The largely untouched nature, medieval trading towns, and numerous castles, manors, and estates offer tourists a variety of enticing opportunities for exploration. Latvia, the middle of the three Baltic republics, is full of contrasts.
Located in the heart of the Baltics, Latvia lies on the Baltic Sea and borders Lithuania, Estonia, the Russian Federation, and Belarus. Covering 64,589 square kilometers, it is slightly smaller than Bavaria and primarily consists of flat landscapes with around 3,000 lakes and approximately 12,000 rivers. The coastline along the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga stretches for 497 kilometers. Today, Latvia has about 2 million inhabitants and its modern airport serves as a hub in the Baltics.
Despite being a small country, Latvia boasts a rich cultural life. The culture of choir singing and folk dancing is especially valued here. Few countries sing as much as Latvia, where one in five Latvians is a choir member, and there are ample opportunities for performances. Since 1873, a traditional song festival has been held every five years. This unique cultural heritage was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2003.
A particular treasure of Latvian culture is the folk songs known as Dainas—short, typically four-line verses. These represent Latvia's most significant cultural heritage and were passed down orally for centuries by the ancestors of modern Latvians. The lyrics of Dainas encompass all aspects of life, expressing feelings, observations, and insights.
Latvian cuisine has been influenced by various cultures over centuries and is relatively simple and hearty. It features dishes made primarily from locally grown or foraged ingredients. Examples include potatoes with herring and curd, mixed salad (Rasols), cold soup, or sauerkraut soup, mushroom sauce, blood sausage, barley porridge with potatoes, pork knuckle with sauerkraut, Sklandu rauši, and a layered rye bread dessert—just a glimpse of the delicious variety found in Latvian dishes. Fish such as smelt, eel, or lamprey are considered rare delicacies on Latvian menus. Latvians take particular pride in national specialties like "Riga Black Balsam," a herbal and forest berry-infused liqueur.
Latvia is divided into four historical regions, each distinct in landscape and cultural history:
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Livonia (Vidzeme) in the northeast with the capital Riga;
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Courland (Kurzeme) in the west, a coastal region along the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea;
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Semigallia (Zemgale), a narrow strip between the Daugava River and the Lithuanian border;
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Latgale in the southeast, known for its hilly terrain and multitude of lakes.
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In Latvia’s many pristine areas, you can hike, bike, or take boat tours for hours without encountering another person. Endless coastlines, misty marshes, fish-rich lakes, and berry-laden wetlands are typical landscapes.
Let the zest for life in Latvia inspire you!
