Latvia

Why Latvia

There are destinations that you discover by chance, and that never leave you. Latvia is one of them. As soon as you leave the terminal of Riga airport, you are caught up in an old town that is unlike any other in Europe: thirteenth-century Hanseatic houses coexist with Art Nouveau facades so ornate, so baroque, so abundant that you would think festive cakes petrified in stone. UNESCO has said it, the architects know it: nowhere else can you find such a concentration of Art Nouveau buildings. Seven hundred and fifty buildings within a radius of a few streets. A world record that Riga wears with quiet elegance.

But Latvia is not just about its capital. Forty minutes away by car, the Gauja Valley plunges into a pine and birch forest that has been carved by the river for millions of years. Castles of the Livonian Order appear at the bend of the paths, red sandstone cliffs plunge into the meanders of the river, and in autumn the canopy turns red-orange in an almost religious silence. It is the green lung of the country, and one of the most beautiful national parks in the Baltic States.

To the west, the Baltic coast reasserts itself. White sandy beaches stretch for miles without a soul, lined with pine forests that smell of resin. Cape Kolka, where the Baltic Sea meets the Gulf of Riga in a clash of currents, is one of those places that makes you feel exactly where you need to be.

When to go

Latvia can be visited all year round, but each season has its own logic.

June to Augustis the high season: the nights last only a few hours (in Riga in June, it's still clear at 11 p.m.), festivals multiply, the beaches of Jürmala come alive. The feast of St. John (Jani, 23-24 June) is an explosion of collective joy throughout the country: bonfires, wreaths of flowers, traditional songs all night long. July and August also attract the Positivus Festival, one of the largest music festivals in the Baltic region.

May and Septemberare the months of the connoisseurs: crowds are absent, prices drop by 20 to 30%, and the spring or late season landscapes have a golden light that summer crushes under its vertical sun. The Gauja Valley in autumn, with its fiery maple trees, is a spectacle in its own right.

DecemberRiga Christmas Market is one of the most beautiful in Northern Europe, with garlands that illuminate medieval facades and stalls of hot cardamom coffee. And the city proudly claims to have invented the first public Christmas tree in history, in 1510.

Winter (January-March): sharp cold, short days, but a very authentic atmosphere in a city that lives for its inhabitants, not for tourists.

How much does it cost

Latvia has been in the Eurozone since 2014, which simplifies travel for the French. The cost of living remains significantly lower than in France: about 16 to 20% cheaper on average.

Expect to pay between 55 and 100 euros per person per day all inclusive (accommodation in a 3-star hotel, restaurant meals, local transport, entrances). For a high-end stay in the best hotels in Riga, the budget can reach 200 euros per day.

A meal in a local restaurant (traditional Latvian cuisine) costs 10-15 euros. A coffee costs 2-3 euros. The Riga-Sigulda train costs about 3 euros one way. The Riga-Jürmala train costs 1.50 euros.

A 7-day organized tour in Latvia starts from 480 euros per person excluding flights. A Paris-Riga return flight costs between 76 euros in low season and 280 euros in the middle of summer.

Where to go

Latvia is organised into four large territories, each with its own colour.

Rigais the heart of the journey. The medieval old town, the Art Nouveau streets of Alberta Iela, the central market under its zeppelin domes: it takes at least three days to grasp the layers of history. The capital's nightlife and gastronomy has experienced a remarkable boom in recent years.

Jürmala and the Gulf Coast of Rigaoffer an immediate change of scenery twenty minutes from the capital. The ornate wooden villas of the bourgeois families of the tsarist era are hidden in the pine trees, a stone's throw from the beaches that stretch as far as the eye can see.

The Gauja ValleyIt brings together the country's natural and medieval treasures. Sigulda and its castles, Cesis and its Livonese ruins, forest trails and sandstone caves: this region is the green heart of Latvia.

The Kurzeme and the Baltic coastare the wild Latvia. Kuldiga and its largest waterfall in Europe, Cape Kolka and its end-of-the-world horizons, Liepaja and its authentic port city atmosphere.

Our itineraries

There are three reasons to travel to Latvia: the city break concentrated in Riga and its immediate surroundings, the grand tour by car that crosses all facets of the country, or the integration into a circuit of the three Baltic capitals.

In pictures

Practical advice

Formalities

Latvia has been a member of the Schengen area since 2007. French nationals enter freely for up to 90 days with a valid passport or national identity card. Latvia has been using the euro since 2014: no exchange required.

For non-EU visitors: a single Schengen visa is valid for the entire area, including Latvia. Since 1 September 2025, a national electronic authorisation (Latvian ETA) is required for certain non-EU nationalities, to be requested on eta.gov.lv at least 48 hours before departure. This procedure does not apply to French or EU nationals.

Getting around

By plane:Riga International Airport (RIX) is the only hub in the country. Direct flight from Paris in 2h30 to 3h, operated by Air Baltic, Ryanair and other low-cost airlines. Connections exist from Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux, sometimes with stopovers.

By train:The Latvian railway network connects Riga with Jürmala (20 min), Sigulda (1 hour 15 minutes) and Cesis (2 hours). Tickets are very affordable (1.50 to 5 euros). For Kuldiga and the Baltic coast, train connections are non-existent or very limited.

By bus:Long-distance buses (Lux Express, FlixBus, Ecolines) connect Riga with the other Baltic capitals and Latvian cities. Comfortable and punctual.

By car:Essential for exploring the Kurzeme, the Baltic coast and less connected areas. Roads in good condition, right-hand drive. Rental from 35-50 euros per day. Parking is paid in the center of Riga.

Culture and uses

Latvia is a secular country with Lutheran roots, with a very strong national identity forged by centuries of foreign domination (German, Swedish, Russian, Soviet). Latvians are reserved at first but warm once contact is established. Some practical landmarks:

Language:Latvian is the official language. English is common in the tourist areas of Riga and among the younger generations. Russian is still understood by a large part of the population. A few words in Latvian: paldies (thank you), labdien (hello), ludzu (please).

Gastronomy:Nordic cuisine: dense and fragrant rye bread, sour cabbage and smoked meat soup, fried lake fish, cumin cream cheese (janu siers, traditionally served for St. John's Day). Riga's covered markets are the perfect place to discover local products.

Tips:Not compulsory but appreciated in restaurants (about 10%). Taxis and hotels do not always wait for them.

Tick-borne encephalitis:If you hike in the forest between April and November, wear covering clothing and use tick repellent. The tick-borne encephalitis vaccine (TBEF) is recommended for extended stays in nature.

Frequently asked questions