What to see in Latvia: 9 must-sees

Admire Cēsis' 13th-century castle in the Vidzeme region, a medieval fortress of the Livonian Order that still dominates the town's old center. Beside its walls rises the cathedral, one of the oldest Gothic churches in the Baltic states. Wander the cobbled streets down to the local markets and end your visit at a craft brewery, where beers are brewed to traditional Latvian recipes. Cēsis blends medieval heritage with a lively cultural scene all year round.

Sail the Gauja River as it flows through Valmiera and divides the town, its bridges connecting the historic neighborhoods on either side. Then stroll to the central market, where Vidzeme producers sell cheeses, rye bread, and local craft beer—a tradition taken seriously here. Visit the ruins of the medieval castle by the river and the regional museum to understand the Hanseatic past of this town in northern Latvia. With leafy streets, quiet cafés, and paths along the Gauja, Valmiera makes an authentic, unhurried stop on any route through the region.

Visit Jūrmala, Latvia's most famous beach, and stroll its 33 km of sand beside the Baltic. Walk among the historic wooden houses lining the promenade, try surfing when the westerly wind blows, and take a dip in the cool, clean waters of the Gulf of Riga. From Riga it's about a 30-minute train ride—perfect for a day of shoreline, pine forest, and quiet.

Wander the streets of Riga, home to Europe's largest collection of Art Nouveau architecture, where some 800 early-20th-century buildings form an open-air architectural museum. The historic center, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, preserves façades with mascarons, iron balconies, and decorated portals that marked the Latvian capital's period of greatest growth. Stroll down Alberta Street and the Vidzeme district to see how the city made Art Nouveau its hallmark.

Wander the trails of Gauja National Park, the oldest in Latvia, where the river carves meanders between sandstone cliffs and caves such as Gutmanis, the largest in the Baltics. Within its 917 km² in the Vidzeme region you'll find waterfalls, forests, birdwatching towers, and the Adventure Park, with ziplines and hanging bridges to cross among the trees.

Tour the baroque Rundāle Palace, an 18th-century residence of the Dukes of Courland, where the restored rooms, museum, and geometric gardens evoke the Baltic court of that era. Stroll among the rose beds, trimmed hedges, and fountains surrounding the facade designed by Rastrelli. Visit the ducal chambers with their stuccoes and paintings, and round off the day on the park's trails, where the Zemgale countryside offers a peaceful counterpoint to all that ornamentation.

Explore Kuldīga and head to the Ventas Rumba, Europe's widest waterfall: 240 meters of water pouring over the rocks of the Venta River, filling the air with spray and the roar of the current in spring. Walk the riverside trails, photograph the falls from the banks, and look out for the riverside plants and wildlife of this part of Kurzeme. Then cross the bridge into town and wander the cobbled streets, wooden houses, and small squares with their cafés to feel how life is lived in this town in western Latvia.