Latvia
Riga's old town, its Hanseatic past and the sandy Baltic coast are the main reasons to visit Latvia, a small country that works well for a week.
Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of northern Europe, one of three Baltic states, with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. Riga, its capital and largest city, has about 700,000 residents and about one million in the wider urban area. The Baltic Sea forms the western coast, and most of the land is lowland, with forests covering about 45% of the country. Latvia is a member of the European Union, NATO and the Schengen Area, and it has used the euro since 2014.
Riga is the obvious base for a first visit. Its old town and 19th-century boulevards took shape during the Russian Empire's growth years, and the city joined the Hanseatic League in 1282. Outside the capital, the coast has pine forests, dunes and long white sand beaches, and Gauja National Park in Vidzeme is one of four national parks. Summer, from June to August, is warm and sunny with cool evenings, averaging around 19 °C. Winters are cold and snowy, around -6 °C on average from mid-December to mid-March. Riga alone fills a few days; add the coast and a national park if you have a week.
Five things to know before Latvia
- File the Electronic Travel Declaration unless you are exempt
Since 1 September 2025, non-exempt nationals without a Latvian visa or permit file the online form 48 hours before entry. The list exempts the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Spain and more. Official declaration site
- Register under EES at your first Schengen border
Non-EU visitors give fingerprints and a face photo the first time they enter the Schengen area. Your days then count toward one shared limit of 90 in any 180 across all member countries. EES explained
- Start in Rīga and add Jūrmala by train
Rīga is the base for almost every trip, with the Old Town and the Art Nouveau district on foot. Suburban trains from Rīga Central reach Jūrmala in about half an hour. Rīga guide
- Stay out of the Belarus borderland
FCDO says access within 2 km of the Belarus border is limited and needs a special license from the Latvian Border Guard, and the Silene-Urbani crossing is closed. Latvia's borders with Russia and Belarus are the EU's external border. FCDO entry and safety advice
- Watch your bag in Rīga's busiest spots
FCDO flags bag snatching and pickpocketing in the Old Town, at the Central Market and at the central train and bus stations. Keep documents and valuables secure, and validate your public transport ticket as soon as you board. Rīga in 2 days
Latvia travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
The Old Town, Art Nouveau district, where to stay and Jūrmala.
Read the guideLithuaniaThe next Baltic neighbor to the south, with Vilnius.
Read the guideEstoniaThe Baltic neighbor to the north, with Tallinn.
Read the guideVisa checkerEntry rules by passport, checked against official pages.
Read the guideEES explainedFingerprints and a face photo at your first Schengen border.
Read the guideThe 90/180 ruleHow Schengen days add up across every member country.
Read the guideETIAS explainedNot running yet: what it will cost and who will need it.
Read the guide
Destinations in Latvia
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- €20
- Food
- €18
- Transport
- €3
- Sights
- €5
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- €45
- Food
- €45
- Transport
- €8
- Sights
- €15
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- €75
- Food
- €90
- Transport
- €25
- Sights
- €40
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuarySnow14 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh0°Low-4°Dark, icyJanuarySnow
- High
- 0°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, icy
- FebruaryCloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh1°Low-3°ColdFebruaryCloudy
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchCloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-1°ThawMarchCloudy
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low3°CoolAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°MidsummerJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Midsummer
- JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°WarmestJulyRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°WarmAugustRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°CrispSeptemberRain
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Crisp
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Cool, grayOctoberRain
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, gray
- NovemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low2°DarkNovemberRain
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark
- DecemberRain14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh2°Low-1°Markets, coldDecemberRain
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Markets, cold
Average daily high and low in Riga, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Latvia
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 94%
- Wind
- 2 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 1%
Latvia
10:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today8°3°1%Monday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Tue8°3°12%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Wed8°1°45%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Thu11°4°37%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Fri8°0°12%Friday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 12%.
- Sat9°4°25%Saturday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Sun8°2°24%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 24%.
Updated 07:07 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
NovemberSalzburg Christkindlmarkt
NovemberNuremberg Christkindlesmarkt
NovemberStrasbourg Christmas marketOn tour in Latvia: Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Riga, Jun 12, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Riga, Jul 4, 2027
Before you go to Latvia
Latvia FAQ
Do I need an Electronic Travel Declaration for Latvia?
Only if your passport is not on the official exempt list, which includes the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany and Spain. Everyone else without a Latvian visa or residence permit files it online at least 48 hours before entry.
Is Latvia in the Schengen area?
Yes. Most non-EU visitors register under EES at their first Schengen border, and days in Latvia count toward the shared 90 days in 180.
Can I cross between Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia without border checks?
Latvia's Border Guard says controls on the internal borders with Estonia and Lithuania were abolished in 2007, and the European Commission's list shows no Latvian controls. Poland checks its Lithuanian land border from 2 October 2026 to 30 March 2027, so carry your passport toward Poland.
How many days do I need in Riga?
Two days covers the old town, the Art Nouveau district and the Central Market. Add a day for Jūrmala.
Can I visit the Belarus border area?
Access within 2 km of the Belarus border is limited and needs a special license from the Latvian Border Guard, per FCDO. The Silene-Urbani crossing is closed, so plan routes elsewhere.