Ventspils

Ventspils is a city in north western Latvia, in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is the sixth largest city in the country is located on the Venta River and the Baltic Sea.

Most attractions in the city centre can be reached on foot within 15-20 minutes. Modern blue buses and minibuses can be used to travel from place to place. Most bus stops have a map of the routes.

Ventspils is adorned with flowers at various locations throughout the city from spring until autumn.

Ventspils hosted the 2002 Cow Parade, an international art event and several of the cow sculptures still reside throughout the city.

Ventspils Castle is one of the oldest and most well-preserved Livonian Order castles remaining, in that it has retained its original layout since the 13th century. In 1995 the castle was restored to its 19th century appearance and was converted into a museum.

The Seaside Open Air Museum is the only open air museum dedicated to fishing in Latvia. It features fishermen’s homesteads, barns, windmills, smokehouses, curing cabins, net sheds and other samples of native building and household artefacts.

The heart of the Old Town is the Town Square. Here you will find the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Nikolay, the International Writers’ and Translators House and modern renovated City Library building. Near the Market Square, in Skolas Street is Ventspils Amatu māja - the House of Crafts.

Seaside Park is a nice place for a stroll, with children's playgrounds, Anchor Trail and Jungle Trail. In the summer season, a narrow gauge railroad engine (Mazbānītis) runs through the park.

Head to Ostas Street for some shopping opportunities.

Ventspils' blue flag beach is a nearly 80m wide beach of fine white sand and dunes which reach a height of 9m in places.

Potatoes and meat are generally considered staple food of Latvians. Soups are commonly made with vegetables and broth or milk. Noodle soup, beet soup and sorrel soup often consumed by locals.

A traditional dish is 'siļķu pudiņš', which is a casserole made from herring and boiled potatoes and 'rupjmaize' is a dark bread made from rye, and considered a national staple.

Cruise ships dock at Ventspils Port. It is an ice free port which enables year round visits.

The city centre is around a mile away.