Summer: June to August
Riga's summer is warm and long: highs of 21°C in June and 24°C in July, and on the longest day almost eighteen hours of daylight. Jūrmala, half an hour by train, is the place to swim, and the sea is at its warmest in late July and August.
Līgo and Jāņi, on 23 and 24 June, are Latvia's Midsummer and its biggest holiday: wreaths, bonfires and singing in the countryside, with much of Riga closed. It is the best night of the year to be outside the city.
July and August bring the most visitors to Riga's old town, especially on cruise days, though the Art Nouveau streets and the countryside stay uncrowded.
Autumn: September and October
September keeps highs around 17°C and empties the coast. By late September and into early October the forests of the Gauja valley around Sigulda and Turaida turn red and gold, and this is the most photographed time of the year there.
October is cooler, around 10°C, and wetter, but still a good month for Riga and Rundāle Palace, where the gardens are in their autumn colours.
Winter and spring
Winter runs from December to March. Riga's December averages a high of about 1°C, January and February sit just below freezing, and on the shortest day the city has under seven hours of light. Snow is likely but not guaranteed.
The Christmas market on Dome Square, a few minutes from the plaque marking the 1510 tree, makes December the one winter month we recommend without hesitation. Sigulda has a public bobsled ride in the cold months.
Spring comes late and quickly. April is still cool at about 12°C, and May, around 18°C with long evenings and few visitors, is one of the best months of the year.
Dates worth planning around
Līgo and Jāņi on 23 and 24 June close much of the country, so plan the countryside rather than city sightseeing for those days. The Song and Dance Festival, held every five years, fills Riga for a week in early July in the years it takes place.
Riga's Christmas market opens on the Friday before the first Sunday of Advent and runs into early January. Book summer coast hotels in Jūrmala early.
| January | 0 / −5°C | Cold, short days |
|---|---|---|
| February | 0 / −5°C | Winter, quiet |
| March | 5 / −2°C | Thaw |
| April | 12 / 3°C | Spring arrives |
| May | 18 / 8°C | Long evenings, few visitors |
| June | 21 / 12°C | Līgo and Jāņi, longest days |
| July | 24 / 15°C | Warmest, beach season |
| August | 23 / 14°C | Warm sea at Jūrmala |
| September | 17 / 10°C | Mild and quiet |
| October | 11 / 5°C | Gauja valley in colour |
| November | 5 / 1°C | Grey; market opens late in the month |
| December | 1 / −2°C | Christmas market |
- What is the best month to visit Latvia?
- July for warmth and the beach at Jūrmala, early October for the Gauja valley in autumn colour, and December for Riga's Christmas market. For a first visit with good weather and fewer people, choose late May, June or September.
- Is Riga worth visiting in winter?
- In December, yes: the Christmas market, the old town lit up and Rundāle's rooms without the crowds. January and February are cold and dark, with highs around freezing, and suit a short city break more than a road trip.
- When are the autumn colours in Latvia?
- Usually from late September to mid-October, best in the Gauja valley around Sigulda and Turaida. The timing moves by a week or two with the weather each year.
- What happens in Latvia on 23 and 24 June?
- Līgo and Jāņi, Latvia's Midsummer, its biggest holiday. People leave the cities for the countryside for bonfires, wreaths and songs, and many shops and museums in Riga close for both days.
- Can you swim in the sea in Latvia?
- Yes, from late June to August at Jūrmala and along the Kurzeme coast, with the warmest water in late July and August. The beaches are long, sandy and shallow.
Make this part of your Latvia trip.
Tell us your dates, interests and the pace you have in mind. We will suggest how this could fit your route.