Things to Do in Latvia in November
November weather, activities, events & insider tips
November Weather in Latvia
Is November Right for You?
Advantages
- Accommodation prices drop 40-50% compared to summer - you can book excellent Old Town apartments for 35-45 EUR per night that cost 80+ EUR in July, and hotels actively negotiate multi-night stays
- Riga's museums, Art Nouveau architecture tours, and indoor attractions operate at full capacity with minimal crowds - you'll actually get quality time at the Occupation Museum and can photograph the Alberta iela facades without tour groups blocking your shots
- This is when Latvians themselves do city breaks, so restaurants and cultural venues operate on full winter schedules with extended evening hours, unlike the shoulder months when some places close early or take renovation breaks
- November 18th is Latvia's Independence Day with massive celebrations, military parades, torchlight processions, and fireworks - it's the single most important date on the national calendar and gives you genuine insight into Latvian identity that summer tourists never experience
Considerations
- Daylight runs roughly 8am to 4:30pm by late November - that's barely 8.5 hours of usable light, and it's often dim grey rather than actual sunshine, which genuinely affects your sightseeing schedule and photo opportunities
- The weather sits in that miserable zone right around freezing where it's too warm for pretty snow but cold enough to be unpleasant - expect persistent drizzle, slush, and that penetrating dampness that goes straight through your jacket
- Jurmala beach resort and most coastal attractions essentially shut down - the beach towns that are lovely in summer become genuinely depressing in November with boarded-up cafes and empty promenades
Best Activities in November
Riga Old Town Architecture Walks
November is actually ideal for exploring Riga's UNESCO-listed Old Town and Art Nouveau district because the low crowds mean you can properly photograph the elaborate facades on Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela without dodging tour groups. The overcast light, while flat, eliminates harsh shadows on the ornate building details. The compact Old Town layout means you can duck into cafes every 20-30 minutes to warm up. Focus your walks between 10am-3pm when you have the best light, and plan your route to hit 3-4 indoor attractions like St. Peter's Church tower or the Art Nouveau Museum as warming breaks.
Soviet History Museum Tours
The Occupation Museum, KGB Building, and Soviet-era district tours are perfect for November's dreary weather - both thematically appropriate and practically smart since you're mostly indoors. The museum quality here is exceptional and genuinely moving, not the superficial Cold War tourism you get in some cities. November's grey atmosphere actually enhances the emotional impact. The KGB Building tours in particular need to be experienced to understand Latvia's modern identity, and they run year-round with knowledgeable guides who lived through the period.
Traditional Latvian Sauna Experiences
November is peak sauna season in Latvia, and this is when locals actually use them rather than tourists treating them as novelties. The traditional Latvian pirts involves birch whisking, cold plunges, and multiple heat rounds - it's intense and genuinely therapeutic after walking around in 0°C (32°F) drizzle all day. Many guesthouses outside Riga offer authentic rural sauna experiences with wood-fired heat and proper ritual. The contrast between the penetrating November cold and sauna heat makes this more meaningful than doing it in summer.
Riga Central Market Food Tours
The Central Market operates year-round in those massive former Zeppelin hangars, and November is when you see actual seasonal Latvian food rather than summer tourist fare. This is smoked fish season, sauerkraut fermentation time, and when root vegetables dominate. The indoor pavilions are heated and genuinely pleasant to explore for 60-90 minutes. You'll see how Latvians actually shop and eat, not the curated experience of summer. The grey sprat, smoked eel, and various pickled items are acquired tastes but represent real Latvian cuisine.
Gauja National Park Castle Ruins Exploration
Visiting Turaida Castle and Sigulda's medieval ruins in November requires accepting that it will be cold and possibly wet, but the atmospheric payoff is substantial - these ruins look properly medieval in grey mist rather than summer sunshine. The park is 50 km (31 miles) from Riga and makes a solid day trip. Crowds are minimal, and you can explore the castle grounds and hiking trails around Gutmanis Cave without the summer tourist chaos. That said, come prepared for mud on trails and bring proper footwear.
Latvian National Opera Performances
The opera season runs full schedule in November with 4-5 performances weekly, and this is when Rigans actually attend rather than summer tourists filling seats. Ticket prices are shockingly reasonable (15-45 EUR for good seats) and the 1918 building itself is worth seeing. The repertoire in November tends toward heavier classical works rather than summer's lighter programming. This is a genuine cultural experience, not a tourist activity, and locals dress up - it's a window into how Latvians spend winter evenings.
November Events & Festivals
Latvijas Republikas Proklamēšanas Diena (Latvia Independence Day)
November 18th is the most significant date in Latvia's calendar, marking the 1918 declaration of independence. Riga hosts military parades, wreath-laying ceremonies at the Freedom Monument, torchlight processions through Old Town, fireworks over the Daugava River, and concerts. This is deeply meaningful to Latvians - you'll see genuine national pride and emotion, not performative tourism. The atmosphere is patriotic but welcoming. Most shops and many restaurants close for the day, so plan accordingly. The torchlight procession around 6pm is particularly moving.
Mārtiņi (Martinsmas Festival)
November 10th marks Mārtiņi, a traditional harvest festival that predates Christianity. Latvians eat specific foods - roasted goose, grey peas with bacon, cranberry desserts - and children go door-to-door singing for treats. Many restaurants offer special Mārtiņi menus during the week around November 10th. The Ethnographic Open Air Museum near Riga hosts traditional celebrations with folk music, craft demonstrations, and period-appropriate feasting. It's a genuine folk tradition still actively celebrated, not a reconstructed tourist event.
Staro Rīga Light Festival
This light art festival typically runs for 3-4 days in mid-November, transforming Old Town buildings and public spaces with projection mapping, light installations, and interactive art. It's specifically designed for the dark November evenings and draws significant crowds. The festival is free and runs roughly 6pm-midnight. Quality varies year to year, but the 2024 and 2025 editions were genuinely impressive. Check exact 2026 dates closer to your trip as they shift slightly each year.