Latvia Tourism 2025: Growth in Visitors & Overnight Stays
- Latvia experienced a significant surge in tourism in 2025, welcoming 2.8 million visitors to its hotels and other accommodation establishments – a 4.5% increase compared to 2024.
- The data reveals a growing international interest in Latvia, with foreign visitors accounting for 59.3% – or 1.7 million – of all guests.
- Lithuania remained the largest source of foreign tourists, sending 272,500 visitors to Latvia in 2025.
Latvia experienced a significant surge in tourism in , welcoming 2.8 million visitors to its hotels and other accommodation establishments – a 4.5% increase compared to . According to data released by the Central Statistical Bureau on , these visitors contributed to a total of 5 million overnight stays, representing a 6.1% rise year-on-year.
The data reveals a growing international interest in Latvia, with foreign visitors accounting for 59.3% – or 1.7 million – of all guests. This represents a 5.3% increase in foreign arrivals compared to the previous year. The number of nights spent by non-residents rose by 8.3% to 3.1 million, with an average stay duration of 1.8 nights – consistent with the average.
Lithuania remained the largest source of foreign tourists, sending 272,500 visitors to Latvia in . Estonia followed with 188,100 arrivals, while Germany contributed 165,200 tourists. Finland (121,200), the United Kingdom (113,400), Poland (81,000), the United States (64,200), Spain (58,100), Sweden (56,200), Norway (45,100), and Italy (41,100) also featured prominently as source countries.
Notably, the data highlights significant growth in arrivals from specific nations. The Central Statistical Bureau reported a 19.7% increase – equivalent to 18,700 additional visitors – from the United Kingdom. Poland saw a 9.4% rise (7,000 more visitors), while Finland and Estonia experienced increases of 7.9% (8,800) and 4.2% (7,600) respectively.
The capital city, Riga, continues to be the primary destination for international tourists, accommodating 71.8% of all foreign visitors. Jūrmala, a coastal resort town, attracted 7.7%, followed by Mārupe municipality (3.8%), Liepāja (2.8%), Sigulda municipality (1.7%), and Ventspils and Cēsis municipality, each hosting 1.4% of foreign guests.
Domestic tourism also contributed to the overall growth, with 1.1 million Latvian residents utilizing tourist accommodation establishments in – a 3.2% increase compared to the previous year. These residents accounted for 1.9 million overnight stays, a 2.7% increase, with an average stay duration of 1.7 nights, mirroring the figure.
Within Latvia, Riga remained the most popular destination for domestic tourists, attracting 28.3% of residents. Jūrmala followed with 10.2%, Liepāja with 6.4%, Cēsis municipality with 4.7%, Daugavpils with 3.8%, and Kuldīga and Valmiera municipalities each attracting 3.1%.
December saw 193,900 visitors – both foreign and domestic – check into Latvian tourist accommodations, a 3.0% increase compared to December . Of these, 115,100 were international visitors (59.3%) and 78,900 were Latvian residents (40.7%). Total overnight stays for the month reached 346,500, a 4.9% increase year-on-year.
The average occupancy rate for hotels and similar accommodations across Latvia in December was 40.9%, a 1.1 percentage point increase compared to December . In Riga, the occupancy rate was 53.5%, also representing a 1.2 percentage point increase.
Latvia’s strong performance in places it as the second-fastest growing tourist destination in Europe, following Malta, with an 8.6% increase in overnight stays in the first half of the year, according to Eurostat data released in September . This growth suggests a continuing trend of increased international interest in Latvia as a travel destination, bolstered by a notable rise in visitors from key markets like the United Kingdom and Poland.