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| Latvia Travel Guide for backpackers |
| This little country is full of great surprises. Although it is flat and boggy it has some gorgeous old castles, a lively coastal capital, and picturesque valleys with rivers running through. New on the tourist scene it is still natural enough to thoroughly enjoyed but the music festivals will soon change that as more people hear about them. |
| Search all cities in Latvia |
| Riga |
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Riga – Filled with old German buildings that date back centuries in its historic quarter, Riga Castle built in 1330, and St Peter’s Church, with it’s spire thrusting high into the sky, Riga’s architecture is an interesting mix of styles.
Bauska – The Castle is the most important attraction of the country town of Bauska, although it has suffered mightily in its embattled history, being destroyed on several occasions, and painstakingly re-built, until the Great Northern War in 1706 when they managed to blow it to bits. Restoration began again nearly 200 years later in 1976.
Jurmala – The region along the coast west of Riga is known as Jurmala, and is filled with small towns and resorts, beaches, woodlands and some great pubs and inns, making a great place to take a break from heavy ‘touristing’ and kick back for a while.
Kuldiga – This picturesque town in Latvia’s Kurzeme region, has a rich historical heritage, with an ancient fortress, a 17th century town hall, and a whole bunch of churches.
Sigulda – Medieval castles, and caves filled with mystery and legend, are a few of the reasons to visit this part of the country, known as the “Switzerland of Latvia’. |
 DAILY BUDGET in LATVIA - Although Latvia can be quite an expensive country to tour, with accommodation being the biggest expense, it is possible to scrape by on US$30 per day, if you don’t go for the biggest and the best of everything, and settle for cheap lodgings and a spot of self catering. |
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| From April to September, the weather is at its best, festivals are in full swing, and the days are longer. It is also the best time to enjoy outdoor activities. July and August though, are when the tourists come flocking in and everything peaks, from the price of a sandwich to the cost of a hotel room. June sees the start of midsummer celebrations, and folk taking to the countryside with hampers packed with beers, cheeses and pies, for some summer fun in the shade of the pine forests beside the lakes. The Baltika Annual International Folklore Festival sees a week of music, dance, parades and exhibitions held in a different town each year, over July. The Festival of Ancient Music, is held at Bauska Castle in July, a rock festival of note is held in Liepaja in August, to name but a few of the festivals celebrated annually throughout Latvia. |
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