Latvia Holidays & Holiday Itineraries
(5/5)
based on 59 reviews
Holidays in Latvia offer a wide array of options from coastal holidays to architectural city breaks, activity holidays, country holidays and much more. With such a wide range of choices, you are to find your holiday wish fulfilled.
Latvia is located on the eastern shores of the Baltic Sea, and is the middle country of the Baltic States. It is roughly the same size as Ireland and is home to 2.3 million people. Of the three Baltic States, it is probably the most culturally diverse, with about a third of its population of Russian origin. This diversity is most prevalent in the capital city of Riga, which has re-established its pre - Soviet reputation as a vibrant, cosmopolitan city that rivals Prague.
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What is there to do in Latvia?
Despite foreign rule from the 13th to 20th centuries, the Latvian nation has maintained its identity throughout the generations via its language and musical traditions. Established as an independent country in 1918, its separate status was interrupted by the Second World War and its subsequent incorporation into the Soviet system and state. After the fall of the Soviet empire, Latvia and its fellow Baltic nations achieved true independence through the marvelously named Singing Revolution with Latvia reaching this milestone in August 1991.
Through the recently aired BBC programme, 'The Hairy Bikers Northern Exposure', we have re-acquainted with our colourful neighbours from the Baltics. The Hairy Bikers serve up a dish full of the splendour of Baltic culture, history, architecture and last, but not least, the traditional Baltic cuisine. The programme shows us all there is to know about comfort food from across the Baltic Sea region. Latvia, with the coastal region toward the Baltic sea, offers great traditional dishes with fresh fish and sea food, alongside wonderfully coloured salads and pickled condiments drawing on Russian and Polish influences.
Places to visit while on your Latvia holidays:
Riga is by no means Latvia's only place of interest for Latvia holidays. To escape the city for some relaxation, Latvians head for Sigulda. Often referred to as 'Little Switzerland', it is less than 1 hour from Riga and is an ideal day trip. It includes a rare combination of a medieval castle, picturesque national park, eerie caves and for the more active, even a bobsleigh run!
Just a little further than Sigulda lies Cesis, which has a wonderful old town, as well as the famous Cesis brewery.
For coastal and spa holidays there is Jurmala, Latvia's premier spa resort town, situated on the Riga Gulf coast, just 15 miles from Riga. It's known both as a beach resort, with its 20 miles of fine white sand beaches edged by vast pine forests, and as a spa resort, offering a range of relaxation and health programmes. You can also find picturesque wooden summer cottages built over 100 years ago, which make an interesting contrast to the Soviet era compounds built for the enjoyment of Communist Party chiefs, in what was one of their favourite summer resorts.
Approximately 1 hour south of Riga lies the Bauska region, near the Lithuanian border. The region is famed for its manor houses, castles and palaces from medieval to classical. Not to be missed is the Rundale Palace, which is Latvia's answer to Versailles. Built in the 1730's as a summer home for the Duke of Courland, it was created by the same architect who designed the infamous Winter Palace in St Petersburg.
If you watched War and Peace on BBC, here is your chance to visit the stunning War and Peace locations. Contact us to follow in the footsteps of the filming of War and Peace.
Latvia holidays have a lot to offer. It's not just a city break destination, but also an enjoyable destination for a longer trip to explore this diverse and interesting country.
We know Latvia and we can take you there.
Reviews of Latvia Holidays & Holiday Itineraries
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Jackie H
August 2013
Overall rating:
(5/5)
Dear Veronika
I want to say thank you for arranging our trip it all went very smoothly. On the downside we felt we didn't have enough time in Vilnius, and on the tour many of the hotels were a long walk into town, while the room in Tallin at the end was far better placed but very, very small. We loved our time in Riga and Tallin and the icing on the cake was ending the trip in Kuressaare. We loved the Baltic countries and thank you for your patience!
Kind regards
Jackie H
David
July 2013
Overall rating:
(5/5)
The trip was wonderful, we really enjoyed it and feel everything you did to set it up was first class. Thank you
I will be more than happy to recommend you and your company should I have the opportunity. I have already told a number of people what a great trip it was and how they should go to the Baltics. Perhaps some will. Thank you again
Velta
July 2013
Overall rating:
(5/5)
Hello Daina
We've been back home for over a week now.
We all enjoyed the holiday very much.
Your organisation of the whole trip was excellent!
Many thanks from us all.
The hotels were all fine, and the guided-tours were very interesting. Also, because there were only the 3 of us, we had plenty of opportunity to ask questions.
A nice introduction to the tour of Riga was the sampling of "Janu siers un Janu alus".
In Cesis the guide wore medieval Latvian costume, which looked lovely.
The tour of Sigulda on bicycles made a nice change too.
The cycle-ride through the forest was beautiful - so much forest!!
Canoeing on the Gauja was lovely too: peaceful, and pleasantly cooler than on land, as the weather was HOT.
Maris (Bike and Canoe Rent) was helpful too.
We particularly liked Ligatne.
We also loved seeing so many frogs, and especially ALL the storks and their chicks on their nests!
I would like to mention 3 things though, of which it might be useful to warn other tourists:
1. In the forest we were plagued by flies, and received many bites. A good insect-repellent would be a useful item to recommend.
2. We each brought a mobile-phone with us from England or Ireland. None of them worked in Latvia. We couldn't text, or make calls on them, which caused us some difficulty. This happened to me and Anne in 2008, and we had hoped that this wouldn't happen again, but it did.
In the end, I bought a cheap mobile-phone out in Latvia to use during our stay.
3. On the forest cycle-ride, we were following orange markers on the trees, which indicated our route. This worked very well, except for in one place, where the route forked backwards to the right and the marker wasn't visible, from our direction. Instead we went to the left towards a house in a lovely spot, where a very helpful, friendly man lives with his family. He showed us around. It was very interesting! This house was ABOUT half-way between Valmiera and Cesis - maybe further on. Where we turned left instead of right there is a yellow sign: "SKAISTS PRIVATIPASUMS". It WAS beautiful too. We only went a little way in the wrong direction towards Cesis, as the owner of the house told us where we needed to go. He also told us that many cyclists on this route make the same mistake, so it wasn't just us!
We did have a lovely holiday though, and we would recommend it to others.
Best Wishes
Velta
John and Sue
September 2012
Overall rating:
(5/5)
Hi Daina,
we have returned home after a truly wonderful tour. We want to thank you once again for all of your care and attention which resulted in us having a great time. It was a small group and surprisingly there were two other australian couples who had booked with you. The guides we had with Baltic vision were first class and the accommodation very good indeed. As it happened we were the only people left on the group going on to moscow from st petersburg so we had hands on care. We were able to spend our last day in London amid the buzz off the para games and managed a ride on the london eye.
Thank you once again, John & Sue
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