Christmas Eve

📣 Traveler notes

Latvia, a Baltic state, offers varied attractions, including the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town of Riga, a 500-km sea coast, forests, and historic sites like Kuldīga and the ruins of Cēsis.

• For local event schedules and tickets, check official online resources.
• New Year's Eve (Jaunā Gada svētki) is typically a family affair, but street events are also common.
• Easter (Lieldienas) features traditional community events, such as egg fights, in town centers.
• The Summer Solstice (Vasaras saulgrieži) includes traditional national celebrations, notably in Sigulda.
• Latvians tend to be reserved; avoid initiating conversation or discussing personal, political, or religious beliefs with strangers. Littering is illegal. Polite gestures include holding doors or allowing others to board public transport first. Note that the swastika symbol used in folk costumes is an ancient pagan ornament, not related to Nazi Germany.