Latvia sightseeing. Travel guide - attractions, sights, nature and touristic places
The majority of tourist routes in Latvia start with a visit to Riga. There’s nothing strange in that as in the capital it’s possible to see main symbols of the country and most interesting sights. The Riga Castle is one of the oldest buildings in the city. The castle was built in the 14th century and during its long history the purpose of the castle was changed several times. Today the castle is the president’s residence and location of several important museums – the Museum of Latvian History, the Museum of Foreign Art, museums of literature and music. The architectural complex named “The Three Brothers” is also a prominent landmark of Riga. These are the three buildings located on Maza Pils Street. The first building was constructed in the 15th century, and the remaining two were added a bit later. The buildings are made in same style and look quite fascinating together.
Latvia has a rich folklore heritage. Some customs existing in this country are not found anywhere else in the world. On December 25, Latvians …
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Latvia is known for its clean air, fertile soil, lush coniferous and deciduous forests covering almost half of the country's territory, and clean …
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History and Entertainment
The modern country started to be formed in 1201 when Bishop Albert Buxthoeven had ordered to establish the city of Riga. Eight years later, the first state called Livonia was formed. Consequently, it caused multiple military conflicts between big neighboring countries. The Russian Empire repeatedly tried to capture the territory of Livonia.
The Latvian nation was formed in the 17th century. One of its most difficult historical stages was a turn of the 19th - 20th centuries. It was marked by a series of revolutions and internal political conflicts aimed at achieving the complete independence of the country. Latvia became independent from Soviet Russia in 1918 and from the USSR in 1990.
These spots really worth the attention of a real traveler-researcher.
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Jurmala is notable for its enchanting beaches and fascinating parks. There are also magnificent forests near the resort. In Jurmala, a lot of festivals and other holidays involving tourists from different countries are annually celebrated. Liepaja that is very popular with fans of peaceful recreation is not limited only to beaches too. There are popular hiking routes near the resort. When walking, you can see interesting nature attractions. Liepaja is also distinguished by multiple jewelry shops where you can buy exclusive amber items.
Monuments and architectural objects, notable for the history and culture of the country.
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Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Latvia
Reference information
Map of all parks
National and city parks of Latvia
♥ Nature Park 'Adamovas ezers' . On the map
Photos
♥ Nature Park 'Aiviekstes paliene' . On the map
Photos
♥ Nature Park 'Bauska' . On the map
Photos
♥ Nature Park 'Beberbeķi' . On the map
Photos
♥ Nature Park 'Cirīša ezers' . On the map
Photos
Map of all palaces
Palaces in Latvia
♥ Palace 'Mitava Palace' . On the map
Photos
♥ Palace 'Rundale Palace' . On the map
Photos
Famous and uniques places in Latvia from our review series
Skrunda Town
From the series “The most famous buildings of communism”
The abandoned town of Skrunda is located in the historical region of Kurzeme in the western part of Latvia. It was founded in the communist era. The town was forgotten after its end. A small military town was founded in this place in 1969. The military had to live here permanently to maintain the new radar station. According to the agreement concluded between Russia and Latvia, this station had to operate until 1998. A major military town was emptied in a matter of months after its stop. You can see the abandoned five-story buildings here today. Thousands of people lived in them a few years ago. The checkpoint remained at the entrance to the town. Security was constantly on duty here until recently. But no one is guarding the ghost town today. All houses preserved on the territory of … Read all
Promenade Hotel
From the series “Best industrial-style loft hotels”
Travelers have the opportunity to use the services of the fashionable Promenade Hotel in Liepaja. It was opened in the building of the old granary. It was built in the city in 1797. The luxurious building with perfectly preserved interior architecture is considered the most valuable historical monument today. The old wooden ceilings, as well as the brick arches and supports, are preserved in the granary. Food supplies for the winter period were stored in the huge rooms of this building for many years. The granary provided food for the whole city. Beautiful rooms are equipped in spacious rooms today. Antique furniture and old works of art were used in their decoration. The Promenade Hotel is located on the banks of the canal. Ships have sailed it in the past. Grain was unloaded directly … Read all
Office of Evolution Gaming
From the series “Futuristic buildings of IT companies”
Travelers can see the original building with a glass tower while walking around Riga. The well-known company Evolution Gaming purchased this building for 12.4 million euros a few years ago. It is a major provider of IT services. The company has expanded significantly in recent years. This required the purchase of a new office building. The choice was made on one of the original buildings in Riga. The main representative office of this company in Europe is located in the capital of Latvia today. About 1,500 people currently work for the company. It is noteworthy that it was founded in 2006 in Latvia. The unusual building that the company acquired is a monument of modern architecture that is noticeable in Riga. If you look at it from the front side, it is quite an ordinary building with … Read all
Country maps
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com
Map of cities
![Cities map of Latvia]( "Cities map of Latvia")
Map of regions
![Map of regions in Latvia]( "Map of regions in Latvia")
Map of sights
![Map of sights in Latvia]( "Map of sights in Latvia")
Sightseeing in popular cities of Latvia
Riga
Three brothers. The architectural ensemble named Three Brothers , created in the XV, XVII and XVIII centuries, consists of three houses. These are the oldest stone buildings in Riga. The ensemble gives an idea of how people used to live in one of trading and artisan quarters of Riga. After a major restoration that was made in the 50s of the previous century the houses have been turned into architectural museums. Church of Maria Magdalena. The small church of Maria Magdalena was built … Read more 
Daugavpils
In 1577, the Russian tsar Ivan the Terrible captured the Livonian Dünaburg castle and ordered to build a new settlement on its site. This new town, Dvinsk, was continuously attracting Sweden and Poland, causing frequent armed conflicts. In the 50s of the 17th century, the Russians captured the town and renamed it as Borisoglebsk. This was not the end of fights for this region. In 1667, Poland captured the town, and Russia established its authority over the region again in 1772. For several … Read more
Jurmala
The beach located at the Majori district is usually the most crowded and noisy. It is an ideal place for all young travelers. The spacious beach has numerous sports grounds, beach gear rental offices, bars, and restaurants. Dubulti Beach is a calmer place perfect for peaceful relaxation. This beach also has a developed infrastructure. Fans of surfing usually head to another beach, Pumpuri, as this coastal area has waves nearly all the time. In summer, banks of the Lielupe River are transformed … Read more
Cesis
The history of the town started more than eight centuries ago. First mentions of this settlement date back to 1206. This is when Venden Castle was built in the area. The castle gave the town its first name. Initially, the castle was made from durable wood. A local tribe known as the Vends was the first dweller in the building. Modern Latvians originate from this tribe. The castle was rebuilt later, and wood was replaced with stones. At that time, this was the most protected fortress in the … Read more
Liepaja
Attention of tourists is drawn by an unusual building, built of red brick - the “old prison Karosta”. It was built in 1900 and lost its importance very recently. The prison worked in this historic building for nearly a hundred years. In 1997, the government of Liepaja decided to close the prison, and set up the museum in the historic building. The essence of the museum is very simple - it offers visitors a chance to feel themselves in the role of prisoners, walk around the cells and assess … Read more
Ventspils
A very unusual historical symbol of the city is the House of Writers and Translators - a miniature old house with a tiled roof. In the middle of the 19th century, this building housed the city hall. When it was decided to move it to a newer and larger building, the former Town Hall was equipped with a certain resemblance of a hotel, but only literary figures and translators were accepted. The tradition of taking cultural and art figures from all over the world into this historic home has … Read more
Bauska
According to historical data, first settlements in the territory of modern Bauska existed long before the 15th century. However, there are not many records left, and the information that we have now is very incomplete. Local settlements started developing actively in the mid-15th century. This is the time when a castle of the Livonian Order was built near the town. According to historic records, a settlement named Schildburg grew in this area. However, Gotthard von Kettler ordered to destroy … Read more
Liepajas Region
The park area was launched at the beginning of the 20th century. Initially, a sanatorium with baths and fountains was located on that site. Nowadays, the park is more than 50 hectares large and has roughly 150 trees and bushes of different species. In the middle of the 20th century, the richest people in the country were building their country houses in the park. Later, the gorgeous park area became open for general public. In summer, numerous cafes and restaurants work in the park. There are … Read more
