Latvia Travel Guide

Latvia — Country and Tourist Information

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Country Facts

Location: Northern Europe.
Language: Latvian is the official language. Russian, English and German are widely spoken. Latvian belongs to the Baltic language group, part of the Indo-European language family. The language has three main dialects, with the Latgallian dialect, spoken in the eastern part of Latvia, especially distinctive.
Area: 64,589 sq km (24,938 sq miles).
Time Zone: GMT + 2 (GMT + 3 from last Sunday in March to last Sunday in October).
Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs are in use.
Population: 2.3 million (2008).
Population Density: 35.2 per sq km.
Capital City: Riga. Population: 717,371 (2008).
Government: Republic. Gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Head of Government: Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis since 2009.
Head of State: President Valdis Zatlers since 2007.
Religion: Majority Lutheran and Catholic, with a sizeable Russian Orthodox minority.

Recent History

Latvia secured its independence from Russia in 1991. Since then it has joined the UN (1991), NATO (2004) and the EU (2004). Ivars Godmanis has led a new four-party center-right government since December 2007. This is Latvia's 14th government in 16 years. An election was called when former Prime Minister Aigars Kalvitis resigned amid a series of scandals. Godmanis is not entirely new to the job: he was prime minister when Latvia secured independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +371. Payphones are operated by phonecards which can be purchased at kiosks, post offices and in some shops.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet

There are many Internet cafes in Riga and some in other towns.

Media

Public radio and TV are financed by state subsidies and advertising revenue. The media operate freely, with few legal restrictions on their work. There are laws against libel and incitement of racial hatred.

Post

Postboxes are yellow. Mail delivery within Europe takes two to seven days, to America and Australia 10 to 14 days. Riga Central Post Office is located at Stacijas laukums (next to the main railway station), opening hours: Mon-Fri 0700-2200, Sat 0800-2200; Sun 1000-2200.(General, main) Mon-Fri 0700/0800-1800/1900, Sat 0800-1600.

Press

• A wide range of political viewpoints are represented by some 140 newspapers, with a mixture of Latvian- and Russian-language newspapers printed.
• The main daily is Diena.
• Latvian-language papers include the broadsheet Neatkariga Rita Avize (NRA), the business tabloid Dienas Bizness and the evening tabloid Vakara Avize Vakara Zinas.
• Russian-language publications include Telegraf (the main daily), Chas, Vesti Segodnya and Biznes & Baltiya.

Radio

• The public Latvian Radio operates four national networks, while Radio SWH, Easy FM, and Radio Skonto are commercial stations.
• Radio NABA is a public/university station.

Public Holidays

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2011-December 2012 period.
2010
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve

2011
1 Jan New Year’s Day
22 Apr Good Friday
25 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
4 May Declaration of Independence Day
23 Jun Ligo (Midsummer’s Eve)
24 Jun Jani (Midsummer’s Day/St John’s Day)
18 Nov Latvian National Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve

2012
1 Jan New Year’s Day
6 Apr Good Friday
9 Apr Easter Monday
1 May Labor Day
4 May Declaration of Independence Day
23 Jun Ligo (Midsummer’s Eve)
24 Jun Jani (Midsummer’s Day/St John’s Day)
18 Nov Latvian National Day
25 Dec Christmas Day
26 Dec Boxing Day
31 Dec New Year’s Eve

Contact Information

Latvian Tourism Information Bureau

Pils Laukums 4, Riga, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia
Tel: 6722 9945.
Website: www.latviatourism.lv

Embassy of Latvia in the UK

45 Nottingham Place, London W1U 5LY, UK
Tel: (020) 7312 0040.
Website: www.am.gov.lv/en/london
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700; 1000-1300 (consular section).