Latvian Tourism Newsletter
May, 2013
Top stories
Cultural tourism
At the VI international "Tourfilm Riga 2013" festival, the team from "LETA Video" took the top prize in the category Latvia's Tourism Product for its entry titled "Riga 2014" about Riga as European Culture Capital.
Chief of the "LETA Video" department, Romans Sklenniks, is the film's director. He was ably assisted by producers Viktors Devjatovs and Zaiga Dumina, cameramen Kaspars...
One of the most noteworthy events in Latvia's cultural life is undeniably the Nationwide Song and Dance Festival, which has taken place once every five years since 1873. This is a major event involving thousands of participants from all over Latvia. The Song and Dance Festvial has also been included in the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
This summer's XXV...
Jūrmala’s Dzintari Concert Hall will kick off the new summer season on June 12 with one of the best world-class symphony ensembles - the Russian National Orchestra.
The artistic director and principal conductor of the concert will be the brilliant Russian pianist and conductor Mikhail Pletnov.
The concert program includes classical compositions by Russian composers, including...
One of the main festivals of this summer’s classical music calendar will once again be held in the picturesque town of Sigulda, where "Grammy" award winning Baltic chamber music ensemble "Kremerata Baltica" will be organizing a special music festival from June 27 to July 5.
The chamber orchestra "Kremerata Baltica" was formed in year 1997 by renowned Latvian/German violinist Gidon...
The 18th annual Early Music Festival, which will be taking place from July 10 to 14, allows for a contemporary person to sample the feel of Renaissance, Medieval and Baroque periods through music.
The festival’s concerts attract listeners to the ancient churches and halls of Old Riga, as well as Mežotne Palace, the Koknese Castle ruins and the beautifully restored Lestene...
Latvia is one of the few European countries where still today, just like hundreds of years ago, a celebration of the summer solstice is held. The shortest night of the year – from June 23 to 24, is spent in front of bonfires that burn bright until sunrise, singing Līgo-themed folk songs. Women and girls wear a crown of flowers on their heads, while men wear a crown of oak...Entertainment tourism
The annual "Go Blonde" festival, which has attracted much media interest from the around the world, will be moving to the Latvian coastal resort town of Jurmala this year.
This year’s event will take place on July 13 between the Dzintari and Majori beaches.
Every year, the festival continues to gather more and more participants from all over the world.
"The "Go Blonde" festival...
One of the most eagerly anticipated Latvian music festivals will once again be held in the Latvian coastal city of Liepāja, as the third annual "LMT Summer Sound" music festival will rock festival goers this July, gathering many Latvian, Baltic and foreign music stars.
The headliners of this year’s festival will be British singer Mika, American musician Aloe Blacc and one of...Active and sports tourism
On July 6 and 7, the "Zelta Zirgs" motocross track at Ķegums (central Latvia) will not only host the World Motocross Championship stages in the MX1 and MX2 classes, but also the European Championships in the EMX 125 and EMX 250 classes.
The organizer of the MX1 GP in Latvia is the "Baltic Cup Foundation" (BKF) and the event takes place at the "Zelta Zirgs" moto-center in Ķegums which,...
The largest indoor/outdoor water-park in the Baltics "Līvu akvaparks" will kick off its summer season on June 1 and open its outdoor beach area.
"Līvu akvaparks", located between Riga and the Latvian coastal resort city of Jūrmala, is the largest indoor water park in the Baltics and Eastern Europe, with a total area of 11,500 square meters, and an additional 6,500 square meters when...Nature tourism
On July 6, Ķemeri National Park will offer its visitors the annual Night of Bats - a unique opportunity to become familiar with bats – the mysterious mammals that have inspired terrifying stories and myths.
The evening will kick off with a lecture and presentation about bats, creative workshops and games, and, after the sunset, will be followed by the main event – the bat...Tourism industry news
In order to improve the issuing of Latvian visas for Russian residents and reduce lines outside the Latvian Embassy in Moscow, a Latvian visa center has begun work in the Russian capital.
The visa center hopes that the visa process will take no more than 30 minutes per person. The visa center will be open on workdays from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and will be located on 2nd Volkonska...
Jūrmala’s "Amber Spa Boutique Hotel" has been included on the global catalogue featuring world-class hotels that offer high quality SPA and rehabilitation services. The catalogue also offers useful information, pictures, as well as reviews on many of the world’s top health hotels.
The catalogue offers readers to acquaint themselves with various hotels throughout the world,...
As warmer weather finally arrives in Latvia, there will be a substantial increased number of domestic and foreign tourists visiting the Latvian coastal resort city of Jūrmala by car, therefore three new payment card terminals for single purchase of entry passes have been installed.
Payment card terminals can be identified by the payment card stickers on them. Payments can be done with...
