Latvia trip advice - 2026

[StephenHunter]

Hi all

Looking to go to Latvia later this year, staying in Riga and am looking for advice. Particularly on interesting places to go outside there, especially if I can't do the nuclear bunker day trip.

 

[U-Bahnfreund]

Since the timetables were recenty synched up, you can now do a day or two-day trip to the Bānītis narrow-gauge railway on Saturday and/or Sunday by taking the Vivi train to Gulbene, where Bānītis departs to Alūksne

Vivi timetables: https://vivi.lv/lv/informacija-pasazieriem/ (for Gulbene you need the Aizkraukle line)
Bānītis timetable: https://banitis.lv/pdf/saraksts.pdf

 

[SandsofEss]

I spent some time in Riga in October.

Courtesy of recommendations on here, I can heartily recommend a day trip to Sigulda.

Just over an hour away by train on the regular DR1A DMUs (endangered Soviet-era stock), or slightly faster on other units.

Sigulda's a beautiful, walkable resort town with lots of adventurous things to do (hiking, bobsledding, Tarzans park if you're with children).

If you're travelling onwards to either Estonia or Lithuania, the international services pass through Sigulda station.

 

[Tinginys]

Jūrmala (Majori station) is definitely a must. 30 min or so from Riga Central Station. Jūrmala is a prime seaside beach place in Latvia and has activities for more than just a quick half-day escape from Riga. This one is a must.
Sigulda station. For one of Latvia's most scenic spots with old castle ruins and view of Gauja river valley. This one is also a must if you're in Riga and want to do a half day escape from the city.

Can also take a train for some stops within Riga itself. Such as Zolitūde and explore Soviet era apartment block areas of Zolitūde and Imanta if that's something you're into (I am) and then come back to the centre by tram route 1.

 

[stadler]

Daugavpils is an interesting town to explore and can easily be done as a day trip from Riga by train.

 

[Tinginys]

Daugavpils is an interesting town to explore and can easily be done as a day trip from Riga by train.

For a day trip from Riga it's a bit of a stretch due to travel time (~3 hours each way), which is why I did not recommend it. But technically doable from Riga in a day. Also, Daugavpils is a bit of a peculiar and some might even say a bit of an extreme kind of destination, so it's not for everyone. It does have a tram though, which gives it some extra points.

 

[cadder toad]

I really enjoyed the railway museum in Riga itself