Gifts & Occasions in Latvia

An Old Riga restaurant on Skārņu iela serving modern Latvian cuisine from local, seasonal produce — meat, fish and vegetarian dishes with a wine list to match, on a menu by chef Vadims Jevsejevs. Gift options include a gift card (from €20) or dinner for two: a three-course chef’s choice or a modern Latvian dinner.

A restaurant on Jomas iela in Majori with a varied menu, from traditional European dishes to more exotic flavours, and a summer terrace overlooking Jomas iela. Open daily 12:00–23:00 all year, with gift cards from €25.

A lakeside resort on Lake Lilaste with a hotel, restaurant and bar, sauna and jacuzzi, gym, bike hire and rooms for celebrations and conferences. The restaurant sells gift cards (from €30).

An Old Riga restaurant on Kaļķu iela where European classics meet world flavours: breakfast, pizza, burgers, pasta, seafood and steaks, cocktails and live music in the evenings. The gift card (€15–300) is valid for 12 months and can be used over several visits.

A hotel right on the beach in Majori with the status of a medical institution. More than 300 treatments, including Ķemeri mud rituals; the “The Garden” water centre has a 25 m pool with warm seawater, a Roman steam bath, a Himalayan salt sauna, a cedar sauna, a whirlpool, a children’s pool and waterfalls, and there is a separate Russian bath complex, “The Banya”.

An adventure park by Lake Lielais Stropu: rope courses with 102 obstacles up to 12 m high, a separate net park and a 100 m zipline. Little ones (3–6) have a kids’ park; the red and black courses require age 10+ and a height of 140 cm. Gift cards available.

A gastro-bar in a glass-and-steel greenhouse on the roof terrace of Galleria Riga. Cocktails built on herbs, fruit, berries and teas, a seasonal local menu and sunset views over the centre.

One of the largest spa hotels in the Baltics, with a conference centre, on Jomas iela. The Wellness Oasis has saunas and pools, and the spa and beauty salon offer more than 200 treatments, such as chocolate, linden-blossom and amber rituals.

A medical resort in Jaunķemeri where the focus is on treatment rather than luxury: mud baths (prepared mud at 38–39 °C), bromine mineral-water baths and sulphur mineral water for drinking. Rehabilitation courses with or without accommodation.

The home of the Latvian National Opera and Ballet by the City Canal. The building opened in 1863 as the Riga City Theatre; today it stages operas and ballets, concerts and guest performances.

A spa hotel among the dunes at Lielupe: a 25 m pool with cascades, a heated children’s pool, a whirlpool, a Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath and a contrast shower. Treatments for children and teens use cosmetics that are safe for young skin, and there are Latvian rituals with cranberry, honey and amber oil.

One of the largest water parks in the Baltics: more than 20 slides, ten pools, saunas and a spa. In summer there is also a beach area with a terrace.

Open-air water park by the sea: three heated pools, slides from 8 m and 10 m towers, attractions for little ones, saunas and hot tubs.

A bobsleigh and luge track opened in 1986, with 16 curves. From November to March, by prior booking, you can ride a tourist bob with a professional pilot (over 100 km/h, age 16+), the soft "Vučko" bob (age 6+, with a parent) or the "Frog", lying on your stomach.

A skydiving centre at Limbaži airfield, about an hour’s drive from Riga. Tandem jumps from 4,000 m with around 60 seconds of freefall, oxygen jumps from 5,500 m and an AFF course for jumping solo. The jump plane is a Pilatus PC-6; gift vouchers are available.

Sunrise SUP trip across a bog lake with a guide and all the gear.

Flights over Riga in a hang glider that takes off from the water, or in a motorised trike. Flights last 10–20 minutes and can be filmed on a GoPro. Teens aged 14–18 fly only with a parent. Gift vouchers available.

Helicopter flights and photo sessions, popular with newlyweds: room for a couple and a photographer (up to 3 people) on a route of your choice. Gift cards available; book at least 5 working days ahead.

Hot-air balloon flights from several launch sites in Latvia, including around Cēsis, Jelgava, Jēkabpils and Kandava. The site and time are agreed before the flight, depending on the weather. Gift cards available, including for companies.

A wellness centre in the basement of the five-star Grand Poet hotel: a pool with underwater massage zones, a jacuzzi, a bio sauna, a Finnish sauna, a steam bath and an aroma sauna with a salt room.

Helicopter flights in a two-seat HungaroCopter HC-02, one passenger with the pilot. Choose 30, 45 or 60 minutes; flights can also be bought as a gift. Each flight is confirmed the day before, depending on the weather.

A 34-room design hotel in Dubulti, about 400 m from the sea. The spa spans two floors with six treatment rooms, a lounge, a Turkish steam bath and a sauna; massages, peels and Turkish and Moroccan hammam rituals, with birch-whisk or lemon-and-honey sauna sessions. A seminar hall for up to 50 is in a separate building next door.

A craft beer bar in the Briāna street quarter with beers of many strengths and flavours and a popular summer patio.

A leisure park on the edge of Ventspils with something to do all year. In summer: the "Kaķa taka" rope course and the kids’ "Lācēns" course, a catapult, trampolines, paintball, a wake park and disc golf; in winter the "Lemberga hūte" ski hill with a snow park. The 580 m toboggan run (up to ~40 km/h) operates year-round when the wind is under 18 m/s.