In addition to carefully preserved folk traditions and many masterpieces of urban architecture, Latvia still has a warm coast of the Baltic Sea, dozens of modern resorts, almost fifty old castles, famous amber, hundreds of lakes and mineral springs .Let's note, by the way, that excessive "overload" by tourists at the height of the season, characteristic for many mass directions, is not observed in Latvia .Even Jurmala, the most famous resort of the country, is not at all overcrowded with hotels .Sanatoriums in Latvia meanwhile are also few, some just begin to be rebuilt and updated .
Leave in Jurmala was once the cherished dream of every Soviet intellectual (for the broad folk such destination served, of course, "Sochi, where the dark nights"). Latvia, like other Baltic republics, played the role of such an "internal foreign country" in the USSR with a measured and even perhaps elegant seaside rest, a beautiful soft nature and an elusive fleur of forbidden western life, which, it is said, was especially evident in the days when the wind blew from the Gulf of Finland.
The capital is Riga, large cities - Daugavpils, Sigulda.
Popular resorts - Jurmala, Liepaja, Ventspils.
For a complete list of the cities of the country, search on the page of the city and the resorts of Latvia, and what to do in the country and when it is best to go here is devoted to the page tours to Latvia.
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How to get to Latvia
You can get from Moscow to Riga in three ways: by plane, train or bus. The most economical option is a bus ride from the Riga railway station (usually 10-14 hours, but the duration of the trip can increase bad weather or delay at the customs). From St. Petersburg you can get by buses of the company "Ecolines". And also, by train from Vitebsk railway station.
The train Moscow-Riga goes 16 hours, about two hours goes to the border crossing (customs inspection and other formalities). You can fly from Moscow to Riga by Aeroflot, Transaero, UTair and Air Baltic airlines in about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Riga International Airport is 7 km from the city center.
From Kiev you can fly to the country by plane for 1, 5 hours. You can get there by train from Simferopol, Kiev and Lviv. Buses to Riga depart from the Central Bus Station in Kiev.
From Belorussia (Minsk) to Latvia (Riga) also planes fly, there are trains and buses go.
Search for air tickets to Latvia - $
Visa to Latvia is
Latvia is included in the list of countries participating in the Schengen agreement. To visit the country, you need to issue a visa.
Customs
Import and export of foreign currency is not limited. When entering from the territory of non-EU countries, amounts exceeding 10 000 EUR are subject to mandatory declaration. Tobacco products can be carried in the amount of 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250 g of tobacco. The customs will skip one liter of strong drinks (with a strength of more than 22 °) or two liters with an alcohol content of less than 22 °. You can also carry 50 grams of perfume or 250 ml of toilet water. Medicines will be missed in the amount necessary for a tourist for personal use.
- Whether the big turn on border of Russia and Latvia
- What you need to know when crossing the border of Russia and Latvia
Useful phone numbers are
Embassy of Latvia in Moscow: st. Chaplygin, 3; telephone: (495) 232-97-60, 232-97-43; website
The visa center of Latvia in Moscow: 2-nd Volkonsky lane, 10; tel .: (495) 981-19-56 and 8-800-555-92-02
Embassy of Russia in Riga: st. Antonius, 2; tel .: (67) 332-151; website
Consulate General in Daugavpils: st. Kraslavas, 46; tel .: (654) 216-44; website
Consulate General of Russia in Liepaja: st. Liepu, 27; tel .: (634) 225-17, 313-93; website
Police: 02, first aid: 03
Transport of Latvia
The country can be quite comfortable traveling by train: in the cars is clean, seats - with soft upholstery. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office at the station or by the conductor (in the second case you have to pay 20-25% more).
Intercity buses are equipped with everything necessary and strictly adhere to the schedule, but the cost of the ticket for them is relatively high - from 3 to 5 LVL for a trip to close distances.
- Features of entry to Latvia by car
Auto Rental - $ 0
To rent a car you need to show international driver's license, credit card and pay the insurance fee.
Safety of tourists
Latvia is a fairly calm country in the criminal plan. Movement in the evening and night hours (except for areas of stations, ports and "flea markets") is almost completely safe. Water from the tap in Riga and Jurmala is suitable for drinking, in other areas it is recommended to still use bottled.
The climate of Latvia is
The climate of Latvia is transitional from marine to continental. The average temperature in July is from +18 to +20 ° C. In January, the coast of the Baltic Sea is about -2 ° C, in the eastern regions - up to -7 ° C. The sunny and driest month is May.
See also the weather forecast for the main resorts and in the cities of Latvia.
- What is the weather in Latvia in February and what can you visit at this time of year?
- What clothes should I take with me when traveling in Latvia in the spring?
Hotels in Latvia
The choice of hotels in the country is quite wide: from five-star hotels to campsites and youth hostels. Hotels in Riga - high level. Most hotels are renovated, restored or bought and reconstructed by famous world chains.
Voltage in the network - 220 V, 50 Hz, there are both old sockets with two round holes, and new three-pin sockets with grounding.
Book hotel in Latvia at the best price
Money
Since January 1, 2014, the official currency has become EUR. From January 1 to January 14, everywhere it was possible to calculate both lats and EUR. However, since January 15, 2014, the republic has completely switched to a single European currency.
A large number of currency exchange points are located in hotels, shops, post offices and railway stations. The working hours of banks: from Monday to Friday from 9:00 to 16:00, some work on Saturdays from 9:00 to 12:30.
In restaurants, the percentage of service is usually already included in the bill. Otherwise, the waiter can be left "for tea" 5-10%. It is also customary to tip taxi drivers and hotel employees.
Shopping and shops in Latvia
Products from wood, ceramics and amber, Riga balsam Melnais Balzams, chocolate candies of confectionary factory "Laima". Good jersey, especially cotton. Many quality products from the Scandinavian countries. Shops work mainly from 10:00 to 19:00 and, as a rule, without a break for lunch. On Sundays most stores are closed.
Products from wood, ceramics and amber, the famous Riga balsam Melnais Balzams, chocolate candies of the famous confectionery factory Laima. Good jersey, especially cotton. Many quality products from Scandinavia.
- What are the conditions for registration of tax free in Latvia?
Kitchen and restaurants
In Latvia, dishes from fish and potatoes are especially popular. It is worth trying the Baltic salmon (good in all types), casserole from herring with boiled potatoes, baked with cheese potatoes. From meat dishes you can taste chicken soup puree, patties with bacon, original "cheese" from the pig's head, mutton in caraway sauce, fried ribs on pork ribs, as well as steak under onion sauce "clopps."
In Riga, there are many cozy restaurants with moderate (by Moscow standards) prices. The most popular restaurant chain is Lido. It is also worth visiting the fish pavilion of the Central Market in Riga and try numerous delicacies. Of the beverages, Aldara Zelta draft beer and, of course, the famous "Black Riga balsam" are worthy of attention.
In restaurants, the percentage of service is usually already included in the bill. If there is no such line in the account, the waiter can be left "for tea" 5-10%. It is also customary to tip taxi drivers and hotel employees.
Entertainment, Excursions and Attractions of Latvia
Daugavpils, the second largest city in Latvia, is 230 km from the capital, near the borders with Belarus, Lithuania and Russia. The main attractions of the city are the Daugavpils Fortress, the Church of Peter and Paul, the Borisoglebskaya Church, the Daugavas Loki Nature Park, the picturesque Stropsky Lake and beautiful pine forests in its surroundings.
One of the most charming cities in Latvia is Cesis. There they come to see the site of the fortification "Riekstu kalis" (Nut Mountain) with the remains of ancient fortifications in the streets of Valnu and Palasta, the famous Cesis Castle, the "New Castle" of the estate of Count Sievers, the Palace Park, the Church of St. John with a beautiful organ and ancient a solar clock, as well as the main monument of the city - Victory Monument.
Sigulda is "Latvian Switzerland" and one of the most visited cities in Latvia. It is famous for its national park, the ruins of the Sigulda Castle, the ancient castle of Turaida, the estate of Prince Kropotkin with the Turaida Lutheran Church, the sculpture park, and the stunning nature of the Gauja Valley.
- To visit the exciting racing competitions held at the military base in Vainods.
- To ride with the breeze on the last passenger narrow-gauge railway in Latvia, which is located between Aluksne and Gulbene.
- Impress, visiting the huge fish pavilion of the Riga market.
- Try the delicious Riga sweets and spicy black balsam in the chain of "Laima" and "Latvijas Balzams" stores.
- To find in the labyrinth of Riga's streets a famous inn in which D'Artagnan discussed plans with his friends for revenge to the cardinal.
Tourists in Latvia should definitely visit medieval castles with theatrical performances - for example, in Jaunpils, Sigulda and Ventspils. In 80 km from Riga there is the most beautiful palace of Latvia in baroque style - Rundalsky. Also interesting are the Latvian nature reserves of Grini, Moitssala, Slītere and others.
More in detail about all interesting places of the country it is told on page sights of Latvia. Photos of Latvia (207)