LĀI ir izveidojis "Rokasgrāmatu dzīvošanai Latvijā" angļu valodā, lai palīdzētu ceļotājiem un jaunpienācējiem iejusties šajā skaistajā zemē un izbaudīt katru tajā pavadīto mirkli. Šī rokasgrāmata sniedz vērtīgu informāciju par Latvijas neatkarības atgūšanas vēsturi, politisko sistēmu, novadiem, kultūru un tradīcijām, lai katrs varētu veiksmīgi un interesanti pavadīt laiku Latvijā. Tajā ir ietverti arī noderīgi padomi, kur meklēt papildus informāciju gadījumā, ja rodas jautājumi, uz kuriem atbildes nav atrodamas rokasgrāmatā.

Welcome to Latvia!

Facts about Latvia

POLITICS of LATVIA

• Latvia is an independent democratic and parliamentary republic.
• The legislative power lies with the unicameral Parliament called the “Saeima”, which consists of 100 members who are elected every four years by eligible voters.
• The government consists of a Cabinet of Ministers led by the Prime Minister, who is the most powerful political figure in Latvia.
• The President, elected by the Saeima for a four-year term, serves as the formal head of state with broad representative functions.
• There are 14 ministries in Latvia: the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economics, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Climate and Energy, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Welfare, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development and the Ministry of Agriculture.

HISTORY of INDEPENDENCE

• Following the Russian Revolution of 1917, Latvia declared its independence on November 18, 1918.
• Independent Latvia was governed by democratic coalitions until 1934, when autocratic rule was established by President Karlis Ulmanis.
• In 1939 Latvia, via ultimatum, was forced to grant the USSR military bases on its soil. In June 1940 the Soviet Red Army attacked Latvia and occupied the country.
• Nazi Germany attacked the Soviet Union in July 1941 and occupied Latvian territory until 1944.
• In 1944 Latvia was retaken by the Red Army. Latvia’s independence was not restored. Instead, the country was incorporated into the USSR and remained a part of it until the national independence movement managed to organize a democratic referendum in March 1990 on the restoration of the Latvian statehood.
• Latvia attained full independence from the Soviet Union on August 21, 1991. It was accepted into the United Nations as a full member in September 1991. The final units of the Russian army left the country in 1994.
• In February 1999, Latvia became a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
• Latvia applied for membership in the European Union in October 1995. The country joined the NATO in March 2004 and the European Union in May 2004. Latvia introduced the Euro as its currency in 2014.
• In July 2016, Latvia became a full member of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

For more detailed information, please, visit the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

 

The Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia

RIGA

• Riga is the capital of Latvia. Its population in 2024 is 605 273, but the metropolitan area is inhabited by 454 294.
• The founding year of Riga is regarded to be 1201.
• Riga's cultural and historical significance is concentrated in the Old Town, which has been listed by UNESCO as one of the world's most important cultural monuments.

For more information about the news of Riga, please click here and visit the official website of Riga City Council.

Panorama of Riga

GEOGRAPHY of LATVIA

• Latvia is located in Northern Europe, on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea.
• Latvia shares land borders with Estonia, Russia, Belarus and Lithuania, and a sea border with Sweden.
• Latvia is a typical plain country. The highest point of the terrain is Gaiziņkalns, 311 meters high.
• Latvia has more than 12 000 rivers, the most important of which are the Daugava, Lielupe, Gauja and Venta.
• There are more than 2 000 lakes in the country.
• Latvia is also home to the widest waterfall in Europe, the Venta waterfall next to the city of Kuldīga.
• Latvia has almost 500 km of coastline.
• Latvia has a total area of 64 589 km². Latvia is made up of four regions - Kurzeme (the Western region of Latvia), Zemgale (the Southern region), Vidzeme (the middle and Northern part of Latvia) and Latgale (the Eastern region).
• Latvia's forests cover more than 50% of the country's territory.

Map of Latvia

POPULATION of LATVIA

• According to official statistics, in 2023 approximately 1 883 000 people are living in Latvia.
• Over a third of Latvia’s population lives in Riga.
• The largest ethnic groups that make up Latvia's population are Latvians, Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Poles and Lithuanians.
• The official language of Latvia is Latvian with approximately 77% of Latvian’s population also speaking Russian and English (in 2022).
• To others, Latvians may seem unsociable - quiet individualists - but in fact they need a little more time to develop trust and friendship. A typical Latvian folk saying says: "Speaking is silver, silence is gold."

CULTURE of LATVIA

• In Latvia, especially in Latgale, crafts and other forms of folk art, such as ceramics, weaving, plaiting, etc., are strongly developed.
• There are also song and dance festivals, which are usually held in summer and attract participants and visitors from all over the world.
• Latvian culture features over 1 million folk songs.
• An interesting tradition in Latvia is the annual celebration of the summer solstice - Līgo and Jāņi. It is celebrated on 23 and 24 June and is characterized by colorful traditions dating back to ancient times.
• National holidays, which are widely celebrated, such as November 11^th, November 18^th, May 5^th, and others, also play an important role in Latvia.
• Latvia is a multi-denominational country and the leading religion is Christianity, divided into Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, Baptist, Anglican, Old Believer and other denominations.
• Riga has over 700 examples of Art Nouveau architecture, making up about one-third of all buildings in the center of Riga. This architecture style is seen on the present Ministry of Education, on Smilšu Street, Alberta Street, etc.
• Latvia has almost 20 hours of daylight during midsummer and in the winter seasons the amount of daylight per day is between 8 and 11 hours.
• Latvia is a eurozone country, so its official currency is the Euro.

Latvian Song and Dance Festival

TRADITIONAL CUISINE of LATVIA

• Most popular traditional foods in Latvia – gray peas and bacon, rye bread, smoked fish, potato pancakes, blood sausage, sprats, barley porridge, stewed cabbage, herring with cottage cheese and fried potatoes, bacon patties, a smooth runner liver pate with wholemeal bread, etc.
• Most popular soups in Latvia – sorrel soup, cold beetroot soup, sour cabbage soup, pea-root soup, grub soup, rice-milk soup, etc.
• Most popular desserts in Latvia – rye bread soup with whipped cream, “Debesmanna”, “Žagariņi”, wheat dumplings with jam, kiesel, sweet milk soups, etc.
• Most popular drinks in Latvia – Riga Black Balsam, kefir, kvass, beer, birch juice, kiesel, sour porridge, “miestiņš”, etc.
• Latvian traditional cuisine does not include any specific spices or sauces, but such additives as sour cream, dill, garlic, cumin and other everyday products are used to supplement dishes.

Wheat bread

COMMON WORDS and PHRASES in LATVIAN:

• Čau! ( Hello! )
• Paldies! ( Thank you! )
• Visu labu! ( Good night! )
• Lūdzu ( Please )
• Jauku dienu! ( Have a nice day! )
• Labrīt! ( Good morning! )
• Cik šis maksā? ( What is the price of this? )
• Kur atrodas … ? ( What is the location of … )
• Vai Jūs man varētu palīdzēt? ( Can you please help me? )
• Mani sauc … ( My name is … )
• Es esmu no … ( I am from … )

Information for Those Travelling to Latvia

Visa Information

• Citizens of certain countries are not required to obtain a visa prior to visiting Latvia for travel or business purposes (maximum stay of 90 days in a 180-day period). To see which citizens of specific countries do not require a visa to enter Latvia, click here and visit the official website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• To get to know how to apply for a visa, click here.

How do I travel to Latvia?

• By Plane - Riga International Airport is the major airport though there are three other regional airports (Liepaja Airport, Ventspils Airport and Jūrmala Airport) as well - nine aerodromes.
• By Bus - Latvia’s developed road network makes it possible to travel here via an international bus. You can buy tickets online or in person at the Riga International Coach Terminal (Pragas Street 1, Riga).
• By Train - Traveling to Latvia via international railway is currently a difficult process, but a connection between the Baltic States to the rest of Europe via train is under construction.

Travel within Latvia

Transportation in Riga

Riga has many reliable public transportation options. The bus and tram system is quite extensive, and runs from around 5:00 in the morning to midnight. Riga public transport passes can be purchased at different corner stores.

• For 30€, you can purchase a thirty-day pass to use on Riga’s buses, trolley-buses and trams. It is possible to purchase a transportation pass for different time periods including one day, three days, one week, etc., For more information about tickets, routes and timetable of the transports etc., click here and visit Rigas Satiksme's official site
• For Parking instructions in Riga, visit: https://www.rigassatiksme.lv/en/services/parking-services/parking-services/ Mobile apps for parking payments in Latvia also exist and are often listed in particular parking spots.
• Taxi fares are also reasonable, and multiple taxi services exist, including popular mobile taxi apps.
• For transportation it is possible to use the car-sharing or a scooter rental, both of which are available via most popular mobile apps.

Traveling Outside of Riga

If you want to explore outside of Riga, reliable travel options are also available. Latvia has a reliable rail network, and Latvia’s long-distance bus system makes up for the gaps where the trains cannot reach. Details regarding destinations, travel times, and ticketing options for traveling with trains can be found here: https://www.vivi.lv/en/ 

Coach station provides both intercity regional buses in Latvia and international travel. For destinations, schedules and tickets, please see: https://www.autoosta.lv/time-table/?lang=en

Popular international bus services are also available from Latvian cities.

Hitchhiking is relatively unpopular in Latvia.

Latgale

Latgale, or Latgola in the Latgalian language, is a region of Latvia in the south - eastern part of the country. Its history can be traced back to the 12^th and 13^th centuries, so the cultural and historical heritage of Latgale is rich. Latgale is the only region in Latvia that has its own language - Latgalian. This region is called “the land of blue lakes” because it consists of about 2000 lakes.

If you are traveling in Latgale, you would enjoy visiting:

• The Roman Catholic Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Aglona - an important religious center of Latvian Catholics
• Lovers of fresh air and nature will enjoy visiting Laukezera Nature Park, Ilzenieka Lake, Teiči Nature Trails and other travel destinations
• The oldest town in Latvia, Ludza, is located in Latgale. It is approximately 34 kilometers from Latvia-Russia borderline

To find more about traveling opportunities in Latgale visit: https://latgale.travel/discover-latgale/

The Roman Catholic Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Aglona

Kurzeme

Kurzeme is a region in the Western part of Latvia. Its oldest and main cities are Aizpute, Ventspils and Kuldīga. Kurzeme is notable for the cultural heritage left by the ancient Curonians and the peculiar language dialect.

If you are traveling in Kurzeme, you would probably like to visit:

• Venta’s rumba - it is the largest waterfall in Europe, near which you can enjoy a picnic with your loved ones during the warm season
• Slīteres Nature Park, Moritsala Nature Reserve, Grīņu Nature Reserve and Engure Nature Park - these are the places where you can observe and meet many wild animals
• Special objects that are worth seeing are Karaosta in Liepaja, Irbene Locator ( available for excursions ), Liepniekvalki caves and Lūrmaņi cliffs
• In the warm season you can enjoy the sun and breeze in the Blue Flag beach in Ventspils
• The traditional dish of Kurzeme is sklandraushi, which is carrot bread in a basket of mashed potatoes

To explore Kurzeme, click here: https://www.kurzeme.lv/en/

Venta’s rumba

Zemgale

Zemgale is the lowest region of Latvia, which is located in the southern part of the country. It used to be closely connected with the lands of Kurzeme and Selia, so their borders have blurred and are difficult to differentiate. The territory of Zemgale is mostly flat, that’s why it is called the bread basket of Latvia because its territory is widely used for agricultural purposes.

If you are traveling in Zemgale, you would probably enjoy visiting:

• Tērvete Nature Park - For a more active day you can rent both bicycles and roller skates. Located inside the park are Latvian fairy-tale characters, which is perfect for a visit with the family
• Rundāle Castle - it is listed as one of the European royal residences, its French garden is fantastic, which is also appreciated in filmmaking. For example, the castle and gardens were used to film scenes for the movie Sisi, about the Austrian emperor
• When visiting Zemgale, you must try sirņiki ( cottage cheese scones ), grub porridge with bacon or some other dish typical of the region

To discover traveling opportunities in Zemgale, visit: https://sites.google.com/view/travelzemgale/s%c4%81kums

Rundāle Castle

Vidzeme

Vidzeme is a historical region of Latvia, located in the north of the country. It shares a border with Latvia’s friend - Estonia. The traditions of this region have been strongly influenced by the Libyan people, which, unfortunately, are dying out. The sea coast of the region is beautiful and often, in the warm season, popular for tourists.

If you are traveling in Vidzeme, you would probably like to visit:

• Gūtmaņa cave - its wide space, springs and evidence of history will thrill everyone
• The red rock trail - blue, orange, reddish rock stands at a height of 200 - 300 meters on the bank of the Gauja river
• Valmiera - City of Hanseatic times. It is a highly developed and friendly city where you can enjoy a delicious meal in restaurants
• Vidzeme is characterized by one of its most beautiful rivers - Gauja. It offers a place for camping, picnicking and canoeing
• Āraišu Ezerpils - it is the only reconstruction of an 8^th/9^th-10^th century fortified settlement in Europe. It is distinguished by the reconstruction's location in its original setting and the well-preserved cultural landscape
• Turaida - called the garden of God by its first inhabitants, the Libians, features a museum reserve. The centerpiece is Turaida Palace, built in 1214 for Bishop Albert of Riga, it replaced the burned wooden castle of the Livonian leader Kaupo.
• Sigulda in Autumn - a breathtaking spectacle of vibrant colors. Nestled at the river Gauja, this charming town transforms into a picturesque landscape of red, orange, and gold in Autumn. Visitors come to explore the stunning landscapes, and castles, enjoy nature, and take the cable car for breathtaking views from above.

To find out more about traveling in Vidzeme, click here: https://www.vidzeme.com/en/

Turaida Castle

Things to Do

Cultural events

Latvia has a rich heritage of music and dance, an appreciation for nature, and art, and it is very easy to experience. Out of European countries, Latvia spends the most money on culture.

If you are interested in attending cultural events or celebrations, the travel websites for Latvia and Riga feature an events section. Many Latvian cities also have posts with information on events and celebrations - Riga is no exception.

Experience the Arts

• National Opera and Ballet
• National Museum of Art
• Vidzeme Concert Hall in Cēsis
• Embassy of Latgale "GORS"
• Concert hall "Dzintari" in Jūrmala
• Concert hall "Lielais Dzintars" in Liepāja
• Sigulda castle ruins stage

Learn About Latvia’s History

• Latvian Museum of War
• Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
• Popular Front Museum
• Rundale Palace
• Ethnographic open - air museum of Latvia
• Request a tour via email of the Latvian Parliament here

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is it possible for foreigners to work in Latvia?

To legally work in Latvia you need:

• to be a Latvian citizen,
• to be a European Union Citizen,
• a residence permit (and typically also a work permit),
• you can legally work remotely in Latvia if you follow the “visiting visa” (or Schengen visa) allotted time frame and do not stay longer

To find more information about employment for foreigners in Latvia visit: https://www.pmlp.gov.lv/en/employment-foreigners  

What is the weather like?

• In the winter, expect heavy snow and temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius (32 degrees Fahrenheit). The average winter daytime temperature is -4 degrees Celsius (24.8 degrees Fahrenheit), and the coldest months are January and February
• In the summer, prepare for average temperatures of around 20 degrees Celsius (68 degrees Fahrenheit), with July being the warmest month

Where can I buy and mail a postcard?

• There are postcards sold throughout Riga. Conveniently, there are also a lot of post offices
• To find Riga Post office locations, Google “Latvijas Pasts” and you will see the various locations throughout Riga. When you arrive at the post office, you need to print a ticket to get in the queue. You can buy stamps here and other post supplies, as well as mail packages

How do I make payments without an expensive bank transfer fee or card fee?

• If you are from a non-European Union country, bank transfers may be pricey. There are many credit cards offered in the United States that have no international transaction fee. Most debit cards will have a transaction fee and an ATM cash withdrawal fee (even if there is no Euro conversion fee - though some also have this fee)
• For emergency purposes it is recommended to always have some EURO cash, and back-up options for accessing funds. We recommend that you carefully review bank and card options prior to your stay in Riga
• Most places accept the most popular payment cards – Visa and Mastercard. At some places, American Express, JCB, Discover, and Diners Club can also be used
• Most places also accept mobile payment methods

How do I pay rent?

• Most places will ask for a bank wire transfer and will give you their bank information to send the wire. Some places will accept debit or credit cards
• If you need to make a payment directly to someone’s bank and your bank charges a hefty wire fee, one option to consider is to pay for the bill (such as monthly rent) at the post office: Tell the post office representative the bank information and the amount and then make the payment with cash, debit card, or credit card, and pay the four euro fee

Where do I buy a SIM card so I can make calls/receive texts and have data in Latvia?

• Most supermarkets will have prepaid SIM cards that you can buy that can be refilled (make sure to make a payment again before the allotted time runs out (e.g., 1 week, 1 month, or 5 GB data, etc. to keep the number)). Follow the instructions on the card and insert the SIM card to activate it and obtain a Latvian phone number.
• Similarly you can opt for the eSim solution that all three mobile phone companies represented in Latvia provide
• With wifi you can, of course, make calls on WhatsApp (or other apps). Most people in Latvia primarily use WhatsApp for communication and others also use Social media for messaging and calls

Where can I get free wi-fi?

• It is possible to find more than 2000 free wi-fi points in Riga. In other parts of Latvia, there are also many free wi-fi points where you can connect to fast and strong Internet connections
• Many cafes and coffee shops offer a strong internet connection, and quite a few restaurants invite people to work or study in their business spaces, offering reliable wifi and comfortable seating
• If you seek a quiet spot to study or work, Riga’s libraries are comfortable and inviting, including the beautiful National Library of Latvia. To find more information about the National Library of Latvia visit: https://www.lnb.lv/en/
• Professional Tip: Remember not to use private or financial information over public wifi that is not encrypted