Latvia’s most surprising city
Liepāja is a Baltic port city on Latvia’s west coast — the country’s third-largest city and its 2027 European Capital of Culture. It has 12km of sandy coastline, a former Soviet naval fortress open to visitors, Art Nouveau streets, and a music scene that punches well above its size. Three hours from Riga. Largely undiscovered by international tourism. That’s changing.
12km
Sandy coastline
2027
European Capital of Culture
67k
Residents
3hrs
from Rīga
Best for: Coolation (cooler European summer vacations) · History and dark tourism · Baltic beach breaks · Budget city breaks · Independent travellers · ECoC 2027
Worth knowing: Liepāja sits on an exposed Baltic coastline — wind is a permanent feature, not occasional weather. Pack layers even in June.
Six ways to make Liepāja work for you
Concerts, festivals, food events and cultural happenings throughout the year.
See what’s coming up.
Big Events →
European Capital City of Culture
Liepāja 2027
Opening
April 2027
3
Partner regions
(un)rest
The programme
Countdown
Days
Hours
Where to stay in Liepāja
Liepāja has accommodation to suit most budgets — from seafront hotels in the city centre to quiet holiday cottages in Bernati, 30km south along the coast. The main hotel cluster sits within walking distance of the beach and Old Town. For a longer stay or a quieter experience, self-catering options in Bernati offer pine forest, dunes, and significantly lower prices.
Best for: City centre hotels · Beachfront access · Bernati cottages · Budget guesthouses
Book ahead: Summer weekends and the Liepāja 2027 programme period fill fast — especially beachfront properties.
Latest from Liepāja Guide
118 Years on the Same Stage: The Liepāja Theatre and What That Continuity Means
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What Liepāja Actually Offers in 2027: The Cultural Case for the City
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Liepāja has a concert hall coloured like amber and shaped, oddly, like a traditional Latvian woman’s hat. It has a theatre that’s been running since before the First World War. Whether either is worth building…
Liepāja or Palanga Beach — Which One Actually Suits Your Trip?
Liepāja beach vs Palanga is the comparison most Baltic-bound travellers end up making anyway. One beach in Latvia, one in Lithuania, 75 km apart, and most people researching either one stumble onto the other within…