Ventspils

Ventspils is a “city with a promising future” and is one of the fastest growing cities in Latvia.  

Over the last five years, Ventspils has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in Latvia. It has a big port, and the city eagerly invests revenues from oil transit into the evolution of its tourism infrastructure.

Local sights and attractions 

• Castle of the Livonian Order: (13th-14th Century) Originally built by German knights, Ventspils was later established around the castle which is now completely restored.   The castle houses the Ventspils museum of history, which is equipped with the latest modern technologies. 
• Blue Flag Beach: Ventspils boasts a well-equipped beach which meets all EU requirements. One may take a leisurely stroll up to the southern pier which stretches one kilometre into the sea. A lighthouse dating from 1814 is situated on the pier and is still in operation today. Its light may be seen from 23 kilometres away.
• Seaside Open-Air Ethnographic Museum: This fascinating museum possesses a collection of old anchors and other seafaring equipment. Within its park-like grounds, one may also see a traditional windmill and a narrow-track railway dating from 1916, which museum visitors may ride.
• Children’s Village: This recreation centre has wonderful, up-to-date attractions for children, which have been split into various age groups. Each of these groups represents a certain city in the world and there is a 1.5 metre high globe at the entrance where one may find each of these cities.
• Open-Air Water Park: This park includes waterslides, saunas, Jacuzzi, and a cafe. Water temperature is always maintained at 23 degrees Celsius.
• Olympic Centre “Ventspils”: This centre has many recreation facilities, including a skate-park, ice-skating rink, and swimming pool.

How to get there

By bus: Buses for Ventspils leave every hour from Riga — see the schedule on the bus station link (LV, EN, RU, DE)

By car: The drive takes approximately two to three hours

Tourism information

Tourism Information Centre

Tirgus iela 7, tel/fax +371 362 2263, +371 360 7664

tourism@ventspils.lv

• Official Ventspils Website (LV, EN, RU)
• Ventspils Museum (located in the Castle of the Livonian Order) (LV, EN)
• VIRAC (Ventspils International Radio Astronomy Center): VIRAC houses a former Soviet radiolocator 30 kilometres north of Ventspils in Irbene, and is open to the public for tours. (LV, EN) 
• Olympic Centre “Ventspils”: (LV, EN, RU)