Latvia : Safety by City
Latvia is a Baltic country located in Northern Europe, bordering Estonia to the north, Lithuania to the south, Russia to the east, Belarus on the southeast, and the Baltic Sea on the west.
It is yet another country boasting a beautiful Baltic Sea coastline, and it is only one of the many gorgeous, mostly natural, features that this country has to offer.
Though the most famous travel spot is Latvia’s capital Riga, which is also a World Heritage Site itself, there are many options in this country for tourists to see and visit.
Latvia offers wonderful landscapes and surroundings, both urban and rural, such as Liepaja with its former secret military town of Karosta and a breathtaking beach.
Among its natural beauties is Kuldiga with Europe’s widest waterfall and as for cultural heritage, there’s Cesis with its medieval castle ruins.
Then there are forests, vast forests covering approximately 50% of Latvia’s territory with many trails, tracks and nature parks.
And of course, topping this all off is the wild beauty of Latvia’s coastline, expanded over 500 km of land and consisting mainly of white, soft sandy beaches.
Warnings & Dangers in Latvia
OVERALL RISK: LOW
Latvia is overall safe to travel to, the crime rates are relatively low, and even pickpockets are not that common. However, it is advised that you remain vigilant at all times, especially on the streets.
TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: HIGH
As in other Baltic countries, traffic is not very safe in Latvia. It is filled with reckless drivers and even crossing the street is dangerous. Some roads are badly kept and riddled with holes. Be very careful when included in Latvia's traffic.
PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
Pickpocketing exists in Latvia but it is not too big of an issue. There are specific areas to watch out for such as Vecriga (Riga's Old Town), Dzelzcela Stacija (central train station), the Autoosta (central bus station) and Centraltirgus (central market) notorious for pickpockets. Be careful and keep your valuables close by your side.
NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
As for natural disasters, there are no greater risks, apart from flooding caused by heavy rains, mostly in the eastern part of the country.
MUGGING RISK: LOW
It is not likely you will get mugged or kidnapped in Latvia. Still, don't let your guard down and stay away from dark and deserted areas of bigger cities.
TERRORISM RISK: LOW
There haven't been any terrorist attacks in Latvia's recent history, but they shouldn't be ruled out, so be aware of your surroundings at all times.
SCAMS RISK: MEDIUM
There are several scams performed in Latvia, especially in Riga, and they are mostly connected to bars and pubs. People lured into a pub or a bar by a pretty lady are mostly ridiculously overcharged. This happens in shady pubs such as Kapsula, Babylon and Sonali Pub to name a few. Never accept drinks from strange people or leave your drink unattended.
WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Overall, Latvia is very safe for women traveling solo. Just use your common sense and have your wits with you. Avoid poorly lit and deserted areas at night and finding yourself in places filled with drunken people.
So... How Safe Is Latvia Really?
Latvia is generally safe to travel to, and petty crime is relatively low although it exists.
Pickpocketing is mostly common in larger cities and some of the most notorious locations for this crime are Vecriga (Riga’s Old Town), Dzelzcela Stacija (central train station), the Autoosta (central bus station) and Centraltirgus (central market).
Another issue to bear in mind is that bicycle theft is also common so make sure to lock your bicycle before walking away, even if it’s the smallest distance from your vehicle.
As other Baltic countries bear in mind that traffic isn’t the safest.
Latvia is filled with reckless drivers and some roads are very unsafe, which is why the accident rate in Latvia is very high.
Be careful when crossing the road and especially mind the forest roads since collisions with wildlife animals can easily occur.
Since half of Latvia’s territory is covered in forests, you should watch out for forest ticks as they can be abundant from May to September, depending on the humidity of the previous year’s weather, and bear in mind that they can occasionally be found even in old town parks.
Their bite carries the risk of tick-borne encephalitis (these infected ticks can be quite common) and Lyme disease which is less common.
If you do get bitten by one, keep in mind that delayed or inadequate treatment can lead to disabilities.
There are also some snakes in Latvia, but they are mostly not venomous, except for the European Adder which carries a possible death threat if you get bitten and not treated within the next couple of hours.
How Does Latvia Compare?
| Country | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Latvia | 80 |
| Morocco | 54 |
| Austria | 92 |
| Croatia | 83 |
| Botswana | 77 |
| Finland | 86 |
| Spain | 83 |
| United Kingdom | 77 |
| New Zealand | 90 |
Useful Information
Visas
For most countries, visas are not required for any stays shorter than 90 days. Any longer than that and you have to obtain a visa. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need a visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.
Currency
Euro is the official currency for Latvia and most of Europe. ATMs are very easy to find and credit cards are accepted in many establishments such as hotels and restaurants.
Weather
Latvia has a warm temperate humid climate with pleasant summers and reasonably mild winters that last from January until March. Average temperatures range from 10°C to 15°C in winter, but temperatures sometimes drop as low as -6.6°C
Airports
Riga International Airport is the biggest international airport of Riga, the capital of Latvia, and it's located in the Mārupe Municipality west of Riga. It is a state-owned joint-stock company, while the owner of all shares is no one other than the government of Latvia.
Travel Insurance
Just like anywhere else, we recommend getting travel insurance when traveling to Latvia since it covers not only the costs of medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.
Latvia Weather Averages (Temperatures)
Average High/Low Temperature
| Temperature / Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °C | -1 | 0 | 5 | 12 | 17 | 21 | 24 | 23 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| Low °C | -6 | -6 | -3 | 1 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 4 | 0 | -4 |
| High °F | 30 | 32 | 41 | 54 | 63 | 70 | 75 | 73 | 64 | 52 | 41 | 34 |
| Low °F | 21 | 21 | 27 | 34 | 43 | 50 | 55 | 54 | 46 | 39 | 32 | 25 |
Latvia - Safety by City
| City | Safety Index |
|---|---|
| Riga | 62 |
Been To Riga,Loved it there,Going again next week .
People are lovely and warm,City is nice and very clean , We booked our Hotel and Flight tickets few month before at cheaper prices, Ryanair return ticket was only £70 pp and 4 star hotel around £40 per/day , Good bars and Restaurants,Prices bit lower than UK
We travelled In june and weather was gorgeous,Temp around 22 degree
There are a lot of touristy attractions ,River Daugava looks amazing at sunset time .
If you are not from Europe,you need to get Visa,normally taking around 4 weeks time
I do Recommend Latvia 100%
I want to get information about Latvia .for my further study….is there safe country for indian people?
Its safe for everyone!
Yes! I think so! I live in latvia and i believe its safe!
Very good
I am interested latvia very nice latvia
Loved Riga. Very safe. Some scams .. but they are obvious and very very minor. Just trying to get you to pay more to enter places.. will be going again.
Beware in Valmiera
Been in Valmiera, Latvia for several times now. If it was not because of training purposes in Olympic Training Centre. Better to spend some money on other country. Every visit we got bad experiences. This time I got two bruises because one of the VTU Valmiera’s bus driver tried to close the door while I was still standing just right at the door while queuing. He tried two attempts to jam me. Thats why I got two bruises. It comes into my conclusion that he did that in purpose.
Luckily he did not jam my daughter who was standing in front of me. According to my opinion, Valmiera people is not ready to welcome tourist. So beware of your safety especially riding that bus. Hope the Bus Company’s manager beware of this driver ruining the company’s reputation.
Hi, I am sorry to hear about your bad experience.
I live in Latvia but have never been to Valmiera myself.
Please don’t let this bad experience to get in the way of returning to Latvia in the future.
I would recommend to rather go to Riga and the surroundings.
And if you visit when it’s warm – Jurmala, while Sigulda is perfect for autumn season.
I love Latvia Riga its a good place I will go again whenever I can it was wonderful be sure to check out the baltic sea and get some amber it was very safe I never once felt like I had been in danger be sure to go.
Gem of the Baltics
Been to Latvia several times with my Latvian partner, and it is an amazing, beautiful country, full of stunning natural areas. Jurmala is a superb beach destination, but can get crowded in summer months. The old city of Riga is a real treat, full of history and stunning architecture, as well as the simply huge indoor markets which are breathtaking in size and range of goods on offer. Feels a safe place to be and the bars are fine providing you use common sense, and the beers in Latvia I rate with some of the best European ones (cherry beer is terrific). Cesis is a beautiful town steeped in history and definitely recommended. A good time to visit is 22-24 June to celebrate Jani (yah-knee) which is one of the biggest festivals in Latvia (and the baltics) and the whole country feasts, dances and enjoys the odd beer with friends and family for a couple of days. Most folk are friendly, but don’t expect instant friendship, as many Latvians take time to know you and do not indulge in much ‘small talk’. Learning a few phrases like ‘paldies’ (thank you) and Labdien (good day) will help enormously and will be appreciated. In short, a real gem of a country – we are going back again in a few weeks – can’t wait!
Great
One of the safest countries i have ever been to. Great nature and people, love Kuldiga, Talsi, Old Riga.