Northern Europe · Europe

Latvia

Discover Latvia - a Baltic nation of Art Nouveau architecture, dense forests, sandy beaches, and a deep singing tradition between Estonia and Lithuania.

Where Is Latvia?

Latvia is a country in Northern Europe. Its capital is Riga.

Where Latvia isNorthern Europe · Capital Riga

Capital Riga
Population 1.85M
Area 64,559 km²

Latvia sits in the middle of the three Baltic states, both geographically and in personality. It doesn't have Estonia's tech-startup swagger or Lithuania's basketball obsession, but it has something both neighbors envy: Riga. The Latvian capital is home to the largest collection of Art Nouveau architecture in the world - over 800 buildings with elaborate facades of mythological figures, writhing flowers, and screaming faces. It's like someone turned an entire city into an illustrated fairy tale.

Outside Riga, Latvia is spectacularly green and quiet. Nearly half the country is covered in forest, the coast along the Gulf of Riga has wide sandy beaches backed by pine dunes, and the Gauja River Valley is sometimes called Latvia's Switzerland (which is generous but the scenery is genuinely lovely). Latvians have one of the world's strongest folk singing traditions - the Latvian Song Festival brings 40,000 singers together every five years. They're also serious about basketball, ice hockey, and a fermented bread drink called kvass that tastes better than it sounds.

At a glance

Language

Latvian

Currency

Euro (EUR)

Calling Code

+371

Drives On

Right

Internet

.lv

Timezone

EET (UTC+2)

Script

Latin

Government

Parliamentary Republic

Independence

1918

By population

Largest cities in Latvia

Riga

The Art Nouveau capital of Europe with over 800 ornate facades, a medieval old town, and a thriving cultural scene

614,000

Daugavpils

Latvia's second city near the Lithuanian border, birthplace of Mark Rothko and home to a massive Soviet-era fortress

80,000

Liepaja

Coastal city on the Baltic known as the city where the wind is born, with a long beach and vibrant music scene

68,000

Jelgava

Former capital of the Duchy of Courland with the largest Baroque palace in the Baltics

55,000

Jurmala

Latvia's premier beach resort, a string of sandy beaches and wooden Art Nouveau villas along the Gulf of Riga

50,000

People

Famous people from Latvia

Mark Rothko
Art
Born in Daugavpils, became one of the most important abstract expressionist painters of the 20th century
Mikhail Baryshnikov
Art
Born in Riga, became the greatest male ballet dancer of his generation and a cultural icon
Isaiah Berlin
Science
Born in Riga, became one of the most influential political philosophers of the 20th century at Oxford
Kristaps Porzingis
Sport
NBA star from Liepaja who became the first Latvian to be a top NBA draft pick
Mariss Jansons
Music
One of the world's most respected conductors, led the Royal Concertgebouw and Bavarian Radio Symphony

Food

Traditional cuisine of Latvia

Grey Peas with Bacon: Latvia's unofficial national dish - dried grey peas slow-cooked and served with crispy bacon and sour cream
Rupjmaizes Kartojums: Layered rye bread dessert with whipped cream and berry compote, a beloved Latvian sweet
Piragi: Small crescent-shaped pastries filled with bacon and onion, a staple at Latvian celebrations
Sklandrausis: Rye pastry tart filled with carrot and potato custard, a Livonian traditional dish
Cold Beetroot Soup: Chilled pink soup made with beetroot, kefir, and fresh vegetables, the ultimate summer dish
Kvass: Fermented rye bread drink, slightly sweet and tangy, Latvia's traditional non-alcoholic refreshment

Nature

Nature and landmarks in Latvia

Gauja National ParkNational Park: Latvia's largest national park with sandstone cliffs, caves, castle ruins, and the scenic Gauja River valley
Jurmala BeachCoast: 33 km of white sand beach along the Gulf of Riga, backed by pine forests and wooden resort architecture
Kemeri National ParkNational Park: Vast wetland with wooden boardwalks over bogs, sulfur springs, and diverse bird life near Jurmala
SiguldaLandmark: The Switzerland of Latvia - medieval castle ruins, bobsled tracks, and autumn foliage along the Gauja River
Cape KolkaCoast: Where the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga collide, with visible wave patterns meeting from two directions
Slitere National ParkForest: Ancient forest along the western coast protecting rare broad-leaved trees and traditional Liv fishing villages

Sport

Sports in Latvia

Ice Hockey: Latvia regularly qualifies for the IIHF World Championship and hosted the tournament in 2006 and 2023
Basketball: Kristaps Porzingis became an NBA star, continuing Latvia's strong basketball tradition
Bobsled & Luge: The Sigulda track has produced Olympic medalists in skeleton and bobsled for this small nation
BMX Cycling: Maris Strombergs won two consecutive Olympic gold medals in BMX in 2008 and 2012

Facts

Did you know?

Riga has the highest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture in the world, with over 800 buildings
Latvia's Song and Dance Festival brings 40,000 singers together, and is a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
Mark Rothko, one of the 20th century's greatest painters, was born in the Latvian city of Daugavpils
Latvia has one of the fastest internet speeds in the world, regularly ranking in the global top 10
The country's population has declined from 2.7 million in 1990 to under 2 million, partly due to emigration to Western Europe
Latvia's national bird is the white wagtail, which Latvians believe brings good luck
Latvia's Kaive village is home to an ancient oak with one of the widest trunks in the Baltic states