What travelers think of Latvia

Latvia has a way of surprising its visitors. From the striking architecture of Riga to the serenity of its natural environment, travelers often leave with impressions they didn’t expect. To learn what stood out most, we spoke with international visitors and local tour guides about the memories travelers take home from Latvia.

The quality and purity of food in Latvia

One visitor from the UK was “blown away by the quality of local produce and locally produced foods at the markets, especially things specific to the region like homemade pink soup, potato pancakes, and smoked fish,” and this topic comes up again and again. Travelers remark on the flavorfulness of food in Latvia.

“I had guests from New York who wanted to try some local flavors, so we visited Maizes māja (The House of Bread) where the owner welcomed us with her story, a warm slice of bread, and lemonade — this was such a treasured experience for them,” shares guide Sigita Klētniece of Cēsis Inside, a tour company.

Clean, serene, and well-kept surroundings

Not only is the food in Latvia pure, but the surroundings are as well. “It’s so clean here!” hears Zane Šūpulniece, a Riga-based tour guide, on almost every one of her tours in the capital and its attractions like the Central Market. Many visitors are also positively surprised by the air quality, especially outside the cities. Travelers remark on the peace and quiet that can be found on some of the beaches and elsewhere outside the major cities — qualities that tie in with our national identity.

Klētniece, who often takes groups on tours in Gauja National Park, also echoes this from her experience. “The feeling that you can enjoy the landscape and birdsong without anyone else around — that’s a major advantage,” she says, adding that her clients also admire the intensity and variety of the green colors and the diversity of local plantlife. One of Klētniece’s clients from Sanfrancisco reached a personal record during his visit, noting 28 plant species in one day in a nature app he uses.

Even in Riga, visitors comment on the beauty of the environment. Šūpulniece has noticed travelers’ sincere appreciation of the flower beds in the city’s parks — a feature they often capture in photos.

Additionally, visitors feel safe in Latvia in the sense that it feels comfortable to walk home alone late at night.

Latvia’s incredible cultural offering

More flattery comes in the form of compliments on Latvia’s rich cultural heritage, events agenda, and array of cultural attractions. “I was in Latvia last month visiting a friend and attended a concert. I was stunned and surprised to see more than 2000 people dancing and singing. I felt like I’m watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics! Also, to my surprise, I learnt that all the performers were there voluntarily!” one guest shares.

Visitors remark on the beauty of the Art Nouveau architecture, the quality of local museums, as well as the skills of our local craftspeople and artisans who use the likes of wood, amber, wool, and leather to produce unique pieces driven or informed by historical practices.

Latvia is a “cheap destination” and other stereotypes

Of course, every country has to overcome a few stereotypes. One such preconception that visitors have about Latvia is that it must be very cheap, however, in reality, travelers find that prices are often comparable to other countries in Europe. Before visiting, some also fear that they’ll struggle to get by with English but, today, younger generations learn English at school and so this is often not an issue.

For many, Latvia remains “the big unknown”, says Šūpulniece from her experience, so it is a joy for her as a tour guide to help people discover the country. May it keep positively surprising!