Kids & Family in Latvia

A museum in a former locomotive repair shop in Pārdaugava, holding the largest collection of broad-gauge rolling stock in the Baltics. On set days children can climb into historic trains such as the ER2 electric train and the TE3 diesel locomotive, ride a hand-pumped draisine in summer and join school-holiday workshops.

Nature Conservation Agency trails in Gauja National Park, where Latvian forest animals — bears, wolves, lynx, wild boar, deer and foxes — live in large enclosures. Over 5 km of paths (2–2.5 hours), a 22 m observation tower and a covered, glass-fronted platform at the lynx enclosure; open all year.

The University of Latvia’s botanical garden in Zasulauks, with a palm house and a Tropical Butterfly House where, from spring to autumn, blue morphos, owl butterflies and other exotic species fly among banana and coffee trees and orchids. The butterfly house opens daily 10:00–16:00 with a garden ticket.

Latvia’s State Forests nature park in the Tērvete pinewood, about 1,200 hectares: the Fairy Tale Forest, the Gnome Farmstead, wooden sculptures, trails and boardwalks over the Tērvete river valley, and three ancient hill forts. A new visitor centre and a 25 m observation tower opened in 2026; the park drew a record 166,700 visitors in 2025.

A museum at Dunte Manor, where Baron Munchausen lived with his wife Jacobine: wax figures, weapons and hunting trophies, distorting mirrors and a shooting gallery. In the forest there is a trail with 55 wooden sculptures (1–4.3 km), a 1 km path to “Munchausen’s Beer Mug” and an amusement ship.

The historic circus building in central Riga, now a stage for contemporary circus — productions by Latvian and visiting international companies — and family shows such as the Christmas programme in December.

Riga Zoo’s branch in Kurzeme, founded in 1996 and covering more than 130 hectares: large enclosures with 38 wild species and 12 farm breeds — bears, lynx, wolves, elk, eagles and vultures, a herd of kiangs and Latvian blue cows. Allow more than an hour for the trails; cash only.

A deer park in More parish with a 1.5 km trail past 19 enclosures holding about 400 animals — red, fallow and white deer. You can hand-feed them; cash only, and there is a guest house with a sauna.

Sandstone caves on the bank of the Brasla in Straupe parish, carved out by underground springs: the Lake Cave holds two clear underground lakes, with the River Cave and suffosion sinkholes nearby. The caves can only be visited with a guide.

The planetarium and observatory at the Ventspils Creativity House: 360° films about nature, space and the planets in an 8 m, 40-seat dome, in Latvian, English, Russian and Lithuanian. On clear days you can view the Sun through a telescope, and evening observations run from September to April.

A science centre running since 1995: about 200 interactive exhibits on the laws of physics and optical illusions, a planetarium, a small underground labyrinth and the “Garage Theatre” with sound-and-light experiments. Visits must be booked by phone in advance.

A free children’s town in Ostgals by Lielais prospekts, full of play equipment; on Sundays at 11:00 there are songs, dances and games with storybook characters. Open daily from 7:00 to 22:00 (to 20:00 in winter).

Daugavpils Innovation Centre in a former cinema hall, opened in December 2022: interactive displays on physics, biology, dinosaurs, technology and entrepreneurship, robots and touchscreens, and a lab for experiments. Open Tuesday to Sunday, 12:00–18:00.

The “Avārijas brigāde” amusement park, spread over 28 hectares with more than 40 activities — a dinosaur trail, carousels, minigolf, laser tag, virtual-reality adventures, a water world and a surf wave. One ticket covers every attraction for the day; the season starts in May, with the next one in 2027.

An equestrian club in Kuldīga: guided rides with an instructor along the Venta to the Veckuldīga castle mound, riding lessons for every level at your own pace, cart rides in summer and sleigh rides in winter. Horses are also available for photo shoots.

A space education centre in Cēsis, opened in 2023: a two-level replica of the International Space Station called “Auseklis”, linked to a mission control room, models of rockets, robots and rovers, an energy-generating floor and STEM challenges on surviving on Mars. Science shows, plus astronaut workshops in the school holidays.

A mini zoo about 2 km from Ventspils towards Kuldīga: goats, geese and chickens, camels, alpacas, emus, ponies, exotic birds, lizards and tarantulas. Open daily (to 20:00 in summer, 18:00 in winter); the owners ask you to book ahead.

A mini zoo in Dzimtmisa, about 34 km from Riga: dwarf pigs, rabbits, goats, sheep, ponies and exotic animals, plenty of birds — pedigree chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, quail, pigeons, pheasants and peacocks — and a pond with exotic waterfowl. Open May to November, 10:00–17:00.

A mini zoo in Naujene parish near Daugavpils where you can meet and feed — with special feed sold on site — alpacas, llamas, kangaroos, dwarf sheep and goats, ponies, donkeys, horses and rabbits; there are camels too.

The “Brieži” farm in Apgulde, home to one of Latvia’s largest orchid collections — more than 200 species, at their best in autumn — plus exotic animals such as royal pythons, iguanas and geckos, and friendly Shetland ponies. Visits by prior arrangement.

Riga Technical University’s curiosity centre in Āgenskalns, opened in 2023: three halls of interactive exhibits on smart cities, energy, water supply and future technologies, including a drone simulator. Science shows and hands-on workshops — 3D printing, chemistry and wood design. Closed on Mondays.

A children’s entertainment centre in Liepāja with trampolines, open and tube slides, and a separate zone for the youngest with igloo blocks and a ball pool. Open weekday afternoons and from the morning at weekends.

An indoor play park of about 730 m² for children aged 2 to 12: a two-storey obstacle course, slides and a ball pool, trampolines, a spider wall, a carousel and air hockey, plus two party rooms and a mother-and-baby room.

Pony rides for children near Cēsis: a handler leads the pony on a walk through the countryside, and there are birthday parties with two ponies (about an hour). Booking required.

Ventspils science centre by the lifting bridge on the harbour side, opened in 2022: more than 80 interactive exhibits in seven galleries — an earthquake simulator, a time machine, virtual roller coasters — and a separate gallery for the youngest. Workshops and science shows cost extra.

A horse farm at Kaplava in the Latgale border area with 12 horses from Latvia, Lithuania and Belarus, plus dogs, rabbits, chickens, cows and cats. Rides and lessons for children and three cottages to stay in; booking required.

Waterskiing, wakeboarding and SUP on Lake Ozolnieki, plus an inflatable water park with obstacle courses, slides and a trampoline.

A bread museum in Aglona where the hostess greets you in Latgalian folk dress with songs and a welcome in the Latgalian dialect. You hear about the history of bread and how rye bread is made, try milling grain, taste freshly baked bread and Latgalian dishes, and bake your own rye loaf to take home. Programmes €10–20; arrange your visit by phone.

A fortified Latgalian settlement on an island in Lake Āraiši, lived in during the 9th and 10th centuries and partly reconstructed under archaeologist Jānis Apals. Its wooden houses on a log platform show how people lived here a thousand years ago; one of Latvia’s most popular archaeological sites.

An aviation education and entertainment centre inside the Mols shopping centre. Three flight simulators: a Cessna 172, a Piper Matrix with a 180° screen, and an aerobatic plane on a motion platform with VR goggles.

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”.

A three-day Christmas fair at the Ķīpsala exhibition hall that bills itself as the largest in the Baltics: free entry, free creative workshops in the “Rotaļnīca Quarter”, an inflatable park and the Baltic Food Zone. In 2026 it runs 11–13 December.

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 33 km, 750 mm-gauge railway between Gulbene and Alūksne — the only narrow-gauge line in the Baltics with regular passenger services. A ride on the “Bānītis” through the Vidzeme countryside is a trip for the whole family.

One of the mightiest castles of the Livonian Order, begun around 1213 by the Brothers of the Sword and from 1481 the permanent residence of the Livonian masters. A castle servant leads visitors with lanterns through the Western Tower and the master’s room with its 16th-century star vault; in summer there is a castle garden, craft workshops and multimedia exhibitions in the towers. May–September daily 10–18.

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 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 33.5 m viewing tower in Dzintari Forest Park with 12 platforms at different heights; from the top you look out over the pine tops to the sea horizon. Free to visit; open daily 9–22, during the park’s hours.

A 45-minute trip round the port of Ventspils: the mouth of the Venta, the old town, the industrial port and the Freeport sea gates. The boat has 150 seats; May–September Wed–Fri at 11, 13, 15 and 17, with an extra 18:00 sailing at weekends. Adults €5, pupils and seniors €2; it sails with at least 5 passengers and may be cancelled in strong wind or fog.

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.

A quarter of restored 19th-century wooden houses across the river. On Saturdays 10:00–16:00 there is a market of local producers and craftspeople with free workshops for kids, and seasonal festivals bring concerts, exhibitions and open-air plays.

A museum in the Laima factory building on Miera iela: the story of how chocolate is made and of the brand, whose roots go back to 1870, a comparison of chocolate types and a hot-chocolate tasting. In the creative workshop you make your own sweets and take them home in a gift box. Tickets €3–16.

A small municipal zoo in central Daugavpils, laid out as an artificial jungle: pythons, caimans, koi carp in the pond, macaques and sugar gliders among the lianas, plus rabbits and guinea pigs that children can stroke. Wed–Sun 10–18, closed Mondays and Tuesdays; cash only.

One of Europe’s oldest open-air museums, founded in 1924, in pine woods on the shore of Lake Jugla. More than a hundred historic rural buildings — farmsteads, churches, windmills and bathhouses — have been brought here from every region of Latvia; in summer craftspeople work on site and there are festivals and fairs.

A puppet theatre in central Riga, founded in 1944; it moved back into its renovated building on Barona iela at the end of 2023. Shows for children and teens in Latvian and Russian, plus productions for adults.

A natural history museum in central Riga with roots in the Riga Naturalists’ Society, founded in 1845. Exhibitions cover Latvia’s nature, geology, animals and plants — a good stop for families with children.

A LIDO restaurant complex: a timber building with a windmill on Krasta iela serving Latvian food. It opened in 1999, with its first guests arriving for the millennium New Year, and added an amusement park and a skating rink in 2003.

A wooden boardwalk across the raised bog in Ķemeri National Park: the short loop is 1.5 km (about an hour) and the long one 3.5 km (about an hour and a half), leading to an observation tower. The boardwalk is free; the car park, about 800 m away, costs €3 for the first hour (Mobilly). Not wheelchair accessible, slippery in rain, and snow isn’t cleared in winter.

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.

The Latvian National Sports Centre’s tennis base in a pine forest: nine courts in two indoor halls and nine outdoor courts. There is also squash, beach tennis, a mini-tennis court and a gym.

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.

A leisure centre between Jūrmala and Tukums: 11 runs of varying difficulty (the longest up to 320 m), 9 lifts and a snowboard park. Equipment rental, instructors, a ski service, accommodation, a sauna, a café and a crèche. The sledging hill and cross-country trail are free. Mon 14–23, Tue–Thu 12–23, Fri–Sat 12–24, Sun 10–22.

One of the largest open-air adventure parks in the Baltics: 11 rope courses with more than 140 obstacles in the trees, up to 20 m high. There is also a catapult, giant swings, trampolines and a toboggan run on one of Latvia’s steepest slopes, plus rides for kids from age 3.

An open-air museum in the Vasarnīcas district of Ventspils on the life of Kurzeme’s coastal farmers and fishermen, with a windmill among its buildings. The more-than-a-century-old narrow-gauge steam train “Mazbānītis” runs through it on a 1.4 km loop and a 3 km line to “Kalns” station. Closed on Mondays.

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.

The largest collection of historic vehicles in the Baltics: more than 100 cars and motorcycles over three floors and 4,000 m², from a replica of the Benz Patent Motorwagen to Soviet-era and Kremlin cars and racing cars. Interactive displays, a children’s play zone and a café. Open Tue–Sun 10–18; adult ticket €12.

The zoo in Mežaparks by Lake Ķīšezers covers around 20 hectares and keeps thousands of animals of several hundred species, from giraffes and lions to red pandas. The tropical house is home to birds, reptiles, frogs and insects, and there is also a country branch, Cīruļi, in Kurzeme. Tram 11 takes you there.

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.

The oldest museum in the Baltics, which began in 1773 as the private collection of Riga doctor Nikolaus von Himsel. It sits in the Riga Cathedral ensemble in Old Riga and holds the largest collection on the history of Riga and its shipping.

The Gauja Steep Banks park in Valmiera: a 1.5 km tree-top rope trail 5–11 m above the ground with four zipline crossings over the Gauja, plus a 2 km barefoot trail.

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 ski base in the Augšzeme highland about 20 minutes from Daugavpils: a family run and a blue slalom run with a lift, a tubing run and floodlights in the evening; equipment rental available.

Riga’s public outdoor ice rink in Esplanāde park by the Rainis monument. Free with your own skates; skate hire €2.49 an hour for adults and €2 for children. Weekdays 11–22, weekends 9–22 (ice-care breaks 13–14, 16–17 and 19–20). Open from December to 1 March, weather permitting.

A 44-hectare museum reserve on the Gauja opposite Sigulda: the reconstructed brick castle with its main tower, a wooden church, the memorial to the Rose of Turaida, manor outbuildings and more than 38 displays on the Livs and local history. Open daily all year (9–20 in summer); adults €9.

A free cross-country ski trail in Pārdaugava with artificial snow, instructors and equipment rental (€4 an hour for children, €5 for adults). On sunny days about 200 people use the rental point.

The Christmas market on Dome Square: crafts by Latvian makers, hot drinks and treats from more than 80 vendors. At weekends there are concerts and things for kids: Santa, a carousel and creative workshops.

A winter centre in Cēsis with several runs of varying difficulty on neighbouring slopes, from long gentle descents to steeper sections with sharp turns. It runs what latvia.travel calls the largest professional ski school in Latvia, and has equipment rental, two cafés, a children’s room and a ski-service point. Snow is stored over the summer for an early season start.

A zipline that follows the cable car line across the Gauja valley, about 55 m up. Classic Zērglis reaches 50–60 km/h, and Turbo Zērglis with turbines up to 100 km/h. Kids aged 7+ and over 30 kg can ride alone; younger ones ride with an adult. Book a time in advance.

A vertical wind tunnel near Sigulda where you can feel freefall without jumping. You fly under an instructor’s watch; 4–6 minutes is recommended for a first visit. With the briefing and suiting up, it takes about an hour. Flyers from age 4; all gear is provided.

Tennis academy in Lielupe, Jūrmala.

A multiplex in the Akropole Rīga shopping centre, opened in 2019 as the first Apollo cinema in Latvia.

A cinema in the Domina Shopping centre in Teika, opened in 2021.