Vidzeme Seashore
Latvia, found in the Baltic Sea, has a sea shore that goes for 500 km. The Kurzeme coast brings in strong waves from the open sea, in Cape Kolka, there are calmer waters of the Gulf of Riga. In Cape Kolka you will find the most popular stretches of white sandy beaches at Riga and Jurmala, and the rocky beaches of Vidzeme. Latvia’s lengthy coastline will surprise you with its dunes, steep cliffs, sandstone outcrops, impressive rocks and caverns. The coastline owes much of its charm to the fishing villages, the multiple areas untouched by civilization, imposing port cities, and the popular resort city of Jurmala.
Wind sports is popular in Latvia. Use the spacious coast of the Baltic Sea, as well as the many lakes in Latvia, and engage in wind sports. Join their windsurfing enthusiasts in Riga, try kiteboarding at Liepāja beach, or become one with the wind and water while sailing in the Gulf of Riga.
Latvia beaches are a great way to spend a beach vacation. Surround yourself with the beauty, charm, and quant feel of there beaches. Come visit Latvia, for great beach travel destinations. Here are the top picks:
Jurmala
Jurmala stretches for 26 kilometers along the Gulf of Riga. You can choose your favorite place on the long sandy stretch; Jurmala’s central section called Majori. Majori is usually full of people enjoying the sun and waves. You can find lots of restaurants and bars along Joma Street. Your children will not be bored as there are playgrounds at the beach with climbing walls, swings and slides. Several sections of Jurmala – Majori, Dzintari, Bulduri, Dubulti and Jaunkemeri – have received the Blue Flag certificates, proving that the beach is clean, safe and well-equipped. In several locations the beach is accessible for people with special needs.
Vecaki Beach
Vecaki beach, an old fishermen village, is one of the most popular beaches in Riga. You can walk on the sandy beach as far as the breakwater on the right bank of the Daugava River. Many Latvians often forgo Jūrmala and head north in the opposite direction to the old fishing village of Vecāķi. After roughly 40-minutes exit the train and just follow the swarms of people to the beach. Along the way you’ll find a few kiosks and cafés where you can stock up on supplies and a few more should be available right next to the beach. The beach isn’t as crowded as the one at Majori, but it’s still pretty packed on a hot day and it’s also the place to go for beach volleyball.
Garciems Beach
Garciems Beach has some of Latvia’s highest sand dunes and the walk to the beach through the pine forest is picturesque to say the least. A kiosk or two are available along the way, but you shouldn’t expect much in the way of amenities here. The beach is often deserted and is the perfect place for a family outing. Locals often choose to have picnics among the dunes for extra privacy. On windy days Garciems is also popular among kite boarders.
Vakarbulli Beach
Liepaja Beach
This beautiful Blue Flag beach is located between the mouths of the Daugava and Lielupe rivers and anyone with a little time on their hands can walk in either direction to see these natural attractions for themselves. A beach café and an ice cream stand are usually available as well as toilets and changing facilities. On hot summer days the beach can get quite crowded. Vakarbulli beach has playgrounds and attractions for children, basketball, volleyball and football fields and summer cafes. There is also a wooden ramp to make the beach accessible for people in wheelchairs.
Saulkrasti Beach
Saulkrasti Beach is a 17 km long natural wonder. Find rich diversity from the singing sand in Lilaste to the stony seashore in Zvejniekciems. The beach is wind swept and shaped by waves. Here you will find a gathering of sand and various shells of river and sea mollusks, smooth pebbles, driftwood and other wonderful finds. In addition to the beach, there are plenty of nature trails to investigate. Walk the sunset trail sunset trail which stretches over three kilometers. The Sunset Trail winds from the White Dune to the center of Saulkrasti. By walking this trail you will be able to see the landscape typical of the Saulkrasti, its wide, sandy beach and fore-dunes, the Pēterupi River and tall pine trees growing. Beautiful views of the river valley and the sea can be observed from several vantage points on the trail.
White Dune
Not a beach, but worth mentioning and if you are in Saulkrasti, it is a must see. The White Dune is one of the landmarks of Saulkrasti, on the Vidzeme gulf coast. The dune offers a great view of the sea, the mouth of the Inčupe River and the vast beach. The White Dune formed as the wind drove beach sand over the clay silt of Baltic Ice Lake. Its white 18 meters high sand outcrop once helped local fishermen find their way home. The dune got its name from its white, hardened layers of sand which look like sandstone.
Seaside Park
Combine a relaxing day on the beach with healthy, athletic activities! Seaside Park invites you to try the outdoor exercise facilities, playground equipment, gymnastics fields and volleyball courts, go jogging by the sea or simply watch the beautiful sunset from the comfortable sun loungers. Here both children and adults will find exciting activities that suit their interests.
Ventspils Beach
Liepāja Beach
Liepāja beach has been a popular swimming location since the 1860s. The beach is 50 to 80 m wide when the wind is calm, with fine white sand. After a strong wind you can find some pieces of amber washed ashore. Liepāja’s beach is the first one in Latvia that has been adapted to the needs of people with visual impairments and movement disabilities – a swimming area has been created, which is equipped with audio-buoys for the visually impaired and an adequate sanitation module for people with vision and movement disabilities. Liepāja beach is also a Blue Flag beach.
Seashore of Vidzeme
The rocky seashore of Vidzeme stretches for 12 kilometers and is between 20 to 40 meters wide. It is located in the Gulf of Riga on the Vidzeme shoreline, and is the only coastal area in Latvia where sandstone outcrops can be found. The Vidzeme coastline has the most impressive sandstone cliffs. Make sure to have a meal and enjoy the peaceful and warm rural farmstead atmosphere at the Rankulrags restaurant!
Ventspils Beach
At Ventspils Beach you will fid volleyball, football fields and cafes. Children will be able to enjoy different types of playground equipment such as slides and swings. The beach is almost an 80 m wide with fine white sand and dunes that in some places reach a height of 9 m. The Blue Flag Beach stretches for 1.2 km. There is equipment on the beach for disabled people and they can reach the beach using plank-ways. It is prohibited to smoke on the major part of the Blue Flag Beach area. In places where smoking is allowed, there are marked trashcans. A professional rescue service functions on the Ventspils Beach. Next to the Beach is the Sauthern Pier with an established observation tower. There is also separated area for nudists and a special facilitated Surfers Beach of 500 m length with equipment for preparing, storing and drying off surfing equipment. There is also plenty of parking near the beach.
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Ventspils Beach looks like my favourite beach, so many activities for the kids and white sandy beaches!
A good cafe near the beach is a plus also!
Is the water cold here?
I love how this beach caters to the needs of people with visual impairments and movement disabilities, what a great idea and you don’t see that in many places around the world!
Thanks for sharing a different part of the world with us, that we wouldn’t have normally seen!
Which beach would you totally recommend with kids?
Thanks for visiting Latvia Beaches. I would definitely recommend Vakarbulli beach as it really does cater to kids with the playground and other activities for them. You can also get them an ice cream and eat at the cafe. Perfect spot for the family!
I am impressed with this wonderful article, I really enjoyed reading it. The videos and pictures are awesome it makes me want to go there right now. I googled lativa but I still don’t understand were it is located. Is lativa close to turkey or Croatia because am confused… Please I hope to hear from you. Thanks.
Latvia is to the East of Europe, in between Asia and Europe. Hope this helps. Here is the atlas link so you can see 🙂 Let me know if you have any other questions.
Ah, Leahrae, that video of Liepaja beach is a mind-boggle for me — what looks like miles and miles and miles of sand and shore and very, very few people on it. It’s a far cry from our beaches in Hawaii, which are just packed with humankind.
The kite-surfer picture did spark my interest in the winds. How strong do the winds get? Could a person fly kites there without having them torn to shreds by the strong winds?
Having kite battles might be really cool. You wouldn’t have to worry about tangling up fellow beach-goers!
I wish there was a picture of The White Dune. That sounds intriguing too!
Hi Netta, yes you just have to make sure you have a sturdy kite made for the winds. Otherwise it would just get torn apart. I see that I do need to update this post with more pictures. I will do that and add one of the White Dune for you. thanks for visiting the beautiful Latvia beaches.
Latvia was never one of those places that I ever thought about going. In fact I rarely thought of it at all. But you have done such a great job of describing it that now I wish I could go! The video and the pictures are beautiful. I had to Google it to see where it is on the map. It looks easy to get to from Germany, which is where we have been discussing going. Does Latvia get a lot of tourists? What time of year would you suggest as being the best to visit?
It really is an amazing place. And yes they get tourists, but it is not going to be as crowded as say, going to the Bahamas or another well known beach destination. The warmest time to visit is going to be June thru August, with temperatures from the mid 60s to the upper 80s. July is probably there busiest month, and if this is when you want to go, you will have to plan ahead as the hotels will fill up quickly. I would suggest August or September. Please let me know if you have any other questions.
You made this article amazing and interesting to read with the pictures and videos. My friend and his family went on vacation to Latvia in summer of 2017 and it was fun-filled through out when they visited. I think I would consider Latvia, precisely, the seaside park and liepaja beach to visit for my next vacation, I will bring my family along as well to come have an amazing experience of Latvia. Great article.
Great Brent, glad you enjoyed and it sparked an interest for your next vacation! Thanks for visiting Latvia Beaches.
I always love coming across travel websites especially those that have white sandy beaches. Garciems Beach sounds like my style of beach, I like a remote beach not very populated. Seaside park sounds great for a family to spend the day at, lots of activities and recreation. I never thought of Latvia as having beautiful beaches, but boy I am ready to go!
Yes, most would not consider a vacation to Latvia. I think if you like beaches, then you will definitely love Latvia. Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Hey Leahrae! Thanks for putting this guide together about Latvia Beaches. I really like Liepāja Beach and can see why its one of the most popular choices among tourists. I also think my family would enjoy Ventspils Beach since it has other things to do at the beach and my daughter loves playgrounds. What are some other things to do in Latvia that are more family friendly? I’m not sure if we’d be too interested in wind sports but it looks like a lovely climate there.
You are very welcome. There is plenty to do for family activities such as Livu Aquapark, Tervete Nature Park, Riga Zoo, and the Tarzāns Sigulda Adventure Park. So they have plenty to keep occupied and have fun. Please let me know if you need any additional information.
This is so beautiful! Mere watching the video and pictures just described how fantastic the place will be, I love the cool look of the environment. I would like to visit Latvia in my next vacation. Hopefully my kids will get a nice place around for adventure. I love the layout of your blog especially the background colour, it looks calm and attractive. Nice post
One of those places that most would not consider, yet a gem for a vacation. You and your family will enjoy! Thanks for visiting beach travel destinations.
Hi Lea,
Again, your article is just amazing, I really enjoyed the reading!
The pictures and the video are wonderful, it makes me want to go there right away!
I have Googled Latvia, and as I am not good at all in Geographic, I still don’t understand where it is exactly.
Is Latvia near Croatia or Yugoslavia or Turkey or I am not on the right path?
However, no matter where it is it is absolutely fantastic!
Is it possible to see the prices of the flight?
Thank you very much for this excellent review!
Latvia is at the top of Europe above Lithuania and below and to the left of Russia…on the water of course 🙂 Latvia beaches are actually gorgeous. If you tell me where you are from I can give you pricing to fly there. Thanks for visiting Latvia beaches.
Latvia is not somewhere one would typically associate with nice beaches. However, the same could be said for over here in the UK, but we have stunning beaches. It’s just the sea temperatures that let everyone down, lol. I wonder what the summer sea temperatures of the Baltic Sea are?
Oh there are a bit chillier than other places. Latvia is going to be in the mid 70s during high summer season. For me anything under 60 is too cold, so is this is bordering on chilly. But they are very beautiful and great for a paradise destination on a budget.
Hi Matty, I am surprised to see that many beaches in Latvia. What concerns me, however, is the temperature over there as I like warmth (I have been living in Thailand for 13 years). So, what would be the best beach to go to and at what time of the year? Cheers, Jerry
Well June thru August is going to be the best time and the temps will be in the upper 70s. Not hot by any means, but not cold either. If I were going to Latvia, I would go during those months to Jurmala Beach! Thank you for visiting Latvia beaches.
What a great niche, your website is well laid out, easy to navigate and filled with good useful content. You use you blog posts well, I could suggest adding some small mini maps of the area highlighting the beaches, accommodation and distance from the main airport as well. This would be a great addition to an already very cool website.
Yes, Tim I plan on adding all of that. My main focus to start with is to get a good amount of different and great beach locations listed. Then I will go back and do maps, hotels, restaurants, weather, etc 🙂 Thank you for visiting Latvia Beaches!
Fantastic article on Latvia beaches! Very informative. It looks like a really beautiful place, especially the video helped tremendously to comprehend and visualize what this beach has to offer. Definitely looks like something to consider for our next vacation.
Again, great job on the article! Keep up the good work.
I am glad you enjoyed Martin! Most people would not think of Latvia for beaches, and they actually have some considered to be the best beaches in the world!
Wow! I had no idea the Latvia had such beautiful beaches! And thanks to your link to priceline I found out that accommodations there are very reasonably priced!
Now I will have to add Latvia to my places I would like to vacation! I think I will start at Jurmala, and then see where the trip will take me! 🙂
Thank you so much for all the great information! The details you have provided will certainly make the decision process much easier!
Sincerely,
Tom
You are very welcome Tom! Latvia really does have some great beach travel destinations for sure. If you need any help with travel planning, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Thanks for the information. I like how it is broken down into short and easy to read sections. The images add a nice touch and when you explained the beaches I could easily picture it. Hoping to find myself lucky enough to see this in person one day. Only suggestion I would have is Ive read that its better to align images right so it doesnt break up the natural reading flow of the eyes. But overall I think you have this down
Yes, thank you for your input Matt. I was actually going to go thru every post and reposition the pictures to the middle of the post with no content on either side of the picture. I think it will make the look better and make it easier to read. Thanks for visiting Latvia Beaches.
Thanks for the information. I like how it is broken down into short and easy to read sections. The images add a nice touch and when you explained the beaches I could easily picture it. Hoping to find myself lucky enough to see this in person one day