Weekend Getaway Trips In Latvia
Latvia is not known for its mountains, but we have many places where you can enjoy walks and hikes in nature. Latvia is far more than just busy Riga streets or noisy cities, the countryside has a lot to offer to all nature lovers and small-city explorers. And even if you have never tried hiking - it is easy to start as most of the trails are beginner-friendly. So you do not have to have professional boots or equipment, you need to find time and be ready to fall in love with the beautiful Latvian nature. From sea to forests and swamps, Latvia has a lot more to offer than you think and villages and small cities are full of interesting surprises and welcoming people.
In this article, we will look at five interesting trails, which are easy to access by public transportation from Riga - one in every region of Latvia. If you want to find out more about regions in Latvia, join our discussion forum here.
Kurzeme - Liepaja Horse Island
Liepaja is the third biggest city in Latvia, and it’s only a 3-hour drive by bus or train from Riga. And although Liepaja is better known for its seaside, the city is located between the lake of Liepaja and the Baltic Sea. Locals say that this is the city where the wind is born. As it might be true - there are rarely days when the wind does not want to steal your hat.
But right there in the city, you can find Horse Island and start your trip with a nice approximately 4 km long walk to visit the bird watching tower, as the Liepaja lake is home to 27 protected bird species, 10 protected bird species overwinter and 50 protected bird species feed there during migration. If you visit the Liepaja Lake trail during summer, you might stumble on one of the live music events that are organized there allowing you to enjoy a boat ride while listening to live music and watching the sunset. For more information visit Liepajas tourism information web page.
Zemgale - Tervete Nature Park
You might wonder where all the gnomes of Latvia live, and here we have the answer. Almost all of them live in Tērvete, where one of the biggest Nature Parks is located. Your walk through the forest will be accompanied by not only gnomes but a lot of magical creatures carved into the wood. This park is created for people of all ages - with different activities, sculptures, sports events, and educational activities in nature everyone can get to know more about Latvian Forests and famous literary characters. Be prepared for a whole day of adventures - take some snacks with you as there are many great picnic spots. The trail is easy to walk through and if you get tired you can always hop on the small train, which will take you to your next stop. To find out more about the possibilities to visit Tervete click here.
Vidzeme - Sigulda
If your road leads to Vidzeme, then Sigulda is a must-see. Locals sometimes proudly call it Latvian Switzerland, because here the river Gauja makes a beautiful valley curling through the local hills. During winter time you can go skiing in Sigulda, but nothing beats autumn's colorful leave scenery on the coasts of Gauja. You can reach Sigulda easily by train or bus from Riga and Sigulda is the beginning of a lot of beautiful trail paths. To get to know all routes, you can start your visit with the local Tourism information center located just across the train station. And then just start exploring. If you want to take a look at medieval Latvian history, try walking to Turaida. There you will find the Turaida castle, which is one of the oldest and most well-preserved castles in Latvia and is open to visitors all year long. On your way back take a look at Gutmana cave - the biggest cave in Latvia. Or look to the old valley of Gauja using the Sigulda Cable car which will bring you from one side of Gauja to another. All the information is available on the Sigulda tourism information web page.
Sēlija – Jaunjelgava
Sēlija has a lot to offer if you are looking for a weekend getaway or a good Sunday walk. Jaunjelgava can be easily reached by bus from Riga and it’s approximately an hour and a half of a drive. And there you can take a walk on the promenade of Daugava, you can also use both for crossing over to the other side of Daugava, where you can visit one of the largest arboretum parks in Latvia, the Skrīveri Arboretum Park. The park itself is like a small trip around half of the globe, as one might find different trees explore the city, and enjoy the hospitality of local people. Find out more in the local Tourism information spot.
Latgale – Kraslava
Latgale is the land of lakes, you will not find more lakes in any other region of Latvia than in Latgale. But if you are planning to take a longer hike - “Daugavas loki” (The bends of Daugava) might be the trail for you. Just soon after crossing the border Daugava creates eight bends which are considered the oldest formations of the Daugava valley in Latvia, where the river has preserved its natural course. They have been recognized by UNESCO World Heritage and are added to the list of Latvian Cultural Heritage. The trail consists of several smaller walks, or you could take your bike with you and enjoy the 128 km long round trip which starts in Krāslava. During this trip, you will not only enjoy the beautiful scenery of Daugava valley, but you will also visit villages and cities and get to know the local cultural heritage. Take a look at the different possibilities here.
To find out more about different weekend getaway routes you can visit the Latvian official tourism platform for more specific trail maps and plans.
Vita, OLS Community Manager - Latvian