Kuldīga’s Old Town largely preserves the street layout dating from the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia. Here, the Venta meets the smaller Alekšupīte stream; this riverside setting contributes to the Old Town’s picturesque character. The UNESCO World Heritage site includes the confluence and the Ventas Rumba waterfall. In Kuldīga, you can therefore discover a historic urban layout and a striking waterscape in one place.
Explore Kuldīga on foot and by the water
The walking trail along the Venta follows the river’s left bank to the new bridge in Kuldīga. Along the way, you’ll find nature views, birdwatching opportunities and views of the Venta waterfall. The route length is clear for planning: the one-way distance is 2.4 kilometres, while the extended route to the Old Bridge covers 5.4 kilometres. The trail is lit between Pils iela and Vienības iela, making it suitable for evening walks too. Check in advance whether the lighting is currently working.
Suiti culture in Alsunga
In Alsunga, the castle and local crafts tell different stories about the town. The Livonian Order Castle was built in 1372; its complex took shape gradually from the 14th to the 18th century. Parts of the eastern wing’s cellars, the southern wing and two defensive towers remain. The castle is a national architectural monument. A permanent interactive exhibition complements the historic site with sound installations, video projections, a virtual reality installation and puzzles about brooches and the Suiti collar pattern. Confirm the exhibition’s availability before your visit.
The Alsunga Crafts House has permanent exhibitions featuring a Suiti living room, a kitchen and Catholic priestly vestments. It also hosts the Suiti workshops “Austuve” for weaving and “Suitu Ķēķis” for cooking. Individual excursion routes around Alsunga can include tastings of traditional Suiti dishes by prior arrangement; check availability in advance. The “Suitu takas” in Alsunga Municipality offer walking trails of varying lengths and difficulty levels. GPX files are available to download. Check the route files and conditions before setting out.
Sand caves, forest trails and a bog landscape
The Riežupe cave labyrinth was dug by hand over three generations. Its white sand was used more than 100 years ago for glass production in Iļģuciems. The labyrinth is two kilometres long in total, of which 460 metres are open to visitors. The caves are closed from November to March because bats use them as a winter roost; check seasonal access before visiting. Routes in the Riežupe area also pass through the Venta Valley Nature Reserve and Riežupe Nature Park. Slope and ravine forests, sandstone outcrops and rare plant and animal species shape this landscape.
The Žibgravas Nature Trail offers a different way to experience nature: the 1.5-kilometre trail winds through hilly woodland along the meandering Kauliņupīte River. Information boards cover plants and animals, as well as legends and riddles related to the Suiti dialect. On the Kalnansu Bog Trail, a wooden boardwalk about one kilometre long leads through the forest to the raised bog and the “Bezdibenis” bog lake. The boardwalk is considered suitable for wheelchair users and parents with strollers. In August and September, you can discover the raised bog’s diversity of wild berries, including cloudberries, blueberries, bilberries, cranberries and lingonberries.
Birdwatching and more discoveries
Rudbārži Forest Park is a 9.6-hectare former manor park. Alongside native plant species, it is home to 57 introduced species. A total of 121 bird species have been observed in the park and its surroundings. The educational “Birders” trail uses a map to guide visitors to stations with bird images and QR codes; ask locally whether the game is available.
The easy “Skrunda Loop” is about 16 kilometres long and passes through Skrunda’s sights and the surrounding landscape. During bird migration, waterfowl stop at the fishponds along the route, providing opportunities for observation. The Piena Museum focuses on milk processing in Latvia: 250 exhibits explain, among other things, milking and the production of cream and butter. If you visit by prior arrangement, you can try milking a model cow, separating cream and churning butter.
Discover more destinations: Kuldīga, Padure, Vārme, Renda, Ķimale, Vilgāle, Veldze, Īvande.
For the broader travel overview: Latvia.
