Popular Sports to Play in Latvia

Published on April 28, 2026 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Between seas, forests, and gentle hills, Latvia is an XXL playground for sports enthusiasts. In this country where more than half of the territory is covered by forests, where beaches stretch nearly 500 km along the coast, and where winters are long and snowy, sports are as much a pastime as a part of the national culture. From the ice rinks of Riga to the forest trails of Gauja, from the beach volleyball courts of Jūrmala to the Greenways laid out on former railway lines, there is no shortage of opportunities to get moving.

This article provides an overview of the most popular sports to practice in Latvia, with a concrete focus on where and how to discover them, whether you are a beginner, a regular practitioner, or a traveling visitor.

Team sports that make the country vibrate

In Latvia, team sports are not just followed on TV: they shape community life, the club offerings, and the infrastructure. Three disciplines clearly dominate the landscape: ice hockey, basketball, and soccer. Volleyball – especially beach volleyball – also holds a prominent place, particularly along the coast.

Ice hockey, the true national sport

Officially the national sport, ice hockey is deeply rooted in Latvian culture. It is played on the streets, on frozen ponds, and in modern arenas. Approximately 5,000 people play hockey in the country, not counting the thousands of fans who regularly fill Arena Rīga during major international events.

The history of Latvian hockey dates back to the 1920s, with a national championship launched as early as 1931. After the Soviet era, the Latvian federation rejoined the international scene in the early 1990s. Since then, the national team has achieved several feats at the World Championships and Olympic Games, eventually winning a world bronze medal recently, celebrated as a national event with a day off work and nearly 50,000 people gathered in Riga’s central square to welcome the players.

Good to know:

The country has several indoor rinks, especially around Riga (Arena Rīga, Mārupe, Ventspils, Tukums, Ogre). In winter, when lakes freeze, amateur hockey is played everywhere, for example on Lake Ķīšezers near the capital.

The winter infrastructure is complemented by a strong tradition of ice sports: bobsleigh, luge, skeleton in Sigulda, as well as skating and hockey in many small towns.

Basketball, the second national passion

Behind hockey, basketball is the other great sporting love of the country. Historically, Latvia played a pioneering role in Europe: it won the very first EuroBasket in the 1930s and was one of the founding members of the International Basketball Federation. Basketball culture is visible everywhere: courts in schoolyards, hoops installed in neighborhoods, amateur leagues, semi-professional clubs, and a men’s national team ranked among the best in the world.

Flagship clubs such as VEF Riga, BK Ventspils, BK Liepāja, and BK Ogre compete in a system of national and Baltic leagues. The main league, often referred to by a sponsor name (Optibet LBL, for example), brings together only a handful of clubs, but the entire country is networked with training structures and regional competitions.

Riga and other major cities (Liepāja, Valmiera, Ogre, Ventspils…) have modern multi-sport centers. The Olympic Sports Center in Riga – built on the former hippodrome – symbolizes this ambition: six large gyms, a weight room, aerobics rooms, a 25-meter swimming pool, and offices of sports federations.

Tip:

For a practitioner passing through Riga, several fitness clubs and multi-sport halls offer open sessions or rental slots. Among the facilities listed in the capital’s sports directories are, for example, City Fitness, Joker klubs, Martas sporta centrs, Golden Gym, and Georgs 5. These addresses make it easy to combine activities such as weight training, ball games, and group classes.

Soccer, widely played even if less visible

Officially, sports marketing studies have sometimes ranked soccer as the most popular sport in the country, considering participation, media consumption, and match attendance. Historically, soccer was actually the king sport during the first period of independence (1918–1940), before being challenged by hockey and basketball.

Today, the national championship (Virslīga) includes the best clubs, while thousands of players compete in lower divisions, corporate leagues, or amateur teams. The number of participants in the country is estimated at 15,000. Soccer fields are present in most municipalities, often integrated into multi-purpose sports centers.

In towns like Brocēni, the local sports center includes a stadium, a multi-sport hall, a soccer field, and a basketball hall. In Limbaži, the regional Olympic center has grass and synthetic soccer fields, tennis courts, outdoor basketball and volleyball courts, as well as a rowing base on the nearby lake.

For a traveler, joining a friendly match or a training session at a local club is relatively easy, especially in medium-sized towns where teams are eager for new playing partners.

Volleyball and beach volleyball, from the gym to the sand of Jūrmala

Volleyball – indoor and beach – is also among the common team sports. Around 12,000 people are estimated to play volleyball in Latvia, and nearly 3,000 play beach volleyball, according to federation estimates.

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Beach tennis was ranked the fourth most popular sport in Latvia at the end of the 2010s.

The beating heart of beach volleyball is in Jūrmala, the major seaside resort less than 20 km from Riga. Majori Beach is considered the “nerve center” of the discipline: it is both a daily practice spot, an informal training ground for top players, and the main stage for major international competitions.

Many beach sections in Jūrmala are equipped with poles for setting up nets, especially in Lielupe, Bulduri, Dzintari, Dubulti, Melluži, Asari, Vaivari, and Kauguri. Three recreation areas – Priedaine, Majori, and Dubulti – have dedicated courts. The Majori beach sports center offers equipment rental, supervised training, or tournament play on certified courts.

Summer seasons in Jūrmala host stages of European and world circuits (EuroBeachVolley, World Tour, “Futures” series), as well as a dense calendar of amateur tournaments and Baltic competitions.

In winter, the practice moves to indoor complexes, such as the “Ruukki” center near Riga, which houses several indoor sand courts dedicated to beach volleyball. Specialized coaches, like Andris Krūmiņš, run regular training sessions there.

Saddle up: the Latvian kingdom of cycling

If you had to choose one individual sport emblematic of contemporary Latvia, cycling would be a serious candidate. Whether it’s city biking, road cycling, mountain biking, bikepacking, or BMX, the country has a wealth of assets: moderate terrain, vast forests, flat coasts, a network of quiet small roads, and above all, very precise mapped routes.

Ideal terrain for all levels

Latvia’s highest point, Gaizinkalns, barely reaches 311.5 meters. This gentle topography, combined with vast plains and river valleys, makes cycling accessible even to beginners. The coastline – especially along the Gulf of Riga and the Kurzeme coast – offers flat routes, perfect for families or casual cyclists. Inland, regions like the Vidzeme highlands or Gauja National Park offer more varied terrain, with regular climbs, forest paths, wetlands, and panoramic views.

Secondary roads often have little traffic, which sometimes compensates for the lack of shoulders or bike lanes. In major cities, however, specific cycling facilities exist and are expanding, especially in Riga and Sigulda.

EuroVelo, Greenways, and long-distance crossings

Latvia is crossed by several major European routes, supplemented by a dense network of national, regional, and local routes.

Example:

Among the major axes of the EuroVelo European cycling network, three routes stand out particularly. These long-distance cycling routes offer unique experiences through various European landscapes and cultures.

Alongside these European axes, the country has developed “greenways”: former railway lines converted into marked cycling paths, often through forests on smooth gravel trails.

An iconic long-distance crossing, the “Tour de LatEst” (approximately 1075 km), connects Latvia to Estonia. While some sections still use fairly busy main roads, the route remains a benchmark for travelers wishing to link the two countries by bike.

Official data mention more than 150 cycling routes in Latvia: EuroVelo, national, regional, and 14 local circuits, plus thousands of tracks recorded by the community on platforms like komoot.

Concrete routes: from short rides to long-distance challenges

The online cycling community offers a wide choice of detailed routes, with elevation profiles, surface types, user ratings, and photos. Around Riga, for example, more than 4,000 routes have been recorded, totaling over 240,000 km traveled by a community of more than 700,000 members.

Some examples of listed loops illustrate the variety of offerings:

Specific road circuits have also been recorded, with distances from 40 to over 80 km, suitable for road cyclists looking for a steady ride without big climbs.

Note:

Around Riga, popular routes connect the capital to Jūrmala (about 26 km, almost flat), or Riga – Alderi – Turaida – Sigulda by mountain bike (nearly 70 km, with forest sections and some climbs).

In Gauja National Park, a challenging circuit of about 186 km combines narrow trails, forest paths, dirt road sections, and a notable climb to the Ziediņkalns viewpoint in Sigulda. This is a typical route for experienced cyclists or bikepackers.

Renting a bike, planning a trip

Bike logistics are relatively simple to set up. In Riga, several rental shops offer trekking bikes, mountain bikes, and electric bikes by the day or week. Typical rates are around €10 per day for a trekking bike, with discounts for longer rentals, €15 for a mountain bike, and higher rates for e-bikes (range up to 80–85 km).

Public transport with a bike

How to lighten or adapt your bike route using train or bus.

Traveling by train with your bike

Most trains accept bikes, sometimes in specific cars, for a luggage ticket of about €2.

Traveling by bus with your bike

Companies like Lux Express accept bikes (often free in the cargo hold if space allows), with some seasonal limitations from other operators.

To plan a nature trip, resources like the national cycling map (with GPX/KML data download) or the site Dodies.lv (and its version Trails.lv) allow you to combine roads, urban bike paths, forest trails, and hiking trails.

Camping, bivouacking, and accommodations

For cycle touring, Latvia is particularly welcoming. Bivouacking is permitted under forest law, provided you do not set up on private property or in strictly protected areas (marked with an oak leaf symbol). The country provides many free recreational areas, with dry toilets, tables, and sometimes shelters. A dedicated app, Dabas Turisms, lists these sites.

Campgrounds are numerous and significantly cheaper than in Western Europe. A night in a tent at places like Zagarkalns Campground in Gauja National Park costs around €8 per person. Collaborative platforms (Park4night, iOverlander) supplement this information.

For hard accommodations, budget rooms often cost around €30–40 for two people, and dorm beds in Riga start at about €13. Most towns and villages are close to each other, making regular supplies easy (grocery stores often open on Sundays) and allowing for lightweight gear.

The sea and rivers: land of water sports

With nearly 500 km of coastline and a multitude of rivers and lakes, Latvia is also a paradise for water activities: kayaking, sailing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, swimming in the sea or lakes.

The Baltic coast, between surfing, sailing, and kite

On the Baltic Sea, several spots have become references for wind and wave enthusiasts. Pāvilosta, on the western coast, is one of the hotspots for surfing and windsurfing. A specialized club, “Spinout,” offers equipment rental and lessons. Further north, Ventspils attracts kitesurfers, while Jūrmala and its long stretch of sand welcome SUP, coastal kayaking, and all kinds of beach sports.

The coastline is not only for advanced riders: calm waters in mild weather, shallow beaches, and fine sand also make it ideal for family swimming, running, or simply beach cruising by bike on the paths that run along the shore.

Kayaking, canoeing, and rafting on the rivers

The interior of the country is crossed by waterways that are perfect for kayak or canoe trips. The Gauja River, the longest in Latvia, is particularly popular. Day trips cover 10 to 20 km through the valley, alternating calm stretches, small rapids, sandstone cliffs, and improvised picnic beaches.

Other rivers like the Amata or the Brasla offer wilder settings, with exposed rocks and more pronounced gradients. Clubs and operators organize trips combining paddling, traditional sauna (pirts), and overnight camping or rural house stays.

In the Latgale region, the Lake District in the east, organizations like “Lost in Latgale” offer experiences mixing boat rides, hiking, and sauna on chains of small interconnected lakes.

Wakeboarding, SUP, and water parks

The rise of modern water sports is seen in the increasing number of wakeparks and water parks. In Jēkabpils, the Wake Park on the Radži reservoir – labeled “Blue Flag” – offers wakeboarding, water skiing, paddleboarding, and also simple swimming on a developed beach.

Good to know:

Several sites offer cable water skiing in Latvia, notably in Daugavpils (Wake It), Ozolnieki (5 Masti), and at the Riga center on Zaķusala Island. For families, the Līvu Aquaparks water park near the capital offers slides, pools, and a spa area.

Stand-up paddleboarding enthusiasts have various options: board rental in downtown Riga to glide on the Daugava or canals, dawn outings on bog lakes (like Cenas Tīrelis, accessible via a boardwalk, followed by a ~2 km portage to reach the water). Small coastal coves and slow rivers round out the offering.

Forests as far as the eye can see: hiking, trail running, and active nature

More than 50% of Latvian territory is covered by forests. Add to that four national parks, numerous regional nature parks, and reserves. This omnipresent nature lends itself to hiking, trail running, Nordic walking, cross-country skiing, and a whole range of so-called “soft outdoor” activities.

Marked trails, national parks, and bogs

The country has systematized the creation of marked trails, often loop trails ranging from 1 to 15 km, with wooden boardwalks, bog bridges, small observation towers, or fire pits. Some of these circuits are listed and rated on the site Dodies.lv / Trails.lv, which only includes the “best” routes, visited and approved by its creators.

In Gauja National Park, for instance, several loops starting from Sigulda and Cēsis allow you to discover sandstone cliffs, caves, viewpoints, and villages. The “Three Castle Route” (about 6 km) connects medieval castles and views of the valley; other longer circuits (up to 21 km) run along the banks of the Gauja or Amata.

In Kurzeme, trails like the Dunika Bog Boardwalk (about 6 km) or the Cena Moorland (5 km) offer preserved peatland landscapes with birdwatching towers. Further north, the Peterezers Nature Trail or the Lake Engure Orchid Trail (3.5 km) highlight dunes, wet forests, and remarkable floral areas.

Kurzeme Tourism Office

Some routes are designed to be accessible to people with reduced mobility, such as the Ciecere Nature Trail (750 m) in Kuldīga, with an adapted layout and specific equipment.

Nordic walking and “sport for all”

Nordic walking holds a special status in Latvia. The Latvian association “Sport for All” is the only entity authorized to officially oversee the movement, organize instructor training, and run the national Nordic walking championship. Over 250 instructors have been trained, of whom 35 are currently certified active.

3000

Number of mass events dedicated to Nordic walking organized by the association since 2007.

Beyond this specific discipline, Latvia emphasizes “sport for all” and daily physical activity. The Latvian association “Sport for All,” founded in 1991, also organizes family sports festivals, national health weeks (MOVE Week), walking or running challenges (some challenges have gathered over 1,200 participants for a total of 150,000 km), and contributes to shaping national sports policy.

Trail running, road running, and popular events

While running receives less media attention than other disciplines, it remains widely practiced. National surveys estimate that about 6% of Latvians mention it among their regular activities. Events like the Riga Marathon structure the calendar, and the forest trails of the Vidzeme and Latgale regions are perfect for trail running.

Routes like “The Ancient Knight Path” (46 km, over two days) around Valmiera, or “Around Burtnieki Lake” (70 km) can be cycled but also, for the more enduring, done as fast hiking or staged running, as the paths are varied yet well marked.

Winter: the great white playground

In Latvia, winter does not mean sports downtime; quite the opposite. From December to early March, with temperatures that can drop to -30 °C but a dry climate, snow and ice open up a vast field of activities: alpine skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, skating, bobsleigh, sledding, dog sledding, ice fishing…

Alpine skiing and snowboarding: 18 resorts, 20 km of slopes

Although the country is not mountainous, it has 18 ski resorts totaling about 20 km of slopes with 75 lifts. The modest heights (max 312 m) are offset by the density of sites, a friendly atmosphere, affordable prices, and good accessibility from Riga.

Among the best-known resorts: the Alps, the Pyrenees, the Vosges, the Jura, and the Massif Central.

For visitors, it’s easy to rent equipment directly at the resort or in specialized shops in Riga (chains like Sportland or Xsports). English-speaking instructors are common, and most sites also offer sled or tube runs, ideal for children.

Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and winter hiking

The relatively flat terrain makes the country ideal for cross-country skiing. In the capital, several parks transform into groomed trails: Uzvaras Park (Victory Park), Lucavsala, Mežaparks, or the Biķernieki racing track. Most offer loops of varying difficulty, sometimes lit in the evening, with ski rental available on site or nearby.

Tip:

Outside Riga, areas like the Blue Hills of Ogre, Sigulda, or the Madona region offer more challenging routes, with deep forests, gentle ups and downs. Cross-country skiing is sometimes combined with winter orienteering, adding a navigation component to the endurance effort.

When snow is abundant, snowshoes become a privileged tool to venture into national parks (Gauja, Ķemeri, Ziemeļgauja). Local agencies organize guided outings, and snowshoe rentals are available in Cēsis, Sigulda, and Riga.

Bobsleigh, luge, and thrills in Sigulda

In Sigulda, in the Gauja valley, is the only bobsleigh and luge track in the Baltic states, one of 18 such facilities open to the public worldwide. In winter, you can ride the track in a specially adapted bobsleigh with a professional driver. The descent, about 1,420 m, can reach speeds near 120 km/h, for an experience lasting about a minute.

Activities at the Sigulda bobsleigh track

Discover the unique experiences offered by the Sigulda bobsleigh track, summer and winter, with options including transport and equipment.

Summer bobsleigh on wheels

Enjoy high-speed descents and thrilling curves on the track, even without ice, for an experience accessible in summer.

Organized trips from Riga

Benefit from a package including round-trip transport, safety briefing, necessary equipment, and free time to admire the panoramas from the top.

Skating, ice fishing, and traditional activities

Skating on frozen lakes is part of the Latvian winter imagination. Places like Lake Alūksne become open-air skating rinks when the ice is thick enough. In the city, temporary rinks are set up in Riga, for example on Esplanāde or on squares in the old town during the Christmas season.

Ice fishing is practiced on some large lakes – Ķīšezers, Lubāns (the largest in the country), Alūksne – again with special attention to ice safety. Operators like “Fishing Latvia” provide equipment and guidance for beginners.

Other activities round out this picture: dog sledding (dogs like huskies or malamutes, sleds that can reach 30 km/h), skijoring (skier pulled by motorcycle, car, or horse, sometimes up to 120 km/h in competition), or ice karting when the ice thickness allows setting up tracks on lakes.

Sports centers and infrastructure: from multi-sport to relaxation

Latvia does not rely solely on its open spaces; it also invests in versatile sports centers, essential in winter and for developing “sport for all” in urban areas.

In Riga: Olympic centers, gyms, and public courts

The capital concentrates a significant portion of the infrastructure offering. Besides Arena Rīga for hockey and major events, the Olympic Sports Center is a key facility: six large halls for team sports, a 25-meter pool (6 lanes, depth 1.30 to 2.30 m), a weight room, aerobics spaces, and federation offices.

The Rimi Olympic Center (Rimi Olimpiskais centrs), on Grostonas iela, illustrates a recent trend: complete renovation of the weight rooms (Spēka zāle) with new machines, LED lighting, and professional supervision. Entry to the gym, around €6, also includes access to a relaxation area with several types of baths. The aquatic complex, considered one of the most modern in Riga, includes a large pool with 25m and 50m lanes, smaller pools with waterfalls and massage jets, differentiated lanes by swimming speed, as well as aqua aerobics classes and swimming lessons for all ages.

Good to know:

The facility emphasizes family with a water play area and slides for children, and a café on the ground floor. For parking, a paid lot with subscription is available, as well as spaces on nearby streets. A 10% discount applies on tickets purchased online. Information on services and rates is detailed on the website and communicated via social media.

In the neighborhoods, the municipality also invests in outdoor courts. Riga has about thirty large multi-purpose public courts (soccer, basketball, etc.). Other smaller ones, often linked to schools, are the subject of debates: should they be left open without supervision or video surveillance? A emblematic example is the brand-new court at High School No. 66, equipped with four basketball hoops, gymnastics bars, and a shot put area. Its construction cost €337,000, and due to a lack of security measures, it remained closed to the public for nine months outside school hours. The municipality committed to opening it free of charge in summer once a guard is hired, and then reassessing access conditions.

Regional centers and local facilities

Outside the capital, the country has several versatile sports centers that combine indoor halls, pools, outdoor fields, and accommodations.

In Limbaži, the Olympic Center offers the following:

This type of center is not limited to free practice: it hosts championships, tournaments, training camps, offers catering, and sometimes accommodation, thus becoming a base for clubs, schools, and national events.

In Liepāja, the fitness center OLYMP is another example of a reference facility, with a weight room equipped to international standards (first center officially labeled HAMMER STRENGTH in the Baltic states), dedicated rooms for indoor cycling, boxing, aerobics, and yoga, as well as ancillary services (massages, sauna, solarium, fitness bar, free parking).

In medium and small towns, the offering can seem oversized, raising the question of daily use. Experts like Guntis Apīnis, sports advisor for the Latvian Association of Local Governments, note that in sparsely populated rural municipalities, entire stadiums or complexes sometimes remain nearly empty, open for free, whereas in denser areas, management must be more structured, with reservations and supervision.

A highly organized sports culture

This abundance of infrastructure and activities rests on a dense associative network. The Council of Latvian Sports Federations brings together nearly 100 federations and more than 120,000 practitioners through its collective members. It coordinates the development of 180 disciplines and advocates for equal treatment among sports.

Note:

The Latvian association ‘Sport for All’ promotes an active lifestyle at all ages, raises awareness of the benefits of physical activity to prevent diseases, develops intergenerational projects, and cooperates with an international network of similar organizations.

This policy framework translates into the national strategy: sports development plans, programs dedicated to public health, integration of sports into school and extracurricular activities, promotion of physical activity in the media. Campaigns like MOVE Week, European Weeks of Sport, or digital walking and running challenges concretely reflect this desire to get the population moving.

How to enjoy this sports culture when visiting Latvia?

For a traveler, Latvia offers a rare combination: a relatively low cost of living, accessible transportation, a wealth of online information (maps, directories, community platforms), and a population generally open to sharing a court, a trail, or a session.

To take advantage of this potential, here are some concrete ideas:

Sports activities in Latvia

Discover a variety of sports experiences suited to each environment, from the city to the great outdoors.

Urban and multi-sport activities

Enjoy multi-sport centers (Rimi Olympic Center, Olympic Sports Center in Riga, regional centers) to alternate swimming, fitness, team sports, and spa relaxation.

Coastal activities

On the coast, combine a bike ride on EuroVelo 10, a beach volleyball session at Majori Beach, and water sports (SUP, kayak, surfing at Pāvilosta).

Adventure in national parks

In national parks, alternate hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking on the Gauja. Use online maps and local tourist offices, accustomed to advising sports enthusiasts.

Winter sports and sliding

In winter, enjoy small ski resorts for a simple day of sliding, try a bobsleigh run in Sigulda, or a snowshoe outing on a frozen bog.

Guided Nordic walking

Try Nordic walking during an event or guided outing, to discover this highly structured discipline in Latvia.

Self-organized planning

Put together your own program using outdoor activity booking platforms, bike rental shops, campground directories, and official cycling maps.

Over the years, Latvia has built a true sports ecosystem, ranging from high-level (hockey, basketball, BMX, sliding sports) to the most accessible recreational practice, including more original forms like mass Nordic walking, developed nature trails, or beach sports. Whether you love the dry cold, the sea breeze, forest trails, or gym floors, it is hard not to find your sports happiness in Latvia.

Cyril Jarnias

Cyril Jarnias is an independent expert in international wealth management with over 20 years of experience. As an expatriate himself, he is dedicated to helping individuals and business leaders build, protect, and pass on their wealth with complete peace of mind.

On his website, cyriljarnias.com, he shares his expertise on international real estate, offshore company formation, and expatriation.

Thanks to his expertise, he offers sound advice to optimize his clients' wealth management. Cyril Jarnias is also recognized for his appearances in many prestigious media outlets such as BFM Business, les Français de l’étranger, Le Figaro, Les Echos, and Mieux vivre votre argent, where he shares his knowledge and know-how in wealth management.

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