Top Things to do in Latvia
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What to do and see in Latvia, Latvia: The Best Points of Interest & Landmarks
Discover the best top things to do in Latvia, Latvia including Holy Transfiguration Poustinia, Skede Dunes Memorial, Luznavas Muiza, Temple Hill, Andrejs Pumpurs Lielvardes muzejs, Pine trees of Rainis, House of the Black Heads, Riga Town Hall Square, Old City Riga (Vecriga), Jauniela.
Restaurants in Latvia
1. Holy Transfiguration Poustinia
2. Skede Dunes Memorial
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By Hawk470 - Baltimore, United States
In the infamy that is the World War II Holocaust, the execution of thousands of Jewish women and children in the Skede dunes outside of Liepaja, Latvia in December 1941 by the Nazis and their Latvian collaborators, often with spectators watching, is perhaps the most well-documented. Photographs and film, along with eye-witness testimony, tell the story of horrific, cold-blooded slaughter at a personal level. These are unique individuals, people like you and me, being led to trenches dug into the beach and shot. Nearly all of pre-War Liepaja Jewish population of 9,000 along with many thousands more Roma, Latvian civilians and Soviet prisoners of war were murdered in and around Liepaja. In a few short months, in 1941, the heirs to the 150 year history of the Liepaja Jewish community were snuffed out. Located just inland from those dunes, a short drive from the city center, you will find a magnificent memorial to the murdered and the righteous few who saved some of the remnant. The memorial to the murdered, dedicated in 2005, takes the form of a stone menorah (Jewish candelabra) lying down on the beach. Along the walk in from the parking area, stone pillars commemorate the 26 Non-Jews of Liepaja recognized as “Righteous Among the Nations” and the 135 in all of Latvia for having risked their lives and those of their relatives to save Jews during the Holocaust. At the entrance and along the path you will find inscribed stones in several languages describing the atrocities and the creation of the memorial. Just beyond the top of the menorah and the stones with Hebrew inscriptions representing the lit candles, you will see a small dune crowned by beach grass and beyond that the sand, the wind, and the waves rolling as they did during those dark, December days and as they had for millennia before and decades since. Nearby, you will also find an earlier Soviet-era memorial for the Soviet prisoners of war murdered there. We visited on an appropriately overcast autumn day when the winds for which Liepaja in known (“The City Where The Wind Is Born”) swept in with a chilling, light rain. Walking along the path of the Righteous and within and around the stone arms of the menorah, pelted by the rain, the range of what humans are capable of became frighteningly clear.
3. Luznavas Muiza
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
4. Temple Hill
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 10 reviews
The Temple Hill Park makes Alūksne the highest town in Latvia. In ancient times it was a Latgalian castle mound but nowadays the top pf the hill is decorated with the Temple of Fame - the granite rotunda built in 1807 on the order of Baron von Vietinghoff. Nearby there is a pedestrian bridge called the Sun Bridge.
Reviewed By 261zanez - Riga, Latvia
Across the iland with castle ruins is a walking bridge to temple park/forest with watch tower and beautiful sceneries.
5. Andrejs Pumpurs Lielvardes muzejs
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
6. Pine trees of Rainis
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 4 reviews
Reviewed By Azalee99 - Vienna, Austria
interesting modern sculpture, but you need a little background in Latvian poetry to appreciate the point. next to the beach, and surrounded by a little wall you can sit on and have a snack while contemplating how times change.
7. House of the Black Heads
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,780 reviews
Closed for Covid-19 at the moment. On the last Saturday of month - join open FREE guided tour at 13:00 on English! Get the 1h tour with guide for free, pay only the entrance fee! Pre-reservation is necessary on website or by e-mail. It is one of the most beautiful buildings in Riga, with a unique legacy of the Black Heads brotherhood that was established here at the end of the 14th century, along with the existing merchants’ guild. The young and joyful foreign merchants united in the brotherhood organized splendid events, later becoming honorable members of the local community. As time passed the house began to host visits of foreign kings and other noble guests and continues to fulfill this task up to today – concerts, balls, gala dinners and diplomatic receptions are frequently organized here. Now every visitor has the chance to explore the exhibition about the history and economic development of Riga City.
Reviewed By Nitvoyodelo - Vineland, United States
The original building was from the 13-14th Century. It was the home of a guild called the Black Heads, merchants, ship owners and foreigners in Riga. The building sustained damage during WWII and later rebuilt, after the fall of Communism.
8. Riga Town Hall Square
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,030 reviews
Reviewed By malcolmc998 - St. Neots, United Kingdom
Well worth a visit to The House of Blackheads which has an intriguing history going back hundreds of years, plus Workd War2 and the Russian occupation
9. Old City Riga (Vecriga)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,115 reviews
This charming maze of narrow and crooked cobblestone streets is filled with a mixture of architectural styles including Nordic, Gothic, Renaissance, baroque and Jugendstil, plus such historic sites as the 13th-century Riga Castle, St. Peter's Church, the Swedish Gate and the Freedom Monument.
Reviewed By 591raye - Tilburg, The Netherlands
Visited Riga for a long weekend without any expectations. Now I’m convinced, it’s one of the greatest cities with a great architecture, a great atmosphere and just a great ambiance???????? Discover the different squares with a lot of restaurants and bars with live music. Look at the street artists making art with fire , the opera singer , the street music bands and so on.
10. Jauniela
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 305 reviews
Reviewed By Coryy20 - Port of Spain, Caribbean
Jauniela is for sure a very lively street with its winding cobblestone street. This are can lead you into other streets. The street is narrow and I must advice to leave the uncomfortable high heels at home. Please wear comfy cushioned shoes for these roads. Jauniela has lots of charm and many people seem to love this street as well. It just has a lot of charm about it.
