The 4 beaches in Latvia you have to visit
© Baltic Beach Hotel & Spa
With a coastline stretching almost 500 kilometres, the Baltic Sea coast in Latvia combines pristine waters, high dune beaches and green pine forests into a haunting landscape.
In this blog you will learn about 4 significant beaches that are a must visit when travelling to Latvia, each of them boasting remarkable features of the Baltic coastline.
Let’s dig in:
1. jurmala beach
© Booking.com
This popular resort city has long become a favourite holiday destination for many travelers in the Baltics.
Famous for its high-end restaurants, luxury houses and spa hotels, Jurmala is also well-known for its white sand beach that stretches along 25.6 kilometers, the longest one in Latvia.
Located in the Gulf of Riga, Jurmala beach enjoys tranquil waters with low salinity and a very shallow depth, ideal for couples or families looking to have a relaxed day by the sea.
The optimal lighting conditions turn this exclusive beach into a great location where to take beautiful pictures by the sea, specially during sunset.
If you’d like to have a vacation photoshoot in Jurmala beach please contact me here.
2. vecaki beach
© Beachsearcher.com
A quick 20-minute drive separates this well-known beach from the historic centre of Riga, which makes it a convenient choice when visiting the Latvian capital for a short time.
Once a fishermen area, the popular Vecaki beach offers all the tourist attractions for a perfect day by the sea: restaurants and chill out cafés on one side; long stretches of white sand on the other.
The beach is well equipped will all the amenities you might need, including a special area dedicated to beach games.
For those interested in nude sunbathing, Vecaki also has a naturist beach that extends few kilometers up north, allowing plenty of space for everyone.
3. jurkalne beach
© Ainavu Dargumi
On Latvia’s western coast hides one of the best beaches in the Baltic Sea. Jurkalne, which translates as “the sea mountain” in Latvian, offers a unique landscape that combines high dunes over a steep coastline.
Unlike the calm waters of Jurmala and Vecaki, Jurkalne beach suffers from strong winds along its cliffy seaside, which tends to keep travellers away. However, the magic sunsets one can enjoy there are priceless - nothing that a bit of wind can spoil.
The nearby town of Jurkalne has all the facilities to spend a night by the sea, including apartments; coffee shops, and a small concert hall entirely made of wood.
Moreover, a 30 minute drive separates Jurkalne from Kuldiga, the most emblematic city in the province of Kurzeme. Both locations can be easily reached on a single day trip from Riga.
4. liepaja beach
© Travel East and Central Europe
The main port city in western Latvia enjoys a monumental seashore that is a must-visit for any traveler in the Baltics.
With an 8 kilometre beach stretching along its waterfront, Liepaja is a great destination where to enjoy hiking activities by the sea, including a visit to the famous Seaside Park, one of the largest parks in Latvia.
On Liepaja’s northern coast, the isolated shores near the Karosta prison feature yet another relique from its Soviet past: a series of dilapidated bunkers laying halfway on the beach, which have become an unusual attraction for locals and tourists alike.
An extensive area of nature parks populate the southern coast of Liepaja, like Bernati or the Pape Nature Park, stretching down south until the border city of Nida near Lithuania.
Travelling across the Baltics? Here are 5 off the beaten track places to check in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Have you been to any of these beaches in Latvia? Which one is your favourite? Please let me know in the comments below.