Entry Requirements
Visa requirements for Latvia depend on which passport you hold. Check the Traveller visa tool to see whether your passport needs a visa and, if so, how long you can stay.
Check if you need a visa for LatviaEmergency Numbers
- General
- 112
Currency
- Name
- Euro
- Code
- EUR
- Symbol
- €
Latvia uses the Euro (joined Eurozone 2014). ATMs widely available. Cards accepted almost everywhere in Riga. Cash preferred in markets and rural areas.
Power Outlets
- Outlet types
- Type C, Type F
- Voltage
- 230V
- Frequency
- 50Hz
Time Zone
EET (UTC+2) — EEST (UTC+3) in summer
Best Time to Visit
May–September is best — Riga's Art Nouveau district (the largest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture in the world — 800 buildings), the Old Town (UNESCO), Jūrmala's pine-backed beach resort on the Baltic, and Gauja National Park are all at their best in warm weather. June's summer solstice (Jāņi) is Latvia's most joyful celebration.
Tipping Customs
| Venue | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | 10% | — |
| Taxis | Round up | — |
Dress Code
- Casual throughout
Social Etiquette
- Riga has more Art Nouveau architecture than anywhere else in the world — the Boulevard Ring and Alberta Street are the centres; it is architecture as theatre
- Latvian Song and Dance Festivals (held every 5 years) involve tens of thousands of singers in the national costume — one of the world's great cultural expressions
- Latvia's 50-year Soviet occupation (1940–1990, interrupted only by Nazi occupation 1941–1944) left deep scars — the Occupation Museum in Riga is essential
- The Latvians (and Lithuanians and Estonians) formed a 675km human chain in August 1989 (the Baltic Way) — one of history's most extraordinary peaceful protests
Local Laws
Laws change. Verify current rules with your country's official travel advisory before departure.
- LGBTQ+ rights: same-sex civil unions since 2023; marriage equality moves forward; Riga Pride is held annually; attitudes more conservative outside Riga
Common Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello (Latvian) | Sveiki / Labdien | SVAY-kee (informal) / LAHB-dyen (formal) |
| Thank you (Latvian) | Paldies | PAHL-dyehs |
| Cheers! (Latvian) | Priekā! | PRYEH-kah — 'to joy!' |
| Art Nouveau (Latvian context) | Jūgendstils | YOO-gend-steels — the German/Latvian term for Art Nouveau — Riga's defining architectural style |
| Summer solstice (Latvian) | Jāņi | YAH-nyee — the midsummer celebration of bonfires, flowers, and singing |
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