Latvia Travel Guide.

There are also lots of historical things to enjoy including medieval castles dotted around the country. Old Riga has some architectural monuments which attract many visitors.

Latvia Tourist Board: The official website for the Latvian National Tourist Office – a useful resource for planning your trip to Latvia.

Know Before You Go: Travel advice from the FCO for Latvia.

Things to see and do

• Latvia’s attractions are well worth exploring by car; these include some beautiful coastal towns and beaches, the caves and castles of the Gauja Valley and the cosmopolitan capital Riga.
• Picnic beside Latvia’s highest waterfall at Kuldiga, on the banks of the River Venta.
• Visit Latvia's largest holiday resort and its long sandy beach. The resort has a wide variety of hotels some of which have spa facilities and treatments.
• Hike the trails of the national parks.
• Ski or snowboard down the Vidzeme Hills.

Festivals and events

• Forest of Sounds Festival held in Riga is made up of performances by quirky and unconventional musical artists. (May)
• The Extreme Sports Festival held in Andrejsala on the beach showcases BMX, skating among many others. (May)
• French Spring Festival has performances by both Latvian and French musicians in venues across the capital, Riga. (April-June)

Time difference

GMT +2