Historical Places in Latvia

Exploring historical places in Latvia is like stepping back in time. Ancient monuments, heritage buildings and cultural landmarks reveal the city’s fascinating journey through the centuries. MakeMyTrip offers 324 historical attractions in Latvia for 2026, perfect for travellers who enjoy history, culture and architecture.

From Old Towns to Churches: Discovering Latvia Historical Places

Latvia has a way of surprising you. One moment you’re walking through cobbled streets with cafés buzzing on the corners, the next you’re staring up at a medieval tower that has been standing for centuries. The Latvia historical places aren’t kept apart from daily life; they’re folded right into it. Old castles sit beside quiet rivers, while city walls brush against modern cafés.

Think of Riga’s Old Town, where church spires rise above winding lanes, or Cesis Castle with its moss-covered stones still holding their shape after battles long past. Rundale Palace dazzles in the countryside with golden halls and gardens that look like they belong in another world. These are just a few of the historical places in Latvia, each one carrying stories of knights, dukes, and townsfolk who lived their days where you now wander.

What makes them stick with you isn’t only their history. It’s the little things, the cool touch of stone walls, the echo of your footsteps in an empty corridor, the way light falls on stained glass in late afternoon. Visiting Latvia historical places is less about checking names off a list, more about pausing in those quiet moments. Even simple activities, like sitting with coffee in a medieval square or climbing a tower just for the view, turn into memories you keep.

Historical Place in Latvia

Castles & Palaces of Latvia

Cesis Castle

You wander into Cesis and it feels like stepping into another time. The castle ruins rise above the town, walls crumbling but still stubbornly strong. Out of all the Latvia historical places, Cesis Castle is one of the most atmospheric. It belongs high on the list of historical places in Latvia, not because it’s perfect, but because the broken stones tell you more than polished halls ever could.

Historical Background: The historical background dates back to the 13th century, when the Livonian Order built it as a fortress.

Key Highlights: Inside, you carry a small lantern through narrow stone passages, the flame flickering against damp walls.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM (summer), shorter hours in winter.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 400.
• Location: Cesis.

Rundale Palace

Bright and golden, Rundale is the opposite of Cesis. Among the Latvia historical places, Rundale feels almost too perfect. It stands out among the historical places Latvia has to show, especially if you like grandeur. And the simplest activities here, like walking slowly through the rose garden or sitting by the fountains, feel like slipping into another century.

Historical Background: Built in the 18th century for the Dukes of Courland, the historical background ties it to Baroque and Rococo splendour. Walking inside, the ceilings soar, painted with myths, while gilded mirrors bounce sunlight across polished floors.

Key Highlights: The gardens stretch endlessly, roses blooming in neat rows.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 700.
• Location: Bauska District.

Bauska Castle

On a strip of land between two rivers, Bauska Castle looks both proud and battered. It’s one of those historical places in Latvia where past and present blur. And if you’re into hands-on activities, the castle often has medieval-style displays that bring the ruins alive.

Historical Background: The historical background begins in the 15th century, built by the Livonian Order, then later reshaped into a residence for the Dukes of Courland. Today, parts are in ruins, while others stand restored.

Key Highlights: You climb towers for views of forests and fields, hear the wind whistle through gaps in the walls. Out of all the Latvia historical places, Bauska carries a sense of both loss and survival.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM (summer).
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 350.
• Location: Bauska.

Medieval Towns & Old Quarters

Riga Old Town

You step onto cobbled streets and the air feels different, church bells echoing above, the smell of roasted coffee drifting from corner cafés. It’s one of those historical places in Latvia where every turn offers a new story. And the activities are simple but rewarding, climbing St. Peter’s tower for a city view, or just sitting in Dome Square with a drink while life flows around you.

Historical Background: The historical background of Riga Old Town reaches back to the 13th century, when German traders and the Hanseatic League shaped the city.

Key Highlights: Wandering through, you pass pastel façades, Gothic churches, and medieval guildhalls.

• Timing: Open to explore anytime.
• Ticket and Price: Free entry, small fees for towers and museums.
• Location: Riga.

Kuldiga

Kuldiga feels smaller, slower, almost like time softened here. Among the Latvia historical places, Kuldiga is one of the most poetic. It stands out among the historical places Latvia offers for travellers who want heritage without rush. Even simple activities, like walking the bridge at sunset or exploring tiny bakeries tucked into old houses, stay with you.

Historical Background: The historical background stretches to the Duchy of Courland in the 17th century, but the real charm is in its streets. Red-tiled roofs, wooden houses leaning a little, the Venta River flowing wide beside the town.

Key Highlights: You cross the old brick bridge, hear water crashing over Europe’s widest waterfall, and feel the quiet settle in.

• Timing: Open all day.
• Ticket and Price: Free.
• Location: Kuldiga, western Latvia.

Turaida Museum Reserve

Surrounded by forest, the red brick tower of Turaida Castle rises above the trees. It’s easily one of the most memorable historical places in Latvia, and for visitors, the best activities are the simplest, climbing the tower for sweeping views of the Gauja Valley or wandering the sculpture park nearby.

Historical Background: The historical background begins in 1214, built by the Archbishop of Riga, later expanded into a complex of fortifications and manor houses.

Key Highlights: Walking through, you hear birdsong more than voices, and the stone walls catch the warmth of the afternoon sun. Out of all the Latvia historical places, Turaida feels closest to nature, history and landscape blending together.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM (summer).
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 450.
• Location: Sigulda.

Churches & Sacred Sites

Riga Cathedral

You hear the bells before you see the spire. Among all the Latvia historical places, Riga Cathedral feels like a living heart. It stands proudly among the historical places in Latvia where music and prayer still shape the atmosphere. Even small activities, like pausing during an organ recital or walking the cloisters slowly, connect you to centuries past.

Historical Background: The historical background dates to 1211, when the Riga Cathedral was founded as the seat of the Bishop of Livonia. Centuries of rebuilds and renovations layered Gothic, Baroque, and Romanesque styles together.

Key Highlights: Inside, the air smells faintly of wax and wood polish. Sunlight spills across the floor from tall windows, and the organ, one of the largest in Europe, fills the hall when played.

• Timing: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 300.
• Location: Riga.

St. Peter’s Church

The spire of St. Peter’s rises high above Riga’s Old Town, a marker you can see from nearly anywhere. It’s one of the historical places Latvia is best known for, especially if you like mixing history with cityscapes. And if you’re after light activities, just sitting at the square café below, with the spire towering above you, is enough.

Historical Background: The historical background stretches back to the 13th century, though wars and fires destroyed it multiple times before it was rebuilt.

Key Highlights: You climb the tower, your breath shortening with each step, but the reward is a sweeping view over rooftops and the Daugava River. Out of all the Latvia historical places, St. Peter’s has one of the best perspectives, literally and historically.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 400 for tower access.
• Location: Riga.

Aglona Basilica

Far from Riga, in the quiet of Latgale, Aglona Basilica feels different. Out of all the Latvia historical places, Aglona Basilica feels the most spiritual. It’s one of the historical places in Latvia that pulls people from across the country, not just for faith but for the peace it offers. Even small activities, like lighting a candle or sitting quietly in the gardens, stay with you long after you leave.

Historical Background: The historical background dates back to the 18th century, when it was built as a Roman Catholic pilgrimage site. White towers rise against rolling green fields, and every August, thousands gather here for the Feast of the Assumption.

Key Highlights: You step inside and the smell of incense is thick, candles flickering in the dim light.

• Timing: Open daily, hours vary with services.
• Ticket and Price: Free entry.
• Location: Aglona, Latgale.

Museums & Cultural Heritage

Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum

Just outside Riga, you step into a forest and find wooden farmsteads, windmills, and chapels scattered among the trees. It stands high among the historical places in Latvia, and even simple activities like joining a workshop or tasting rye bread in the open air, connect you to Latvia’s countryside past.

Historical Background: The historical background goes back to 1924, when the museum was created to preserve rural traditions from across the country. You walk slowly, the smell of pine mixing with woodsmoke from a blacksmith’s hut.

Key Highlights: Out of all the Latvia historical places, this one feels most alive with daily rhythms, people baking bread, weaving, or playing folk music.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (longer in summer).
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 350.
• Location: Riga.

Museum of the Occupation of Latvia

Dark walls, photographs, personal belongings, this museum feels heavier. You read letters, pause at names etched into exhibits, and hear recordings of voices that lived through it.

Historical Background: The historical background covers Latvia’s 20th-century story of occupations under both Soviet and Nazi regimes. It’s not easy to walk through, but it’s necessary.

Key Highlights: Among the Latvia historical places, this one forces you to stop and think. It belongs firmly among the historical places Latvia holds onto so the past is not forgotten. And though the activities here are simple, reading, listening, reflecting, they leave you with a weight that lingers beyond the visit.

• Timing: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 500.
• Location: Riga.

Kuldiga District Museum

In a quiet town already steeped in history, the Kuldiga District Museum adds another layer. You wander through creaky wooden floors, sunlight streaming across old furniture and photographs.

Historical Background: The historical background tells of a restored 19th-century building that now showcases the town’s heritage, from duchy-era artefacts to local crafts.

Key Highlights: Out of all the Latvia historical places, this one feels intimate, like peeking into someone’s home. It stands out among the more personal historical places in Latvia, especially if you enjoy slower discoveries. And the activities here, browsing small exhibits, sitting in the garden afterward, are as much about mood as they are about learning.

• Timing: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
• Ticket and Price: Starts from INR 200.
• Location: Kuldiga.

Traveller Tips for Exploring Latvia’s History

• Go early or late in the day. The light slants softer over stone walls, and the busiest historical places in Latvia feel more personal when the crowds are thin.
• Carry some cash. Smaller sites and cafes near them may not take cards.
• Respect the quiet in churches. Even a whisper echoes under high ceilings.
• Comfortable shoes are a must. Old streets and fortress paths can be rough.
• Mix in small activities like a coffee in Dome Square, bread fresh from a village bakery, or just sitting by a river next to ruins.