Last updated: 22 Oct 2025
Latvia
About
| A small country located on the Baltic Sea, Latvia boasts diverse and beautiful scenery. The highlights are the serene Gulf of Riga and the wild Baltic Sea, which both have seemingly infinite, sandy and often secluded beaches. Meanwhile, the equally dramatic hinterland - much of which is protected in nature parks - comes replete with vast swathes of forest, tranquil lakes and gushing rivers. The windswept beach at Cape Kolka, part of the Slitere National Park, is a breathtaking spot where the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga crash together. Spa holidays are all the rage in Latvia, and no more so than in Jurmala.The ever-growing number of spa hotels in this Baltic resort are backed up by an endless sandy beach. Indulge in an aromatherapy massage or something a bit more unusual like a salt chamber. The winding Gauja River offers plenty of opportunities for watersports, from white-water kayaking to river rafting. Anyone seeking an extended adventure can stay at one of the national park's 23 campsites. |
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| Official Name: | Republic of Latvia |
| Capital: | Riga (RIX) |
| Currency: | Euro (EUR) |
| Language: | Latvian. English, Lithuanian, Russian and German are also spoken |
| Dialling code from SA: | + 371 |
| Time Zones: | UTC / GMT +2 (same time as South Africa) |
| Daylight Savings Time: | From last Sunday March to last Sunday October: UTC / GMT +3 (1 hour ahead of South Africa) |
| Side of the Road: | Right |
| Best Time to Go: | May - September |
| Best for: | UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cultural Events, Medieval Architecture |
| Plugs: | 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are in use |
| Drinking Water: | Mains water in hotels and towns is safe to drink. |
| Health: | There are adequate and well-equipped medical facilities, however visitors are required to pay for these services. Comprehensive health insurance is recommended. If you require any medication on your travels it is best to bring it with you, in the original packaging, with a signed and dated letter from your doctor detailing exactly what it is and why you need it. |
| Customs: | Normal social courtesies. Latvians are very proud of their national heritage and visitors should be respectful of this. Latvians prefer to be direct and tend to avoid small talk. |
| Travel Tips / Warnings: | There have been reports of scams against tourists by restaurants and taxi’s, who charge exorbitant prices to foreigners – use hotel recommended restaurants and transport. |
| Duty Free: | Latvia is within the European Union. If you are travelling from the UK, you are entitled to buy fragrance, skincare, cosmetics, Champagne, wine, selected spirits, fashion accessories, gifts and souvenirs - all at tax-free equivalent prices. If you are travelling from within the EU, there is no limit on the amount or value of goods you may import, providing your goods are for personal consumption. Goods imported for commercial purposes are subject to duty and the following guideline amounts are in place to determine whether this is the case: • 800 cigarettes or 400 cigarillos or 200 cigars or 1kg of tobacco. • 10L of spirits over 22% volume, 20L of alcoholic beverages less than 22% volume, 90L of wine (no more than 60L of sparkling wine) and 110L of beer. If you are arriving from a non-EU country, the following goods may be imported into Latvia by travellers over 18 years of age without incurring customs duty: • 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco (if arriving by air). • 40 cigarettes or 20 cigarillos or 10 cigars or 50g of tobacco (if arriving by road, rail or water). • 4L of wine and 16L of beer and 1L of spirits over 22% volume or 2L of alcoholic beverages less than 22% volume. • Other goods up to the value of Ls300 for air and sea travellers and Ls210 for other travellers (reduced to Ls200 for children under 15). |
| Prohibited Imports: | Meat and dairy products from outside the EU, narcotics, counterfeit goods, and unlicensed firearms and ammunition. The import of plants and plant products from outside the EU is restricted and in some cases prohibited. |
| Prohibited Exports: | You must obtain a permit from the State Inspection for Heritage Protection to export art and antiques which are more than 50 years old and worth Ls300 or more. |
Issuing Authorities
Public Holidays 2025: Jan 1; Apr 18, 20-21; May 1, 4-5, 11; Jun 8, 23-24; Nov 18; Dec 24-26, 31
Public Holidays 2026: Jan 1; Apr 3, 5-6; May 1, 4, 10, 24; Jun 23-24; Nov 18; Dec 24-26, 31
Visa Requirements
Visas are required by SA passport holders.
If applying for a Latvian visa, please contact the Embassy of Hungary. The visa requirements for Latvia are the same as for Hungary.
SA Representative
Representation accredited from the South African Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden
Travel Health
| Compulsory: | None |
| Recommended Travel Vaccines: | Hepatitis A & B, Tick-Borne Encephalitis (Not available in SA), Rabies, Tetanus, Polio |
