Latvia by Car – The Perfect Long Weekend Road Trip

Latvia is a small, but charming country located in the heart of the Baltic region, neighbouring both Estonia and Lithuania. With its scenic countryside, vibrant cities, and rich cultural heritage, it is an ideal destination for a road trip adventure. Whether you’re looking for a relaxing getaway or an action-packed adventure, Latvia has something for everyone. In this article, we’ll take you on a unique road trip through Latvia, exploring some of its hidden gems and must-see sights.

Day 1: Riga to Jurmala

Our road trip begins where you can hire a car at Riga Latvia’s capital city. After picking up our rental car, we head west towards the seaside resort town of Jurmala. The drive takes approximately 30 minutes and is a great opportunity to get a feel for the Latvian countryside. As we approach Jurmala, we’re greeted by miles of pristine white sand beaches, backed by lush green forests. Our first stop in Jurmala is the famous Jomas Street. This pedestrian-only street is lined with cafes, restaurants, and shops, making it the perfect place to grab a bite to eat or do some shopping. After a leisurely stroll down Jomas Street, we head to the beach to relax and soak up some sun.

Day 2: Jurmala to Sigulda

After a relaxing day in Jurmala, we hit the road again, this time heading east towards the town of Sigulda. Along the way, we make a stop at the Gauja National Park, one of Latvia’s most beautiful natural areas. The park is home to rugged forests, winding rivers, and dramatic cliffs, making it a popular spot for hiking and outdoor activities. In Sigulda, we check into our hotel and then head out to explore the town. One of the highlights of Sigulda is the Turaida Castle, a medieval fortress dating back to the 13th century. We spend the afternoon exploring the castle grounds, admiring the stunning views of the Gauja River valley from its towers and ramparts.

Day 3: Sigulda to Cesis

On day three of our road trip, we head north to the town of Cesis. Along the way, we make a stop at the Ligatne Nature Trails, a unique nature reserve that offers visitors the chance to explore Latvia’s natural beauty up close. The reserve is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including rare species like the European otter and the black stork. In Cesis, we check into our hotel and then head out to explore the town. One of the must-see sights in Cesis is the medieval Cesis Castle, which dates back to the 13th century. We spend the afternoon wandering through the castle grounds, learning about its fascinating history and admiring the stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

Day 4: Cesis to Riga

On our final day of the road trip, we head back to Riga, but not before making a few stops along the way. Our first stop is the stunning Gauja River Valley, where we take a scenic hike through the forest and along the riverbank. Along the way, we spot wildlife like beavers and eagles, and take in the breathtaking views of the valley. After our hike, we once again visit the town of Sigulda, where we visit the Gutman’s Cave, the largest cave in the Baltics. The cave is filled with ancient inscriptions and carvings, some of which date back to the 17th century. Finally, we make our way back to Riga, where we return our rental car and spend one final night in Latvia’s vibrant capital city. We spend the evening exploring Riga’s Old Town, admiring its stunning architecture and sampling some of the local food! And thus that concludes our road trip through Latvia! And despite all that we only touched on a very small region of the country, with hundreds more things to see and do across the country. With that being the case, hiring a car is all but a necessity in Latvia, and we’re here to make that as easy as possible! Here are just some of the services we offer there:

Latvia is also very popular as a winter destination too, so check out our guide here on any special equipment that might be needed, particularly winter tyres. If you have any other special requirements though, or just have some questions, just get in touch with us here, we’re always happy to help! Feel free to take a look at some of our other road trip ideas for further inspiration too:

Having working solely in the car hire industry since leaving school, car hire/travel is a huge part of my life and something that gives me great satisfaction and enjoyment. I love coming across new products/locations and sharing these details with our customers via our online platforms.