Things to Do in Latvia in May

This private tour moves beyond the standard script, letting a knowledgeable resident lead you through the layers of Riga's story, from the intricate wood carvings on Art Nouveau buildings to the solemn weight of history in the Occupation Museum district. You will hear tales of the city's Hanseatic past while standing in a courtyard that still echoes with the sounds of the medieval market that once filled it.

This complete journey sweeps you from the urban energy of Riga to the serene, pine-scented air of Jurmala's beach, the boardwalk creaking underfoot, and onward to the primeval, misty silence of Kemeri National Park's bog boardwalks, where you can see tea-colored water reflecting the sky. It culminates in the charming, red-brick streets of Kuldiga, home to Europe's widest waterfall, which you can hear roaring as you approach the Venta River.

Paddling along the quiet canals of Riga and the wider Daugava River has a unique, low-angle view of the city's skyline, where you can see the towering spires of St. Peter's Church and Riga Castle from the water, feeling the cool spray off your paddle. You will glide past old warehouses and under bridges, hearing the city's hum soften into the sounds of waterfowl and the gentle slosh of your kayak.

After a long flight, the relief of finding a driver holding a sign with your name at Riga Airport, leading you directly to a comfortable vehicle, cannot be overstated. You will bypass the taxi queue and the confusion of public transport, feeling the smooth transition from the airport's bustle to the quiet comfort of a private ride into the city, watching the Latvian countryside give way to suburban neighborhoods.

This is far more than a simple car ride. It is a guided land journey that turns the road between two Baltic capitals into a sightseeing route. You will stop at the impressive Rundāle Palace, walking through its ornate, gilded halls and smelling the wax of polished parquet floors, and perhaps sample local cheese or honey at a roadside farmstead, tasting the richness of the Latvian countryside.

In a cozy studio in Riga, you will feel the heat from the lamp-working torch and hear the soft hiss of gas as you manipulate molten glass, a craft with deep roots in the region, into your own piece of jewelry. The experience engages your hands and focus, leaving you with a unique, handcrafted souvenir that holds the memory of its creation in its form and color.