Holidays in the Baltics with a small child. Where to relax with a child in the Baltics. Main indications for spa treatment in Latvia

With the arrival of the summer season, people are thinking about where to go on vacation. At the same time, many choose inexpensive and accessible options in the near abroad. Latvia is one of the most attractive countries in Northern Europe where you can go with the whole family. Plan a summer holiday in Latvia with children in 2019 by reading about the main local cities and resorts in this article.

It cannot be said that Latvia is the best country for a seaside holiday. The fact is that it is washed by the waters of the Baltic, and this is by no means the warmest of seas. However, from mid-May to mid-September, local residents and tourists enjoy sunbathing and swimming at some beach resorts. The water temperature is most comfortable in July - it warms up to 23 degrees Celsius. As for the air, the average temperature in July is about 20 degrees Celsius, which is quite comfortable. So, if you are very interested in this country and this option is suitable for financial reasons, you can consider this destination for a seaside holiday.

Latvia on the map:

Prices for tours to Latvia

Tours to Latvia have recently become more popular among tourists, and holidays in this country will delight you with its diversity. Some people choose excursion tours to visit the most popular attractions, others simply want to relax in a spa hotel on the seashore. The cost depends on the type of hotel, city and set of excursions, however, on average, affordable prices will be another bonus that will encourage people to travel to this country.

Traveling by train will cost a tourist approximately 100 euros. The price includes meals, accommodation, excursions. Additional fees include visa, train ticket and insurance. The cost of bus tours across several countries with visits to Riga, Tallinn, Jurmala and Vilnius starts from 130–170 euros per person.

Popular destinations for summer holidays in Latvia with children

Riga

The capital of Latvia is the pearl of the country. Most of the buildings here are built in an elegant Art Nouveau style. Riga is located on the banks of the Daugava River. The history of the city is full of glorious events: Riga was part of the Hanseatic League, was, and is, a major port, as well as the economic and cultural center of the country.

How to get there?

There are several ways to travel from Moscow to Riga. So, the flight will last less than a couple of hours, and the ticket will cost around 7.5 thousand rubles. You can also get there by train - they run about once a day, a ticket for a reserved seat carriage costs about 4.5 thousand rubles. Finally, the most budget option is a bus trip, which will last 15 hours, but will take about 3.5 thousand rubles from the budget.

How to get around Riga? Very easy. There are many bus, tram and trolleybus routes in the capital. You can purchase a ticket for all types of transport at once for a certain amount of time. There are also taxis in Riga. But renting a car is only worth it for those who want to explore not only the capital, since the historical center of Riga can be easily navigated on foot or by public transport.

Where to stay?

The capital offers more than 250 accommodation options to suit every taste. So, three of us with a child can stay in a hotel located on the outskirts of the city - the furnishings are simple, but the price is low - around 1.5 thousand rubles per day.

Of course, to the question of where it is better to live, there is only one answer - close to the center, because the majority of attractions and entertainment are located there. Three people can stay in a 3* hotel, located in the center and furnished with good furniture, for 4 thousand rubles, including breakfast. Finally, if possible, allow yourself a luxurious holiday in a 5* establishment, where there is a fitness center, sauna, bathhouse and many other services - for 10 thousand rubles per day for three.

Adults and children will be able to find entertainment for every taste in Riga: from bike rides in parks to creative workshops. As for standard excursions, all kinds of travel agencies offer a large selection of tours with visits to the Dome Cathedral, Riga Castle, Cat's House and much more. But you can visit the sights of Riga on your own.

The best part of the city for walking is Old Riga. This historical center is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. In Old Riga, fragments of fortress walls and towers have been preserved, including the Powder Tower and the Swedish Gate. The Dome Cathedral is a real symbol of the city. This medieval Gothic building is not only interesting from the outside: inside there is a stunning organ, as well as the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation, containing more than half a million exhibits.

Riga Castle was built in the 14th century. Previously, knights lived here, and currently the building is the residence of the head of the country. In the castle you can visit museums - the National Museum of the History of Latvia, from which you will learn everything about the country, and the Museum of Foreign Art, its exhibition includes ancient artifacts. But the Cat House, or the House with Black Cats, was built already in the 20th century. Children will really like it, because the pointed towers of this house are crowned with sculptures of cute cats.

Families with children can also admire animals and birds at the famous Riga Zoo. This is a well-groomed area in the European style, where you can admire bright flamingos, mysterious Pallas' cats, exotic pandas and other cutest creatures of nature.

A good choice would be to go to one of the entertainment centers and parks. Thus, Lido has a carousel, an autodrome, a hippodrome and other activities that are interesting for children. In summer, you should also try your hand at the Mežakaķis amusement park, a rope town with many trails of different levels. There is also a circus and a puppet theater in Riga.

Shopping lovers should definitely visit the theme fairs in the Kalnciema quarter. This place is interesting because you can taste a lot of Riga delicacies there, as well as have fun with the whole family: a variety of creative workshops are offered for children, there are hammocks, and performances are organized at special venues. What should you bring with you from Riga as a souvenir and as a gift? It could be:

• amber jewelry;
• linen clothing;
• chocolate from the Laima factory;
• Riga balsam;
• ceramics.

What to try in Riga? Dishes of Latvian cuisine are, first of all, fish. Thanks to the proximity of the Baltic Sea, Latvian residents love and know how to cook it. In addition, soups (milk and pea), smoked meats, cheeses and beer are very popular. You can have dinner in a traditional restaurant for about 2.5 thousand rubles. Affordable canteens, bistros, and coffee shops will cost about 700 rubles.

Riga is a great place for a summer holiday in Latvia with a child on the way to the sea.

Jurmala

The city is famous for the fact that it used to host the famous New Wave music festival. And now a holiday on the coast of the Gulf of Riga will be an excellent option for families with children.

How to get there?

The easiest way to get to Jurmala is from Riga. The cost of a car trip is quite high: around 3 thousand rubles. Budget-conscious tourists should consider traveling by bus - after all, the journey is only about half an hour, and a ticket will cost a couple of euros. You can also use the train, which will cost about the same money.

Where to stay?

Jurmala has accommodation options for every taste and budget. So, you can stay in a simple hostel - for 3 thousand rubles per day for a family of three people. A 3* hotel with its own beach will cost a family about 8 thousand rubles per day. There are also a couple of luxury options: for 15 thousand rubles a day, a family can stay in a hotel in the very heart of the city, which will have a swimming pool, its own park, children’s playground, excellent food and atmosphere.

What to see and do?

Jurmala is the largest resort in the Baltic states. 30 kilometers of coastline, surrounded by forests. Beaches in some areas of the resort receive an honorary Blue Flag, the coast is covered with fine white sand, and the coast is regularly cleaned. Jurmala is suitable for families with small children - the water here is clear and the entrance to the water is gentle. In addition, the beaches are well-maintained: there is all the necessary infrastructure, you can rent a sun lounger and an umbrella. Some beaches are equipped with sports grounds; in some places you can go windsurfing, kiting, and on the Lielupe River you can ride a yacht or water ski.

Numerous buildings in Art Nouveau and Neo-Gothic styles will delight the eyes of strolling tourists. You should definitely take a look at the complex of Kristaps and Augusta Morberg, which was built in the 19th century and is made entirely of wood, but at the same time looks like a small castle. The complex is surrounded by a beautiful garden with elegant gazebos.

Those who love cultural recreation should go to the Dzintari Concert Hall. Here you can listen to classics or opera, and also, which is important for families with children, attend a children's performance. Children will remember the Jurmala City Museum for its interesting collection of objects that were raised from the bottom of the sea, and you can also learn a lot about the history of navigation there.

Those who love outdoor recreation should head to Kemeri National Park. Sands, river and sea - this is the variety that awaits visitors to the park. You can just walk along the paths, or if you want, take a boat ride.

What do children need in summer? Of course, water activities! Līvu Water Park offers four dozen slides - for the little ones and for extreme sports enthusiasts. Kids will love the children's pool, adults will relax in the wave area and enjoy the sauna and jacuzzi. And if you want outdoor entertainment, you can go to the Dzintari rope park (not to be confused with the concert hall).

About Jurmala beach - in the video:

Liepaja

Undoubtedly, this city deserves tourists to come to it. It is located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, and its beach is famous for its fine and very white sand. The resort is great for relaxing with both children and friends.

How to get there?

There are different ways to get to the resort. Motorists can easily reach Liepaja from Riga in about a couple and a half hours. If it is not possible to get there by car, there is an option to go by bus - regular service between Riga and Liepaja is quite well developed, a ticket will cost around 9 euros. You can also get there by train, although they run every day. It will take 3.5 hours and cost approximately 8 euros.

Where to stay?

Liepaja is not as popular as Jurmala, but you can stay here in more than three dozen establishments. So, a very modernly furnished apartment will cost a family of three about 2.5 thousand per day. You can also stay in a hotel: for example, accommodation in a 3* category, in the city center and a 10-minute walk from the beach, will cost three tourists approximately 3.5 thousand rubles per day. There is only one 5* hotel in the resort. For 14 thousand rubles per day, guests will receive an elegant room, the opportunity to enjoy works of modern art or sit on the terrace overlooking the pier.

What to see and do?

Liepaja beach is one of the best on the Baltic coast. Golden soft sand, a gentle entrance to the water and a wide strip - this is what you need for a good rest. Blue flag mark - present.

The central square (Rose Square) will delight you with an abundance of various flower beds, and the Grand Port will delight you with views of all kinds of ships. In the building of the garrison guardhouse you can take part in the reality show “Behind Bars”. Unusual impressions and adrenaline are provided to all participants.

There are also excursions to the main attractions of Liepaja: churches, cathedrals, castles and museums. The Church of St. Anne was built back in the 16th century. Inside the temple, visitors will find a baroque interior, including a stunning carved altar. Liepaja Castle is also definitely worth a look, some of its fortifications have been preserved quite well.

By the way, the Seaside Park stretches along the coast, which is definitely worth a visit with children. It has many play areas with attractions for people of all ages; you can go bowling, play tennis or mini-golf. Sporty families will enjoy cycling - bicycles can be easily rented.

If possible, it is worth going to the Kalven Zoo, which is located in the vicinity of Liepaja, 50 kilometers from the city. Wolverines, lynxes, llamas and other inhabitants of this place will definitely entertain little tourists.

Latvia is a good place for a summer holiday with children. Relatively inexpensive travel and accommodation, ease of language (there are many Russian-speaking guides, many signs and useful information are translated into Russian), mild climate, historical and natural beauty and clean beaches - all this is worthy of going to Latvia in the summer of 2019 .

Palanga is a famous resort located in the western part of Lithuania, near the Baltic Sea. The area occupied by the resort is 7393 hectares, the number of inhabitants is 17.7 thousand, the length of the city along the coast is 25 km. Adjacent to the territory of the Palanga resort is the small town of Sventoji, located 12 km to the north, almost next to the Latvian border.

In 2004, an international jury awarded the Blue Flag to Palanga Beach near Birutė Park. The sea water is clean here.

Today Palanga is rightfully considered the largest climatic and balneological resort in Lithuania. The main healing factors of the resort are pine forest, maritime climate, snow-white sand, dunes. An excellent means of healing is sunbathing, which activates metabolism. They improve well-being, lift your spirits, and give positive emotions.

Palanga is perfect for a beach holiday with children! Horseback riding, jet skis, catamarans, yachts, boats, tennis courts, sports grounds - all this is offered by the hospitable resort.

What can you see and visit in Palanga? Palanga Birutė Park– one of the most beautiful, best-preserved parks on the Lithuanian seaside. The park was founded in 1897 by Count Felix Tyszkiewicz.

Palace of Count Tishkevich (Amber Museum). Built in 1897 according to the design of the German architect Franz Schwechten. The palace, made in the neo-Renaissance style, is an integral part of the park ensemble.

Bike paths around the park where you can ride bikes and walk while breathing the pine air.

J.Basanavičius street- the central street in Palanga, well known not only to local residents, but also to tourists. There are many cozy cafes, fish restaurants, souvenir shops, and attractions for children.

Distances: Vilnius – 336 km, Klaipeda – 336 km.

How to get there: You can get there from Moscow: Moscow-Vilnius, and from Vilnius by train or bus to Palanga.

Lithuanian resorts are well suited for holidays with small children, as there is no issue of acclimatization and long flights. In addition, there is somewhere to take your child, there is almost no language barrier, an acceptable price level and a large selection of housing, which everyone selects according to their own criteria.

Which resort to choose

The area around the Curonian Lagoon is perfect for a holiday with babies. There are several reasons for this.

1. Warmer water (the bay is several degrees warmer than the open Baltic Sea).
2. Almost always completely calm.
3. The coastline is wide, the beaches are spacious, and the entrance to the water is gentle. In addition, it is quite shallow near the shore.

• offers a lot of entertainment and excellent conditions for a beach holiday, where there will be something to do for both children and adults.
• appreciated for the opportunity to hide from the noise of Palanga, the emptier beaches and the calm atmosphere at the resort. But it will be boring here in the evening.
• valued for local sanatoriums, a calm pace of life and recreation, for the absence of noisy nightlife, etc.

Whichever of the proposed resorts for a beach holiday you choose, children will not be bored, since each of them has a little entertainment: playgrounds, amusement parks, zoos, water parks, museums.

When to go

The Baltic Sea cannot be called warm, since the water temperature here rarely exceeds +19 degrees. The average temperature norm for the summer period is +17 +18 degrees. Storms are observed quite often.

The warmest summer month is July. Sometimes it can even be very hot and the temperature reaches +27 ... +30 degrees. There are 7-10 such days over the summer and most often they fall in July. Although the sultry heat is not very good for children, this month there is a greater chance that the water will be warmer than usual and reach +22 degrees (provided that the current is warm), and children will be able to splash around to their heart's content.

Of course, you cannot compare a beach holiday in Lithuania with those resorts that have access to the warm sea (Black, Red, Mediterranean, etc.) or the ocean, since this country is suitable for those who cannot stand the sweltering heat, but still wants to bask in the sun. And in Lithuania you can bask in the sun even when it seems that the sun is not warming and the sky is overcast. Lying in the dunes, thereby sheltering from the wind, the children and you will not be cold. But keep in mind that you can get sunburned there even if the sun is not bright.

For a beach holiday, you can also consider the month of August. According to statistics, it is in August that the water in the Baltic Sea is the warmest. But be prepared that the weather is unpredictable, it may rain and there may be no sun at all. Then don’t be discouraged, the vacation won’t be in vain anyway, because the children will nourish the body with healing iodized and pine oxygen. Put on rubber boots, raincoats and walk along the shore of the Baltic Sea. Believe me, children will love this fun.

Lithuania can also offer wonderful winter holidays with a variety of entertainment. During the winter holidays, many Russians rush to visit Vilnius, Kaunas, Trakai and other cities of Lithuania. As a rule, they want to see the sights of cities and enjoy the views of streets decorated for the holidays.

If you want to go skiing, it is better to go to Ignalina or Birštonas, where there are ski slopes for beginners, and there is also the opportunity to learn how to ski for both adults and children. Thanks to this gentle ski slope, this resort is ideal for beginner skiers and children. According to established tradition, it is in winter that Lithuanian cities rush to invite guests to various fairs, exhibitions, etc.

What to visit

Can be found at any time of the year. You will have a great time in a beautiful private zoo near Klaipeda (“Mini-Zoo”), where the animals are not locked in cages, but can move around the zoo along with visitors. The cages contain only predators and those who may be dangerous to humans.

Those who love fairy tales will be interested in the Vienkiemis estate, which is not far from Palanga, where there is a Dwarf village with a large number of attractions. Similar experiences can be had at another estate, “Two Bears,” where there are many wooden slides, swings, and a variety of entertainment involving overcoming obstacles.

There is a Maritime Museum in Klaipeda. Every tourist who comes to Lithuania, regardless of age, should visit it. Kids will be especially interested in the large aquarium with fish and in the dolphinarium, where in addition to dolphins there are fur seals and California seals. There are also a large number of seabirds and other representatives of marine fauna.

Not far from Palanga and Sventoji there is an entertainment complex with playgrounds and entertainment for children. Here you can have lunch and dinner, as well as taste local kvass and beer.

There are water parks in Vilnius and Druskininkai. There are several entertainment areas here, depending on the age of the vacationers, so both children and adults can get positive impressions and emotions. In these cities and in Kaunas there are also amusement parks where you can walk through trees and overcome obstacles. This kind of entertainment is interesting for the whole family; brave parents can even fly across the river.

Fun for families at HBH

Children's entertainment

Also in major cities and resort areas of Lithuania there are many museums, exhibitions and playgrounds with attractions, so neither children nor their parents will be bored.

Hotels in Lithuanian resorts are not in great demand. Most housing in Lithuanian resort towns are apartments, guest houses or sanatoriums. Camping is also popular, but when vacationing with children, it is not very convenient due to the small size of the houses, shared showers and toilets. As an option, you can choose private carved houses. The essence is the same, but on private territory there are no large crowds of people, you will have a personal kitchen, toilet with shower, and the houses are all new. True, the price will be more expensive.

If you have children, you need to choose a place to stay close to the beaches, but you shouldn’t overpay for proximity to the dunes and the sea either. The distances in Palanga and Sventoji are small, the main thing is not to go to the other end of the city. By the way, pay attention to the apart-hotels located between Palanga and Sventoji, quite often there are excellent options for a family holiday.

You can find good options through, where you can rent housing without intermediaries and you always have the opportunity to see with your own eyes the condition of the apartment or apartment.