Christmas Markets and Winter Fun in Riga and Latvia
As the days get shorter and the promise of snow fills the air, Latvia transforms into a peaceful, illuminated winter destination. The festive season is particularly visible at the Christmas markets springing up in historic city squares and parks that are decorated to become gardens of light. Riga and other Latvian regions offer an extraordinary Christmas atmosphere, where tradition and modernity unite. Cities sparkle with festive ornaments, forests and beaches look like picture-perfect postcards, and at dusk hills and meadows become meeting places for fans of winter fun.
Here are some ideas for where to go and what to experience in Riga and the regions – from annual festive events to nature trails and popular ski resorts.
Christmas in Riga – from Dome Square to trails of lights
The story of Riga’s festivities begins in the Old Town. The Dome Square Christmas Market is an annual event featuring crafts, the tantalising scents of gingerbread and ginger, holiday concerts and great gifts for friends and loved ones. Christmas markets and concerts are a tradition that year after year continues to inspire holiday spirit among both Riga residents and guests. The creative side of the city also comes alive during the holiday season at the Kalnciema Quarter Market, Āgenskalns Market and Riga Design Market that provide an opportunity to meet designers and artists and shop for local handicrafts. The municipality creates a special light and holiday route every year – a walk that takes you through quieter squares and parks, where on a winter evening, light objects and installations lend Riga a festive, romantic atmosphere.
Winter evenings in Riga also mean culture – concert hall programmes, the tradition of choral singing and a seasonal repertoire that offers both classical and contemporary sounds. At this time, Christian music concerts and services in churches of various denominations acquire special significance – Lutheran, Catholic and Orthodox congregations are an organic part of Riga’s cultural map and bring solemnity to the festive season. These traditions coexist alongside contemporary rhythms in Riga.
Jurmala and Pieriga – snowy silence by the sea
No winter trip near Riga would be complete without a visit to Jurmala, where the wide, white beaches, pine forests and dunes offer peace, wide open spaces and salty sea air, the perfect conditions for leisurely walks. On the seashore, the sparkling snow cover and rustling wind create a special winter mood, allowing visitors to leave the daily rush behind, and immerse themselves in nature and harmony. Walking routes invite you to explore quieter sights off the beaten path, such as the Daugavgrīva nature trail, where you can watch birds and go on short hikes. The seashore at the mouth of the Lielupe and Gauja Rivers is home to wide, overgrown beaches, where a special, mysterious aura reigns in winter. Kalngale and Garciems beaches also become real oases of silence in winter. The peaceful landscape of Lilaste beach is an ideal place to enjoy the fresh sea breeze and pure white snow.
Equally charming walks are available along the picturesque Garezeri Mountains, located in the Piejūra nature park. In winter, they are blanketed in a layer of ice and snow and offer picturesque views and peace to nature lovers. Here, the silence and freshness help you recharge and connect with the beauty of winter.
Vidzeme – winter allure and adventures
In December, Vidzeme entices with its crisp winter air, proximity to nature and a special festive atmosphere in both urban and natural settings. In winter, the Gauja National Park slumbers under a layer of snowfall, offering vast landscapes and opportunities to enjoy peaceful winter walks along the Sigulda and Turaida trails, and enjoy beautiful views of the snow-covered Sigulda castle ruins and Turaida Castle, which take on a special atmosphere during the festive season. Fans of more active pursuits can go cross-country skiing on the Reiņa kalns or Žagarkalns ski slopes, or hike along the Līgatne nature trails, where it is possible to see not only various bird species but also animals, even in winter.
Every year, artisan workshops and markets come to life in the New Castle quarter of Sigulda and regional cultural landmarks, filled with home-made crafts and delicacies.
Valmiera fosters a warm festive atmosphere as craftsmen gather to sell their home-made products at the Valmiera Olympic Centre, while city squares and the cultural centre are transformed by lively holiday markets and themed angel decorations, where the search for gifts becomes an exciting and enjoyable quest. Ogre, on the other hand, invites visitors to witness an impressive light route every year, where illuminated trees and riverbanks create a peaceful Advent garden – a beautiful place to relax for both families and solitary evening walkers.
Winter Stories of Kurzeme – sea breezes and festive warmth
December lends a special festive atmosphere to Kurzeme that begins by the sea and extends throughout city markets and nature trails. In Liepāja, Rose Square turns into a romantic Christmas paradise in winter, featuring concerts and markets where craftsmen gather to sell festive, home-made goods. The wide Blue Flag beach, Karosta Fort routes and nearby Pape Nature Park provide appealing winter walks. The sounds of Christmas ring out in the Lielais dzintars concert hall and small churches from Grobiņa to Nīca.
In Ventspils, December witnesses the lighting of the Christmas tree in the Great Square and the Christmas market in the market square, where, also thanks to the cultural programme, the city is drawn into a festive rhythm. Market events are a well-established custom at the end of the year, and this is a forum that is particularly suited to such celebrations. For more winter fun, visit the Lemberga hūte ski slope in Ventspils, which offers ski runs, lifts and a sledding hill for children. On the Tukums side, Milzkalns offers both downhill and cross-country skiing – with well-tended slopes, a floodlit cross-country ski run and family-friendly infrastructure, making active recreation possible even on weekday evenings. In Kuldīga, on the UNESCO list, the Venta Rumba Waterfall often turns into a natural ice sculpture in winter, and even if the water does not freeze, the romance of winter in Kurzeme can be found at the stone bridge and in the streets of the old town. At Cape Kolka, the waves of two seas meet even in winter, a magical place to watch as tiny droplets freeze in the wind. In the north of Kurzeme, nature trails and observation towers in the Slītere National Park offer walking routes and a quiet, unique setting to enjoy nature.
Winter spirit in Zemgale – tradition, nature and active recreation
Zemgale is a warm and welcoming winter destination with historic streets, manor parks and nature trails illuminated in festive light. In Jelgava, the Christmas angel and thematic markets in the city centre, Raina Park and Pasta Island, as well as a route decorated with lights, make the city one large festive landscape, where you can enjoy both freshly baked delicacies and choose carefully prepared gifts. Near the city centre you can also see wild horses, an experience that brings visitors even closer to nature during the season of peace and adds enjoyment to winter walks. Bauska Town Hall Square also invites you to the Advent market during the winter, a place to enjoy community and the festive atmosphere.
Meanwhile, fans of winter sports can look forward to Riekstukalns near Riga, where various trails are available for both beginners and experienced skiers, with illuminated slopes in the evenings, rental points, instructors and amenities that make winter evenings special. The castles of Zemgale, such as Rundāle and Bauska, are especially photogenic holiday spots during the winter and host concerts and creative classes during Advent. For even more fresh air and nature, visit the Tērvete nature park to enjoy peaceful walks through winding pathways lined with fairy-tale characters from the works of a famous Latvian writer. The Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk leads you over frozen lakes and fascinating bog moss patterns.
From city lights to the Daugava River – festivities in Latgale
In Latgale, the community commemorates the holidays together, fostering Christmas spirit at markets and in nature. In Daugavpils, indoor and outdoor holiday markets are filled with traders – from the Olympic Centre Hall to Vienības Square and Rīgas Street – where lights twinkle, music plays and the scents of hot drinks waft through the air. The markets often host various charity events – celebrations that bring true meaning to the bonds of community.
In Rēzekne, winter events combine craft markets with the lighting of Christmas trees, concerts and large-scale events. The city’s cultural institutions and youth initiatives lend these celebrations a warm, local character. But winter adventures in Latgale aren’t limited to its cities.
The Daugavas Loki Nature Park offers the opportunity to climb the observation towers for a panoramic view of the river as it bends, while the landscapes of Rāzna National Park are accentuated by the Latgale hills and frost patterns that adorn tree branches. Here, the holiday season ushers in a quiet hush, where nature becomes the main event.
Winter activities – from skiing and ice skating to sauna rituals
Latvian winters provide many opportunities to stay active. Open-air ice rinks are built in cities and counties, but if the lake freezes over sufficiently, that’s all the invitation the bravest skaters need. A bobsleigh track is available in Sigulda for adrenaline seekers, and many regions offer cross-country skiing.
If winter brings snow or slope operators activate their snow cannons, an excellent ski network is created in Latvia. In Kurzeme, near Ventspils, the aforementioned Lemberga hūte and Milzkalns near Tukums are home to appealing routes; in Vidzeme, Sigulda’s Kaķīškalns and Reiņa trase offer skiers a chance to hit the slopes, as does Žagarkalns near Cēsis and the Baiļi recreation centre in Valmiera. In Zemgale, Riekstukalns has many slopes and can be easily accessed from Riga. If your trip takes you towards Latgale, we invite you to pay a visit to the Egļukalns ski centre, the Sarkaņkalns slope or the Gaiziņš recreation complex. Most ski slopes offer equipment rental, instructors, cafes and illuminated trails – in short, everything you need to stay active over the holidays. Once you’re ready to take off your boots, unwinding in a sauna or hot tub under the stars is the essence of December luxury. Winter SPA programmes are available at hotels and regional manors, allowing you to combine active leisure and peaceful relaxation.
Latvia offers endless opportunities to enjoy winter and revel in Christmas spirit. It is impossible to single out just one destination, because every region has a wide range of special and unique sites to enrich your holiday adventures. All you need to do now is book a flight and put it down in your calendar! The magic of Latvian Christmas awaits!
