Things to Do in Latvia in March
March weather, activities, events & insider tips
March Weather in Latvia
Is March Right for You?
Advantages
- Shoulder season pricing means accommodation costs drop 30-40% compared to summer peaks, and you'll actually find availability at popular guesthouses in Riga's Old Town without booking months ahead
- The transition from winter to spring creates dramatic lighting for photography - low-angle sun, occasional snow cover against emerging greenery, and those moody Baltic skies that make Latvian landscapes so distinctive
- March is when locals emerge from winter hibernation and cultural life kicks into high gear - theatres, concert halls, and jazz clubs run their best programming before summer festival season, and you'll experience the city as Rigans do rather than competing with cruise ship crowds
- Ice conditions on the Gulf of Riga typically break up in March, making this the last chance to potentially see ice formations along the coast at Jurmala while also catching the first migratory birds returning - it's a unique ecological moment you won't see any other time of year
Considerations
- Weather is genuinely unpredictable - you might get a week of sunny 12°C (54°F) days or face sleet and temperatures hovering around freezing, sometimes within the same trip. This makes packing frustrating and outdoor planning uncertain
- Daylight is improving but still limited - sunrise around 6:45am, sunset around 6:30pm by late March. That's better than winter's darkness but you're not getting those long Baltic summer evenings yet, which affects how much you can realistically see in a day
- The landscape looks tired - snow is melting into grey slush, parks are muddy, and nothing's bloomed yet. Latvia's forests and countryside, spectacular in other seasons, are frankly drab in March. If nature is your main draw, this isn't your month
Best Activities in March
Riga Old Town Architecture Walking Routes
March weather is actually ideal for exploring Riga's UNESCO-listed Old Town on foot - cool enough that you're comfortable walking 5-7 km (3-4 miles) without overheating, and the low winter sun creates perfect lighting on Art Nouveau facades between 10am-3pm. The cobblestones can be slippery from melting snow, so wear proper shoes, but you'll have major sites like St. Peter's Church and the House of Blackheads without the summer shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. The cold also means you'll appreciate ducking into the warm interior of Riga Cathedral or spending an hour in the Art Nouveau Museum on Alberta iela without feeling like you're wasting good weather.
Latvian Sauna and Spa Experiences
March is peak season for experiencing authentic Latvian sauna culture - locals use saunas heavily during the cold months, and the contrast between a 90°C (194°F) sauna and jumping into 4°C (39°F) water or rolling in late-season snow is intense and genuinely exhilarating. Traditional Latvian saunas involve birch branch whisking and often incorporate herbal steams. This isn't tourist entertainment - it's what Latvians actually do in March to survive the tail end of winter. Public saunas and spa complexes in Riga and Jurmala run at full capacity with locals, giving you authentic cultural immersion.
Gauja National Park Winter-to-Spring Hiking
March catches Gauja National Park in transition - trails around Sigulda and Cesis are usually passable but might have snow patches and ice, creating an atmospheric experience without summer's crowds. The Gutmanis Cave, Latvia's largest, is particularly striking when icicles are still forming at the entrance. Temperatures range from -2°C to 6°C (28-43°F), perfect for vigorous hiking without overheating. The bare trees mean better views of the Gauja River valley and medieval castle ruins. Trails can be muddy, especially the 5 km (3.1 mile) route from Sigulda to Turaida Castle, so waterproof boots are essential.
Riga Central Market Food Exploration
March is when you'll find Latvians doing their actual shopping at Riga Central Market, one of Europe's largest markets housed in old Zeppelin hangars. This is the month for root vegetables, preserved foods, smoked fish, and early greenhouse produce. The indoor pavilions are heated, making this a perfect activity when it's sleeting outside. You'll see seasonal specialties like smoked lamprey (a March delicacy), sauerkraut varieties, and the last of winter's stored apples. Unlike summer when tourists clog the aisles, March means you're shopping alongside babushkas who'll tell you exactly which vendor has the best sklandrausis (traditional carrot-potato pastries).
Latvian Concert and Theatre Season
March is prime time for Riga's cultural scene - the Latvian National Opera, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, and multiple theatre companies run their main season programming before summer break. Tickets are affordable by Western European standards (15-50 EUR for excellent seats) and the audiences are 95% local, giving you genuine insight into Latvian cultural life. The neo-classical opera house itself is worth seeing. Contemporary theatre at venues like the New Riga Theatre often has English surtitles. This is what educated Rigans actually do on cold March evenings rather than fighting the weather.
Jurmala Beach and Wooden Architecture Routes
Jurmala in March is wonderfully desolate - the beach resort town 25 km (15.5 miles) from Riga empties of summer crowds, leaving you free to explore the extraordinary collection of 19th-century wooden villas and walk the 33 km (20.5 mile) white sand beach in near-solitude. The Baltic Sea is dramatic and moody in March, with waves crashing and occasional ice formations still visible. The cold means you can walk for hours without overheating. Many sanatoriums and spa hotels offer day-use packages (20-40 EUR) where you can warm up between walks. The Dzintari Concert Hall and Jurmala City Museum are open and uncrowded.
March Events & Festivals
Meteņi (Shrovetide)
This traditional Latvian winter farewell festival typically falls in late February or early March depending on the Orthodox calendar. If your dates align, you'll see sledding competitions, traditional mask-wearing, and the ritual burning of a straw figure to symbolize winter's end. The Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum near Riga often hosts public celebrations with traditional foods like peas with bacon and pancakes. It's a genuine folk tradition, not a tourist show, though increasingly some events cater to visitors.