Essential Guide to Latvia: Riga, Baltic Coast & Hidden Gems

Latvia is no longer the Baltic region’s best-kept secret. Once treated as a convenient stop between more widely known capitals, this forested country on the Baltic Sea is now attracting attention for its blend of cobbled streets, stately palaces and a vibrant cultural scene infused with modern energy. Riga sits at the heart of it all: an architectural showcase and culinary hotspot that serves as an excellent base for exploring Latvia’s standout sights. The luxury hospitality scene has grown rapidly, offering refined options for discerning travelers.

Stay in Style: Two of Riga’s Finest

Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga is a five-star landmark in the city center. The rooms combine contemporary lines with historic warmth, and some offer sweeping views of the city and nearby parks. The hotel’s full-service spa and wellness center include an indoor pool, sauna and treatment rooms, while the rooftop Stage 22 restaurant and bar provides a popular setting for sundowners with skyline views. The hotel’s signature concierge team offers personalized local insights to enhance your stay.

Grand Palace Hotel, tucked a few blocks further into Old Town, offers a more intimate, classic alternative. As a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, this boutique property occupies a former bank building from 1877. Rooms are understated and comfortable, often featuring soaking tubs and contemporary comforts. Breakfast in the vaulted dining room makes for a memorable start to the day. The hotel’s location places you within easy walking distance of landmarks such as Dome Cathedral and the House of the Blackheads.

Art, Architecture and Balsam

Begin in Riga’s UNESCO-listed Old Town, where Gothic churches and Baroque facades rise above narrow, cobbled lanes. From there, head to the Art Nouveau district for an architectural feast: Riga boasts more than 800 ornate Art Nouveau buildings, the largest collection of its kind in the world. The Riga Art Nouveau Centre, housed in a restored 1903 apartment, provides a clear window into the era’s design and daily life.

Cultural highlights continue at Riga Dome Cathedral, where the Concerto Piccolo series showcases one of Europe’s largest pipe organs. Nearby, the tower of St. Peter’s Church rewards visitors with panoramic views across spires, markets and the Daugava River. For a taste of medieval atmosphere, Rozengrāls serves period dishes in a 13th-century wine cellar lit by candlelight.

Don’t miss Riga Black Balsam, Latvia’s signature herbal liqueur made in the city since 1752. Blending around 24 natural ingredients—ginger, black pepper and gentian among them—this bittersweet spirit is traditionally enjoyed neat or in hot tea and now appears in inventive cocktails across the city.

Flavors of Latvia

Set aside time to explore Latvia’s evolving food scene, from rustic farmhouse traditions to contemporary tasting menus. Āgenskalns Market, housed in a restored 1920s brick hall, is a lively community hub showcasing foraged mushrooms, smoked fish, herbal liqueurs and birch sap sodas. Riga Central Market, spread across five former Zeppelin hangars, is Europe’s largest indoor market and overflows with pickled vegetables, honeycombs and cured meats.

Riga’s fine-dining scene has attracted international attention, with several restaurants earning global recognition. Three Chefs Restaurant, known for its open kitchen and creative presentations, remains a popular choice, while Chef’s Corner offers seasonal tasting menus and premium cuts in a stylish brasserie setting with attentive service.

Beyond Riga: Palaces, Castles, Caves

Thanks to Latvia’s compact size, countryside and coastal escapes are easy to combine with a city stay. Many of the nation’s most picturesque estates and scenic attractions are a short drive or train ride from the capital.

About thirty minutes from Riga, Jūrmala provides a breezy coastal contrast with a long Baltic beach, ornate wooden villas and a history of wellness tourism. The town’s relaxed atmosphere makes it ideal for spa days and shoreline walks.

South of Riga, Rundāle Palace is a standout Baroque estate, designed in the 18th century by an Italian architect who also worked on St. Petersburg’s Winter Palace. The palace impresses with gilded stucco, frescoed ceilings and formal French-style gardens; guided tours often include costumed interpreters. Nearby Bauska Castle combines medieval ramparts and Renaissance architecture, offering insight into the region’s layered past.

To the northeast, Gauja National Park’s river-cut valleys feel like a Baltic fairytale. In Sigulda, explore Livonian Order castle ruins and the stately Sigulda New Castle, then cross the Gauja Valley by cable car to admire sandstone cliffs and dense forest. For an adrenalin boost, ride the Latvia Bobsleigh track with a trained pilot—open year-round, it operates on ice in winter and wheels in warmer months.

For a quieter pace, visit Līgatne, where a historic paper mill has been repurposed as a cultural site and unique wine tastings take place inside sandstone caves carved into cliffs. Local wines tend toward berry and fruit flavors, and tastings often include specialties such as rhubarb and apple ice wine. Consider staying overnight at restored manor houses—Mālpils Manor and Mazmežotne Manor are notable examples—offering refined interiors, fine dining and peaceful countryside settings that make it easy to linger without returning to the city between excursions.