Latvia is a country I’ve already been to once before. In 2018, during my gap year from travel, I had two months of summer holidays to travel. It was a whirlwind trip from Portugal to Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, and Latvia before I had to return to my personal hell.
Due to the time constraints, I only spent one full week in Rīga with Jonas and managed to do one day trip outside the capital to Sigulda. It was during this trip that I learned that going up TV towers is one of my favorite things to do in former Soviet countries. Therefore, one highlight of Latvia was going up the TV tower in Rīga. This entire experience left me wanting more.
Things I’d Like to Do Next Time in Latvia
- Hitchhike even more. I only caught a few rides in from Lithuania to Rīga and also hitchhiked back to Rīga after a day trip to Sigulda. It’s not much, but it was a good start and I met some great people!
- Revisit Rīga for some working and chilling. I think it’s actually a pretty great city for digital nomads
- Take some ferries. There’s supposedly a ferry from Liepāja to Travemünde in Germany and another from Ventspils to Nynäshamn in Sweden. Also, there should be a direct ferry from Rīga to Helsinki (Finland) and Stockholm (Sweden)
- Hike up the highest point named Gaiziņkalns (312masl). It’s a typical ‘peak’ for the Baltics, therefore it should be very doable
- Visit and climb up as many lighthouses as possible. I’m especially inspired by Kolka lighthouse, although it requires going by boat and there are probably dangerous currents
- Go kayaking on rivers, lakes, or the sea. For example, the Venta River, Gauja River through the spectacular valley and the Daugava and make a stop on Kundziņsala island in Rīga
- Speaking of this, Cape Kolka has been on my wishlist since that first visit to Latvia in 2018. I’d like to rent a beach house there in the shoulder season and just stare at the sea
- Enjoy natural areas, such as the Gutmanis Cave, Burtnieks Lake, Lake Pape, Venta rapids, Usma Lake, and Lubana Lake. You see it’s mostly lakes. Also, if I’m going hiking perhaps I’d like to do a section of the E9 European long-distance path
- Visit some abandoned airports. There seem to be a few of the former Soviet military kind, which provides some interesting challenges if it’s still off limits. Therefore, I’m mostly looking at Rumbula Air Base and Liepas Air Base They seem doable. However, I’m unsure if the Daugavpils International Airport is abandoned or getting revived. Moreover, there seems to partially be some abandoned stuff at Spilve Airport and the Vaiņode Air Base hangar was reused to make the market in Rīga (to which I’ve been)
- Visit some smaller cities, towns, and villages, such as Daugavpils, Jelgava, Liepāja, Kuldīga, Valga/Valka (binational with Estonia), and Krāslava
- Take some other modes of transport than hitchhiking to switch things up. I’d like to take the Sigulda Aerial Tramway, local trains, ride the Bānītis heritage railway, and any other cool vehicle I come across
- Go urban exploring abandoned places, such as Skrunda-1 and Irbene. Tips for other abandoned places and ghost towns are also welcome, just comment below!
- Admire the funky architecture, such as (nice brutalist) things from Soviet times. One example is the Stalinesque Latvian Academy of Sciences and places in Karosta. But I’m also down for more modern stuff that’s not brutalist, such as the Castle of Light (national library) and the Great Amber Concert Hall in Liepāja
- Alternatively, I am also down to visit old stuff, such as castles, ruins, and windmills, which Latvia also offers. Some cool ones are the Āraiši Lake Castle, Āraišu Windmill, Grobiņa Castle, Koknese Castle Ruins, and Ludza Castle
If you know cool places and things to do in Latvia or if you are Latvian, comment at the bottom of this page so I can always find your suggestions again once I start plotting my return!
So you are a travel blogger and do you have good posts about Latvia. Then drop them in a comment below and I’ll read them!
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