Latvia

Country Highlights

• Knock back a flavorful glass of traditional Latvian balsam, a bittersweet spirit made from linden flower, raspberry, and bilberry
• Sit and relax at Riga’s Town Hall Square, home to the city’s leading venue for contemporary art and home to several bars and cafés
• Explore Latvia’s largest exhibition hall, the Arsenal Museum of Art, home to works by renowned Latvian artists such as Jūlijs Feders and Vilhelms Purvītis
• Hear traditional Latvian folk music, performed in city squares and cafes alike, and centered primarily around the kokle, a native plucked string instrument

Explore Jūrmala

Wade in the Baltic Sea on the white quartz sand beaches of Jūrmala, one of Europe’s most celebrated resort towns. Three national parks are located here, among them the Ragakapa Nature Park, home to dozens of trails and boardwalks. Take in sweeping views of the 200-year-old pine grove surrounding Dzintari Forest Park from the Dzintari Watchtower, which soars over 100-feet in the air.

Shop in Riga Central Market

Shop over 3,000 trade stands at the Riga Central Market, the largest market and bazaar in all of Europe and a destination on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. Consisting of five giant Zeppelin hangars, the market is a city favorite for fresh produce, community events, regional cuisine, and holiday celebrations. One entire hangar, in fact, is reserved strictly for sales of cheese, both imported and locally made. 

Architecture: Onion-Dome Churches

Though primarily associated with Russian architectural heritage, Latvia’s large population of Russian Orthodox Christians mean it’s home to several Onion-Dome churches. The Riga Nativity of Christ Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Riga, whose large black and gold domes are one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks.