MEET Valmiera

Valmiera is the biggest city in Latvia's northeastern region of Vidzeme only 50 km from Estonia border and 1 hour drive from the capital city Riga.

Valmiera has long been at the crossroads of business, busy life, roads and thoughts. As a strategically important Hanseatic city, money, languages and ideas mingled in Valmiera. It started way back in 1283, when one of the symbols of Valmiera was built in the city center - St Simon's Church. Nowadays Valmiera is a self-sufficient regional center for education, manufacturing and innovation, and also excels at partnerships and collaboration. Today it represents Latvia in the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities, plays an active part in the Gauja National Park tourism cluster, initiates and participates in EU projects. 25 000 people call Valmiera home. One third of the total territory of the city is covered by forests, parks and other recreational areas. Locals and also the guests of the city love to spend their time at “Park of Senses”, which is situated on the banks of river Gauja.

Valmiera is the industrial center of Vidzeme. Family values are honored here. The spirit of knowledge and new discoveries reigns here. The speed of Gauja is in the blood of the people of Valmiera, that's why sports are also loved here. Valmiera lives green and respects nature. Here, success is celebrated with new goals. That is why the people of Valmiera, competing for the title of the European Capital of Culture in 2027, believe that it is time to make Valmiera and the new district a European cultural center. The goal of Valmiera is to fill the gap - the unrealized cultural potential, in order to create a special cultural space with new cultural and creative industry offers, content, developments, to promote public participation.

A cultural and creative community

Valmiera Theatre and Valmiera Cultural Center are major drivers for local cultural tourism and key venues for meetings and conferences. It's no surprise that a town with such a strong cultural backbone has also fostered creative businesses and initiatives in and around Valmiera such as “Kurtuve art space” and “Valmiermuiža brewery”. Rich gastronomy offer can be found in the city. The restaurant “Akustika” has been included in Michelin Restaurant Guide since 2024, and beside fancy meals they offer rich cultural programmes for their guests. In addition, the 4-star hotel and restaurant “Wolmar” provides accommodation and catering services all at the same place.

Raising tomorrow's leaders

Students also contribute to the development of Valmiera. Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences offers programmes in 6 study directions from college to doctoral level. The university works closely with the municipality and local businesses, finding ways to grow together and strengthen the town's economy and reputation. Many graduates choose Valmiera as their future home town. Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences will host conference for International Tourism Studies Association in 2024.

A well-established business environment

Valmiera-based businesses operate in areas such as ICT, mechanical engineering, metal processing, agriculture, construction, forestry, and textile production. Recent years have seen the town attract considerable foreign investment.

It is possible to hold conferences in Valmiera, where the total capacity of the hall is up to 696 people. There are also all the prerequisites for organizing several smaller-scale seminars that take place simultaneously in different rooms in the same building. For those who love less traditional places, we also offer to adapt the Multifunctional Hall of the Valmiera Olympic Center, which can accommodate up to 3,000 people. In all halls, it is possible to provide appropriate equipment for holding conferences. Catering service is also available at events.

Valmiera Tourism Information Center

Bruņinieku iela 1, Valmiera, LV-4201

Phone: +371 26332213

E-mail: [email protected]

Find out more: https://visit.valmiera.lv/en/