Top places to see in Latvia

If you’re planning a trip to Latvia, a true hidden gem in the Baltics, be sure to add the following suggestions for an authentic experience.

From the charm of Riga to the wild beauty of Kemeri National Park and Jūrkalne’s sandy shores, I’ll show you the top places to see in Latvia !

Note : We visited Latvia as part of a road trip from Estonia to Lithuania, so the stops we made were roughly along the Tallin-Vilnius route.

Gauja National Park is the largest and oldest national park in Latvia. It is known for its sandstone cliffs, dense forests, and the Gauja River. You will also find medieval castles, caves, and hiking trails. As it was a bit of a detour from the route to Riga, we sadly skipped this one, but if you have the time, it is definitely a beautiful nature spot.

When visiting Latvia, exploring the capital city is a must-do. Riga is a lively, historic city with charming cobbled streets, Art Nouveau architecture, little markets, and scenic views along the Daugava River.

If you want the perfect itinerary to discover the city in a day, check out this article.

Ķemeri National Park is a huge forest, with wetlands and bog landscapes. Established in 1997, the park offers a great opportunity for a walk on a wooden boardwalk through the bogs.

One of the park’s main highlights, Lielais Ķemeru Tīrelis is a stunning bog with a boardwalk trail leading through small ponds.

Known as the “Town of Nine Hills,” Talsi is very small but cute town in Latvia. I would recommend it to take a break from your road trip and walk around the lake, but only for a short moment because there’s not so much going on.

The Jūrkalne Seashore is a beautiful stretch of coastline in Latvia known for its impressive, steep cliffs and wide sandy beaches. It is truly an untouched and peaceful place, worth exploring on your way down to Lithuania.

Located along Latvia’s southwestern coast, Pape Nature Park is a wild area with wetlands, coastal dunes, and pine forests. It’s also a sanctuary for migratory birds and home to wildlife like wild horses, bison, and elk. The park offers walking trails and observation towers for birdwatching.

If you have more time to visit places a bit further away from Tallinn-to-Riga route, I’d recommend looking at : 

• Jägala waterfall : the tallest waterfall in Estonia
• Pakri Cliff : 30 meters cliff with dramatic limestone formations offering amazing views over the Baltic Sea.
• Tartu : Estonia’s second-largest city, known for its rich history and for being home of one of the oldest universities in Northern Europe

That’s it for my recommendations on top places to see in Latvia ! Whether you’re exploring the scenic trails of Kemeri National Park, discovering the history of Riga or relaxing at Jūrkalne Seashore, these different places provide a great palette of the country’s cultural and natural diversity. 

If you want to spend a day visiting Riga, check out my article here to know what to see and do. 

If you need a custom itinerary, you can fill this form and I’ll make your own personalised itinerary.