Creative Workshops in Latvia

A jewellery workshop in Sigulda’s Castle Quarter making copies of ancient Baltic jewellery and modern pieces with ancient symbols. In a masterclass (about 45 minutes) you make your own pendant or piece of jewellery, such as a Namejs ring.

A museum in the former St George’s Church in Old Riga. While its “Design Process” exhibition is open, children can use the Design Studio, trying ceramics, kinetics, poster design and weaving with worksheets linked to the works on display.

A house of Latvian traditions and crafts in Jelgava’s old town with weaving and ceramics workshops and a kiln: watch the craftspeople, shape clay yourself, try weaving, join a bread-baking masterclass and learn about the Zemgale folk costume. Tours in Latvian and English.

A glassblowing workshop at the Latgale Art and Craft Centre, where glassblower Aleksandrs Logvins makes objects and sculptures from molten glass and visitors can blow into the pipe themselves (€4 per person, by appointment). Glassblowing in Līvāni is on Latvia’s intangible cultural heritage list, and the centre also houses the Līvāni Glass Museum.

An Old Riga museum holding about 8,000 porcelain pieces from the mid-19th to the late 20th century, with porcelain making and painting workshops — for example pressing textures into a small porcelain dish (from age 6). Pieces are ready a few weeks later; booking required.

Craft workshops next to Sigulda’s New Castle: make and paint your own Sigulda walking stick (a craft on Latvia’s intangible cultural heritage list), cast a bookmark from recycled paper, make a leather key ring or bracelet, or shape a mug with your name on it in the ceramics studio.

A creative workshop studio in central Riga: painting guided by a professional artist, ceramics (plates or a cup, with firing and glazing included), scented candles and classes for children. No experience needed, with wine and soft drinks while you work; booking required.

A pottery workshop in Rauna where a guided tour shows the whole process from digging the clay to the finished piece, and in the creative workshop you shape clay yourself. Groups can order a homemade soup lunch; visits by prior arrangement only.

A Latin dance studio running salsa and kizomba classes Monday to Thursday evenings in two slots — from 19:00 and from 20:30. Schedule and prices are on the studio’s website.

The Dobele Crafts House, just east of Market Square, runs workshops five days a week — weaving, knitting, crochet, braiding, wool spinning, jewellery making, embroidery and clay work.

A ceramics studio in central Riga where, guided by ceramicist Inga Frišfelde, you can work at the potter’s wheel or build by hand; the “Pottery wheel for two” session is a favourite.

Ceramicist Ingrīda Žagata’s workshop near Dunte, where children and adults make their own mug, breakfast plate or souvenir; a session lasts several hours, and the piece is ready after firing (1–2 months). You can also watch a kiln opening; book by phone.

A workshop near Kuldīga where pots are made without a wheel, using the coil technique typical of the Bronze Age, and smoke-fired in an open kiln. Masterclasses for children too, and you can join a kiln opening; booking required.

A family pottery in Paplaka where adults and children alike work at a classic potter’s wheel and can paint tableware. Sessions last 1–2 hours; book your visit ahead.

A ceramics studio with courses for beginners and experienced potters alike, plus team-building sessions and events. The class calendar is on the studio’s website.

The studio of ceramicist Lība Ločmele, who works in porcelain and stoneware. In a two-hour masterclass you make a mug or snack bowl or try the potter’s wheel; groups of up to 6, €45 per person, with pieces ready in 3–4 weeks.

A crafts centre in a former flax warehouse in Ludza Old Town, where artisans work with wood, clay and metal. Workshops on request — pottery, dressmaking and other old crafts, plus Latgalian cooking; local crafts are on sale.

Ināra and Guntis Ozoliņš’s family workshop in Daudzese, making black smoke-fired clay ware: they tell the story behind the vessels and show how they are made, and run clay workshops during the tourist season. Book your visit.

A porcelain factory in Ineši where a guided tour covers its history and how porcelain is made, and in the workshop you paint your own porcelain piece — the factory fires it and hands it back to you. Porcelain tableware and gifts are on sale.

The workshop of potters Staņislavs Viļums and Viola Anna Bīriņa in a Latgalian homestead, where pots are thrown from Latgale clay on a kick wheel and wood-fired. Watch them work, try the clay yourself and join a kiln opening; tours by arrangement, closed December to March.

A weaving workshop in the Alsunga Museum in the Suiti region, where you see how Suiti folk costumes and their accessories are made, learn about local weaving traditions and try the craft yourself with experienced weavers. Booking required.

A candle workshop in Liepāja’s old town where you make your own candles or aroma diffusers using various techniques. Sessions for groups, families and schools, plus open themed sessions; by prior booking only.

Ceramicist Valdis Pauliņš’s workshop in the Krāslava Crafts House: follow the whole process, try the potter’s wheel and make your own piece, help light the kiln and buy ceramics. Individuals, families, school classes and large groups are all welcome.

The House of Crafts in Ventspils Old Town, with a weaving workshop, a pottery and a photo studio; it hosts art and craft exhibitions and has a gift shop.

A pottery in Nereta where everything is built by hand without technical tools, using patchwork techniques and plant imprints. The tour is free and making your own piece costs €10 per person; summer season, by appointment.

A restaurant in the historic Jacob’s Barracks where three chefs cook and serve the dishes themselves. Listed in the MICHELIN Guide; cookery classes are held here too. Open daily 17–23.

A medieval castle at Jaunpils that is more manor house than fortress and now houses a hotel. You can look round the rooms and courtyard, stay the night and soak up the medieval atmosphere.

A fishing village from the late 19th and early 20th centuries at the foot of Raga Dune: a net shed, a dwelling house, a granary and a fish-smoking hut, plus a large collection of anchors and fishing boats. On Thursdays in July and August there are rope- and net-making masterclasses and fish smoking. Tue–Sun, free entry.