10 Days in Latvia | Māras Dīķis & The Incredible Jūrmala

If you plan to visit Latvia, we assure you won’t be disappointed. It’s one of the three Baltic countries with Estonia and Lithuania, filled with unique architectural heritage, distinctive culture, centuries-old history and stunning coast.

Latvia was the second country we visited during our backpacking adventure. We were still over the moon and couldn’t believe we were doing this absurd adventure, visiting unique places and meeting incredible people.

We spent ten days exploring this beautiful country, and thanks to our fantastic host, Liene, we visited other parts of Latvia which are more out of the ordinary. Liene is such a special person; we built a great bond with her. Staying with locals allows you to meet unique people like her, who will be friends with stories to share.

What to See and Where to Go in Latvia 

A Glimpse of Riga 

Riga, the capital of Latvia, is the crown jewel of the Baltics, and its Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Around the city, one can find churches from its origins, unique Art Nouveau, wooden architecture and medieval buildings. 

Turgeneva Street is one of our favourites in Riga. You can pass through the central market to learn more about their culture. We couldn’t stop eating their traditional sweets! On one of the walls, slightly hidden, you can notice an unusual landmark. A gigantic black fox!

Māras Dīķis  

Māras Dīķis pond is an artificial reservoir in Riga on Mārupīte between Torņakalna and Āgenskalna. It’s one of the most beautiful and serene places one must visit when in Latvia. You can spend some time roaming around Māras Dīķis Lake and enjoy the tranquillity of nature.

Daugavgrīva Trail 

Daugavgrīva is a neighbourhood in North West Riga, Latvia, on the left bank of the Daugava River. Whether you want to spend a relaxing day in the most peaceful ways or love being in nature, this place is waiting for you.

This trail leads you to huge forests, meadows and dunes, where you can hike for long hours, barely seeing any people. You can look over the forest from the bird-watching tower, which you can find halfway through.

Mazjumpravas 

You can’t visit Latvia without stopping at Mazjumpravas, one of the oldest manors near Riga, which has survived until recently. Since ancient times, one of the three ferries in Riga was located next to the manor on the Daugava. Today, one can notice the ruins of two preserved manor houses and the restored building of the former watermill. 

The Incredible Jūrmala

Jūrmala is one of our favourite places to visit in Latvia. A peninsula between a famous wide sandy beach of the Gulf of Riga and the Lielupe River. It’s the most significant official resort in Latvia, famous for its natural resources, curative mud, mineral waters and pine forest. We highly recommend you spend a whole day there, as there’s so much to see and explore.

Getting to Jūrmala from Riga is approx 40 minutes train ride.

Where to Stay in Latvia 

Latvia is home to so many hospitable people! You’ll find it easy to find accommodation to your liking. To help you more, insert your dates in the search box below and benefit from great deals on the best homestays in Riga and its surroundings.

Those of you who have never been to Latvia are still uncertain. Stop thinking about it and begin planning your next trip. It’s worth it! You’ll be amazed by the charm of this country.

Keep your eyes open on our upcoming travels as we’re revisiting Latvia this year, and of course, we’ll be sharing with you our adventures and more places to visit which are less visited.

Oh! By the way, don’t forget to try the Madonas Alus Beer when you visit Latvia! (It’s very popular all over Latvia).

Cheers, and happy travels!

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