Latvia

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Here is what you need to know: Latvia Travel Guide

Latvia is one of tree Baltics states along with Lithuania and Estonia. There are so called as they are located next to the Baltic sea.

Latvia is the country in the middle. It is a small country but a really nice place to visit.

Riga is a beautiful capital, the Etno museum next to it is amazing to see how it was to live in the past.

And the Gauja national park is a real gem for nature lovers. Plus, it can be experienced by all type of travellers.

About

Latvia has a population of about 1.9 million people over 64 589km².

Its capital and largest city is Riga.

Latvians belong to the ethno-linguistic group of the Balts; and speak Latvian, one of the only two surviving Baltic languages. Russians are the most prominent minority in the country, at almost a quarter of the population

The white stripe on the flag represents peace, while it also means independence. The red or chestnut color represents the spilled blood in wars.

The well-known traditions of decorating a Christmas tree have its origins in Riga.
A German merchant club, the Brotherhood of Blackheads existed in Riga from about 1334 until 1939. During the winter of 1510, they decorated a tree with bouquets of ribbons, dried flowers, straw dolls, weave, and fruits.

The jeans were invented by Latvian tailor. A Latvian-Jewish tailor named Jākobs Jufess invented the jeans we all know, wear and cannot live without now. Levi Strauss backed him financially

Latvian is one of oldest European languages and it has conserved many features of the over 5,000-year-old Proto-Indo-European, which is the ancestral language to all European languages. There is also strong similarity between many words in Latvian and in Sanskrit (the sacred language of Hinduism and Buddhism).

What to expect?

Language: The official language is Latvian. But Russian is widely spoken as ¼ of the population is or have Russian origin. But English can get you around without any problem

Food: Many traditional dishes can be found. Lots of them are made of fishes. Sprats are a must to try in Riga. But international dishes can easily be found.

Transportation: Buses and trains are common and easy to use between the main cities. But the best way to explore the country is by car.

Money: The currency in Latvia is the Euro.

Plugs: The plugs in Latvia are type F. The standard voltage is 220V with a frequency of 50hz. Same as the rest of Europe

Safety: Latvia is super safe. Most people there main their own business. It is not too crowded nor touristic, so even risk of pickpocketing is quite low