Good Time to Visit

Weather

Latvian weather is warm from May to August, although August sees the heaviest rainfall. Winter, from November to March, can be very cold with heavy snowfall. The weather is relatively mild in spring and autumn.

Visitors are advised to bring medium- and heavy-weight clothing during winter, with light- and medium-weight clothing during summer. Rainwear is advisable all year.

For a more detailed look at the Latvian weather, see Climate in Latvia.

Festivals

Latvia has a number of interesting festivals, often marking seasonal change, or simply as an excuse for fun. Singing is central to several large events. Every three years the country holds the Baltika International Folk Festival, with the last one held in 2006. The five-yearly All-Latvian Song and Dance Festival will next be held in 2008. There are also smaller annual Summer Singing Fairs held in market places and town squares. The principle Christian holidays are significant dates in the Latvian calendar. As in much of Eastern Europe, another key time is the summer solstice (Jani), when people head out into the countryside and party around bonfires.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Latvia: