By Kerry Kubilius
Eastern Europe Travel Expert, about.com
Latvia may be a small country, but if you’re curious about Baltic history and culture, a visit here will be of interest. While Riga claims most tourists during the summer months, the entire country can be toured within only a few days. Consider the possibility of extending your summertime visit to Latvia to destinations outside the capital.
Weather
Summertime
weather is tricky in the Baltic nations—hot temperatures are not
guaranteed. However, sunshine is more plentiful than during other times
of the year, and those who pack smart for travel to Eastern and Central Europe
will be most comfortable. That means including garments to layer and
dependable shoes in your luggage, particularly when enjoying a tour
through the Latvian countryside.
Events
Many of the
biggest events in June, July, and August are centered in Riga, but
cities throughout Latvia find reasons to celebrate culture, music, and
history.
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The Riga Festival runs throughout a good part of June.
This festival engages with multimedia shows,
theater performances, children’s activities, and more. Similarly, the
Daugavpils City Festival celebrates the town’s birth with shows,
concerts, and games. The Liepaja Summer Festival also kicks off in June.
Ligo
celebrations also take place in June. This recognition of the summer
solstice and Latvia’s pagan heritage provide plenty of excuses for
selling traditional handicrafts, serving up the homemade Latvia food
products such as cheese and smoked meats, and building bonfires for
snuggling up to on the shortest night of the year.
Summer music
festivals include the Riga Opera Festival, the International Organ Music
Festival, and the International Military Orchestra Festival.
Check
out the calendar of events for various towns to help you prepare your
itinerary or to see what will be on during your visit.
Destinations
Recommended Latvia includes seaside towns, castles hidden in the forest, and a Baroque palace.
Riga
is, of course, Latvia’s most popular destination and is splendid during
the summer when its green spaces are abloom and the colors of its Art Nouveau urban landscape are particularly saturated. It’s possible to spend a day in Riga
and still take in many of its sights. However, particularly if you have
a car, a tour of Latvia doesn’t need to take more than three or four
days.
Jurmala
is nearby Riga and has been an attractive resort city for generations.
Gingerbread Art Nouveau cottages nestled in the pine forest by the water
are deceptively luxurious. Enjoy white sand beaches and the Baltic Sea.
Smaller towns such as Kuldiga and Ventspils
show a different side of Latvia. These less boisterous destinations
nevertheless embody charm and give off a calmer vibe than the capital.
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Sigulda and Cesis
are worthwhile for lovers of medieval history or castle ruins fanatics.
These picturesque destinations act like time capsules where it is
possible to envision Latvia how it looked centuries ago.
Rundale Palace,
on the other hand, recalls the time of the tsars with is Baroque
architecture, lavish rooms, and magnificent gardens—which, incidentally,
are celebrated with a garden festival just when the roses reach their
peak of beauty. Rundale Palace is a remarkable historic landmark that
might seem convenient to miss, but its out-of-the-way location is more
than made up for by the careful preservation efforts of the experts who
have brought it back from disrepair and continue to work to maintain the
many architectural and artistic elements of the palace.
