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| Click on any one of the following below for specific information on getting around the Latvia; attractions, museums, tours, and other places to go and things to see and do; and some ideas for accommodations and dining in Latvia. |
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Latvia is a small, flat country lying between its Baltic neighbors. Although it is a small country, the vibrant coastal city of Rīga is a vibrant city. Add to this the many photogenic castles, music festivals and scenic river valleys, and Latvia makes for an interesting vacation destination.
Latvia has a parliamentary democracy type of government with the Prime Minister being the head of government and the President the head of state. The religion is a mixture of Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox.
From political shake-ups throughout its history, Latvia now has some good, tough economic policies. Although one-third of Latvians voted against joining the EU in 2004, in June 2005 Latvia's parliament ratified the proposed EU constitution.
Passports and Visas
Most nationalities require a visa, and some also require an invitation as well.
Citizens of Andorra, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, Australia and the USA can travel visa-free
for stays of up to 90 days. Citizens from many countries do not require a visa
if they already have one for Estonia or Lithuania. Be sure to check ahead to
make sure you are covered.
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Passport Visa Express specializes in obtaining Passports for United States Citizens who wish to travel internationally within the next 30 days. We work directly with the U.S. Passport Agency assisting you in expediting your passport application in as fast as the same day! Our passport consultants have many years of direct experience working with the Passport Agency. |
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Weather
During the wintertime, from early November until the April thaw, the
temperatures often struggle to rise above freezing as the sun makes a brief
appearance during the day. The temperature often drops well below zero at night.
June to August daytime highs are normally around 68-72°F making for a
pleasant vacation destination. July and August are the warmest months, though
prone to moderate but persistent showers.
Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.
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Getting To and Around in Latvia
Direct flights link Rīga with Berlin, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hamburg, Helsinki, Kiev, London, Minsk, Munich, Moscow, Paris, Prague, Stockholm, Tallinn, Vienna, Vilnius, Warsaw and Zurich. Although there are no direct flights from North America, Australia or Asia; you can fly to one of the other main European cities and get connecting flights from there.
There are direct buses to Rīga from Denmark, France, Germany, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Belarus, Estonia and Lithuania. As for trains, the Berlin-St Petersburg service passes through Daugavpils in southeastern Latvia. Trains also link Rīga with Moscow, St Petersburg and Minsk, and Daugavpils with Chernivtsi. Visitors can also arrive by sea with direct ferries to Rīga from Travemünde in Germany and Stockholm in Sweden.
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to this area, please let me know.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Some Things
to See and Do in Latvia
Aglona Basilica is Latvia's most important pilgrimage site and the leading Roman Catholic shrine in the nation. The church was built in 1699, but it's since been engulfed by an enormous courtyard that was created for Pope John Paul II's visit in 1993.
Latvian Occupation Museum (Latviesu Strēlnieku laukums)
Located behind the big, dark-red Latvian Riflemen statue (in a controversial bunker
that was once almost destroyed because of its ugliness), is the Latvijas
okupācijas muzejs, or Occupation Museum. Inside you will see an impressive account of
the Soviet and Nazi occupations of Latvia between 1940 and 1991. Although it
is very informative, it can also be quite disturbing.
Hours:
Museum of Horns & Antlers
Ragu (Ragu Kolekcjia)
The main attraction of this museum is the over 500 elk antlers. It is the
collection of one man's lifetime of work as a forest warden in the national
park. None of them are none are hunting trophies. Outside, antlers hang from the street signs. Vaide is on the Livonian coast, nestled among a wilderness of sea, sand and
breathtakingly beautiful beaches and pine forests.
The hours of the museum are:
Cities and Towns
in Latvia
Riga
The city of Riga, with its winding cobbled streets, is filled with a combination
of historic buildings and the more modern Art Nouveau architecture. Along with
the beauty of the Old Town area, as you look you can view
a bewitching skyline of castle turrets and church steeples. Rīga manages to couple its
Disney-like cuteness with a lively nightlife and
thriving restaurant scene. Funky and vibrant, it's a major metropolis with a
big-city atmosphere that is combined with an old world charm that is hard to
find elsewhere in the region.
Sigulda
Sigulda is an enchanted town that is located on the southern edge of a the picturesque Gauja Valley.
The area is filled with a string of
medieval castles caves. Known locally as the 'Switzerland of
Latvia', Sigulda is a winter sports centre and boasts an
Olympic bobsled run that snakes down into the valley. Although little remains of old Sigulda Castle, but 19th-century Sigulda Manor
and the former
residence of the Knights of the Sword, it is still an interesting structure. It is now a sanatorium.
Close by and to the east of Rīga, Sigulda is the primary gateway to beautiful Gauja National Park. Founded in 1973, Latvia's first national park protects a diverse range of flora and fauna, and offers a multitude of forest and river hiking as well as biking trails and some great places for canoeing.
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Suggestions for
Accommodations in Latvia
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At
Travelocity, not only can you find
the lowest fare or best schedule on over 400 airlines, but you can also
find
Great
Car Rental Deals, Low hotel rates when you click on |
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Suggestions for
Dining in Latvia
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Some Favorites
in Latvia
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added to this area, please let me know.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Some Interesting
Links About Latvia
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