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.

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.

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).

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 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.

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.

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 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.

A castle where the Mēmele and Mūsa rivers meet: its oldest part, from the mid-15th century, is the only Livonian Order fortress built specifically for artillery, and the newest is a late-17th-century fortified residence with bastions. It is the only partly preserved residence of the Kettler dukes of Courland and Semigallia. Adults €9; November–April 10–16, closed Mondays.

A national cultural monument on the Zemgale plain, with hotel rooms in the renovated stable building and breakfast included. The restored manor park has a children’s playground.

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 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.

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 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.

The only surviving manor complex in the Daugavas loki nature park. For families there are swings, a playground, a climbing wall and outdoor fitness equipment, with morning coffee and Latgalian dishes. The manor also rents touring kayaks (for 2–3 people) for trips down the Daugava, such as Krāslava–Lielborne (15 km) or Lielborne–Elerne (25 km); transport for the boat and paddlers to and from the manor is included in the price.

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.

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 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.

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.

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 leisure centre about 10 minutes’ drive from Valmiera: downhill skiing and snowboarding lessons, ski rental, a snow-tubing run and a cross-country trail through the forest. There are five camping cabins (40 beds), a sauna, a yurt for events and a climbing wall.

A 9-hole course among birch groves and water hazards, 3 km from Valmiera. Lessons for kids and adults, club rental, a driving range and a golf simulator.

A karting track at the Rullītis sports and leisure complex in southern Jelgava. It is shorter and less technical than the professional circuits, so it suits children and beginners. Children’s karts and coaching available. Open daily 12–20.

A karting track in Daugavpils: rides from 15 minutes to an hour, solo or in a group, after a 15-minute briefing. From age 7 and at least 125 cm tall; book rides 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.

Four indoor hard courts and four outdoor courts, plus four beach tennis courts. Court rental includes the gym, sauna and running track; there is table tennis and coaching for kids and beginners.

A boat trip along the Daugava bends, the most scenic stretch of the “river of destiny”, from the campsite near Slutišķi. Up to 20 passengers; the season runs from early spring to late autumn, with scheduled weekend trips and weekday trips on request. Adults €8, ages 8–13 €5, under-7s free; the whole boat can be hired.

Outdoor laser tag near Cēsis, plus two RC car tracks, 4×4 RC trucks and kids’ quad bikes on a closed track. There is a playground, a picnic and campfire spot and a tent for parties. Book at least a day ahead.

Laser tag across 1,000 m² of outdoor ground near Kocēni, with running, climbing, crawling and even wading. There is a party room of about 100 m², a gazebo and a playground, plus VR goggles and a car simulator.

Two laser tag arenas, one indoor and one outdoor, in former railway warehouses in Balvi’s industrial area. Open games for everyone at weekends; booking is recommended.

Outdoor tennis courts in Liepāja’s seaside park, where the Liepāja tennis sports school trains.

A tree-top net park in Līgatne: net mazes up to 8 m above the ground for climbing, running and lounging, for kids and adults alike. Open daily 10:00–21:00; visits can be booked by phone or email.

Five indoor and four outdoor hard courts, plus six beach tennis and volleyball courts. Coaches are available and a tennis sports school works with the hall.

Latvia’s State Forests glamping in a pine forest by the Tērvete reservoir: 7 treehouses and 6 underground lodges (two adapted for guests with reduced mobility), each for up to 4 with a kitchen and bathroom. From €150 a night, including entry to the LVM Tērvete Nature Park and 2 hours of boat, pedalo or SUP; floating anglers’ cabins, tent pitches and camper spots too.

A family farm on the Zemgale plain making around 30 kinds of handmade cheese, many of them also smoked. Visits include a look around the farm, the story of how the cheese is made and a tasting with home-baked bread and salads from their own vegetables; you can also learn to make Latvian caraway cheese. Their marinated cheese won the visitors’ vote at Riga Food 2014. By phone booking only.

Tennis school with indoor and outdoor courts plus a beach tennis court. Coaching, tournaments and classes for kids.

A rope park in Mežaparks by Lake Ķīšezers: courses from a kids’ route up to the black course 10–15 m high, which ends with a 200 m zip descent. The higher courses need a height of 140 cm; minors come with an adult. Open 11:00–20:00 at weekends; on weekdays groups by booking.

A rope park on Kaķīškalns hill: six courses of varying difficulty with 82 obstacles — nets, bridges, swings and zip descents. Every course starts and ends on the ground. Open 11:00–20:00 at weekends; on weekdays groups by booking. In winter the hill is a ski slope.

A rental point in Mežaparks on Kokneses prospekts with bikes, inline skates and one-, two- and four-seat pedal carts for kids and adults to ride along the park’s paths. In winter, when there is enough snow, it hands out ski equipment for the Mežaparks trail.

Six indoor and two outdoor padel courts in Čiekurkalns. Coaches, a kids’ corner, a café, a sports shop and free parking.

A private open-air museum founded in 2008, about 45 minutes’ drive from Riga. Seven bathhouses — six relocated historic ones and one newly built — including black (smoke) and white saunas, with a guided story and sauna sessions led by a pirtnieks, plus workshops and activities for children. Admission €2; visits may be limited in hard frost or deep snow.

Latvia’s largest karting park, about 20 minutes’ drive from Riga: Sodi RT10 karts up to 85 km/h, a two-seater and children’s karts, and an ice track in winter. There is also a closed 4×4 off-road park, motocross and hard-enduro tracks with motorbike and quad rental, a safe-driving range with four tracks, and in summer a water park and campsite.

A leisure park in Inčukalns parish on the A3 highway with two 200 m runs, a fast one and a slow one, each with its own anchor lift. Ski and snowboard rental and sales, a restaurant-bistro, a bakery and a shop. Mon–Fri 14–21, Sat–Sun 9–21.

A ski area near Sigulda: a main slope (150 m, 35 m drop), a beginners’ run (200 m) and the “Kids Fun” park with a carpet lift. The runs are lit after dark; equipment rental, instructors, a café and a guest house, plus a 2 km cross-country loop.

Outdoor 25-metre pool with six lanes, a children’s pool and jacuzzis on the Olympic Centre grounds.

Three clay courts in Daugavpils. Courts are rented by the hour, with coaching for kids and adults.

A lakeside retreat on the south shore of Lake Valgums, surrounded by forest: a sauna with a hot tub, a hotel, a restaurant with a glass-walled hall and a seminar room. It is also the start of a 2.6 km barefoot trail that ends with a herbal foot bath.