Latvia is a small country on the shores of the Baltic Sea. It is surrounded by Lithuania and Estonia, as well as Belarus and Russia. The names of five historical regions of Latvia will be useful for all tourists. These are Vidzeme, Kurzeme, Zemgale, Latgale and Selia. You can rent a car and drive around these parts on your own. There's always more to see that way.
Vidzeme has access to the sea. The beautiful Riga is located here. In Valmiera you can walk on the banks of the Gauja River, in Cesis there is a beautiful castle. In the central and northern tourist regions of Latvia are concentrated ski resorts. For example, this is Sigulda. Visit page ski vacation in Latvia and read more about winter vacation.
Kurzeme gives us Liepaja, "the city where the wind is born", Ventspils for family vacations, Saldus with its Wine Mountain, as well as picturesque Kuldiga and beautiful Talsi.
Zemgale is the southern region of Latvia, with the Daugava, Lielupe, Musa, and Memele rivers flowing through it. The last one is actively used for boating, giving the opportunity to see the karst sinkholes of the river in the vicinity of Skaistkalne. There are many castles here, such as Rundale Castle, Jelgava Castle, Bauska Castle, Mežotne Castle, Krustpilla Castle, Augstkalnes Castle, and Vecauces Castle, as well as the ruins of Koknese Castle and Dobel Castle. Read more about these castles in Latvia's sights.
Latgale introduces us to the beautiful Rēzekne. And the town of Livani has interesting museums.
Selia is sometimes considered part of Latgale, with its numerous rivers, lakes, and small villages along their banks. While they may not be heavily promoted for tourism, there is still much to explore. Daugavpils, on the other hand, is considered a major resort. Towns like Aglona, Kraslava, Ezernieki, and others in Latvia's regions may not be widely known among tourists, but they can offer interesting experiences.
