114
edits
Changes
→Personal Experiences
{{infobox Country
|country = of Latvia
|language = Latvian
|map = <<map lat='57.029' lng='24.599' zoom='6' view='3' country='Latvia' />
|capital = [[Riga]]
|pop = 2,261,100
|currency = Lats Euro (LVLEUR) |BW = LV|hitch = {{good}}<rating country='lv' />
}}
'''Latvia''' is a Baltic country. It is a member state of the [[European Union]] as well as the [[Schengen Agreement]]. It borders [[Estonia]], [[Lithuania]], [[Russia]] and [[Belarus]]. There are a lot of young people just hitchhiking around the country, to their hometowns, festivals, etc., especially during summer, so you'll probably meet someone on the road as well. People are used to hitchhikers and it is fairly easy to get a lift, whether along important routes such as the [[E67]] (''Via Baltica'') or in the middle of nowhere.
=== Cities ===
<!-- Please keep in alphabetic order (after Riga) -->
* [[Riga]], the capital of Latvia
* [[Balvi]]
* [[Cēsis]]
* [[Gulbene]]
* [[Jelgava]]
* [[Limbaži]]
* [[Rēzekne]]
* [[Gulbene]]* [[Balvi]]* [[CēsisSaulkrasti]]
* [[Sigulda]]
* [[Talsi]]
* [[Valdemārpils]]
* [[Valmiera]]
=== Language ===
To catch some phrases you can also check [[Eastern Europe phrasebook]].
=== Border Crossing crossings ===;'''Towards ''' [[Russia]]* [[Terehova-Zasitino border crossing|Terehova-Zasitino]], for direction [[Moscow]]<br>* [[Grebnova-Gavry border crossing|Grebnova-Gavry]], for direction [[Pskov]], [[St. Petersburg]]; '''Towards ''' [[Belarus]] [Estoniahttps://www.google.com/maps/place/55%C2%B043'06.5%22N+26%C2%B052'27.4%22E/@55.718463,26.8721013,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d55.7184603!4d26.8742901?hl=en Urbany (BLR) / Silene (LV)] (bel. Урбаны, rus. Урбаны) – located on [[P68]] some 35 km to the south-east from [[Daugavpils|Daugavpils]] & on the way to [[LithuaniaBraslaŭ|Braslaŭ]].<br>* Borders are open[https://www.google.com/maps/place/55%C2%B049'14.4%22N+27%C2%B037'32.0%22E/@55.820655,27.6233543,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d55.8206521!4d27.6255431?hl=en Ryhoraŭščyna (BLR) / Paternieki (LV)] (bel. Рыгораўшчына, you might only experience decreased traffic rus. Григоровщина) – located on [[A6]] some 75 km to the east from [[Daugavpils|Daugavpils]] and occasional police controls.;Towards 35 km from [[Krāslava|Krāslava]] on the way to [[Vierchniadzvinsk|Vierchniadzvinsk]], [[Polack|Polack]], [[Navapolack|Navapolack]], [[BelarusViciebsk|Viciebsk]]. Because of Schengen agreement, there are are '''no border control points''' between Latvia and Lithuania / Estonia. === Roads ===Roads are getting better but don't expect European standards, especially in winter and early spring when temperature fluctuations destroy asphalt pretty easily. Be careful on dirt roads in countryside regions. Not only you get dust in your face from vehicles, but sometimes you can be hit by stones. On the other hand, traveling those roads usually offer the most beautiful and authentic scenery.* ?
=== Gallery ===
Image:DSCF5026-1.jpg|[[User:Whisperingofthestars|Jason]] thumbing in Northern Latvia
Image:IMG 7303.JPG|[[User:Tiziano|Tiziano]] hitching in Latvia<</gallery> === Useful things === Free internet is available in public and university libraries. Also almost all of Latvian cities and even villages will have free internet in the town's center - it is now a prestige thing. There exist Facebook groups for ridesharing where you can often get a ride from Riga to other parts of Latvia for little money.. Group names are in form "Riga - (city/town name) - Riga". Use Facebook search to find them. For example, for Liepaja direction use https://www.facebook.com/groups/840988475937147/ These groups are mostly used by young people and they are very likely to speak good English. http://www.blablacar.com is also popular. Weather in Latvia can change pretty fast so don't lose hope if rain comes. Hide and wait. Sometimes it's over in 15-20 minutes. == Personal Experiences == ''Summer 2018 & 2022: Good and easy hitchhiking experience. You rarely wait a long time and you have a big chance to pass by Latvia, or get into the capital by one or two cars. I did nearly 200km in one drive with a guy going from Lithuania to Riga. Afterwards took A3 to Tartu (est). Because there are a lot of people going directly to Tallinn from Riga you have a good chances make all that trip in one car. I was going to Tartu, so it was harder but anyway I was there in the same day. The majority of drivers spoke English.'' --[[User:HHer-Vert|HHer-Vert]] == Nomadwiki & Trashwiki == {{nomadwiki}}
__NOTOC__
{{IsIn|Northern Europe}}
{{Template:Europe/countries}}
[[Category:Latvia| ]]
[[de:Lettland]]
[[fi:Latvia]]