Latvian Regions
Latvia has way more to show than Riga and you realize it ! Divided in 4 main region, each of them full of wonders, I will try to list things you must see in everyone but Latgale where I haven't spent much time.
A trip through Latvia
Latvia has way more to show than Riga and you realize it ! Divided in 4 main region, each of them full of wonders, I will try to list things you must see in everyone but Latgale where I haven't spent much time.
If you are interested in exploring Semigallia departing from Riga, you can first visit Jurmala. With its long coastline, this seaside city used to be a health resort and features many wooden houses in the interior part. Have a walk on the beach for fresh air or in the center on the main street in Dubulti or Majori. I recommend going to the Dzintari park or walking to Pumpuri to smell the pine cones and see the wooden houses near Melluži. I have never seen so colourful and cute wooden houses, I recommend it the most.
After that, you can go to the Lāči factory and learn about the making of rye bread and even bake your own loaf to bring with you and eat on a picnic in the national park Ķemeri after a walk through the bog.
After that, there are 2 paths.
For enjoyers of records and grandeur, drift South and visit Kuldiga with the widest cascade in Europe Ventas Rumba and then head to the city of Liepaja to walk to the end of the longest in the Baltic Northern waterbreaker that is almost 2 kilometers long. From there, you can head to the beautiful old town and see the concert hall Dzintars and its vibrant orange amber reminding design or stay in the military town Karosta and partake in a guided tour of the prison. This is especially suited for winter as you can enjoy those activites even in a colder time provided it is not too windy to safely walk on the waterbreaker, because as you can hear in the city hymn, it is the town where wind is born.
It it sounds more like you, your other options would either be to go to Ventspils that hosts some interesting festivals in the summer or to the village of Kolka, the place in the North of the country where you can see 2 seas meeting !
If you are interested in exploring the South of Latvia, popular options include going to the big city of Jelgava and seeing the "small Versailles", the Rundales palace ! If you prefer something calmer, I would definitely recommend going along the Daugava and seeing less touristic towns such as Ogre and the historical Koknese, where you will be able to see from afar the mesmerizing 13th century ruins.
You will then arrive at Jekabpils which also has a very beautiful but less touristic castle !
The East is probably the most underrated part of Latvia and I am guilty myself of not knowing it that well, but it is definitely worth seeing. From Riga, you can go through the beautiful Sigulda and climb all the way up the Paradise Hill especially during fall when you can see nature's palette painting over the forest. Head over to Smiltene going through Cesis if you're not fed up with castles and Rauna if you're not literally fed up for a cheese tasting in the famous factory that also doubles in pasta making and will explain the process ! If you do not want to take the same way back to Riga, Valmiera has both natural aspects in Valmiermuiza and an awesome art exhibition called NEONIJA that immerses you in a fantastic fluorescent world.
