//
Historical region in Latvia
Photo: Andrius Vanagas, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Kurzeme is the westernmost region of Latvia, along the Baltic Sea. The main attraction of this region is the Baltic Sea coast, an end of the world landscape beaten by the winds. The coastal roads allow to appreciate its wonderful landscapes.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Ovišu bāka
The oldest navigation building (1814) in Latvia with a 37 m high tower and a lighthouse history exposition at the seashore.
Irbenes radioteleskops / Ventspils Starptautiskais Radioastronomijas Centrs
The biggest of northern Europe and the world's eighth-largest radio telescope. Before reaching the telescope, one will pass by a former Soviet and now abandoned ghost town, which allows for some distinct pictures.
Pūrciema Baltā kāpa
Dune at the bank of the River Pilsupe, 20 m high, nature trail, wooden footbridges, viewing platforms, resting places, parking lot. It is not really white though, more a yellowish. Also, do not expect a dune in a regular sense, more a high and steep hang of sand towards the river. The dune itself is covered by forest, so the rest looks pretty much like an ordinary hill. Not worth coming here just for the sight, only if you go by anyhow. It is a nice 1.5 km nature walk.
Stony seashore, nature trails, huge stone stacks, bird-watching platforms, resting places.
Pheasants, fowl, crested ducks, geese, peacocks, rabbits, rabbit caves, bees, recreation for families with children, lodging.
Pedvāles mākslas parks
Art expositions, modern art and installations in nature park, open-air workshops, open-air exhibitions, walking trails, cafés, lodging.
Rojas Jūras zvejniecības muzejs
Fishermen traditions, tools, souvenirs, pier, beach, boat tours, yacht harbour, horseback rides, golf in the meadows.
Latvijas lauksaimniecības muzejs
19–20th century household tools, agriculture machinery, exhibitions, events, library, tours.
Jāņkalnu folkloras taka
Ornaments of ancestors, Latvian deities, Latvian food, folksongs, labyrinth, countryside bathhouse, lodging.
Kalvenes Zoo Park
It is worth visiting this park, which is very big and where animals have bigger space to live than usually in city zoos.
Zeķu krogs
Socks, toys, drawings, ancient tools, ties, motorcycles, collection of music recordings, tasting of home-made wines.
Rodelling track, skiing, snowboarding, horseback rides, lodging, café, ancient Abava valley, recreation for families with children.
Ārpasaules mūzika Tiguļkalnā festivāls
National and foreign folk music performed on the highest hill in Talsi. The composer and performer Raimonds Tigu is the artistic director and soul behind this happening in his hometown, Talsi. The place where music from different nations comes together in united sound and ambience.
Mājas kafejnīcu dienas
Some local farms and cafes offer tasting some local cuisine around Kolka and Dundaga.
Milking a cow, churning butter, tasting cheese, games, attractions, manor.
Sweets production facilities, milk toffee "Gotiņa", cakes, honey, bread, degustation, baking pasties.
Druvas saldējums
Try some ice-cream with local berries: quince (cidonijas), sea buckthorn (smiltsērkšķu), gooseberries (ērkšķogu) or even with chicory (cigoriņu). Extremely popular among the locals, hence such long working hours. Be sure to take from the scooping container instead of the packaged version, because they make this ice-cream in house.
The place doesn't look like you would ever dare to eat there. But in reality the food is tasty and cheap, and many locals frequent this place; there are also an exhibition of old Soviet TV and radio devices. One should definitely try their delicious sweet carrot pie, or rhubarb pie. It is possible to order a big chunk of pie the day before driving there.
Not as great as the online ratings suggest, but decent and good value for money. Double bed rooms with shared bathroom. Their main business is renting canoes and giving tours. [mailto:rindas.skola-laine@inbox.lv 2nd email address].
Hostelis Ķipītis
A budget accommodation good for a night, but no luxury to be expected.
A family vacation place, with carousel and other amenities for kids. Specialised in providing fishing boat and supporting gear. The interior of the accommodation is minimalistic, and a small shop is a little more than 2 km away.
Incredible surrounding (2 monuments, 2 parks, etc.) and palace-like accommodation. Even though a little worn. But who would argue at this price.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Palanga · International · PLQ
Loading places around the airport…
Liepāja (pronounced lee-ah-pa-yah) is a city on Latvia's Baltic coast.
Ventspils is a city in Kurzeme on the western coast of Latvia and one of Europe's busiest ports.
Kuldīga is a picturesque town on the Venta River in the Kurzeme region (formerly Courland) of western Latvia. Its old town was listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023.
Articles and travel topics about Kurzeme and Latvia.
ItinerariesVia Baltica is a road leading through the Baltic States and Poland in Northern Europe.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsThe Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) (Russian: Союз Советских Социалистических Республик (СССР)), or Soviet Union, emerged as the successor state to the Russian Empire in 1917, and was dissolved in 1991.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsThe Baltic Sea is in many ways good for cruising on small craft. There are many towns worth seeing, an abundance of guest harbours – and large archipelagos with thousands and thousands of islands and islets.
Wikivoyage
ItinerariesStruve Geodetic Arc is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine.
Wikivoyage
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.