All places

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 producer of sparkling, fruit and berry wines, ciders and stronger drinks, and since 2021 of grape wine from its own vineyard on the Abava in Sabile, described as one of the northernmost in Europe. Guided tours, tastings for individuals or groups, workshops and a small shop; arrange your visit in advance.

A manor in Zaļenieki parish that presents itself as a retreat for the creative industries and team building. Its celebration barn holds up to 150 guests, with halls of 70 m² and 35 m², a 400 m² granary, a restaurant, ponds and a park, plus accommodation for more than 70.

A red-brick market hall across the river (completed in 1923), a state-protected monument that reopened after restoration in 2022. Food traders, cafés and shops, a flea market on Sundays, a one-hour gastro tour with seven tastings every Thursday at 11:00, and cookery masterclasses.

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 restaurant in Valmiera’s historic post and telegraph building, with a modern interior, listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Local produce such as pikeperch from Lake Burtnieks is on the menu, and the place is about art as much as food. Wednesday–Sunday.

A restaurant in Sigulda in a timber building with a wooden-shingle roof beside an apple orchard. Latvian and European dishes, grilled food all year round, fish and desserts, and a wide wine selection including bottles from its own cellar. Daily 12–23 (orders until 22).

An unrestored manor on the Dubna river in a historic park that keeps its original look; guests stay in the “gentlemen’s rooms”. On the riverbank is an old-style smoke sauna.

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.

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 spa in the basement of a restored 19th-century manor in Zemgale, about an hour’s drive from Riga, with a sauna and a steam bath. Visits are by individual booking only.

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.

Sports complex with two pools and a spa area, a gym, a CrossFit hall, a multi-purpose sports hall and a football pitch. Café and free parking on site.

A theatre in Unity House, built in 1937 in central Daugavpils. Performances in Latvian and Russian.

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 Neo-Baroque palace built in 1896 for Baron Paul von Wolff, a four-star hotel since 2003, with antique furniture, fireplaces and tiled stoves. A nature spa with massages, saunas and a pool, and a castle restaurant cooking with local produce, including fish from the castle pond.

A laid-back sports bar on Jomas iela with an industrial, steampunk-style interior and a summer terrace. Burgers, wings, cocktails and Latvian and foreign draft beer, with sport on screen. Weekdays 18–23, weekends 12–23.

A Neoclassical manor house in Tukums, one of the most interesting classical manors in Latvia. It houses part of the Tukums Museum collection and is surrounded by a park.

Latvia’s oldest concert hall: the enclosed Small Hall dates from 1936 and was restored in 2015; the summer Great Hall with about 2,100 seats was built in 1963. Festivals and big concerts in summer, concerts in the Small Hall in winter.

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 Gothic Revival castle on the shore of Lake Ēdole, surrounded by a landscape park. It originally consisted of two residential buildings joined by a stone wall and is an architectural and archaeological monument of national importance.

A tasting-menu restaurant on Elizabetes iela. The menu changes twice a year; listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Wed–Sat 17–23.

A cavernous Old Town cellar bar with affordable Latvian beers and spirits, traditional Latvian food and a changing line-up of folk bands. Open until 5 am on Fridays and Saturdays; book a table at weekends.

A two-floor bar and event venue in Cēsis with separate bars, a dance floor and a stage: live music, DJs and themed nights. Usually open Friday and Saturday 22:00–04:00.

A music club and bar in a historic building in central Liepāja, known for live music.

A multiplex in central Riga by the Central Market (formerly Kino Citadele): new releases, mostly in the original language with subtitles.

A karaoke club in the Radisson Blu Latvija hotel with professional sound and lighting, a host and backing vocals, spread over several areas. Good for birthdays and company parties. Open 22:00–06:00.

A culture venue in Skanste, opened in 2019 in a 1903 freight-station warehouse wrapped in glass and steel. The main hall holds up to 2,000 people; concerts, shows and exhibitions.

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.

A boutique hotel with 36 spacious rooms in Berga Bazārs, a 19th-century quarter brought back to life by the Bergs family after independence; cafés, shops and arcades lie just beyond the courtyard. Oak floors, linen and leather, with works by Jānis Rozentāls and Jānis Tilbergs and a large collection by Ilmārs Blumbergs. Part of the MICHELIN Guide hotel selection.

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 theatre founded in 1992. After a long reconstruction it returned to its historic building at Lāčplēša iela 25 in 2024.

A red-brick castle built in 1901 for Riga’s mayor George Armitstead and now an architectural monument of national importance. With its towers and grounds it is a popular place to visit and to celebrate near Tukums.

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.

The largest Baroque palace in the Baltics, built in the 18th century to Bartolomeo Rastrelli’s design as the residence of the Dukes of Courland in their capital, Jelgava. Today it houses the Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, and its basement holds the family vault of the Dukes of Courland with their sarcophagi.

One MICHELIN star, inside the A22 hotel. The tasting menu is built on seasonal Latvian produce; the evening begins and ends in a red lounge, and the chefs bring each course to the table and talk you through it themselves. The name honours John F. Kennedy, who visited this building at the age of 22. Thursday–Saturday evenings; booking needed.

The city’s culture centre on Jomas iela in Majori: concerts, shows, film screenings and events.

A late-19th-century villa turned culture venue. In summer there is live music in the courtyard every week, the M/Darbnīca bar-club gives artists a stage, and the hip-hop club De Flou is on the villa square.

A concept bar from the TEIKA brewery in the Old Town, pouring beer from independent Latvian craft breweries, with a view of Riga’s historic fortifications.

A country manor in Kārļi near the Amata valley in Cēsu municipality. It has a 100 m² restaurant hall, 15 rooms, a garden terrace, a separate house by the cherry garden, an apple orchard and a historic park — suited to a small company retreat, seminar or celebration in the countryside.

A former military prison in Liepāja’s Karosta district, built in the early 20th century and now a museum with a theatrical twist. Tours take in the cells and solitary-confinement cells and an exhibition on the Second World War and Soviet times; you can sit through a “discipline” show, eat in the prison canteen or spend a night in a cell. May and September 10–18, June–August 9–19, October–April Fri–Sun 12–16.

A Byzantine-style Orthodox cathedral with gilded domes in Liepāja’s Karosta district, built in the early 20th century for the Russian Empire’s naval port. One of Latvia’s four Orthodox cathedrals and the landmark of Karosta’s skyline.

The spa of the Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga, with an indoor pool, saunas and a gym. Facials and wellness treatments for women and men, day-spa offers and a spa club membership; hotel guests with children can also use the Kids’ Spa.

A restaurant in the former fire station of Cēsis, listed in the MICHELIN Guide. The evening starts with a tasting menu, such as a five-course dinner that reworks classic dishes, and carries on in a jazz lounge.

A small cinema and gallery on Elizabetes iela screening auteur and documentary films.

Riga’s first “Kiwi pub”: a big bar with Latvian and foreign beers, sport on several screens, pub food and a summer terrace.

A hotel in Old Riga set in the historic Konventa Sēta quarter, whose buildings date back to the 13th century. It has 161 rooms, five spaces for meetings, seminars and celebrations, and an enclosed courtyard — practical when conference guests stay on site and want Old Riga on the doorstep.

A mid-19th-century manor complex above the ancient Gauja valley in Gauja National Park. The great hall with balcony seats 60 and the conference hall with salon 30, with extra rooms for group work; it sleeps up to 100 guests in summer and 60 in winter. Café Milly is on site and the terrace looks out over the Gauja valley.

Riga’s Orthodox cathedral in Esplanāde park, built in Neo-Byzantine style in 1876–1883 to a design by Nikolai Chagin and Robert Pflug. In Soviet times it housed a planetarium; today it is a church again, with gilded domes and a richly decorated interior.

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.

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 concert hall and culture centre in Rēzekne, opened in 2013: concerts, shows and festivals in the capital of Latgale.

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.

A tour of the Riga Black Balsam factory in Grīziņkalns: the spirits warehouse and the building’s history, the vodka unit with its tanks and columns, the bottling line and the liqueur unit, where you hear the story of Riga Black Balsam and taste several drinks. €25, ages 18+ only; book in advance.

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.

A military history museum in the Powder Tower and the building attached to it in Old Riga. Founded in 1916 as the Latvian Riflemen Battalion Museum, its exhibitions trace Latvia’s military history from the Middle Ages to the present.

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.

The “Castle of Light” on the left bank of the Daugava: the national library building designed by architect Gunnar Birkerts and opened in 2014. The library was founded in 1919; the building hosts exhibitions and looks across the river to Old Riga.

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 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.

The main building of Latvia’s national art museum, on the edge of Esplanāde park. The permanent exhibition covers Latvian painting, graphic art and sculpture from the 18th century to the mid-20th; the museum grew out of the Riga City Art Gallery, which opened to the public in 1869. Tue–Thu 10–18, Fri 10–20, Sat–Sun 10–17, closed Mondays.

A drama theatre in a building from 1902, where the state of Latvia was proclaimed on 18 November 1918. Performances run in three halls, mostly in Latvian.

A museum on the 51 years in which Latvia was occupied in turn by the USSR (1940–1941), Nazi Germany (1941–1944) and the USSR again (1944–1991). Founded in 1993, it has a new interactive exhibition, with Miks the teddy bear as a guide for children. Daily 10–18, Thursdays until 19; adults €8.

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.

The historic Great Guild hall in the Old Town, rebuilt in the Gothic Revival style in the mid-19th century. Its concert hall is home to the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.

A concert hall on Liepāja’s waterfront with an amber-coloured facade, opened in 2015 and designed by architect Volker Giencke. Home of the Liepāja Symphony Orchestra, with pop concerts and shows too.

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.

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.

Sports complex with a pool and spa, an ice hall, an indoor football hall, a gymnastics hall, an indoor arena and stadiums. The tennis hall is separate, on Liedaga iela.

The cathedral of the Bishop of Liepāja in the old town, an 18th-century Lutheran church with a richly decorated Rococo interior. Its organ was once the largest mechanical organ in the world, and organ concerts are held here.

Latvia’s oldest professional theatre, founded in 1907: drama, comedy and musical productions in the centre of Liepāja.

A manor spa on the Vidzeme coast where treatments use organic Latvian countryside produce prepared for each guest. Aromatic steam baths and tubs, couples’ rituals, massages and masks, with herbal teas and healthy snacks in the lounge.

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.

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.

The University of Latvia’s recreation and conference centre in Līgatne parish, about an hour’s drive from Riga. The grounds hold six restored historic buildings, accommodation for 150 and pitches for football, basketball, volleyball and croquet, with room for outdoor events of several thousand people.

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.

An Art Nouveau manor built in the early 20th century near Rāzna National Park, originally conceived as a place for art and music; it later served as a school, military headquarters, parish office and library. Today it hosts exhibitions and tours, and rooms can be rented.

A museum in the former Riga Stock Exchange building by Dome Square, holding Latvia’s largest collection of world art, from Ancient Egyptian objects to Asian art and European painting. Founded in 1920.

A restored Neoclassical manor and architectural monument, now a design hotel with 22 rooms, a restaurant and bar, massages and a conference room. Walk or cycle in the park, or take a boat out on the manor pond.

An art centre in the artillery arsenal of Daugavpils Fortress, devoted to the abstract expressionist Mark Rothko, who was born in Daugavpils. It is the only place in Europe where original Rothko paintings, on loan from his family, are permanently on show; there are changing contemporary art exhibitions too.

A restored manor in the Lielupe valley, Bauska municipality, with a four-star hotel of 26 rooms. The restored barn and stables serve as event spaces for up to 80 guests, and Rundāle and Mežotne palaces are nearby.

One of Old Riga’s best-known buildings, on Town Hall Square. The first house here was built in 1334 as a warehouse and a place for merchants to meet and celebrate, and from the mid-15th century it was used by the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild of unmarried merchants and foreigners. Destroyed in the Second World War, it was rebuilt at the end of the 20th century; inside you can see the halls and cellars.

A Neoclassical palace on the Lielupe, one of the finest examples of the style in Latvia, linked to the Lieven family and set beside an English-style park. Since June 2025 it has been open to visitors under the Rundāle Palace Museum; adults €5. May–September 10–18, October–April 10–17, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

A modern pub on Rīgas iela in central Daugavpils with an industrial loft interior: classic European beers and bold Baltic flavours, plus tastings, masterclasses, theme nights and gigs. Closed on Mondays.

A Russian-language drama theatre in the Old Town, founded in 1883 and one of the oldest Russian theatres outside Russia.

Latvian home cooking in a vaulted Old Riga cellar, with a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand: sausages, grey peas, cepelinai potato dumplings and other traditional dishes. Tue–Sat 12–23, Sun 12–22, closed Mondays.

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.

A gym that since November 2025 takes up the whole 6th floor of the Galleria Riga shopping centre. A large functional training zone, cardio with a view over Dzirnavu iela, a reformer Pilates studio and saunas.

The restaurant of Hotel Neiburgs, in an Art Nouveau building in Old Riga near Dome Square. Mediterranean cooking with an emphasis on fish and seafood; listed in the MICHELIN Guide.

A once-secret Soviet bunker about 9 m underground, beneath the rehabilitation centre at Līgatne. The tour takes in a diesel power station, air-purification equipment and a communications centre; the café serves a 1980s-style meal, and there’s an “Object X” spy game. Check tour times in advance.

Chef Ēriks Dreibants’ restaurant in Līgatne, holder of a MICHELIN Green Star for sustainability. Vegetables come from its own beds, much is foraged from the woods, and the menu changes daily depending on what is available.

A boutique spa hotel on Jūras iela in Jūrmala. The spa has a salt cave, a jacuzzi, a pearl bath, a milk-and-honey bath, a Turkish bath and a classic sauna; massages include a warm-candle massage and a “golden” massage.

The restaurant of the five-star Promenade Hotel on the old harbour promenade in Liepāja, looking out over the port or the Great Amber concert hall. Refined dishes and fresh fish from the Liepāja coast.

A former German baron’s hunting residence at Sieksāte, now a hotel with a spa. A white country sauna and a black-stone sauna with a ritual lasting several hours, milk baths with local milk and massages, a small pool and an aromatic steam bath. The estate also has a rose garden, a milk museum, a fallow-deer park and tennis.

A five-star hotel on the Old Harbour promenade in Liepāja. Its 58 rooms sleep 116, conferences and events take up to 150 people, and the hotel’s Piano restaurant is on hand for dinner.

A contemporary hotel in Old Riga on Jēkaba iela, close to the Swedish Gate. Large rooms with Old Town views, a rooftop bar and a fitness suite.

The tallest building in central Riga, with panoramic views from the upper floors: a hotel with conference halls, several restaurants, the ESPA Riga spa and the Skyline cocktail bar on the 26th floor.

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 themed Old Town bar built around Riga Black Balsam: Black Balsam cocktails, chocolate and pastries.

A hotel on Ķīpsala on the bank of the Daugava, with river-facing rooms, a rooftop terrace and a generous breakfast; handy for business trips, with Old Riga across the river and the Ķīpsala exhibition hall nearby.

One of Europe’s largest markets: five pavilions rebuilt from First World War zeppelin hangars, plus an outdoor trading area. Meat, fish, cheese, vegetables, bread and spices; inside the pavilions there are places to eat Latvian dishes, fish, grills and craft beer. Pavilions 7:30–18, outdoor market 7–18.

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.

The largest medieval church in the Baltics, built from 1211. The Dome organ (1884) has more than 6,700 pipes; organ and choir concerts are held regularly.

A museum on Alberta iela devoted to Art Nouveau, the style that shapes much of central Riga. Opened in 2009, it is set in the apartment of architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns, restored to its early-20th-century look. The street itself is one of Riga’s showcases of Art Nouveau architecture.

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.

One of Riga’s oldest churches, first mentioned in the chronicles in 1209 and Lutheran since 1523. Its spire has collapsed and burned several times, most recently in 1941, and was rebuilt in 1973. A lift takes you up to the tower’s viewing gallery for a view over Old Riga.

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.

A medieval-themed restaurant in an Old Riga cellar that, the restaurant says, once held Riga’s oldest wine cellar. Carved columns, worn wooden chairs and staff in period dress; the menu leans on game such as venison stew and hare. Mon–Thu 12–23, Fri–Sun 12–23:30.

A 50-metre pool for serious swimmers and beginners alike. Swimming lessons for kids and adults, plus a gym, sauna and climbing wall.

A manor near Kandava with a Neo-Gothic manor house built in 1876; in the late 19th century owner Edgar Lyra added a Renaissance-style veranda with a grand staircase. The restored estate has guest apartments in the former stables and servants’ house, a restaurant in the old coach house, and a park with ponds and a bridge to a small island.

The Baroque palace of the Dukes of Courland, built to Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli’s design in two stages, 1736–1740 and 1764–1768. Lavish state rooms and a large French garden; main exhibition €12 for adults, garden €6, combined ticket €17.

The restaurant of the Grand Palace Hotel in Old Riga, with menus inspired by painters. Chef Timofei Monahhov received the MICHELIN Young Chef Award in the 2026 guide. Mon–Sat 17–22.

A ramen bar with a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand. The noodles are made in-house, and bowls of ramen are the heart of the menu.

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 car hire desk at Riga Airport, in the E sector of the arrivals area. Cars and estates, sports cars and convertibles, 4x4s and vans are available. The desk is open daily 08:00–24:00, and cars can be returned around the clock by parking in P4 and dropping the keys in the box at the Sixt counter.

A manor on the bank of the Venta beside the Riga–Liepāja highway, with hotel rooms in the main house and a separate building, banquet and conference halls and a park. The restaurant cooks with produce from local farmers; spa in a separate building.

The highest bar in Riga, on the 26th floor of the Radisson Blu Latvija hotel, with a 360° view over the city. Signature cocktails and an Asian-inspired menu.

A manor whose history goes back to 1484, one of the few fortified medieval manors in the Baltics and the only one that survives in Latvia. It has a 15-room budget hotel and guided tours, and the interiors reflect the road-building firms that ran it.

A Latgale culinary heritage centre in Unity House, devoted to šmakovka, Latgale’s home-distilled spirit. An interactive exhibition across three halls with authentic equipment and more than 200 exhibits (the oldest from 1890), tastings (€1.50 for one, €3 for three) and a one-hour guided tour for €16 per group. Adults €6; April–October daily 11–19, closed Mondays in winter.

A French bistro with a Danish accent and a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand. Smørrebrød open sandwiches at lunch, bistro classics in the evening. Chef Kaspars Barsukovs received the MICHELIN Opening of the Year award in the 2026 guide.

A concert hall in the historic Spīķeri warehouses behind the Central Market, home of the Sinfonietta Rīga chamber orchestra. Chamber and contemporary music.

A cinema with an ornate historic interior, opened in 1923. It shows European and world arthouse films and hosts film festivals and premieres.

A bar and restaurant on the top floor of the Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga, looking out over the opera house and the roofs of Old Riga. Asian fusion cooking; listed in the MICHELIN Guide.

A theatre and concert house in Ventspils’ Ostgals district: touring productions, concerts, exhibitions and events.

An Old Town beer bar with Latvian and international beers chosen from digital screens above the bar, and floor-to-ceiling windows onto medieval Skārņu iela. Closed Monday to Wednesday.

A wooden Baroque manor house built in 1731–1732 for Lieutenant General Balthasar von Campenhausen; the Campenhausen family owned the estate from 1728 to 1939. One of the few such well-preserved 18th-century wooden manor ensembles in Latvia.

A drama theatre in Valmiera, founded in 1923. In 2024 it moved back into its reconstructed building on Lāčplēša iela.

A craft brewery on a manor estate just outside Valmiera. The 1.5–2 hour tour covers the estate’s history and brewing from raw grain to finished beer, shows antique tools and ends with unfiltered beer tastings. The Beer Kitchen serves seasonal Latvian food such as fish from Lake Burtnieks and pork marinated in winter beer; summer beer garden, shop and rooms for parties.

A palace of culture in Teika, built in the mid-20th century for the VEF factory’s workers. Concerts, shows and events, and home to many amateur arts groups.

One of the oldest and best-preserved Livonian Order castles, which has kept its original 13th-century layout. Over 700 years it has been a fortress, residence, garrison, school, military base and prison; it was restored in 1995 and turned into a museum.

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 concert hall opened in 2014, designed by architect Juris Poga. The main hall seats 805, and smaller halls host concerts, plays and film screenings.

A hotel in central Jelgava on Lielā iela, near the palace. Its 41 rooms sleep 94, meeting rooms take 30, 50 and 75 people, and there is a sauna and Turkish bath.

A hotel in the centre of Sigulda, in a stone building on Pils iela built in 1889. Its 43 rooms sleep 85, four meeting rooms take up to 100 people, and there is a restaurant, sauna, steam bath, spa bath and pool. A convenient base for a team day combined with Sigulda’s adventure attractions.

A Swiss-style summer manor in a park in Kuldīga, the town’s only wooden manor and a local architectural monument since 2014. It now has 22 design rooms, each in a different style.

Latvia’s largest multi-purpose arena, opened in 2006 (formerly Arena Riga). Hockey and basketball games, big concerts and shows.

A memorial museum on Ķīpsala, opened in 2012 next to the home of Žanis Lipke. During the Second World War Lipke built a hiding place here and saved Jews from the Riga Ghetto; inside, the building recalls a hideout and tells the story of the rescuers.

A six-hectare sports complex with a football and athletics stadium, a multi-purpose sports hall and a European-level BMX track.

A café inside the Embassy of Latgale GORS concert hall, with views over Rēzekne and a summer terrace. Everyday and festive dishes — a handy place to eat before a concert or show.

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.

An observation deck on the 17th floor, about 65 m above the city, in the Academy of Sciences high-rise, completed in 1961 and for many years the tallest building in Latvia (about 108 m). A lift goes to the 15th floor, then two flights of stairs. Opening hours can change with the weather.

A restaurant right on the beach in Dubulti, listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Fish and meat are cooked over charcoal, with vegetarian dishes too; for dessert there is a Riga Black Balsam tiramisu. Closed on Fridays.

2 indoor padel courts in Ķekava. Runs without staff; the building also has a functional training room. On site: gear rental, coaches, a café, a gym.

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.

Gym in Ogre for strength and cardio training.

Swimming pool and spa in Ķesterciems. The Albatross Resort spa, with pools and saunas.

A bar in an old wooden house with a low-key entrance: Latvian craft beer, a big courtyard terrace and antique furniture in a relaxed, alternative atmosphere.

A craft brewery with its own tavern in Teika, the first Riga microbrewery to open a taproom outside the Old Town and centre.

A beer cellar on Kuģinieku iela in Liepāja with Latvian and foreign beer on tap.

A nano-scale brewery and bar in Avoti with ten 200-litre tanks. Known for an unusual mead made without hops, malt, juice or tea.

Yoga studio in Riga.

Yoga studio in Riga: Iyengar yoga.

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.

A cinema in the Rīga Plaza shopping centre, opened in 2021, with eight screens and 963 seats.

Gym in Jelgava for strength and cardio training.

Swimming pool and spa in Riga. Weekday hours: 08:00–22:00.

CrossFit and functional training box in Riga. Open daily 07:00–23:00.

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.

Yoga studio in Ulbroka. Wellness services are available too.

Yoga studio in Riga. Weekday hours: 09:00–20:00.

A lakeside holiday base in Višķi parish, Augšdaugava municipality. The conference hall seats 120, accommodation takes 232 guests, and company sports and leisure days are held for up to 400 people; there is a café by the lake.

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).

A leisure complex in Tīnūži parish, Ogre municipality, with four event venues: up to 200 people indoors and up to 2,000 outdoors. The 6-hectare “Valley of Four Winds” hosts outdoor events and sports games, and there is accommodation and catering on site.

Axe and knife throwing inside Drifta Halle: individual and group sessions with coaching. Popular for birthdays, stag and hen parties and company events; the throwing set-up can also come to another venue.

A restaurant on Ausekļa iela where the owner both cooks and serves. Listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Tue–Sat 17–23; booking recommended.

A Georgian restaurant listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Dishes come off a charcoal grill and out of a pizza oven, and the Georgian wines are imported directly from the makers.

Badminton training and games in Baloži, in the Baloži secondary school sports hall.

Badminton training and games in Ventspils, in the basketball hall of the Ventspils Olympic Centre.

Badminton training and games in Riga, at the NBS sports complex in Čiekurkalns.

Badminton training and games in Daugavpils, in the sports hall of the Daugavpils Construction College.

Badminton training and games in Jaunolaine, at the Jaunolaine sports house.

Badminton training and games in Jelgava, at the Jelgava sports hall, where the Jelgava badminton club trains.

Badminton training and games in Talsi, at the Talsi municipal sports school.

Combat sports club in Liepāja: boxing. Weekday hours: 09:00–21:00.

A restaurant on the bank of the Venta in Kuldīga, looking at the old brick bridge and the Venta Rapid, with three terraces in summer. Latvian country cooking from local produce: baked Latvian cheeses with rhubarb jam, trout from Pelči, a venison burger and Abava cider. Year-round 12–21, until 23 in summer.

Riga’s first speakeasy, set in a former video-game shop: a dark courtyard interior and simple, well-balanced cocktails.

A classic interior with modern touches in the Art Nouveau district, an expressive cocktail list, rare whiskies and parties.

Swimming pool in Riga.

A motor museum in Bauska with four collections of historic vehicles. Upstairs there is a carpenter’s workshop and a 1930s landlord’s rooms interior, plus temporary exhibitions and events. Open Tue–Sun 10–18.

A craft beer bar and bottle shop with a regularly changing tap list from small Latvian and international breweries; bottles and cans to take away.

Pilates studio in Riga with reformer classes.

A family fish restaurant in Ragaciems, a fishing village on the Gulf of Riga. Fish and seafood plus meat and vegetarian dishes, generous portions and a seafaring interior. Open daily 12–21; book ahead on warm weekends.

Combat sports club in Riga: MMA. Weekday hours: 08:00–21:00.

Gym in Daugavpils for strength and cardio training. Wellness services are available too. Open daily 08:00–21:00.

Yoga studio in Riga: hot yoga.

Combat sports club in Riga: Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Combat sports club in Riga: Brazilian jiu-jitsu.

Gym in Salaspils for strength and cardio training.

Gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. For women. Open daily 07:00–22:00.

Bowling across the Lielupe for groups and families, suitable for beginners and regular players alike.

A bowling club in Imanta on Lielirbes iela: bowling lanes, a children’s play area, a bar and restaurant, and party packages.

EMS training studio in Riga: short workouts with electrical muscle stimulation.

Gym in Riga for strength and cardio training.

Combat sports club in Jūrmala. Wellness services are available too.

Laser tag on a former military site in Sigulda. In the underground bunker a team of up to four searches dark corridors to find and disarm a self-destruct device; above ground there are several outdoor arenas with themed quests. Children can play with an instructor; there are showers and a picnic spot with a grill. Booking required.

Tennis club in Āgenskalns with indoor courts bookable from September to May. The club’s site mentions a reconstruction, so check availability before you go.

A city-centre brasserie listed in the MICHELIN Guide. Steaks from the Netherlands, the UK and the USA take centre stage, including large cuts for sharing; oysters, tartare and burrata are on the menu too.

Swimming pool and spa in Jēkabpils. Pool and sauna complex. Open daily 07:00–23:00.

6 indoor padel courts in Riga. In the same building complex as Golden Point Arena. On site: gear rental, coaches, a café, a sports shop.

A laid-back Old Town bar that doubles as a collection of film, fantasy and comic memorabilia, with an arcade game and a terrace. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

A premium cocktail bar with fine spirits, food and a high-end sound system. Table booking recommended; entry from age 21.

Three outdoor courts and four indoor Soft Hard courts in Bulduri, all available to rent.

CrossFit and functional training box in Riga. Weekday hours: 07:00–21:00.

CrossFit and functional training box in Riga. Monday to Thursday hours: 07:00–19:30.

A music club and lounge in central Liepāja with DJ nights; in summer it also runs its own beach bar.

A gaming venue with VR games, professional racing simulators and a lounge with PS5 and Xbox Series X, for solo visits, groups of friends, birthdays and company events. Open Tue–Thu 14–22, Fri 14–24, Sat 12–24, Sun 12–20, closed Mon.

A cocktail bar on the upper floor of an industrial space with neon signs and street-art walls. Cocktails have playful names, and there is bottled craft beer too. Closed on Mondays.

Yoga and Pilates studio in Jūrmala. Wellness services are available too.

A theatre founded in 1920 by director Eduards Smiļģis. Since 1977 it has played in a modernist building by architect Marta Staņa, with up to 980 seats in the Large Hall plus a Small Hall and a Chamber Hall.

Gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Weekday hours: 09:00–21:00.

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.

Tennis club with courts in Teika, Purvciems, Pļavnieki and Jugla; the indoor courts are in Teika and Jugla. Coaching, courses and table tennis too.

Swimming pool in Riga. Sports complex with a pool and a swimming school. Weekday hours: 07:15–21:30.

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.

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.

An alternative music club in the Old Town: a bar at street level, a concert room in the basement and indie, rock and punk bands almost every weekend at a friendly entry price.

Gym in Daugavpils for strength and cardio training.

An independent theatre in Āgenskalns where new and emerging artists stage work on current global, local and personal themes.

A cocktail bar and craft distillery in Old Town cellars: the first distillery in Latvia combined with a bar, and the country’s first rum distillery.

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 five-star hotel in Old Riga with a spa: facial and body treatments, aroma rituals and a sauna looking out over the Old Town roofs to Riga Cathedral.

Escape rooms in central Riga on Valdemāra iela: a team game of puzzles and hidden clues for friends, families or colleagues.

A theatre that stages plays only by living playwrights.

An indoor drift hall across the river from the Old Town with a 3,000 m² track: drift-trike rides (up to 10 riders at once, riders over 125 cm) and passenger rides in a BMW drift car. Open daily, from 11:00 on weekdays.

A bowling hall with a café in Liepāja, recommended by the city’s tourism guides as an indoor option for a rainy day or an evening with friends.

Gym in Riga for strength and cardio training.

Gym in Riga for strength and cardio training.

EMS training studio in Riga: short workouts with electrical muscle stimulation.

Indoor and outdoor tennis courts in the west of Riga. Courts can be booked on weekdays and at weekends.

One of the largest escape-room operators in Riga, with about ten themed rooms, from the family-friendly “Time Machine” (6+) to the scary “House of Mysteries” (16+). Teams of 2–7 players get 60 minutes. A second site is at Miera iela 61.

Four escape rooms in central Daugavpils: A Hunter’s Secret, Zone, Magic of the Dark and Mirror Maze. Teams of 2–5 get 60 minutes; book a slot in advance.

Swimming pool and spa in Riga. Open daily 07:00–22:00.

An interactive game arena with a 5×8 m LED floor, music and video projections: run across lit-up squares and complete tasks that test speed, reactions and focus. From age 4, up to 8 players at once; booking only.

Swimming pool in Liepāja. Weekday hours: 07:00–21:00.

Part of the F1 chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Weekday hours: 06:30–22:00.

Part of the F1 chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Weekday hours: 07:00–22:00.

Part of the F1 chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Weekday hours: 07:00–22:00.

Bouldering and climbing hall in Teika for beginners and experienced climbers alike. Open until late on weekdays.

Yoga studio in Sigulda. For women.

Combat sports club in Jelgava.

Gym in Riga for strength and cardio training.

Gym in Jelgava for strength and cardio training, with a squash court too. Monday to Thursday hours: 07:30–22:00.

Gym in Madona for strength and cardio training. Open daily 07:30–19:30.

Part of the FitSpot chain: a gym in Jelgava for strength and cardio training. Weekday hours: 07:00–22:00.

Part of the FitSpot chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Weekday hours: 07:00–22:00.

Part of the FitSpot chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Weekday hours: 07:00–22:00.

Part of the FitSpot chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Wellness services are available too.

Yoga studio in Valmiera. Wellness services are available too. Weekday hours: 05:00–20:00.

Pilates studio in Riga with reformer classes.

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.

An independent theatre in the Avoti neighbourhood: its own productions, guest shows from abroad, concerts and other contemporary performing arts.

A cosy cocktail bar that uses natural northern ingredients such as wild herbs, berries and fermented vegetables to bring Latvian and Nordic flavours into its drinks.

Gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Weekday hours: 07:00–23:00.

Swimming pool in Riga.

CrossFit and functional training box in Piņķi.

Eight indoor padel courts in Teika, open daily. Online booking, gear rental and parking by the building.

A Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of Kuldīga old town by the town hall square. Pizzas are baked in an oak-fired oven, alongside starters, pasta, fish and meat dishes and selected wines.

Combat sports club in Riga: Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Open daily 15:00–21:00.

A luxury hotel on the edge of Old Riga by the city canal, in a building with a Beaux-Arts facade. The Stage22 restaurant on the roof looks out over Old Riga and the canal parks, and downstairs is Kempinski The Spa with a pool and saunas.

A floating Russian bath on the shore of Lake Ķīšezers in Mežaparks: a panoramic window, a mini cinema, a kitchen and the option to stay overnight. €40 an hour; a Japanese ofuro wooden tub, massages and scrubs cost extra.

Table tennis club with table hire, group training for kids and adults, and private lessons. A second hall is in Iļģuciems.

An entertainment centre in Old Riga on the 4th floor of the Galerija Centrs mall: electric go-karts, an interactive Pixel room, virtual reality, a private karaoke room, pool and minigolf, all under one roof whatever the weather.

Gym in Liepāja for strength and cardio training. Weekday hours: 09:00–21:00.

Part of the GYM! chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Open 24/7.

Part of the GYM! chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training.

Part of the GYM! chain: a gym in Daugavpils for strength and cardio training.

Part of the GYM! chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Open 24/7.

Part of the GYM! chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Open 24/7.

Part of the GYM! chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Open 24/7.

Part of the GYM! chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Open 24/7.

Part of the GYM! chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Open 24/7.

Part of the GYM! chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Open 24/7.

Part of the GYM! chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Open 24/7.

A Nordic-style restaurant in Cēsis old town with a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand (new for 2026). Dishes are built on regional produce, including flatbreads baked in-house, and there are guest rooms. Thursday–Sunday.

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.

A cocktail bar in the Quiet Centre making personalised drinks from quality ingredients, pairing classic recipes with new flavour combinations.

An illusion theatre and museum in Torņakalns: magic and illusion shows for families and an exhibition on the art of illusion. Visits by arrangement.

Twelve indoor padel courts in Sarkandaugava, open every day from morning to evening. Rackets for rent, plus changing rooms and showers.

CrossFit and functional training box in Daugavpils.

Part of the International Gym chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training. Open daily 10:00–21:00.

Part of the International Gym chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training.

Part of the International Gym chain: a gym in Riga for strength and cardio training.

An escape room near Cukurfabrika station: you have 60 minutes to find clues and solve puzzles to get out of the secret bunker. Up to 5 players; recommended from age 10. Call ahead for opening times.

Combat sports club in Salaspils: MMA.

A public wood-fired sauna in Ziepniekkalns with a large cool-water pool, €15 with no time limit. Wednesday is women’s day and Tuesday is family day; there’s a courtyard picnic area, a masseur and a buffet with beer and kvass.

Badminton training and games in Spuņģēni, at the Krustpils sports hall in Spuņģēni.

Gym in Jēkabpils for strength and cardio training. Open daily 09:00–21:00.

Gym in Jelgava for strength and cardio training.

Badminton training and games in Jelgava, at the LBTU sports house.

Yoga studio in Riga: Jivamukti yoga.

Yoga studio in Jūrmala. Weekday hours: 09:00–17:00.

Yoga studio in Ogre.

Yoga studio in Sigulda. Wellness services are available too.

Yoga studio in Jelgava.

Yoga studio in Ventspils: Iyengar yoga.

Two squash courts alongside a gym and a water relaxation centre with a pool and several saunas. Rackets and balls for rent.

Gym in Daugavpils for strength and cardio training. Weekday hours: 09:00–19:00.

A five-star spa hotel in Amatciems between forests and lakes that calls itself Latvia’s first eco-village spa hotel. Turkish and Finnish saunas, a hot tub overlooking the pond, a chlorine-free pool, a shungite room, sauna rituals with a sauna master and massages; open to day visitors too.

Latvia’s first trampoline park: trampolines, foam pits, soft obstacles, climbing walls and a stunt platform.

Combat sports club in Ogre: karate.

A large bouldering hall in the SKY & MORE centre. Four-metre walls over thick crash mats, coached sessions, kids’ birthday parties and team-building events.

An indoor karting hall with a twisty track of roughly 250–300 m and room for up to eight karts at once. Sodi RT8 karts for adults plus karts for children. On site: an arcade, table tennis and a 200 m² event space.

A new karting hall in Teika with a technical 360 m track for beginners and experienced drivers. F1-style timing and a lounge area.