Things to Do in Latvia in June
June weather, activities, events & insider tips
June Weather in Latvia
Is June Right for You?
Advantages
- Peak daylight hours with sunset around 10pm - you'll have 17+ hours of usable daylight, meaning you can pack temple visits, beach time, and evening strolls without feeling rushed. Locals eat dinner at 8pm and still have golden hour light afterward.
- Līgo festival on June 23-24 (Midsummer celebration) - the single biggest cultural event of the year when the entire country shuts down, heads to the countryside, and celebrates with bonfires, folk songs, and flower crowns. You'll see Latvia at its most authentically festive, though you need to plan accommodation carefully.
- Baltic Sea actually swimmable - water temperatures reach 17-19°C (63-66°F) by late June, which sounds cold but is genuinely comfortable for swimming after you acclimate. Locals flood the beaches at Jūrmala and Liepāja on sunny weekends, creating an actual beach culture you won't find earlier in the year.
- Shoulder season pricing through mid-June - before the July-August peak, you'll find hotel rates 20-30% lower than high summer, and attractions like Rundale Palace and Turaida Castle are pleasantly uncrowded. Flight prices from Western Europe are still reasonable if you book 8-10 weeks out.
Considerations
- Weather genuinely unpredictable - you might get 25°C (77°F) and sunny one day, then 14°C (57°F) with drizzle the next. Latvians joke that June has all four seasons in one week, and they're not exaggerating. Pack layers because you'll use them all.
- Līgo weekend creates accommodation chaos - June 23-24, everything books solid months ahead, prices triple, and most restaurants and shops close completely. If you're visiting during this window, either plan around it deliberately or accept you'll be scrambling for last-minute options in Riga while locals are elsewhere.
- Mosquitoes in rural areas and forests - the combination of June warmth and lingering spring moisture creates ideal breeding conditions. Gauja National Park and anywhere near Latgale's lakes means you'll want DEET 30% minimum, especially for evening activities. Locals wear long sleeves for forest walks regardless of temperature.
Best Activities in June
Gauja National Park hiking and castle exploration
June is genuinely ideal for the Gauja Valley - forests are fully green but not overgrown, trails are dry enough for regular shoes, and the 20°C (68°F) temperatures mean you can hike 8-10 km (5-6 miles) without overheating. Turaida Castle and Sigulda Medieval Castle are stunning with surrounding greenery, and the morning mist that often hangs over the valley until 9-10am creates atmospheric photos. Crowds are manageable except Līgo weekend.
Jūrmala beach and spa resort visits
Late June transforms Jūrmala from quiet resort town to actual beach destination once water temperatures hit 17-18°C (63-64°F). The 33 km (20.5 mile) stretch of white sand beaches gets genuinely busy on sunny weekends but remains civilized on weekdays. The wooden Art Nouveau architecture along Jomas Street looks particularly photogenic in June's long evening light. Worth noting - locals consider it swimming weather even if you initially find it brisk.
Riga Old Town walking and rooftop exploration
June weather makes Riga's cobblestone streets actually pleasant for 3-4 hour walking tours without the July heat. The Art Nouveau district along Alberta Street and the medieval Old Town are walkable in regular shoes, and rooftop bars at St. Peter's Church and Skyline Bar stay open until 11pm with sunset views. The 10pm sunset means you can photograph the House of Blackheads in golden light after dinner. Humidity around 70% is noticeable but not oppressive.
Latgale Lakes region kayaking and rural homestays
Eastern Latvia's lake district is spectacular in June once water temperatures reach 16-18°C (61-64°F) and before peak summer crowds. The region has 2,000+ lakes, and kayak rentals run 15-25 EUR per day through local operators. This is genuinely off-tourist-radar Latvia where you'll hear more Russian than English and experience authentic countryside culture. The landscape is flat, making it perfect for casual paddlers, though mosquito repellent is non-negotiable for evening paddles.
Līgo Midsummer festival participation
June 23-24 is the cultural experience of the year - imagine if New Year's Eve, Thanksgiving, and a folk festival merged into one nationwide celebration. Latvians wear traditional dress, weave flower crowns, sing folk songs around bonfires, and stay up all night because it barely gets dark. The authentic experience happens in countryside locations, not Riga, and you'll need connections or organized cultural tours to access private celebrations. This is Latvia at its most distinctly Baltic.
Kuldīga waterfall and small-town exploration
The Ventas Rumba waterfall is at its most impressive in June with spring runoff still flowing, creating the widest waterfall in Europe at 249 m (817 ft) across. The medieval town of Kuldīga itself is beautifully preserved 17th-century architecture without tourist crowds, and June weather makes the 2-3 hour drive from Riga pleasant. The old brick bridge and red-tile roofs photograph gorgeously in variable June light. Locals consider this the most underappreciated destination in Latvia, and they're right.
June Events & Festivals
Līgo and Jāņi (Midsummer Festival)
The absolute highlight of Latvia's cultural calendar - June 23-24 when the entire country celebrates the summer solstice with pagan-rooted traditions. Expect bonfires, folk singing, traditional foods like Jāņu cheese, flower crown weaving, and all-night celebrations because sunset is after 10pm and it never gets truly dark. This is not a tourist show - it's genuine national culture, and experiencing it with Latvian hosts in countryside settings is unforgettable. Riga empties out as locals head to family farms.
Riga Opera Festival
The Latvian National Opera typically runs its annual festival through mid-June with performances of both classical repertoire and contemporary works. Productions are genuinely world-class - Latvia has an outsized opera tradition - and tickets are remarkably affordable at 15-60 EUR compared to Western European equivalents. The opera house itself is a stunning 1863 building worth visiting regardless. Performances are usually in original languages with Latvian and English subtitles.
Positivus Festival
Latvia's largest music festival typically happens in mid-July, but if dates shift to late June in 2026, it brings 30,000+ attendees to Salacgrīva on the northern coast. The lineup mixes international indie, electronic, and alternative acts with Baltic performers. Three-day passes run 120-180 EUR, and the beachside setting with long daylight hours creates a unique festival atmosphere. Worth checking exact 2026 dates if you're a festival person.