RIGASIGULDAJŪRMALAKULDĪGAGAUJA NATIONAL PARKCAPE KOLKA
Off the Beaten Path

The Hidden Gems in Latvia That Are Underrated and Off the Beaten Path

Four places that sit outside the standard Riga-Sigulda-Jūrmala loop, none more than three hours away. Each sees a fraction of the visitors the capital does.

  • 4Hidden gems, off the main loop
  • 1990Guinness record, Sabile's vineyard
  • 1209Cēsis Castle founded

Most first-time visitors to Latvia never get past Riga, Sigulda, and Jūrmala. That's reasonable, since those cover a lot of ground in a short trip. But a handful of hidden gems in Latvia sit off the beaten path, rarely advertised to first-timers at all.

They get a fraction of the traffic, and reward the extra effort with something genuinely different. Sabile's vineyard and Cēsis' castle are two of the most underrated places in Latvia. Both sit just as close to Riga as Sigulda, yet see a fraction of its crowds.

Already planned the main circuit? See the Riga travel guide and the best places to visit in Latvia for Riga, Sigulda, Rundāle, Jūrmala, and Kuldīga. Those are the five stops most visitors build a trip around before venturing off the beaten path in Latvia to add any of these.

The vine-covered slope of Sabile Wine Hill above the Abava valley, Latvia
1

Sabile: An Underrated Vineyard in the Abava Valley

Sabile, in the Abava river valley in the Kurzeme region, holds a genuine curiosity most visitors have never heard of. Sabile Wine Hill was entered into the Guinness World Records in 1990 as the northernmost open-air vineyard in the world.

It held that title until a Norwegian vineyard planted further north in 2008. The hill's roughly 950 vines, tended since the 14th century, are still there. It's one of the more unlikely hidden gems on any list for the country.

It sits about 110 kilometres from Riga, 1.5 to 2 hours by car. It pairs naturally with a longer loop through Kurzeme rather than a standalone day trip.

The vine-covered slope of Sabile Wine Hill above the Abava valley, Latvia. Photo: Andrey Romanenko, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Cēsis Castle's round tower and manor house in Latvia
2

Cēsis: A Quieter Medieval Castle

Cēsis sits inside Gauja National Park itself, about 90 kilometres from Riga and 1.5 hours by car. That's close enough to combine with a Sigulda day trip, since both share the same valley. What sets it apart is scale and history. Latvia's largest medieval castle ruins stand here, founded in 1209 by the Livonian Order. In the 1577 siege, the Russian garrison chose mass suicide over surrender.

An 18th-century manor built directly beside the ruins now houses the town museum, so the two sit as one visit. Despite sharing a national park with Sigulda, Cēsis sees noticeably fewer visitors. It's an underrated stop for anyone who's already done the more obvious castle.

Cēsis Castle's round tower and manor house in Latvia. Photo: Brunswyk, CC BY-SA 3.0.

Kolka Lighthouse standing offshore where the Baltic Sea meets the Gulf of Riga
3

Cape Kolka: One of the Hidden Gems in Latvia Off the Beaten Path

Cape Kolka marks the northwestern tip of the Kurzeme peninsula, inside Slītere National Park. The open Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga meet there visibly, in crossing wave patterns offshore. It's the most remote place in this guide — about 170 kilometres from Riga, close to three hours by car. Even so, it still draws over 50,000 visitors a year.

The approach road runs through a string of old Livonian fishing villages — Sīkrags, Mazirbe, Košrags, Pitrags, Saunags, Vaide, and Kolka itself. They've been home for roughly five thousand years to the Livonians, a small Finno-Ugric people distinct from Latvians.

The Livonian Culture Centre in Mazirbe keeps the language and folklore alive on a coast where it otherwise nearly disappeared. A lighthouse first lit in 1875 still marks the point from a small offshore island.

Kolka Lighthouse standing offshore where the Baltic Sea meets the Gulf of Riga. Photo: Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Ežezers, a many-island lake in the Latgale region of eastern Latvia
4

Latgale: Latvia's Least-Visited Region

Latgale, in Latvia's east, is the country's least-visited region — a lake district anchored by Ežezers, a many-island lake, and home to Rēzekne, a centre of Latgalian pottery whose Silajāņi-style ceramics rank among Latvia's oldest surviving folk-art traditions. It rarely makes a first-time itinerary simply because it sits furthest from Riga of anywhere in this guide — reason enough to add it once the standard route feels familiar.

Ežezers, a many-island lake in the Latgale region of eastern Latvia. Photo: M.Strīķis, CC BY-SA 3.0.

None of these four hidden gems in Latvia need a special trip on their own. Sabile and Cēsis both work as detours off routes already covered on the main places to visit guide.

Cape Kolka or Latgale go further still, off the beaten path in Latvia that almost nobody outside it visits. Among the most underrated places in Latvia this guide covers, they suit a longer, unhurried week better than a rushed weekend. See the Latvia itinerary guide for how to fit one in.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best hidden gems in Latvia?

Sabile's Wine Hill, Cēsis' castle ruins, Cape Kolka's coastline, and the Latgale lake district sit well outside the standard Riga-Sigulda-Jūrmala loop. All four see a fraction of the visitors the capital does. Each rewards the extra driving with something genuinely different from the main route.

Is Cape Kolka worth the drive?

For a slower trip, yes — it's the clearest contrast to Riga's density: flat, quiet, and shaped by the coastline rather than architecture. It's about 170 kilometres out, close to three hours by car, so it's not worth rushing to on a tight schedule.

What is special about Sabile?

Sabile Wine Hill entered the Guinness World Records in 1990 as the northernmost open-air vineyard in the world. It held that title until a Norwegian vineyard planted further north in 2008. Its roughly 950 vines have been tended since the 14th century.

Is Cēsis worth visiting if I've already seen Sigulda?

Yes — it's a different kind of site. Cēsis has Latvia's largest medieval castle ruins, founded in 1209, with a dramatic 1577 siege history that Sigulda's Turaida Castle doesn't share. The garrison chose mass suicide over surrender rather than fall to the attackers. It sees far fewer visitors, too.

What is the Livonian coast?

A string of old fishing villages — Sīkrags, Mazirbe, Košrags, Pitrags, Saunags, Vaide, and Kolka — along Latvia's northwest coast. Home for roughly five thousand years to the Livonians, a small Finno-Ugric people distinct from Latvians. The Livonian Culture Centre in Mazirbe keeps the language and folklore alive today.

What is Latgale, and why is it considered a hidden gem?

Latvia's eastern region — a lake district anchored by Ežezers, a many-island lake, and home to Rēzekne, a centre of the centuries-old Silajāņi pottery tradition. It's the least-visited part of the country simply because it sits furthest from Riga of anywhere in this guide.

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