Latvia
What poses as a dreary rehabilitation centre is in fact a top-secret Soviet bunker, known by its code name, the Pension. When Latvia was part of the USSR,…
Must-see attractions in Latvia
Salaspils Concentration Camp Memorial
Latvia
In October 1941 the Nazis sent 1800 German Jews to Latvia to build a concentration camp at Salaspils, 18km southeast of Rīga. Over 1000 died during the…
Latvia
This centre in an old brick and wood building set back from the street features a great array of locally made handicrafts, including beautiful wool…
Southern Latvia
Grandly named the Garden of Destiny, this sprawling project on an island in the river celebrates Latvia as a nation and opened for the centennial in 2018…
Latvia
The third-largest lake in Latvia, Engure is a bird haven with almost 200 species calling the lake home. The vistas stretch far to the horizon across the…
Latvia
Learn about the history and traditions surrounding traditional Latgalian dark rye bread, a local staple, and try your hand at milling grain and baking…
Latvia
As you'll learn at this tall brick tower built in 1886, ammunition used to require gravity. Molten lead was poured from the top of the tower, and by the…
Latvia
An odd cross between a nature park and a zoo, here elk, deer, bison and wild boar roam in open-air enclosures in the forest. From the parking area, a 4km…
Latvia
The former resort's central park offers melancholy hints of what once was and what might be again. Amidst the manicured lawns are dishevelled features in…
Latvia
Constructed between 1207 and 1209 by the Livonian Brothers of the Sword, this castle lies mainly in picturesque ruins after being severely damaged during…
Latvia
Occupying a key vantage point, Krāslava's 'castle' is really a modest manor house. Its historic interior is closed to visitors, but the floral-scented…
Southern Latvia
These impressive Livonian Order castle ruins, which date back to the 1300s, are well worth a stop. This brick bastion was built over the original site of…
Rīga
The stars of the collection at this surprisingly well-funded and engrossing museum are cars that once belonged to Soviet luminaries such as Gorky, Stalin,…
Liepāja Under Occupation Museum
Latvia
Traces the bloody history of the Soviet and Nazi occupations in Latvia, with an emphasis on Liepāja. Captions are in Latvian, but no words are needed to…
Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum
Rīga
If you don’t have time to visit the Latvian countryside, a stop at this open-air museum is a must. Sitting along the shores of Lake Jugla just northeast…
Rīga
The Brothers' Cemetery features a monument by Kārlis Zāle (the designer of the Freedom Monument) dedicated to the Latvian soldiers who died during WWI…
Latvia
Switch on your imagination in this 13th-century church where armour-clad Livonian knights prayed and buried their dead in what was then a lonely island of…
Maskavas Forštate, Avotu Iela & Grīziņkalns
This moving Holocaust Memorial is on the site of a large 1871 synagogue that was burned to the ground on 4 July, 1941 during WWII, with the entire…
Latvia
The most important church in town: Katrina (St Catherine) is Kuldīga’s patron saint and protector, and is featured on the town’s coat of arms. The church…
Latvia
Ancient trees, manicured flower beds, water features, elegant walkways and cycling trails make this 3km-long park the very definition of an urban oasis…
Latvia
Close to Latgales iela and the old Jewish quarter, this 1845 synagogue is indeed green. Restored inside and out to past wooden glory, there are displays…
Latvia
Rihards, a local wood carver, has filled a 10-hectare park with his unique creations. Short trails snake past modern art installations, a classical garden…
Latvia
This engaging museum is housed in what a local legend 'claims' was a Russian pavilion from the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris. The 2nd floor recreates the…
Latvia
This blocky building doesn't look obviously castle-like from the outside, but the 13th-century interior is home to an entertaining interactive local…
Latvia
The stolid church in this tiny village predates its first recorded mention in 1640. The interior is a stunner, it’s a perfectly proportioned flamboyant…
Latvia
The namesake castle is the centre of everything in this hamlet. It’s part manor house, part fortification dating to 1264. It has a park-like setting and a…
Latvia
Disappointed in the modest height of Kuldīga's waterfall? Head over to what is – yes! – Latvia's tallest waterfall (4.2m). Sure it's lined with concrete…
Latvia
This museum occupies a farm that remains unaltered since the 1920s, when many Latvians received generous chunks of land in the agrarian reform. Contact it…
Latvia
Exhibits at this enjoyable museum complex along the Gauja River are housed in eight historical buildings. Also on the grounds are medieval castle ruins…
Latvia
Enjoy terrific views by catching a ride on the cable car over the Gauja River. From the Sigulda side, it departs from a rocky precipice south of the…
Latvia
Centuries ago, bonfires were lit at the cape’s tip to guide sailors around the protruding sandbar. Today, the solar-powered lighthouse guides vessels to…
Latvia
The area’s spring water is perfectly potable and supposedly quite healthy. Try filling your water bottle at the Lizard, a stone sculpture at the mouth of…
Latvia
Check out the largest piece of amber art in the world, plus legions of old women knitting scarves, mittens and blankets available for purchase. The…
Teiči Nature Reserve Watchtower
Southern Latvia
Stop at this roadside watchtower for sweeping views of the 20,000-hectare Teiči Nature Reserve, which boasts the largest moss marsh in the Baltics. The…
Latvia
Built in 1893 and now beautifully restored, St Peter-Paul Orthodox Church is the oldest place of worship in Ķemeri and, if you look closely, you’ll notice…
Jūrmala
This well-funded museum features a cool permanent exhibit detailing Jūrmala’s colourful history as the go-to resort town in the former USSR. One popular…
Latvia
Built in 1875 out of cast iron, this 21m-tall lighthouse stands over a popular beach that mixes gravel patches with white sand and dunes. The views of the…
Latvia
In the middle of the town's square stands Māra, a statue twice destroyed by the Soviet authorities in the 1940s and only re-erected in 1992. Its…
Latvia
Extending out into the Baltic Sea, the Southern Promenade follows a breakwater with thrilling views of huge freighters passing close by. The walk is…
Latvia
An elegant and modern addition to the middle of town, Gors is a large cultural centre. Art exhibitions, cultural displays, concerts, films, poetic…
