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
John
June 2024
Overall rating:
(5/5)
Hi Daina,
We've been home 12 days now and thoroughly enjoyed our Baltic tour.
All three capital cities had lovely old centres and the guided walking tours round all of them were excellent.
Tallinn is lovely, but a bit crowded with tour groups everywhere, so perhaps we enjoyed Riga and Vilnius even more.
The coach journeys between cities were comfortable and we had an excellent driver.
Also, we were lucky with the weather - shorts and sandals on two or three days and very little rain.
Our main tour group organiser, Leons, was great - well organised, extremely knowledgeable and gave us many insights into the culture, history and politics of the Baltic states.
Thanks for your help organising our holiday,
John
Sue
June 2024
Overall rating:
(5/5)
Many thanks Daina
We had a great trip-amazing weather,good accommodation and an excellent knowledgeable Guide. & good company -not a difficult person in the group -as can so often happen when strangers come together.
All the cities were superb but I do have a weakness for Art Nouveau -so Riga stands out for me.
Thank you so much for all your help-you and your team. I'm off camping in Suffolk this week-a different experience-it would be wonderful if the weather matched our trip!
Best Wishes
Sue
Sue
June 2024
Overall rating:
(5/5)
Hello Daina,
Thank you for organising such a wonderful holiday! We enjoyed our trip very much and all of the guides were great.
Lithuania- someone whose name translated as “Dawn”, Edina from Latvia and Elena from Tallinn as well as Olafs were all so friendly and welcoming and the pace was great.
It was so kind of you to arrange a birthday bottle of fizz but we don’t drink alcohol hardly at all so we left it and I told the hotel not to charge you!
The only slight hiccup was after a long day of travelling when we were dropped at the wrong hotel in Riga and then had to walk in the heat to find the correct hotel. Turns out there are three hotels with similar names and we were dropped at the wrong one.
The weather was generally very kind and we all had comfortable beds and ate extremely well, often trying cafes and restaurants recommended by guides and sometimes looking to see where the locals ate and following them in. The sights were really interesting and the guides took us to places not readily available in tourist books so we got the best of both as we could catch a tram or visit other places in the afternoons. We can thoroughly recommend this trip.
Kind regards
Sue
Russell
June 2024
Overall rating:
(5/5)
Hi Nicola,
Some feedback on the Baltic trip which we enjoyed overall- very informative, good pace and time allotted for own exploration. Janus was a good tour leader, well organised. Two disappointments were the Latvian dinner which was in a room that was so noisy with another party it was not possible to have a conversation with anyone at the table. The food was average with the pavlova dessert terrible, base was soo hard most left it on the plate.
That aside the trip achieved what we wanted, accommodation was fine and transfers all went well.
Finland - we loved , everything went well, accommodation great - especially in Savonlinna, boat trip great, car hire great and train travel excellent. We did get a guide in Helsinki and Provoo for the day which although expensive gave great insight into the country and it's history.
Thank you once again for your help
Regards
Russell and Denise
Carol
April 2024
Overall rating:
(5/5)
Hi Daina
The trip was excellent thank you. My daughters and I loved the treatments - among the best we have ever had.
The girls loved the spa and went at every opportunity.
We did pop to Riga, but we should have done some more research before we went as we were not really sure where to go! Maybe include some suggestions for future visitors (who are a bit lazy and don’t do their research)
Jurmala itself is a lovely little town and the beach is fabulous - we also managed to experience warm weather - I even paddled
Thank you, a great, well organised trip
Carol