About Latvia:

Latvia is a small but very unique country that is located in Northern Europe, at the East shore of Baltic sea. Latvia is one of Baltic States. Latvia is very unique in many ways: it is a country with small area and low density of population, rich culture and various, virgin nature, clean air because forests cover the biggest part of this land, lakes and river valleys, different nature parks and ancient buildings-churches, castles, hotels and resorts, big malls. Latvia is described as calm life style in comparison with other countries and cities. There are unobtrusive and hospitable inhabitants and safe environment.

Old Riga and its narrow streets, antique buildings in Old Riga, Jurmala, long beach with white sands, competition “New Wave”, Laima Vaikule and Raimonds Pauls, Melngalvju nams, Brain Storm, KVN, the castle of Riga, Riga balsam are things associated with Riga, Latvia.

Geographically exclusive location of Latvia provides many benefits because Latvia and Riga is at the centre of Europe that allows reaching every European city very easy and fast.

1. Western Europe and Riga:
   • Flight from London takes 3 hours, from Belgium 1.5 hours that allows to reach your chosen city fast, cheaply and safe;
   • There are flights from Riga to 70 different destinations in Europe every day;
   • the airport is very close to Riga (just 15 km) and Jurmala (just 20 km);
   • It takes just 15-20 min to get from the downtown of Riga to the closest spa towns (Jurmala).
2. Moscow – Riga:
   • It takes shorter time to get from Riga to Moscow than from Riga to St. Petersburg.
   • There are 3 flights every day;
   • two train trips and two regular bus trips to Moscow from Riga.
3. Petersburg – Riga:
   • There is a trip by national airline AirBaltic every evening and regular bus trips as well as good car traffic on good European roads.

Important information about Latvia

It was founded on 18th November 1918 as the Republic of Latvia.
Official country name: Republic of Latvia.
Location: North of the Eastern Europe at the Baltic Sea.
Territory of Latvia: 64 589 square kilometres.
Government: parliamentary republic.
Official language: Latvian.
Population: 2.02 million.
Capital: Riga (population – 692,000 from which 42,3% are Latvian, 41,1% – Russian, 4,2% – Belarusian, 3,9% – Ukrainian and 8,5% – other nationalities).
The biggest towns: Riga, Daugavpils, Jelgava, Jurmala, Liepaja, Rezekne, Ventspils.
The biggest port towns: Ventspils, Riga, Liepaja.
Religions: Evangelical Lutheran, Roman Catholic and Russian Orthodox Church.
Head of the State: president elected by parliament for four years.
Legislative power: parliament (Saeima), 100 members of parliament elected for four years.
Currency: euro (EUR) established since 1st January 2014.
Time zone: GMT (Greenwich time) +2, from April to November – GMT +3 (1 hour difference in comparison with Moscow).
International telephone code: +371.
Borders with: Estonia, Lithuania, Belarus, Russia and bathed by Baltic Sea.

Membership in international organizations: member state of European Union (4th May 2004), NATO (29th March 2004), ANO (18th November 1991), member state of Schengen area, Council of Europe, World Trade Organization, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Council of the Baltic Sea States etc.

RIGA