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Riga
Riga, Latvia
The largest and most exciting metropolis in the Baltics, Riga will inspire you.
Architecture from Gothic cathedrals to world-class Art Nouveau, buzzing cafes and bars and delicious dining from haute cuisine to local market produce are all yours for a price tag that will add to the pleasure.
Gauja National Park
Latvia
The Gauja National Park is the perfect place to destress. Wander miles of stunning hiking trails, explore fascinating medieval castles or thrill to bungee jumping, bobsleighing and other adventurous activities.
Jurmala
Jūrmala, Latvia
Just 20 minutes’ drive from Riga, Jurmala (Jūrmala) is a seaside resort like no other. If you’re looking for fun, there’s vibrant life on the beach and in the unique spas, offering a tempting menu of mud packs and massages.
But Jurmala is also a great place to get back to nature, strolling the miles of pine-fringed shore or admiring beautiful timber summer cottages.
Rundale Palace and Museum
Riga, Latvia
Nicknamed the Baltic Versailles, Rundale Palace (Rundāles pils) will transport you to an age of splendour.
Designed by Francesco Rastrelli, the architect who also created St. Petersburg’s Hermitage, Rundale is a superbly restored Baroque and Rococo masterpiece packed with art treasures and surrounded by a delightful rose garden.
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Location
Located in the continent of Europe, Latvia covers 62,249 square kilometers of land and 2,340 square kilometers of water, making it the 125th largest nation in the world with a total area of 64,589 square kilometers.
Latvia became an independent state in 1918, after gaining its sovereignty from Russia. The population of Latvia is 2,191,580 (2012) and the nation has a density of 35 people per square kilometer.
Transportation
Nearly every Latvian passenger train route either begins or ends at Riga. In the areas close to Riga, the passenger railway traffic is especially frequent, with a train in each direction every 20-60 minutes between morning and almost midnight. It gets progressively scarcer further from Riga however, with just 2-4 daily trains each way to the most distant cities such as Daugavpils.To some cities, there are merely two trains a week (on Friday and Sunday, mostly aimed at students getting home).
Languages Spoken
Latvian is the dominant language in Latvia with an estimated 1.75 million native speakers in the country. Latvian is also recognized as the official language of Latvia since 1989 as is provided for by Article 4 of the Constitution of Latvia. Latvian was originally known in English as Lettish. Latvia is an Eastern Baltic language and is a member of the Indo-European language family which is closely related to the Lithuanian language.
Currency
Since joining the European Union in 2004, Latvia has decisively moved towards the common European currency. Not even the turbulent times of the financial crisis of 2007-2008 could stop Latvia’s determination to become a full pledged member. It was January the 1st, 2014 when Latvia joined the Eurozone.
Visas
A foreign national shall apply for a visa at the consulate of the Schengen Member State in whose jurisdiction the applicant legally resides on a permanent basis.
If a foreign national wants to lodge an application in the state in which the applicant is legally present but not residing in its jurisdiction, and can provide justification for lodging the application at that particular diplomatic or consular mission, the mission, as an exception and upon a prior agreement, may examine and decide on the application.
Electricity
Electricity in Latvia
In Latvia the power plugs and sockets are of type F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the standard frequency is 50 Hz.
Vaccinations
Some vaccines are recommended or required for Latvia. The CDC and WHO recommend the following vaccinations for Latvia: hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies, meningitis, polio, measles, mumps and rubella (MMR), Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis), chickenpox, shingles, pneumonia and influenza.
Emergency Calls
112 is one of the emergency numbers in Latvia.
The average time to answer a 112 call is 7 seconds.
According to the latest E-communications household and telecom single market survey, 50% of Latvians know they can use 112 everywhere in the EU.
The European emergency number 112 is not the only emergency number in Latvia.
The national emergency numbers are:
110 and 02 - police
113 and 03 - medical service
114 and 04 - gas emergency
01- fire
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FAQs about Latvia
Is it always cold in Latvia?
Despite the term ‘crikey its Baltic out there’ Latvia is blessed with warm but short summers, where temperatures can easily top out at 33 degrees. We must be honest however, as during the depths of winter, we can also drop as low as -30 however -15/20 is about normal from January-March.
How far is the airport from the city centre?
We are blessed that the airport is only 12km from the city centre, an average transfer time by taxi would be 20mins, however traffic can get heavy in peak hours.
How much should I expect to pay to get from the airport to the centre?
If you stick to the Green Baltic Taxi’s then you will avoid the ripoff taxis that do operate around the airport, this will cost around 10-12euros. If you are travelling in a group then you are best to take on of our transfers. If you are travelling in small numbers, then bus number 22 will take you from the airport to the centre, this will cost around 1euro.
What is a good local beer and what should I expect to pay?
Well, its all down to personal taste however Valmiermuiza is a personal favourite of T2R, you should expect to pay between 3 and 4.50euros for a 1/2 litre (1 pint). You can also try some other cheaper local beers, such as Cesis or Lacplesis and this will set you back around 2.50euros