| Latvia ((lv)Latvija) | |
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| Flag | |
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| Information | |
| Capital city | Riga |
|---|---|
| Area | 64 000 km² |
| Population | 2 200 000 hab. (2010) |
| Density | 34,38 inhab./km² |
| Form of State | parliamentary republic |
| Change | Euro (EUR) |
| Electricity | 230 V/50 Hz, European plug |
| Telephone prefix | 371 |
| Internet suffix | .lv, .eu |
| Flow direction | Right-hand drive |
| Spindle | UTC 2 |
| Location | |
 57 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ N 25 ° 0 ′ 0 ″ E | |
| Official site | |
The Latvia is one of the three Baltic countries ofEurope on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea with theEstonia to the north and the Lithuania South. It is also border of the Russia to the east and Belarus At the South-East.
Understand
Geography
Weather
History
Population
Regions
 Large regions of Latvia. |
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Cities
- 1 Riga – the capital, its architecture traces more than 800 years of history
- 2 Cēsis – in the heart of Gauja National Park, with its medieval castle, a newer castle and attractions in the old town
- 3 Daugavpils – 2e largest city, industrial city in the south towards the Lithuanian border, we see many gray buildings with Soviet architecture, predominantly Russian-speaking population
- 4 Jurmala – main seaside resort in the country, very popular with the Rigois in summer, once a destination for Russian apparatchiks
- 5 Kuldīga – nicknamed the pearl of Kurzeme, its old town and castle are superb
- 6 Liepāja – 3rd largest city, on the west coast, a seaside resort renowned for its sandy beaches, where the interesting Soviet-built secret military town of Karosta is located, as well as numerous music festivals ranging from rock to classical music , the city is also home to the largest organ in the world
- 7 Madona – pretty little town in the east of Vidzeme, surrounded by hills, forests and lakes, it is the winter sports capital of Latvia
- 8 Sigulda – city with a rich heritage which is home to many castles and historic sites, gateway to Gauja National Park, it is the most popular destination for foreign tourists after Riga
- 9 Ventspils – formerly forbidden military port, today it is an active port where maritime traffic can be observed
- 10 Jelgava – south of Riga in Zemgale, there is a castle transformed into a university and Rundale castle even further south
Other destinations
The wild nature is very present in Latvia which counts only 2.1 million inhabitants of which almost 1 million in Riga. Huge forests filled with game where we still find bears and wolves. Not meeting a deer while walking in the forest is a feat. These are teeming with blueberries and mushrooms in the fall. Superb lakes with limpid and warm waters, rivers and peaceful rivers.
Many castles dot the countryside, former residences of German barons: Jelgava, Rundale (superb interior restorations), or even Sabile, Cesis, and the medieval castle of Sigulda ...
National parks
- 1 Gauja National Park – the oldest in the country, magnificent landscapes of pine forests crossed by the Gauja
- 2 Kemeri national park – landscapes of forests, swamps and peat bogs
- 3 Slītere National Park – the park is a stage in the migration of many birds, to see also the landscapes of Cape Kolka
- 4 Rāzna National Park
To go
Formalities
- See as well: Traveling in the Schengen area
Latvia is part of theSchengen area. The citizens of the Swiss and the European Economic Area which includes theEuropean Union, theIceland, the Norway and the Liechtenstein only need a national identity card or a passport valid. They don't need any Visa to enter or circulate in the Schengen area and are generally allowed to stay as long as they wish.
Remarks (1) Nationals of these countries need a biometric passport to enjoy visa-free travel. (2) Serbian nationals with passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (residents of Kosovo with Serbian passport) need a visa. (3) Taiwanese nationals need their ID card number (a letter followed by nine digits) written in their passport to enjoy visa-free travel. |
Nationals of the following countries do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area: Albania(1), Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and herzegovina(1), Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Dominica, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates, United States, Grenade, Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Japan, North Macedonia(1), Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova(1), Monaco, Montenegro(1), New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St. LUCIA, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia(1,2), Seychelles, Singapore, Taiwan(3) (Republic of China), East Timor, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Vatican City, Venezuela as well as holders of a passport of Hong Kong SAR, of Macau SAR and all nationals British (including those who are not citizens of the European Union).
- The visa-free travelers mentioned above and not members of theEEE or from Swiss cannot stay more than 90 days in a period of 180 days in the Schengen area in general and, in general, cannot work during their stay (although some countries in the Schengen area allow certain nationalities to work). The counting of days begins once you enter one of the Schengen countries and does not return to zero when you leave one Schengen country for another.
- New Zealand citizens can stay longer than 90 days, but without working if they do not have a work permit, in some countries of the Schengen area, namely Germany, Austria, the Benelux, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Sweden and Switzerland
If you are not a national ofEEE or from Swiss, even if you are exempt from a visa, unless you are Andorran, Monegasque, San Marino or Vatican, make sure your passport is stamped both when entering and leaving the Schengen area. Without an entry stamp, you may be treated as having exceeded the length of your stay when trying to leave the Schengen area. Without an exit stamp, you may be refused entry the next time you seek to enter the Schengen area as you may be assumed to have exceeded the time allowed on your previous visit. If you cannot get a stamp in the passport, keep documents like boarding passes, transportation tickets, etc. which can help convince border control personnel that you have stayed in the Schengen area legally.
By plane
Many companies have daily flights: Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, SAS, airBaltic ... low cost also have connections by Berlin or Geneva as well as many connections thanks to the company Ryanair.
On a boat
Daily connections between Riga or Ventspils by ferry from Stockholm, Rostock, Travenmüde ... 2 main companies, prices and internet reservations
By train
Reliable means, but relatively expensive and demanding ... (you have to change train and / or station (s) frequently ...
By bus
- Eurolines – This French company serves Latvia, it offers prices among the lowest on the market and in any case often cheaper than the airlines.
- Ecolines – The Latvian company also offers trips from all over Europe to the Baltic States, it also allows many connections in border regions (Baltic States, Russia, Belarus, etc.).
By car
One can easily reach Latvia via Germany, Poland and Lithuania. The car or the motorhome are ideal ways to visit the Baltic States and enjoy nature. However, beware of Poland, whose roads are unsafe and in poor condition. Allow 2 days to go from the Franco-German border to Riga.
You can also take a ferry from northern Germany or cross Denmark and Sweden to reach a ferry in Stockholm (8 h crossing).
Circulate
By plane
Airport in Riga and Liepaja. A few tourist aerodromes throughout the country
By train and bus
The rail network covers the big cities. It is well relayed by coaches serving the whole country. The prices are identical and correct: 3 to 5 euro cents per kilometer (small area), in May 2017, to be purchased at the ticket office. preferably (ticket) or by internet. Dematerialized tickets are the most common: to mount an e-ticket. Both networks are very busy at various times.
Each bus station, autoosta, is located near a shopping area where you can buy food. There are also minibuses that provide secondary, frequent, practical connections, at the same rate to be paid in cash to the driver, at the same standard rate. With good free maps from regional tourist offices (Latvian, Russian, English, German, most of the time), you can go on an adventure, without reserving anything.
Information on internal transport:
- http://www.1188.lv/transport
- http://www.autoosta.lv/ : inter-city bus (in Latvian)
- http://www.pv.lv/en/ : train
By car
Latvia is close to the European record for traffic accidents. Excellent roads where the latest most luxurious Mercedes come together, Soviet trucks polluting (increasingly rare) as much as a Western Union locomotive, rolling wrecks (despite the mandatory annual technical inspection). If the road surface is good, on the other hand, the infrastructures and the signage leave something to be desired: exits from expressways on the left, U-turns authorized on a 2 x 3 lanes are "confusing". What is the speed limit 90 km / h on the road, and radar checks are now frequent.
The country is crisscrossed by major two-way traffic roads, built during theUSSR.
There is a secondary network made up of stony tracks well adapted to frost and snow but very dusty in summer. Respect your distances. The road maps are precise enough to get your bearings, thanks to the bus stops which indicate the hamlets nearby. Many gas stations along the main roads and in town, with generally a very well stocked shop.
Watch out for intersections which are often poorly signposted. The road network is improving year after year, rapidly, and is regularly maintained. However, it suffers from harsh climatic conditions during the winter. During this season, many snowplows are active, and the main roads remain easily passable.
All car manufacturers are present in Latvia.
In the city, the main streets are in very good condition, but some areas are still cobblestone and the streets are rutted.
Speak
The Latvian is an Indo-European language with the Latin alphabet.
The Russian is widely spoken but is not an official language. TheEnglish is now very widespread. There are 2 other minority languages: live, endangered, and Latgalian, sometimes considered a dialect of Latvian, spoken by around 150,000 people in Latgale (southwest, Russian and Belarusian border).
Beware of a cultural peculiarity that can be taken for rudeness by a French: if someone pushes you, they will not necessarily apologize verbally. Thus, Latvians use polite formulas sparingly. Don't take it the wrong way, a smile is worth every word in the world.
Also, don't forget that Russian is the language of the occupation that has been imposed. If you speak Russian, which someone refuses to answer, rephrase the question in English rather than forcing it. It is the same in the other direction.
English is therefore often the only possibility for a French speaker, apart from Russian. Many people speak or understand German and French.
Buy
Latvia uses theeuro. It is one of the many European countries that use this common currency. Euro banknotes and coins are legal tender throughout the country.
Countries which have the euro as official currency:
These countries are collectively referred to as the "euro area". |
One euro is divided into 100 eurocents or euro cents abbreviated cents or cents.
The official euro symbol is €, and its ISO code is EUR. There is no official symbol for Eurocents.
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- Tickets
- Euro banknotes are the same in all countries.
- Ordinary parts
- All euro area countries have issued coins with a distinctive national side on one side, and a common standard side on the other side. Coins can be used in all countries, regardless of the country of origin of the coin used, for example a one euro coin from Finland can be used in Portugal.
- Two euro commemorative coins
- They differ from normal two euro coins only on their "national" side and circulate freely as legal tender. Each country can produce a certain quantity of it as part of their normal parts production. There are also commemorative two euro coins "at European level". They are produced to commemorate special events, such as the anniversary of important treaties.
- Withdrawal of money
- Cash withdrawals from ATMs are billed at the same price as cash withdrawals in the home country for holders of a bank card from an account in a country in the euro area. Money transfers between two accounts are also considered by banks as a transfer between two accounts in the same country.
| Current EUR exchange rate | |
| XE.com: | CADCHFGBPUSDRURLTL |
| OANDA.com: | CADCHFGBPUSDRURLTL |
| fxtop.com: | CADCHFGBPUSDRURLTL |
Very many shops all over the country to buy arts and crafts. Excellent reputation for linen fabrics, leather and woodworking, amber jewelry, woolen gloves and mittens knitted with ethnic patterns. Many internationally renowned artists. Art was the only possibility of expression and preservation of cultural heritage during the Russian occupation.
Amber may not be Latvian, but Baltic, which often means originating in (or having passed through) Kaliningrad.
All payments (except at market stands) are made at no additional cost with a bank card, even Visa.
Eat
Latvia is a gastronomic country, although the cuisine is relatively undeveloped.
The choice is limited, the dishes offered are always tasty.
The basic products are excellent: fish and smoked meats; canned fish in sauces, lingonberry, blackcurrant and blueberry juice.
Good restaurants in Riga and elsewhere. Those of the LIDO chain are the most famous. To see in particular the restaurant The mill in RIGA (also Lido chain), entirely built in logs on 3 levels, with brasserie, local cuisine, very neat decoration (each table has a unique painted pattern), outdoor games ...
The local alus beers are delicious.
Drink / Go out
Many bars and restaurants in the big cities, restaurants-nightclubs in Riga. In summer, many choral festivals and folk festivals. Every 4 years, a singing festival brings together 30,000 singers on stage during the closing concert. During the folk song festival week, it is possible to attend many free artistic events in Riga.
Feast of "Ligo", the eve of St. John, all over the country, as in neighboring countries (Midsummer night). This pagan festival, assimilated to Saint John, or the summer solstice, refers to Janis, not John, but Janus, god of the harvest.
In Riga, in addition to a national theater, there is the internationally renowned Opera House. Weekly concerts in the Dom Cathedral, whose famous organs are the largest in Europe.
Finally, Riga is also known to be a prime destination for stag parties.
To work
security
 | Emergency telephone number: All emergency services:112 |
No particular problem other than the drunkards, often tourists, out of bars.
Government travel advice
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Belgium (Federal Public Service Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation) 
Canada (Government of Canada) 
France (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) 
Swiss (Federal Department of Foreign Affairs)
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Respect
There is a strong tension, particularly in Riga, between Russian speakers and Latvians. Do not hesitate to make known your origins to avoid any misunderstanding, and do not get involved in local politics. Don't take a stand for one or the other. 50 years of occupation and a third of the population deported, that leaves traces. Foreigners advise, in the evening, to avoid the district of the central station in Riga, behind the Stockmann shopping center where there are cases of pickpocketing.
Communicate
European roaming
Since June 15, 2017, "European roaming" has been introduced. It allows all SIM card holders belonging to one of the European member countries to maintain the same pricing conditions as in the country of origin.
Telephone calls and Internet browsing are valid at no additional cost in all European countries, unless authorized by national authorities (generally minor operators) or when a data Gbit threshold is exceeded, which increases year by year. To use this service, simply activate the roaming option on your mobile phone.
The participating countries are those ofEuropean Union (Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary , Ireland , Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania, UK, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden), those ofEuropean Economic Area (Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and some Oversea territories (Azores, Canary Islands, Gibraltar, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Madeira, Martinique, Mayotte, The meeting, Saint-Martin).
Manage the day-to-day
Wash your laundry
For those who do not live in a hotel or with their family, the obvious solution is the dry cleaning service or the laundromat. One of the few that still exists is Nivala, Akas iela, opposite the nursery school (Kindergarden), between Gertrudes iela and Lacplesa iela, south of Brivibas iela. It is finally possible to deal by phone or internet with the company IrveThe laundry chain Oranza has at least one establishment near the Church of St. Gertrude, Gertrudes iéla. The Clean Control channel (http://cleancontrol.lv/lv/) is active in the three Baltic States, and in Riga at least at the Riga Gallery (entrance rue Dzirnavu, in the basement).
