Riga Old Town aerial view over the Daugava river

Field Notes

Stories, honest answers, and quiet corners of Latvia

This is where I write longer than a tour booking lets me. Comparisons, seasonal notes, the questions guests ask me most often, and the honest answers I wish I’d been able to find before my first trip. Every piece is written by me, in my own words, based on what I’ve actually seen on the ground. No AI puff, no guest posts.

— Daiga

Read the Latest See the Excursions

Updated for 2026

Licensed Latvian tour guide

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Writing from Riga

Eleven pieces so far, grouped loosely by what they’re trying to answer. Start with the ‘Planning Your First 48 Hours’ piece if you’re new here, or the ‘Riga vs Tallinn vs Vilnius’ one if you’re still deciding which Baltic capital gets your weekend.

Cobblestone street with restaurants in Riga Old Town, the kind of evening view a first-time visitor walks into

Planning

Planning Your First 48 Hours in Riga

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 15 April 2026 · 12 min read

An honest local itinerary for a first 48 hours: one day in the city, one day out of it. Plus the practical answers (safety, money, transport, language) most travellers want before they arrive.

For first-time visitors Read

Aerial view of Riga Old Town and the Daugava river, the UNESCO-listed historic core of the city

Pillar Guide

Riga Old Town: A Local’s Guide

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 15 April 2026 · 16 min read

The deep guide to Vecrīga: what to see, what to skip, three walking routes, where to actually eat, the seasons, the safety, and the practical answers most travellers want before they arrive. Twenty-five FAQs at the end.

The cornerstone guide Read

Sliced rupjmaize dark rye bread with a bowl of biezpiens cottage cheese sprinkled with dill

Food & Drink

Latvian Food: An Honest Guide

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 15 April 2026 · 18 min read

The deep guide to what to actually eat in Latvia: rye bread, cottage cheese, smoked everything, kefir we’ve been drinking for generations, the pink summer soup, pickle juice, and where to eat in Riga. Twenty FAQs at the end.

Eat well in Latvia Read

Baroque rose gardens at Rundāle Palace, a popular day trip from Riga

Planning

Day Trips from Riga, an Honest Answer

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 14 April 2026 · 10 min read

The three day trips I’d send any traveller on without hesitation, the ones I’d skip, and how to pick if you only have one day. Starts with the short answer, ends with who each one is wrong for.

Start here if you’re new Read

Cobblestone street with restaurants in Riga Old Town

Comparison

Riga vs Tallinn vs Vilnius, an Honest Comparison

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 14 April 2026 · 12 min read

I live in Riga and run tours here, so take the Riga verdict with a pinch of salt. But I’ve spent real time in Tallinn and Vilnius, and I’ll tell you when they genuinely do something better.

Still deciding which one? Read

Roland statue and the House of the Blackheads on Riga’s Town Hall Square

Seasonal

Riga in Winter, an Honest Take

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 14 April 2026 · 10 min read

Christmas markets, snow, and the quiet months most visitors miss. Honest on what’s worth the cold, what isn’t, and why I think January and February are the best-value weeks of the year.

Traveling off-season? Read

Aerial view of the Great Ęemeri Bog boardwalk winding past mirror-dark pools

Honest Answer

Is Ęemeri Bog Worth It?

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 14 April 2026 · 12 min read

Yes, and here’s why, with the caveats. A licensed Latvian guide on what the Great Ęemeri Bog actually is, why it’s become the most photographed wetland in the Baltics, how to get there, when to go, and who should skip it.

Signature day trip Read

The red room at Rundāle Palace, a Bartolomeo Rastrelli baroque interior

Honest Answer

Is Rundāle Palace Worth Visiting?

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 14 April 2026 · 12 min read

The Versailles-of-the-Baltics comparison is lazy and the palace deserves better. A Rastrelli baroque set-piece, rose gardens, and a real working brewery nearby. Here’s when it’s worth a full day and when it isn’t.

Big baroque day out Read

Aerial view of the Gauja river bending through the forested valley near Sigulda

Honest Answer

Is Sigulda Worth Visiting?

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 14 April 2026 · 12 min read

People call it the “Switzerland of Latvia” and then look confused when it turns out to be a forest with three castles and a cable car. Here’s what Sigulda actually is, what to do with a full day there, and how it compares to Cēsis.

Forest-and-castles day Read

Seasonal

Ęemeri Bog in Autumn

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 14 April 2026 · 20 min read

The longest piece on the site, on the single best month to see Ęemeri, what the bog looks like in October, where to watch birds from, what to wear, and the carnivorous plants you probably walked past without noticing.

The long read Read

Cēsis Castle ruins in autumn forest, the second castle in the Sigulda day

Logistics

Can You Do Sigulda AND Cēsis in One Day?

By Daiga Taurīte · Updated 14 April 2026 · 10 min read

Yes, but not the way most guides describe it. The route, the timing, what to skip, and why we do it in reverse order to everyone else.

Reader favourite Read

Let’s Talk

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Whether you’re just beginning to plan your visit to Latvia or you already have dates in mind, the easiest way to book is to reach out to me directly. A WhatsApp message, a phone call, or an email, whatever suits you. I’ll get back to you quickly and we’ll find the perfect day for your excursion. No forms, no automated replies, just me.

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