Cruising the Latvian coastline and calling at its modern ports offers a wonderful opportunity not only to enjoy the magic of travelling by water, but also to discover local tourism gems. Each marina is a gateway to new discoveries – from historic lighthouses and nature trails to cosy fishing villages and top-class restaurants right on the seafront.
Today, almost all of Latvia’s largest ports are home to yacht marinas, turning our coastline into a dynamic and attractive destination for sea travellers. From historic Liepāja to tranquil Salacgrīva, Latvia’s ports are modern and lively sailing oases. The development of port infrastructure not only attracts international visitors, but also gives a strong boost to local sailing culture, making Latvia increasingly visible on global sea routes.
Latvia, together with Estonia, has purposefully strengthened its position on Europe’s sailing map by creating a modern, integrated network of yacht harbours on the East Baltic Coast. Thanks to this initiative, the region now has more than 70 well-equipped marinas, strategically located at convenient intervals – no more than 30–50 nautical miles apart. This network makes this stretch of the Baltic Sea an outstanding destination, reachable in a single day, even from Sweden and Finland, or from neighbouring Lithuania.
In the rest of the article, we will introduce some of Latvia’s yacht marinas along the coast from Kurzeme to Vidzeme. We will look at the most significant ports, as well as the infrastructure, services and nearby attractions that make sailing routes the perfect way to explore Latvia on a deeper level.
Kurzeme Coast
Approaching Latvia from the south-west, the first strategic gateway for sailors is the “City of Wind” – Liepāja. Liepāja Yacht Harbour has become a favourite destination thanks to its modern infrastructure and unique location right in the city centre on the Trade Canal. The harbour can accommodate up to 100 yachts at the same time, offering secure berths and a service building with an office, showers and a laundry. Water depth at the berths is around 3.5–4.5 metres, providing convenient access for larger vessels. The nearby Promenade offers a taste of the city’s industrial charm. Karosta – with its prison and St Nicholas Cathedral – is a short drive away and the cathedral’s gilded domes greet sailors as soon as they enter the harbour. Since 2008, the Blue Flag has flown over the harbour, confirming compliance with the highest environmental and quality standards.
Heading north along the Kurzeme coast, at the mouth of the Saka River, yachts are welcomed by a historic refuge for fishermen and sailors: Pāvilosta Port. This is the only small port on Latvia’s western coastline with depths of 2.5–3.5 metres in the fishing and cargo areas, providing excellent shelter from the wind and a safe haven from sea waves on both riverbanks. In this port area, on the left bank of the Saka River, is the modern Pāvilosta Marina. It offers a 150-metre pontoon line, comfortably accommodating 20–25 yachts with a draught of up to 2.5 metres. The marina pampers guests with a well-equipped camping area, a fuel station and sailing training. Right next door is BoatPark Pāvilosta, a specialised service and winter storage centre offering a depth of 3 metres, lifting for vessels up to 20 tonnes and professional fibreglass, wood and mechanical repairs throughout the year. Pāvilosta has a unique atmosphere – from calm walking paths along the sea to active sports like surfing and kitesurfing, making the town Latvia’s water sports capital.
At the mouth of the Venta River, sailors are welcomed by Ventspils Yacht Harbour. Water depth here is around 3.5–3.7 metres, though wind can cause it to vary between 3.3 and 4 metres. After a longer passage at sea, guests can unwind in the sauna, enjoy a meal in the café or hire bicycles to explore the city. The harbour offers 50 well-equipped berths, full technical service and medical assistance. The Old Town, with its historic market square and the Livonian Order Castle, is only a short walk away. At the Seaside Open-Air Museum, visitors can not only examine historic homesteads belonging to fishermen, but also take a ride on the legendary narrow-gauge steam train “Mazbānītis”.
Western Shore of the Gulf of Riga
Roja Yacht Harbour is located on the western shore of the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Roja River. It offers berths for 50 yachts and allows a maximum draught of up to 3.5 metres. The quay is equipped with a modern floating pontoon, providing convenient access from both sides. Sailors have access to sanitary facilities with toilets, showers and a laundry. A sailing sports school for children and youth operates actively at the harbour, and leisure yacht trips are also available. During the navigation season, which runs from April to October, the harbour provides a protected basin from winds of different directions.
Mērsrags Port offers a safe haven in an artificially created inlet between two breakwaters. On the left bank of the harbour is Yacht Club Kurland, with a fixed berth, modern lighting, electricity and water connections, as well as a well-equipped service building and sewage pump-out facilities. After mooring, sailors can enjoy Mērsrags’ natural charm – from walks to the rocky Mērsrags Cape and lighthouse to trails in nearby Lake Engure Nature Park.
Engure Port is a modern fishing and yacht harbour on the western coast of the Gulf of Riga. The depth at the yacht berths ranges from 2 to 4.5 metres, and the harbour operates from April to October. Through projects under the Estonia–Latvia cross-border cooperation programme, yacht service infrastructure in Engure has been improved, including the installation of floating berths with water and electricity connections. Guests have access to a service building, reinforced shoreline structures and a repair workshop. The harbour area also features the unique floating accommodation “Ostas mājas”, and is home to the Engure Yacht Club, which organises the traditional Roņu pirts regatta.
Riga and the Daugava
Riga’s network of waterways serves as an excellent sailing hub in the Baltic Sea region, offering a variety of mooring options both in the city’s dynamic centre and in the strategically advantageous area around the mouth of the Daugava.
Arriving from the Gulf of Riga, the first gateway for sailors is Mangaļsala, where two modern marinas are nestled side by side in the Audupe basin. This is home to Marina Jahtas.eu, notable for its impressive depth of 6.5 metres and its ability to accommodate vessels up to 20 metres long. It offers full technical support and yacht haul-out services. Nearby, Auda Marina provides 30 berths with a depth of 3.5 metres and serves as a base for innovative sports boat building. On the opposite bank of the Daugava, in the lee near the entrance to the Loču Canal in Bolderāja, lies the historic harbour Latvijas Jahta. It can accommodate up to 25 vessels with a draught of up to 3 metres and offers extensive technical services, including a 22-tonne crane, hull repairs and carpentry work.
On the right bank of the Daugava, next to Riga Passenger Terminal, is the cosy Andrejosta Marina, offering 150 berths with depths up to 3.5 metres and immediate access to the city’s restaurants and nightlife. Directly opposite, on Ķīpsala island, is the City Yacht Club – one of the largest and most modern marinas in Latvia, with space for up to 200 yachts and a maximum draught of 3.8 metres. It delights guests with a unique panorama of medieval Old Riga and a nearby sandy beach. Close by is the dynamic, multifunctional Riga Sports Sailing Centre, with a depth of 4 metres and 70 berths.
After mooring at one of Riga’s marinas, visitors can easily explore the capital and choose leisure activities that match their interests. From the central berths, the Old Town – with its cultural heritage, museums, restaurants and historic architecture – is just a few minutes’ walk away.
Vidzeme Coast
Latvia’s northern coastal waterway network forms an excellent sailing and maritime tourism corridor along the Vidzeme coast. Travelling north from Riga, the first gateway for sailors in this region is the historic and industrially dynamic Skulte Port, located at the northern end of Saulkrasti in Zvejniekciems. The port is home to the cosy Skulte Yacht Club, which – beside the cargo ship area – provides a floating pontoon marina with capacity for up to 50 yachts and a maximum draught of up to 4 metres. Yacht services here offer basic conveniences: an electricity connection, secure boat supervision and the option to use winter storage facilities.
Further north along Vidzeme’s rocky coast, at the mouth of the Salaca River, sailors are welcomed by Salacgrīva Yacht Harbour, located right in the town centre next to the historic Salacgrīva lighthouse. Two modern floating pontoons, each 36 metres long, are installed in the harbour basin and can accommodate up to 40 yachts at the same time. The water depth allows vessels with a maximum draught of up to 2.5 metres to enter and moor safely.
Kuiviži Yacht Harbour is a functional and well-equipped stopping point for yachts, located near Salacgrīva and only a few kilometres from the Estonian border. The harbour lies at the mouth of the Krišupīte, offering sailors safe shelter and modern infrastructure. Entry requires precision, so sailors must follow the floating light mark when approaching and leaving, as local fishermen still actively set nets near harbour waters. The permitted draught at the berths is 2.5 metres.
After anchoring at one of Vidzeme’s marinas, visitors enjoy a wide selection of leisure activities. From Skulte Port, you can quickly reach the rocky beach in Zvejniekciems, the White Dune of Saulkrasti and nearby restaurants. Salacgrīva Yacht Harbour allows you to enjoy river landscapes, local cultural events or a longer excursion to the nearby Ainaži Maritime School Museum. Meanwhile, guests at Kuiviži Harbour can enjoy a refined meal at a coastal restaurant a short sail away, stay at the adjacent hotel complex or simply relax and watch the sunset at the very northern edge of the Gulf of Riga.
For route planning, the Latvian Maritime Administration’s 2026 chart set for recreational craft is useful. It includes 45 navigation charts at scales from 1:3,000 to 1:250,000, as well as the Latvian Maritime Administration’s “Notices to Mariners”, issued once a month and used to regularly update navigation charts and publications.
