in winter, GMT+3 in summer)

Summer Time Period

Summer time from March to October