Typical winter temperatures in Latvia don’t require residents to huddle under their duvets and stay at home all day. In fact, really cold weekends can be one of the most popular times to hit the beach!
There are plenty of ways to keep yourself busy and entertained, even in the coldest months of the year in Latvia.
Opera – shine bright like a diamond
Swap your heavy winter boots for a pair of glittering heels at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet where world-renowned stars like Elina Garanca and Marina Rebeka began their careers.
Each year, an average of six new productions are staged, and a total of over 200 performances are held in the opera house which has been in operation since 1919.
Go early before the performance and enjoy a glass of bubbly at the in-house bar – a great spot for people-watching.
Restaurants - shelter from the cold
What we eat can certainly affect our health and wellbeing, and keep the cold away. Stay warm by eating hearty Latvian meals like pelēkie zirņi ar speķi (grey peas with bacon), putraimdesa (black pudding), bukstiņputra (potato-barley stew) and kartupeļi ar siļķi un biezpienu (potatoes with herring and cottage cheese).
Winter menus at contemporary Latvian restaurants might feature the turnip, rye bread and rowan as key ingredients. Rowan is an excellent source of vitamin C, and rye bread is high in B vitamins.
Museums and galleries – an intriguing world
Museums range from the classic Latvian National Museum of Art to the weird and wonderful Pauls Stradins Museum of the History of Medicine. Riga alone has museums dedicated to chocolate, cars, fashion and firefighting while areas outside the capital boast a Moonshine Museum, Bread Museum and Milk Museum. Basically, we quite like a good museum in Latvia.
In terms of galleries, popular names include kim? Contemporary Art Centre, Zuzeum and Arsenāls.
Sauna times
Lie back, relax and test your limits at a Latvian bathhouse where professional sauna masters are trained to provide a cleansing ritual like no other. The ritual is designed to cleanse both physically and mentally. It involves tea, temperature changes, natural scrubs and massages.
A real sauna experience can take up to three or four hours. It’s a blissful experience for couples, families or close groups of friends. Places offering the ritual include Spa Hotel Ezeri, Usma Spa and Mārciena Manor.
An evening at Riga’s Christmas markets
No Christmas market would be complete without kiosks serving steamy mugs of aromatic mulled wine but have you ever tried hot blackcurrant juice with a dash of Riga Black Balsam? The popular Latvian spirit is claimed to have healing properties. As a cocktail, the juice and balsam is a warming, sweet and sticky seasonal hit.
Enjoy an evening at Riga’s Christmas markets with a mug of juice and balsam and other gourmet delights, like wild boar sausages and homemade gingerbread.
A ride to remember
3, 2, 1, go! Whoosh… Zip down the only bobsleigh track in the Baltics at speeds of up to 80 km/h. In winter, rides are done by "vučko" or the so-called soft bob. Once you’ve caught your breath, drop by the viewing platform and admire the views over the ancient Gauja River Valley. Rides are available at weekends.