According to rctoysadvice, Latvia (Latvian: Latvija, English: Latvia) is a country in Europe that is part of the Baltic States. Latvia borders Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus and Russia. Latvia has been independent from the former Soviet Union since 1991. The capital of Latvia is Riga. Some major cities in Latvia are: Daugavpils, Liepāja, Jelgava, Jūrmala and Ventspils.
Latvia is known for its long history. Throughout the country you will find old castles and churches from different eras. The first habitation was already in 9000 BC. The country has also served as a transit route for the Vikings and the country has been occupied several times by Germany and Russia. You can still see German and Russian influences in, for example, old German buildings and the Russian-speaking inhabitants. The country also has a long coastline consisting of sandy beaches, dunes and rock formations. Latvia consists of 40% untouched nature, which is often occupied by coniferous forests. Latvia also has 4 national parks, 24 nature parks and many nature reserves. Latvia also has the widest waterfall in Europe. This waterfall (Ventas Rumba) is approximately 250 meters wide and is located near the town of Kuldiga. See thedressexplorer for brief information about Latvia.
Regio’s van Letland:
Riga (Rīga), Koerland (Kurzeme), Letgallen (Latgale), Midden-Lijfland (Midzeme) en Semgallen (Zemgale).
Where is Latvia?
Travel information of Latvia
Official name: Republic of Latvia
Continent: Europe
Area: 64,600 km²
Capital: Riga
Country code: LV, LVA
Population: 1,881,232 inhabitants (2020)
Form of government: Republic
Highest point: 312 m (Gaiziņkalns)
Distance (Amsterdam – Riga): 1,334 km
Flight time: approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes
Travel advice
Current status: All non-essential travel to the border with Belarus is discouraged.
Current color code: Yellow and orange.
Corona
Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), there may be (temporary) measures in Latvia that you as a tourist may have to deal with. For the most up-to-date corona travel advice, please refer to our special coronavirus travel advice page. For the number of current corona infections, number of deaths and various corona-related graphs in Latvia, please visit Countryaah.
Travel offer
On our travel offer page you will find an overview of reliable travel organizations that offer complete tours and holidays to Latvia. In addition, you will find an overview of separate travel components (car rental, hotels and airline tickets) with which you can compose your ideal trip yourself.
Travel guides and maps
Are you looking for a travel guide, map, hiking map, cycling map, book or DVD about Latvia?
Excursions, activities and day trips
With the help of Countryaah you can reserve an excursion, activity, tour, entrance ticket and/or day trip for your stay in Latvia at a discount. This way you are assured of a place, in some cases you can skip the queue and you can already plan your travel program.
Weather and climate
Latvia has a temperate maritime climate. In the winter months the temperatures are around 0 to -10 degrees and in the summer months around 20 degrees.
The current weather (weather forecast) and a weather forecast for Latvia can be found on our extensive weather page.
Detailed information about the climate of Latvia can be found at Climate info.
Best time
June, July and August are the best months to travel to Latvia. These are the warmest months of the year with pleasant temperatures of around 20 degrees.
Language
Latvian is the official language in Latvia.
Would you like to translate from or into Latvian for free? Use the Google translator for this.
Travel documents
You must have a valid identity card or passport.
A visa is not necessary.
Embassies and consulates
Below is an overview of relevant diplomatic representations, including addresses and contact details.
Netherlands Embassy in Latvia: netherlandsworldwide.nl.
Embassy and Consulate of Latvia in the Netherlands: rijksoverheid.nl.
For urgent assistance, you can contact the Ministry of Foreign Affairs 24/7 on +31247247247.
Vaccination (inoculation)
You do not need any vaccinations to visit Latvia.
Money and Currency
In Latvia, payments are made with the euro (EUR).
An overview of all ATMs in Latvia can be found on our ATMs page.
Price level
Prices in Latvia are much lower than in the Netherlands. The price difference with the Netherlands is -35% on average. Some examples are: restaurants (51% cheaper), food (35% cheaper), imported beer in catering (48% cheaper), cigarettes (47% cheaper) and public transport (59% cheaper). Please note that the price difference in tourist areas, especially during high season, may vary.
Tipping
In Latvia it is customary to give a tip of approximately 5-10%.
Time difference
In Latvia it is 1 hour later than in the Netherlands.
Summer time in Latvia is the same as in the Netherlands.
The local time, date and time zone for Latvia can be found on our time difference page.
Traffic and route
In Latvia you have to drive on the right.
You do not need an international driver’s license to drive and/or rent a motor vehicle in Latvia.
With the Google route planner you can compile a route description from, to or within Latvia.
Electricity
In Latvia the same plugs and sockets are used as in the Netherlands.
More information about electricity in Latvia can be found on our electricity page.
Emergency services
If you need help from the police, fire brigade and/or ambulance in an emergency, you can use the emergency numbers below.
– Police: 112
– Fire: 112
– Ambulance: 112
Tap water
It is not recommended to drink water from the tap.
If you are unable to buy bottled water, use a water purifier to purify the water or boil the water for 5 minutes. After this you can safely use it as drinking water and for things like brushing teeth, cleaning lenses and washing vegetables and / or fruit. More information about drinking water and/or the purchase of water purification products can be found on our drinking water page.
News and newspapers
The latest news related to Latvia can be found on Google news.
An overview of the newspapers from Latvia can be found on Abyznewslinks.
Internet
Websites from Latvia end in.lv.
Latvia’s official website: latvia.travel.
Telephony
The country code (international access code) to call someone in Latvia is 00371 or +371.
Do you want to call the Netherlands from Latvia? Then use the Dutch country code 0031 or +31.
(If using a country code, omit the leading 0 of the number to be called.)
Company details can be found in the Latvia Yellow Pages.
Photos and videos
On Flickr you will find a nice collection of photos from Latvia.
On Youtube you will find a nice collection of videos from Latvia.
Holidays and school holidays
An overview of all public holidays in Latvia can be found on Beleven.org.
You will find an overview of all school holidays in Latvia in the Eurydice school guide.
Reviews and travel experiences
On Zoover and TripAdvisor you will find reviews from travelers about accommodations (eg hotels and holiday homes), restaurants and destinations in Latvia, supplemented with photos, videos and places of interest.
Travelogues
Are you looking for a travelogue about Latvia?
Here you will find travel reports and experiences of travelers who have previously visited Latvia. It is also possible to keep a free diary of your trip for family and/or friends.
Nature and world heritage
An overview of the protected nature areas (including national parks, reserves and wildlife parks) in Latvia can be found on Protected Planet.
An overview of the world heritage sites in Latvia can be found on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Customs rules
Do you want to know how much you are allowed to import and export when traveling to Latvia? On the IATA website you will find an overview of the maximum quantities of cigarettes, medicines, alcohol and money, among other things. If you stick to these quantities, you don’t have to declare anything to customs. You will also find the laws and regulations regarding the entry of pets on this website.
Doing business and doing business
If you are planning to do business in or with Latvia, it is wise to prepare well. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency can help you with this. On PaulSourcing.com you will find a large amount of information about Latvia, including: opportunities, import and export rules, trade figures, do’s and don’ts, business partners and subsidies.
Relevant legislation
Below you will find relevant legislation and regulations that you may encounter during your visit to Latvia.
– Alcohol: Buying and/or drinking from the age of 18.
– Alcohol and traffic: The maximum permitted alcohol content is 0.5 (0.2 for novice drivers up to 2 years old).
– Tobacco: Buying and/or smoking from the age of 18.
– Smoking ban: In public places.
– Homosexuality: Allowed
Did you know that…
…Riga with over 800,000 inhabitants is the largest city in the Baltic states?
…Latvia ranks 2nd in the world as the most environmentally friendly country?
…Ice hockey is the main sport in Latvia?
…Latvia has the widest waterfall in Europe?
…Latvia has been independent from the former Soviet Union since 1991?