01Free
The 30-second card
Emergency · tap to call
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Visa · United States passport
No visa needed · up to 90 daysSource: U.S. Department of State · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗SIM and eSIM
Prepaid SIM cards and top-up vouchers are sold at most petrol stations, kiosks and supermarkets.Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Apps locals use
Bolt: ride-hailing, the main option, available in many towns.Forus Taxi: an app for booking taxis.Mobilly: buy train tickets and Riga public transport tickets on your phone.CityBee: car rental booked and unlocked through a phone app.OsmAnd: offline maps built on OpenStreetMap, with many add-ons for hiking and cycling.Organic Maps: simple offline maps based on OpenStreetMap.
Source: Wikivoyage · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Money in Latvia
Euro · € · EUR
Buy train tickets at the station office if it is open; paying the conductor on board costs €0.50 extra.
Supermarket deals often need a loyalty card or app; foreigners can get a Rimi card with just a phone number.
Booking directly with a hotel or guest house, by phone or on its own site, can earn a discount.
Hold off on ferry tax-free shopping: local goods are often cheaper in Latvian shops.
Collect Euro in CointryOur sister app for coin and banknote collectors · cointry.appOpenPublic holidays in the next 12 months
Sat, 7 Nov 2026 · Border Guards Day Robežsargu diena
Wed, 11 Nov 2026 · Lāčplēsis Day Lāčplēša diena
Wed, 18 Nov 2026 · Day of the Proclamation of the Republic of Latvia Latvijas Republikas Proklamēšanas diena
Sat, 21 Nov 2026 · Remembrance Day of the Tragedy of 21 November 2013 2013. gada 21. novembra traģēdijas atceres diena
Sat, 5 Dec 2026 · Police Day Policijas darbinieku diena
Sun, 6 Dec 2026 · Commemoration Day of Victims of Genocide Against the Latvian People By the Totalitarian Communist Regime Pret latviešu tautu vērstā totalitārā komunistiskā režīma genocīda upuru piemiņas diena
Thu, 24 Dec 2026 · Christmas Eve Ziemassvētku vakars
Fri, 25 Dec 2026 · Christmas Day Pirmie Ziemassvētki
Sat, 26 Dec 2026 · Second day of Christmas Otrie Ziemassvētki
Thu, 31 Dec 2026 · New Year's Eve Vecgada diena
Fri, 1 Jan 2027 · New Year's Day Jaungada diena
Wed, 20 Jan 2027 · Commemoration Day of Defenders of the Barricades in 1991 1991. gada barikāžu aizstāvju atceres diena
Tue, 26 Jan 2027 · Day of the International (de jure) Recognition of the Republic of Latvia Latvijas Republikas starptautiskās (de jure) atzīšanas diena
Sat, 27 Feb 2027 · World Non-Governmental Organization Day Starptautisko nevalstisko organizāciju diena
Tue, 2 Mar 2027 · National Partisan Armed Resistance Remembrance Day Nacionālo partizānu bruņotās pretošanās atceres diena
Mon, 8 Mar 2027 · International Women's Day Starptautiskā sieviešu diena
Wed, 17 Mar 2027 · National Resistance Movement Remembrance Day Nacionālās pretošanās kustības piemiņas diena
Thu, 25 Mar 2027 · Commemoration Day of Victims of Communist Terror Komunistiskā genocīda upuru piemiņas diena
Fri, 26 Mar 2027 · Good Friday Lielā Piektdiena
Sun, 28 Mar 2027 · Easter Sunday Pirmās Lieldienas
Mon, 29 Mar 2027 · Easter Monday Otrās Lieldienas
Tue, 27 Apr 2027 · Latgale Congress Day Latgales kongresa diena
Sat, 1 May 2027 · Day of the Convocation of the Constitutional Assembly of the Republic of Latvia Latvijas Republikas Satversmes sapulces sasaukšanas diena
Sat, 1 May 2027 · Labour Day Darba svētki
Tue, 4 May 2027 · Day of the Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia Latvijas Republikas Neatkarības atjaunošanas diena
Sat, 8 May 2027 · Day of the Defeat of Nazism and Commemoration Day of Victims of World War II Nacisma sagrāves diena un Otrā pasaules kara upuru piemiņas diena
Sun, 9 May 2027 · Europe Day Eiropas diena
Sun, 9 May 2027 · Mother's Day Mātes diena
Sat, 15 May 2027 · International Day of the Family Starptautiskā ģimenes diena
Sun, 16 May 2027 · Pentecost Vasarsvētki
Mon, 17 May 2027 · Firefighter and Rescuer Day Ugunsdzēsēju un glābēju diena
Tue, 1 Jun 2027 · International Day for Protection of Children Starptautiskā bērnu aizsardzības diena
Mon, 14 Jun 2027 · Commemoration Day of Victims of Communist Terror Komunistiskā genocīda upuru piemiņas diena
Thu, 17 Jun 2027 · Day of the Occupation of the Republic of Latvia Latvijas Republikas okupācijas diena
Sun, 20 Jun 2027 · Medical Worker Day Medicīnas darbinieku diena
Tue, 22 Jun 2027 · Heroes' Commemoration Day (Anniversary of the Battle of Cēsis) Varoņu piemiņas diena (Cēsu kaujas atceres diena)
Wed, 23 Jun 2027 · Līgo Day Līgo diena
Thu, 24 Jun 2027 · Jāņi Day Jāņu diena
Sun, 4 Jul 2027 · Commemoration Day of Genocide Against the Jews Ebreju tautas genocīda upuru piemiņas diena
Sat, 10 Jul 2027 · Day of the Sea Festival Jūras svētku diena
Wed, 11 Aug 2027 · Latvian Freedom Fighters' Remembrance Day Latvijas brīvības cīnītāju piemiņas diena
Sat, 21 Aug 2027 · Day of the Passing of the Constitutional Law on the Status of the Republic of Latvia as a State Konstitucionālā likuma “Par Latvijas Republikas valstisko statusu” pieņemšanas diena
Mon, 23 Aug 2027 · Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism Staļinisma un nacisma upuru atceres diena
Wed, 1 Sept 2027 · Knowledge Day Zinību diena
Sun, 12 Sept 2027 · Father's Day Tēva diena
Wed, 22 Sept 2027 · Baltic Unity Day Baltu vienības diena
Fri, 1 Oct 2027 · International Day of Older Persons Starptautiskā senioru diena
Tue, 5 Oct 2027 · Teachers' Day Skolotāju diena
Fri, 15 Oct 2027 · Official Language Day Valsts valodas diena
02Free
Safety today
Germany, the US and the UK publish their travel advice openly. Here is what those that cover Latvia say, side by side, checked daily.
German Foreign Office says
No travel warning
Calm ●
Caution
Serious
Don’t go
Source: Auswärtiges Amt
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 13 Oct 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
U.S. Department of State says
Exercise normal precautions
Calm ●
Caution
Serious
Don’t go
Level 1 of 4
Source: travel.state.gov
Updated 31 Mar 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 31 Mar 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
UK Foreign Office says
No advice against travel
Source: GOV.UK
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Scams to know
Overpriced bar drinks
Check prices before ordering, and pick bars and clubs recommended by trusted sources.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Repeated PIN requests
Keep your card in view, watch the payment finish and refuse to enter your PIN twice.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Tampered street ATMs
Use ATMs inside banks, and check outdoor machines for added devices.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Drink spiking
Keep your drink with you and refuse food or drinks from strangers in bars and clubs.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Rigged taxi meters
Use a major firm or an official yellow-plated taxi from a rank; agree a rough fare first.
Source: GOV.UK · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗Countrywise is a summary. The official page is authoritative.
03Free
Health
Get routine vaccines; hepatitis A and B advised; tick-borne encephalitis if often outdoors where ticks live.
Vaccinations
Be up to date on routine vaccines; hepatitis A and B are advised, and the tick-borne encephalitis vaccine for people spending a lot of time outdoors where ticks live.
Talk to a travel clinic 4–8 weeks before you go.
Source: CDC
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Checked 24 Oct 2026Official page
Summarised from the CDC’s Travelers’ Health pages. Using them does not mean the CDC endorses Countrywise.
04Travel layer
In the app: the travel layer
The travel layer
Read a country like someone who’s been there.
What’s different from home, and what’s the lawMust-see places, free entry and World Heritage sites20 words to remember, with pronunciationStrange and surprising factsThe anthem and national symbolsSaved for offline use
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05Free
Deep facts
| GDP | ≈ $48.6 billionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Per person | ≈ $26,312Source: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Top exports | wood, wheat, broadcasting equipment, packaged medicine, natural gas (2023)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Population | 1.8 millionSource: World Bank · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Median age | 43.8 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2025 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Life expectancy | 76.4 yearsSource: The World Factbook (archive) · 2024 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Religions | Lutheran 36.2%, Roman Catholic 19.5%, Orthodox 19.1%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.1%, unspecified/none 23.5% (2017 est.)Source: The World Factbook (archive) · 2017 figures · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Area | 64,589 km²Source: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Climate | maritime; wet, moderate wintersSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Terrain | low plainSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
| Type of government | parliamentary republicSource: The World Factbook (archive) · as of 2025/26 · Checked 23 Oct 2026 ↗ |
|---|---|
| Calling code | +371Source: libphonenumber · Checked 24 Oct 2026 ↗ |
About the data
Written from the sources we link, and checked against them before each release. Countrywise summarises public sources. We are not an official source. For safety and entry rules, always follow the official page we link to.
From your foreign ministry when it publishes its advice openly (Germany, the US, the UK). Otherwise we show those three side by side. Checked daily, with the date next to every entry.
CDC · 24 Oct 2026 ↗GOV.UK · 24 Oct 2026 ↗IANA Time Zone Database · 23 Oct 2026 ↗libphonenumber · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Nager.Date · 23 Oct 2026 ↗The World Factbook (archive) · 23 Oct 2026 ↗U.S. Department of State · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Unicode CLDR · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikidata · 24 Oct 2026 ↗Wikivoyage · 24 Oct 2026 ↗World Bank · 23 Oct 2026 ↗
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