Latvia doesn’t always pop up on travel lists, but those who do land here quickly learn it's a place that doesn’t show off—it reveals itself. The country sits quietly between Estonia and Lithuania, where forests cover more than half the land, wooden farmhouses lean into the wind, and medieval towns still tick along to their own time. If you’re heading this way, don’t just skim through Riga and call it a day. Latvia’s charm isn’t in what’s obvious—it’s in what you take the time to notice. Here are seven ways to see the best of Latvia, no matter how long you’re staying.

7 Best Things to Do in Latvia

Walk Through Riga As You Live There

Riga isn’t just another pretty Old Town in Europe. Yes, the cobblestones are still uneven, and yes, the buildings still carry centuries of detail—but walk through its neighborhoods, and you’ll see it’s also a living, breathing place. The Art Nouveau district around Alberta iela is where architecture becomes less about symmetry and more about personality. No building matches the next, and that’s the point.

Wander outside the tourist-heavy spots. Head to the Āgenskalns neighborhood across the river, where life feels slower. Locals chat by the market stalls, and wooden houses lean against blooming gardens. Grab a pastry from a bakery that doesn’t speak English. Sit in a courtyard where someone’s hanging laundry. The city feels different when you stop trying to photograph it.

Spend a Day in the Middle of Nowhere—Literally

Latvia has over 12,000 rivers and 3,000 lakes. Translation: getting lost is part of the plan. And that’s not a bad thing. Rent a car, pick a direction, and see where the road takes you. Somewhere between the tiny towns and the never-ending tree line, you’ll find the kind of quiet that’s hard to come by.

Suppose you need a loose destination, head toward Latgale. It's the eastern part of the country where life is a bit more rugged, and the roads sometimes turn into dirt without warning. But what you lose in pavement, you gain in space. Lakes stretch out like mirrors. Villages have churches that seem too big for the number of people who live nearby. And people still wave when you drive by.

Sleep in a Forest Cabin (and Mean It)

There’s no shortage of boutique hotels in Riga, but the real sleep you’re looking for isn’t in a city. Book a cabin deep in the woods—somewhere with no Wi-Fi, maybe no running water, and definitely no reception. Latvia’s forests are more than background scenery. They’re part of everyday life. Mushroom-picking, berry-hunting, chopping wood—all these things are still regular weekend activities.

Places like Gauja National Park have scattered forest lodges and off-grid cabins where mornings begin with bird calls and nights end with a fire you built yourself. You don’t need to do much here. Read a book. Go for a walk. Watch mist rise from a pond. It’s not about the checklist—it’s about how the place makes you slow down.

Take the Train to a Coastal Town

Latvia’s train system isn’t fancy, but it gets you where you need to go. If you want to see a slice of everyday life while getting to the coast, take the train to Jūrmala or Liepāja. Jūrmala is the easy choice—closer to Riga and lined with wooden houses and sandy beaches. In the summer, the water’s warm enough to swim. In the off-season, it’s just you and the sound of the waves.

Liepāja takes a little more time to reach, but it’s worth it. The town mixes Soviet leftovers with a creative edge. Music spills from rehearsal spaces, street art fills forgotten walls, and the sea is always close. There’s an edge to Liepāja—like it’s still figuring out what it wants to be—and that’s what makes it interesting.

Explore a Castle That’s Still Standing

Latvia’s not short on castles, but they’re not always polished up like storybooks. Some are restored and functioning as museums, while others are half-crumbled, standing in the middle of fields. Cēsis Castle is one of the most atmospheric. You walk through candlelit stone hallways and climb towers that still echo with old footsteps.

Nearby, the town of Cēsis offers enough to linger. Streets curve gently around stone walls, and shops sell things made by hand. People say hello here. There’s a rhythm to the place that doesn’t rush. Spend the afternoon exploring, then watch the light change as the sun sets behind the castle ruins. You don’t need anything more than that.

Get Out on the Water (Not Just to Look at It)

Latvia’s got rivers wide enough for paddling, lakes calm enough for swimming, and a coastline long enough to walk for hours. So don’t just watch the water—get in it. Canoe trips along the Gauja River are a good place to start. The current does most of the work, and you pass by sandstone cliffs, pine forests, and small villages where you can stop for lunch.

For something different, check out the Slītere National Park coastline. It’s not about beach umbrellas—it’s about wide, quiet beaches and dunes that stretch for miles. Bring a bike and follow the coast on two wheels. Or take your time and walk until you lose count of how many birds you’ve seen.

Visit a Traditional Latvian Sauna (Pirts)

This isn’t your average spa day. A Latvian sauna—or pirts—is equal parts cleansing, social ritual, and cultural tradition. It’s hot, sure, but not just for sweating. There’s steam, birch branches, and a whole rhythm to how it’s done. You’ll be guided through rounds of heat, followed by cold plunges, tea breaks, and gentle massage techniques with herbal brooms.

Some parts are modern, tucked inside countryside guesthouses, while others are more traditional and rustic, often beside lakes. It’s not just about warming up—it’s about clearing your head. Locals swear by it. And once you’ve tried it, you might understand why.

The Kind of Place That Doesn’t Shout

Latvia doesn’t try too hard to impress you. It’s the kind of place that lets you come to your own conclusions. Walk its towns without a checklist. Watch the forests move. Let the cold wind at the coast hit your face. Whether you’re there for a weekend or a couple of weeks, the best of Latvia isn’t in the postcard spots—it’s in the in-between moments. The ones you weren’t expecting.