Liepāja

Liepāja (pronounced lee-ah-pa-yah) is a city on Latvia's Baltic coast.

With 70,000 residents, Liepāja is the third largest city in Latvia. During the Latvian War of Independence, that followed the end of World War I, it was briefly the capital of Latvia.

Liepāja city consists of two main areas of interest: the city center, and Karosta, the northern part of the city, which used to be a secret Soviet military town. The city center and Karosta have great beaches, and you will be surprised how unspoiled and beautiful the central beach is, and how white and soft the sand is. Karosta is essentially another city, because it really has a different history and look from the rest of Liepāja; Karosta is worth a separate visit. In Liepāja there is no "old town", but the center and surroundings are full of beautiful old wooden buildings, small irregular streets, etc. The center also includes the Seaside Park (Jūrmala Park) area, which has a fantastic white, soft sand beach; the park itself is great, too, with many nice buildings. Liepāja is known in Latvia as "the city where the wind is born", because of the continual sea breeze.

• Tourism Information Centre, Rožu iela 5/6 (near the university, +371 29402111, +371 63480808. 1 Apr–30 Sep: M–F 09:00–19:00, Sa 10:00–18:00, Su 10:00–16:00; 1 Oct–31 Mar: M–F 09:00–17:00, Sa 10:00–15:00. Also has bicycles for rent.

Tourism Information Centre, Rožu iela 5/6 (near the university, +371 29402111, +371 63480808. 1 Apr–30 Sep: M–F 09:00–19:00, Sa 10:00–18:00, Su 10:00–16:00; 1 Oct–31 Mar: M–F 09:00–17:00, Sa 10:00–15:00. Also has bicycles for rent.

Some Latvian phrases will be admired by locals, such as paldies (Thank you) or labdien (Hello). Latvian is spoken natively by more than half of Liepāja's population and is the only official language. Written signs and labels are mostly in Latvian. However, you will also hear Russian in the streets of Liepāja, which is by far the most widespread minority language since the Soviet time, when lots of Russians immigrated into Latvia's main cities, including Liepāja, to work in industries. In summer there are many German tourists and German can be heard in most touristic areas. Latvians, especially younger generations, more or less speak English.

The former Secret soviet military town of Karosta (northern Liepāja), the Fortress of Liepāja (its parts are located all around the city, the most spectacular ones are on the Baltic shore in Karosta), Liepāja city center with many old art-nouveau and wooden building and cobblestone streets, and the seaside park with its white sandy beach, as well as Liepāja's lake – fifth largest lake in Latvia – are nice places with lots to see.

• Amber clock. Actually a sundial-shaped design object, is on the promenade, and is created from thousands of pieces of amber, donated by anyone who wanted to do so. The sundial shows time every hour on the hour, by a special light performance. The performance can be seen much better, when it is dark outside.
• Craftman's house, Dārza iela 4/8, +371 26541424. M–F 10:00–17:00. Usually closed on weekends.. Latvian craftwork in the former home of the mayor Schröder. See the longest amber necklace in the world (123 m or 403 ft), weighing almost 20 kg (44 lb). You can also watch weavers working a creating beautiful tablecloths, skirts etc. Also, craftsmen workshops, demonstrations of crafts, and exhibitions. Donation appreciated.
• Liepāja Museum, 16, Kurmajas Avenue, +371 63422973. daily 10:00–18:00.
• Liepāja During Occupational Regimes, 7/9, K. Ukstina Street, +371 63420274, +371 29605223. W–Su 10:00–18:00.
• The Oskars Kalpaks Bridge. Open: 01:00–03:00, 05:00–06:30, 10:30–12:00, 14:30–15:30, 19:30–21:00. This iconic swinging metal bridge to Karosta is often opened to make way for ships. Designed by the German engineer Harald Hall and built in 1906. Check out the times at the bridge when the bridge is closed and ships are let through.

The churches are a pleasant surprise with their variety of architectural styles. This reflects religion in Latvia, which is very mixed. It is mostly Christian of various branches, and this can be seen in Liepāja, where there are Lutheran, Protestant, Catholic, Russian Orthodox, Russian Old Believers and other religious groups' churches. These vary from tiny wooden churches to huge towers and cathedrals. There are about 20 churches in Liepāja.

• Holy Trinity Cathedral, Lielā 9, +371 63422208, +371 20360055. Has a 55 m (180 ft) high tower, which is a perfect sightseeing place. It also has a huge church organ, made of more than 7000 pipes, which was the biggest organ in the world till 1912. It is still the biggest in Latvia and one of the biggest and most beautiful in Europe.
• Saint Anne's Church, Veidenbauma iela 1, +371 63423384, +371 63424231. Built of red brick and the oldest of Liepāja's churches. The organ is the third biggest in Latvia. First mentioned in 1508 with a 9.70 m high wooden baroque altar from 1697. The tower can be climbed.
• St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rakstvežu iela 13, +371 63429775. The biggest Catholic church in Liepāja. Built of yellow bricks, with many small towers. There is a ship model in the church, which was believed to bring good luck for fishermen.
• St. Meynard's Church, Ganību iela 120 (southeast of the city centre. Very different from all the others, because it is much newer. It was a gift from Vatican. It was the Vatican's pavilion at Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany, and brought her in 2002. The church is not in the city centre.

Many other churches are scattered throughout the city, the most important being St. Nicholas maritime cathedral in Karosta (see Karosta).

Holy Trinity Cathedral, Lielā 9, +371 63422208, +371 20360055. Has a 55 m (180 ft) high tower, which is a perfect sightseeing place. It also has a huge church organ, made of more than 7000 pipes, which was the biggest organ in the world till 1912. It is still the biggest in Latvia and one of the biggest and most beautiful in Europe.

Saint Anne's Church, Veidenbauma iela 1, +371 63423384, +371 63424231. Built of red brick and the oldest of Liepāja's churches. The organ is the third biggest in Latvia. First mentioned in 1508 with a 9.70 m high wooden baroque altar from 1697. The tower can be climbed.

St. Joseph's Cathedral, Rakstvežu iela 13, +371 63429775. The biggest Catholic church in Liepāja. Built of yellow bricks, with many small towers. There is a ship model in the church, which was believed to bring good luck for fishermen.

St. Meynard's Church, Ganību iela 120 (southeast of the city centre. Very different from all the others, because it is much newer. It was a gift from Vatican. It was the Vatican's pavilion at Expo 2000 in Hannover, Germany, and brought her in 2002. The church is not in the city centre.

Liepāja is surrounded by water. There are the Baltic Sea, two big lakes and some smaller ones, and four channels in the city. The city, is almost an island, especially the southern part (Vecliepāja). Liepāja Lake is the fifth largest lake in Latvia. It is lagoon type, which was part of the sea in ancient days. It is not deep, relatively narrow - up to 3.5 km (2.2 mi) - and long - about 15 km (9.3 mi). Liepāja city is on the north-western coast of the lake. If you go to Ezerkrasts (Lakeside), you can see the best lake views from Tise iela (Tise street). On one side are apartment buildings, and on the other, a meadow; behind the meadow is the lake. The lake, together with surrounding meadows (Vitinu meadows), is a nature protection area, mostly because of some rare plants growing there and many species of birds that live or come across this place regularly. This visit must be guided and pre-booked in the Tourism Information Centre, because it is a nature protection area. Swimming in the lake is not as nice as in the sea (but warmer), because the bottom is sometimes swampy. There is, however, a special place for swimming at the end of Vainodes street.

There is an interesting, yet very dirty and untouristic, place called Zirgu sala.. It is the biggest island in the lake and is very close to city center, where it is connected by bridge. From the island, an approximately 1 km (0.6 mi) long jetty, accessible even by car (a very bad road though), built of metallurgical factory oven-burned metallic stones, goes into the lake, providing nice views. It is sometimes called Golodova dambis or Zirgu salas dambis, and does not appear in any travel guides except this one.

There is an interesting, yet very dirty and untouristic, place called Zirgu sala.. It is the biggest island in the lake and is very close to city center, where it is connected by bridge. From the island, an approximately 1 km (0.6 mi) long jetty, accessible even by car (a very bad road though), built of metallurgical factory oven-burned metallic stones, goes into the lake, providing nice views. It is sometimes called Golodova dambis or Zirgu salas dambis, and does not appear in any travel guides except this one.

A former secret Soviet military town. If you are in Liepāja, you must go to Karosta. It is the northern part of the city, about 10 km (6 mi) from the center. Karosta translates as War Port (or Navy Harbor) from Latvian. It used to be a secret military town for the Russian Empire, and later also for the Soviets. Latvia became independent, and some years after that, in 1994, the Russian troops had to leave Karosta. The population dropped dramatically from 25,000 to 6,000, leaving many empty houses behind. Then Karosta experienced something like a war without guns. Many houses were turned into ruins. Everything was taken away. Brick by brick, many historic, beautiful buildings disappeared forever. Now, Karosta has a population of 7,000 and a dream of renaissance, which has already started. It is now a popular tourist destination and also home for an international artists' center called K2. Many places in Karosta still look like war rubble. Some places are reminiscent of the abandoned towns of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster area.

• Karosta beach. There is a beach in Karosta. There you will find some pebbles and the sand might not be that soft as in the previous beach. On the seashore of Karosta you can also see a breakwater, the longest of Liepāja`s breakwaters, stretching 1.8 km into the sea, and you can go on it by car for approximately half of its length. Just be careful of waves in windy weather. And wind is famous in Liepāja. A Latvian expression says "the city where wind was born". And as any Latvian would tell, it's Liepāja. On the shore you can also see two fortresses. This is a wild beach with steep coasts, unlike the central beach with dunes.

• Eight fortresses. They are all around the city, but the most scenic and interesting ones are these two on the shores of Karosta. The one closer to the breakwater (you can even see a small part of it from the breakwater), is the Nearby Forts. The other one, further to the north, is the Northern Forts.

  * Nearby Fort. It was blasted up shortly after being built.

  * Northern Forts, Liepāja, +371 26369470. The ruins of a 1908 fortress. Military heritage, tours with torches, underground labyrinths, fortifications, seashore, history of Karosta. It was not blasted up. So, it has much more underground labyrinths and tunnels to explore, but it is not as scenic and dramatic from the outside as the first one. Nearby the Northern Forts you can see nature-friendly energy being made by a huge wind power generator, which can be seen from far in the distance.

• St. Nikolai Orthodox Cathedral, +371 63457634. An impressive church in a depressing place. Just nearby Soviet-style apartment buildings surround the church, making it very surreal and contrasting. It was used as a cinema and a gym for soldiers during the soviet occupation years. Nowadays, the St. Nicholas maritime cathedral is a church again and the sound of its bells can be heard from afar.
• Twinned town of Chernobyl. Empty Soviet style apartment buildings, left in 1994. Some are already destroyed, some 10 are still there. Many older houses are empty as well.
• Karosta Prison, +371 26369470. A real military prison until 1997 and now for tourists. You are treated like a prisoner in a reality show and, if you are brave enough, can even stay overnight. Military heritage, show, prison cells, prison buffet, tours, lodging, museum, adventures.
• Karosta Water Tower, Ģenerāļa Baloža iela 29. The water tower is part of the formerly Russian Tsar Alexander III Mořských city. The construction is assumed to have happened between 1903 and 1905.
• Contemporary Art Gallery, Atmodas bulvaris 6. Modern, a bit weird, but always original and interesting exhibitions. You can also rent bicycles here.
• Submarine Accumulator Fence and Hangar. The remains of a submarine base that was once here. There are also former dormitories, beautiful red brick buildings. All are abandoned and partially demolished.
• Horse Arena. A roofless building, which was once used for soldiers' training to ride horses, as well as for official celebrations for up to 4000 people who could fit there. These days the building is not used, except for one nice event, when Liepāja symphony orchestra made an open-air concert here.
• Castle. Unfortunately in bad condition.
• Other things: Karosta cemetery with Soviet style monuments, Karosta park, many forests and Beberlini Lake (a nice place to have a barbecue party in summer). There is camping, too.

Karosta beach. There is a beach in Karosta. There you will find some pebbles and the sand might not be that soft as in the previous beach. On the seashore of Karosta you can also see a breakwater, the longest of Liepāja`s breakwaters, stretching 1.8 km into the sea, and you can go on it by car for approximately half of its length. Just be careful of waves in windy weather. And wind is famous in Liepāja. A Latvian expression says "the city where wind was born". And as any Latvian would tell, it's Liepāja. On the shore you can also see two fortresses. This is a wild beach with steep coasts, unlike the central beach with dunes.

Eight fortresses. They are all around the city, but the most scenic and interesting ones are these two on the shores of Karosta. The one closer to the breakwater (you can even see a small part of it from the breakwater), is the Nearby Forts. The other one, further to the north, is the Northern Forts.

* Nearby Fort. It was blasted up shortly after being built.

* Northern Forts, Liepāja, +371 26369470. The ruins of a 1908 fortress. Military heritage, tours with torches, underground labyrinths, fortifications, seashore, history of Karosta. It was not blasted up. So, it has much more underground labyrinths and tunnels to explore, but it is not as scenic and dramatic from the outside as the first one. Nearby the Northern Forts you can see nature-friendly energy being made by a huge wind power generator, which can be seen from far in the distance.

St. Nikolai Orthodox Cathedral, +371 63457634. An impressive church in a depressing place. Just nearby Soviet-style apartment buildings surround the church, making it very surreal and contrasting. It was used as a cinema and a gym for soldiers during the soviet occupation years. Nowadays, the St. Nicholas maritime cathedral is a church again and the sound of its bells can be heard from afar.

Twinned town of Chernobyl. Empty Soviet style apartment buildings, left in 1994. Some are already destroyed, some 10 are still there. Many older houses are empty as well.

Karosta Prison, +371 26369470. A real military prison until 1997 and now for tourists. You are treated like a prisoner in a reality show and, if you are brave enough, can even stay overnight. Military heritage, show, prison cells, prison buffet, tours, lodging, museum, adventures.

Karosta Water Tower, Ģenerāļa Baloža iela 29. The water tower is part of the formerly Russian Tsar Alexander III Mořských city. The construction is assumed to have happened between 1903 and 1905.

Contemporary Art Gallery, Atmodas bulvaris 6. Modern, a bit weird, but always original and interesting exhibitions. You can also rent bicycles here.

Submarine Accumulator Fence and Hangar. The remains of a submarine base that was once here. There are also former dormitories, beautiful red brick buildings. All are abandoned and partially demolished.

Horse Arena. A roofless building, which was once used for soldiers' training to ride horses, as well as for official celebrations for up to 4000 people who could fit there. These days the building is not used, except for one nice event, when Liepāja symphony orchestra made an open-air concert here.

Castle. Unfortunately in bad condition.

Other things: Karosta cemetery with Soviet style monuments, Karosta park, many forests and Beberlini Lake (a nice place to have a barbecue party in summer). There is camping, too.

Amber clock. Actually a sundial-shaped design object, is on the promenade, and is created from thousands of pieces of amber, donated by anyone who wanted to do so. The sundial shows time every hour on the hour, by a special light performance. The performance can be seen much better, when it is dark outside.

Craftman's house, Dārza iela 4/8, +371 26541424. M–F 10:00–17:00. Usually closed on weekends.. Latvian craftwork in the former home of the mayor Schröder. See the longest amber necklace in the world (123 m or 403 ft), weighing almost 20 kg (44 lb). You can also watch weavers working a creating beautiful tablecloths, skirts etc. Also, craftsmen workshops, demonstrations of crafts, and exhibitions. Donation appreciated.

Liepāja Museum, 16, Kurmajas Avenue, +371 63422973. daily 10:00–18:00.

Liepāja During Occupational Regimes, 7/9, K. Ukstina Street, +371 63420274, +371 29605223. W–Su 10:00–18:00.

The Oskars Kalpaks Bridge. Open: 01:00–03:00, 05:00–06:30, 10:30–12:00, 14:30–15:30, 19:30–21:00. This iconic swinging metal bridge to Karosta is often opened to make way for ships. Designed by the German engineer Harald Hall and built in 1906. Check out the times at the bridge when the bridge is closed and ships are let through.

There is much to do and see in the city – nature is everywhere, even within the city: those are not just artificially planted city parks. There are also absolutely unspoiled and natural beaches, forests and meadows near the Liepāja lake. There are some swamps, but they are not that accessible. You can visit special swamp trails in Liepāja region, as well as even bigger and denser forests.

• Liepaja Theatre, Teātra iela 4, +371 63422514, +371 63407811, +371 63422121. Also sells tickets to various other venues all over the city, like the organ music festival.
• Liepāja Concert Hall, Radio iela 8, +371 63424555. New and modern building with a grotesque brown glass façade.
• Seaside Park. In the center of the city, beside the beach, is the most beautiful park of Liepāja. It has many different tree species, three stadiums, a concert garden, bowling center, minigolf, and in summer – cafeterias and many cultural events. You will find fountains there, and if you are lucky, you will see a squirrel running up the tree.
• Beaches and swimming. What attracts tourists the most is probably the whitest and softest sandy beach. Part of it receives the Blue Flag every summer. This indicates that the beach is really good and safe to swim at. A good thing about Liepāja beach is that it is rarely too crowded. In the evening, night or early morning, or in winter, you can sometimes find yourself all alone on a magnificent beach, stretching as far as you can see. This concerns Vecliepājas and Dienvidrietumi beach, which are located in the central and southwestern part of the city. There are also beaches in Karosta.
• Windsurfing. Windsurfing activities are popular and the city has both the sea and the lake, so there are wide opportunities for this and equipment can be rented in windsurfing club Rietumkrasts in Katedrales street, Karosta.
• Baltic Beach Party. every July. Latvia's biggest music festival held at the central beach.
• International Organ Music Festival, Liepāja/Kuldīga. Middle of September. Mostly happening in the Trinity Church. Get you ticket at the Liepaja Theatre. €7 (per concert, as of 2017).

Liepaja Theatre, Teātra iela 4, +371 63422514, +371 63407811, +371 63422121. Also sells tickets to various other venues all over the city, like the organ music festival.

Liepāja Concert Hall, Radio iela 8, +371 63424555. New and modern building with a grotesque brown glass façade.

Seaside Park. In the center of the city, beside the beach, is the most beautiful park of Liepāja. It has many different tree species, three stadiums, a concert garden, bowling center, minigolf, and in summer – cafeterias and many cultural events. You will find fountains there, and if you are lucky, you will see a squirrel running up the tree.

Beaches and swimming. What attracts tourists the most is probably the whitest and softest sandy beach. Part of it receives the Blue Flag every summer. This indicates that the beach is really good and safe to swim at. A good thing about Liepāja beach is that it is rarely too crowded. In the evening, night or early morning, or in winter, you can sometimes find yourself all alone on a magnificent beach, stretching as far as you can see. This concerns Vecliepājas and Dienvidrietumi beach, which are located in the central and southwestern part of the city. There are also beaches in Karosta.

Windsurfing. Windsurfing activities are popular and the city has both the sea and the lake, so there are wide opportunities for this and equipment can be rented in windsurfing club Rietumkrasts in Katedrales street, Karosta.

Baltic Beach Party. every July. Latvia's biggest music festival held at the central beach.

International Organ Music Festival, Liepāja/Kuldīga. Middle of September. Mostly happening in the Trinity Church. Get you ticket at the Liepaja Theatre. €7 (per concert, as of 2017).

Open air markets are always something special for western tourists, but part of daily life for local people. There are many markets throughout the city, but the two most important and largest are the following:

• Peter’s market, +371 63423517. M–Sa 08:00–18:00, Su 08:00–14:00. It has big indoor and outdoor sections, where you can find food and non-food items. There is a fish market in the basement of the indoor market building. Some craftworks, amber and souvenirs can be bought outside, such as amber bracelets etc. This is the best place to buy local, ecologically clean fruit and vegetables, and July is strawberry time! Everything is relatively cheap.
• Anne’s market / Jaunliepājas market, Jelgavas 37 (located one tram stop closer to the centre than the bus/railway station, in Jaunliepaja, +371 63425132. M–Sa 08–17:00. It is smaller than Petertirgus, but similar products and has a big flea market section, where you can find many things from the Soviet era.
• Furthermore, there are two smaller ones, one in Silku/Kalpaka street corner and another one in Karosta for cool soviet-style souvenirs and other interesting stuff.

In Liepāja you will find all shops you might want to find, except for expensive brand shops. The main shopping centres are located in the centre and in the south of the city: Kurzeme, Ostmala, Rietumu centres, XL Sala, Baata, Ezerkrasts, and Depo.

• Kurzeme is one of the largest shopping centres located in the heart of Liepāja, next to the Rose Square. The four-storey building offers a variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and various other service providers, books, jewellery, sports clothing and equipment, kids clothing and toys, women's and men's clothing, footwear, cosmetics, flowers, and sweets. Kurzeme shopping mall features more than 50 stores including global and Latvian favourite brand like Ecco, Sportland, Kidz One, Toy’s Planet, Stenders, Lauma Lingerie, NS King, VOVA, Jahonts, X Jeans, Zvaigzne ABC, Dzintars, and Laima.
• Depo is the largest DIY store in Latvia. Rietumu centres has Jysk. Ostmala has a Rimi hypermarket and many clothes shops. XL Sala has Maxima XX and many other shops. Baata is probably the trendiest shopping centre - it is not large, but has a nice selection of shops and a very good restaurant Olive. Go there by tram till the last stop in the South. And 5 minutes from there is a wonderful white sand beach of the Baltic sea.
• Visit the tourism information center; they have nice souvenirs, too. A good souvenir from little bays near fortresses in Karosta is little pebbles from the Baltic Sea. It's free and natural. Some tourists take a little jar of Liepāja central beach unbelievably white and soft sand as a souvenir.
• Stendera ziepju fabrika produces interesting soaps and soap-related products for bathing, such as Burbuļbumbas - the bubble balls.

Peter’s market, +371 63423517. M–Sa 08:00–18:00, Su 08:00–14:00. It has big indoor and outdoor sections, where you can find food and non-food items. There is a fish market in the basement of the indoor market building. Some craftworks, amber and souvenirs can be bought outside, such as amber bracelets etc. This is the best place to buy local, ecologically clean fruit and vegetables, and July is strawberry time! Everything is relatively cheap.

Anne’s market / Jaunliepājas market, Jelgavas 37 (located one tram stop closer to the centre than the bus/railway station, in Jaunliepaja, +371 63425132. M–Sa 08–17:00. It is smaller than Petertirgus, but similar products and has a big flea market section, where you can find many things from the Soviet era.

Furthermore, there are two smaller ones, one in Silku/Kalpaka street corner and another one in Karosta for cool soviet-style souvenirs and other interesting stuff.

Kurzeme is one of the largest shopping centres located in the heart of Liepāja, next to the Rose Square. The four-storey building offers a variety of shops, cafes, restaurants and various other service providers, books, jewellery, sports clothing and equipment, kids clothing and toys, women's and men's clothing, footwear, cosmetics, flowers, and sweets. Kurzeme shopping mall features more than 50 stores including global and Latvian favourite brand like Ecco, Sportland, Kidz One, Toy’s Planet, Stenders, Lauma Lingerie, NS King, VOVA, Jahonts, X Jeans, Zvaigzne ABC, Dzintars, and Laima.

Visit the tourism information center; they have nice souvenirs, too. A good souvenir from little bays near fortresses in Karosta is little pebbles from the Baltic Sea. It's free and natural. Some tourists take a little jar of Liepāja central beach unbelievably white and soft sand as a souvenir.

Stendera ziepju fabrika produces interesting soaps and soap-related products for bathing, such as Burbuļbumbas - the bubble balls.

For more information on typical Latvian food, see Latvia#Eat.

For a western traveller, Liepāja's food prices might seem quite cheap, even for top-class restaurants. This is because the local average salary is about €400 per month.

• Peter’s market (Pētertirgus, see above) – Has fresh, clean local food which is natural and healthy. Especially strawberries in July...
• Try Latvian food in a cafeteria, restaurant or just buy a Sklandrausis (carrot pie, typical for Kurzeme, Western Latvia) in Šaras (a local word used for inner pavilion of a market, in this case Petertirgus market, and the official word in Latvian would be skārņi).
• Serenāde, Pasta 28 (on the corner of Graudu and Pasta streets. Has great cakes and pastries costing €0.40.
• Doka Pica, Brivzemnieka Street (just behind the main University building, +371 63420290. A restaurant with good and cheap pizzas, meat dishes, fish - everything.
• Karosta Prison Canteen. In Karosta Prison there is an authentic Soviet style canteen, but it does not operate regularly and is used by group requests only.

Peter’s market (Pētertirgus, [[#Buy|see above]]) – Has fresh, clean local food which is natural and healthy. Especially strawberries in July...

Try Latvian food in a cafeteria, restaurant or just buy a Sklandrausis (carrot pie, typical for Kurzeme, Western Latvia) in Šaras (a local word used for inner pavilion of a market, in this case Petertirgus market, and the official word in Latvian would be skārņi).

Serenāde, Pasta 28 (on the corner of Graudu and Pasta streets. Has great cakes and pastries costing €0.40.

Doka Pica, Brivzemnieka Street (just behind the main University building, +371 63420290. A restaurant with good and cheap pizzas, meat dishes, fish - everything.

Karosta Prison Canteen. In Karosta Prison there is an authentic Soviet style canteen, but it does not operate regularly and is used by group requests only.

• Upe.
• Barons Bumbiers.
• Medus.

Upe.

Barons Bumbiers.

Medus.

• Restaurant Piano.
• Oskars.
• Kolumbs.
• Libava.
• Fontaine Royal. A very stylish restaurant on the Promenade (not to be confused with the nearby top-class restaurant in hotel Promenade). Everything is in pompous royal style, golden colored chairs and tables, etc.
• Pastnieka māja.
• Vecais kapteinis. Fish restaurant.

Restaurant Piano.

Oskars.

Kolumbs.

Libava.

Fontaine Royal. A very stylish restaurant on the Promenade (not to be confused with the nearby top-class restaurant in hotel Promenade). Everything is in pompous royal style, golden colored chairs and tables, etc.

Pastnieka māja.

Vecais kapteinis. Fish restaurant.

Nightlife places, all in the centre, include:

• Fontaine Palace, Dzirnavu iela 4, +371 63488510. A hotel's music club in an old warehouse, capacity 600 people, offering live bands from around the globe. Popular with travellers and internationals.
• Rock café "Old Viking", Zivju iela 3.
• Big7, Baznīcas iela 14/16, +371 63427318.

Fontaine Palace, Dzirnavu iela 4, +371 63488510. A hotel's music club in an old warehouse, capacity 600 people, offering live bands from around the globe. Popular with travellers and internationals.

Rock café "Old Viking", Zivju iela 3.

Big7, Baznīcas iela 14/16, +371 63427318.

Liepāja is a safe place. Some people think it is not safe at night, but it is all a matter of personal opinion. Avoid walking alone in darkness. Do not leave your belongings unattended in clubs and pubs, or on the streets. Be careful in Karosta - during the 1990s it was a criminal place; however, it is much better now.

Latvia is Nordic in its weather. The temperatures in July can reach 30ºC (86ºF). And they can also fall as low as -30ºC (-22ºF) in January. But both winter and summer have their beauty. Make two visits - one in the summer and one in the winter - and you will have two totally different experiences! And make yet another visit in mid October, when all the trees are colorful.

• In Liepāja region there are some nice towns, 100 km of beautiful Baltic coast, and lots of forests.
• Kalvenes Zoo "Cīruļi" – It is worth visiting this park, which is very big and where animals have bigger space to live than usually in city zoos.
• Pape Nature Reserve – Another option, if you want to see wild horses and wild boar and wild coast.
• Aizpute – A town of medieval atmosphere with little irregular streets, old wooden buildings, small lakes and castle ruins, on the way to Kuldiga (about 100 km away).
• Kuldiga – The capital of Duchy of Courland, Venice of Latvia, with unique and wooden architecture, red-tile roofs, bridges, cobbled streets, the widest widest waterfall ledge in Europe, and nearby the longest underground (sand) cave labyrinth in the Baltics.
• Pāvilosta and Daugavpils – According to locals in Liepāja, these have forts similar to Liepāja but which are much better preserved.
• Ventspils – A modern and artistic sea resort city 110 km to the north, has many things to see, and is one of the tidiest places in the Kurzeme region. A long-stretching beach and recreational park provide everything for a relaxing holiday week or weekend. It gets its prosperity from the huge ice-free port, which is the busiest port in the Baltic states, and the oil transit business.
• Klaipėda – This city in Lithuania is the gateway to the Curonian Spit, a stretch of sand dunes 99 km in length. Buses for Klaipėda with a stop at Palanga go from the Ecolines Bus Stop. on Kuršu iela in Liepāja – Minibus 08:00 €5, Ecolines Bus 11:30 €4.50 (book online). The minibus does not go to the Klaipėda bus station but to the Akropolis Shopping Centre, from where you have to take a regular bus into the centre or to the bus station.

[[Klaipėda]] – This city in [[Lithuania]] is the gateway to the [[Curonian Spit]], a stretch of sand dunes 99 km in length. Buses for Klaipėda with a stop at Palanga go from the Ecolines Bus Stop. on Kuršu iela in Liepāja – Minibus 08:00 €5, Ecolines Bus 11:30 €4.50 (book online). The minibus does not go to the Klaipėda bus station but to the Akropolis Shopping Centre, from where you have to take a regular bus into the centre or to the bus station.