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When to go · Latvia

Latvia in May

Great month. Green and bright; 4 May holiday; good month for Riga and Gauja.

Key facts

Verdict
Great
Crowds
Medium
Latvia
Prices
Medium
Latvia

Verdict

GreatVoykit month rating for Latvia

Green and bright; 4 May holiday; good month for Riga and Gauja.

Is another month better than May?

No other month rates higher than May for Latvia in this guide.

Weather in May

  • Riga and the Gulf coast · Riga, Jūrmala, Saulkrastibest weather

    Winter around −3 °C (27 °F), damp and grey; summer 20–24 °C (68–75 °F) and bright until 23:00 in June.

  • Kurzeme and the open Baltic · Liepāja, Ventspils, Kuldīga, Cape Kolkafine

    Windy, milder winters, cooler late springs; beaches warm up only from late June.

  • Inland east (Vidzeme, Latgale) · Sigulda, Cēsis, Daugavpils, Rēzeknebest weather

    Colder, snowier winters and warmer summers; Gauja valley autumn colours peak late Sept – early Oct.

  • Kurzeme: Kurzeme coast · Liepāja to Cape Kolkabest weather

    Sea wind keeps the coast cooler than inland in summer; July–August is the only reliably warm window. Winter is dark and wet, with short daylight.

  • Latgale: Latgale · Eastern Latvia, lake districtbest weather

    Short warm season June–August; lakes warm enough to swim mid-summer. Winters are colder and snowier than the coast.

  • May–September is the walking season; July and August are warmest, around 22 °C (72 °F) by day. Winter brings snow and cross-country skiing.

  • Colder and snowier than the coast; Gaiziņkalns and the Madona ski slopes depend on a real winter.

  • Zemgale: Zemgale plain · Jelgava, Bauska, Rundālebest weather

    Continental and flat: cold, snowy winters; warm, sometimes wet summers. May–September is the window for the palace gardens and park trails.

  • Riga17 °C (63 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Alūksne16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days
  • Bauska16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 5 rain days
  • Cēsis17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days
  • Daugavpils18 °C (64 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days
  • Gulbene15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 11 rain days
  • Jēkabpils18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days
  • Jelgava18 °C (64 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 9 rain days
  • Jūrmala16 °C (61 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days
  • Kuldīga16 °C (61 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days
  • Liepāja15 °C (59 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ligatne16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days
  • Limbaži17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days
  • Madona17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 10 rain days
  • Rēzekne16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 9 rain days
  • Salaspils16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 9 rain days
  • Seda0 °C (32 °F) / 0 °C (32 °F), 0 rain days
  • Sigulda17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 9 rain days
  • Smiltene16 °C (61 °F) / 7 °C (45 °F), 10 rain days
  • Straupe16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 6 rain days
  • Strenči16 °C (61 °F) / 9 °C (48 °F), 6 rain days
  • Tukums17 °C (63 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 9 rain days
  • Valka17 °C (63 °F) / 5 °C (41 °F), 9 rain days
  • Valmiera16 °C (61 °F) / 8 °C (46 °F), 8 rain days
  • Ventspils15 °C (59 °F) / 6 °C (43 °F), 8 rain days

Festivals and holidays

Dates as our data lists them. Moving holidays (lunar and Islamic calendars, Easter) shift every year: check the date for your year before you build a trip on it.

  • Labour Day and Constituent Assembly Day

    1 May

    Public holiday.

  • Restoration of Independence Day

    4 May

    Public holiday; events in Riga; moved to Monday when it falls at the weekend.

  • Labour Day

    1 May · Riga

    A public holiday; shops and sights closed.

Crowds and prices

Crowds · Latvia
Medium
Prices · Latvia
Medium

Compare two months

Weather, crowds and prices for any two months in Latvia, side by side.

  • Verdict

    May: Great

    Jun: Great

  • Crowds

    May: Medium

    Jun: High

  • Prices

    May: Medium

    Jun: High

  • Festivals listed

    May: 3

    Jun: 2

May: Green and bright; 4 May holiday; good month for Riga and Gauja.

June: Longest days; Līgo 23–24 June closes much of the country — spend it in the countryside or plan around it.

Latvia: figures are long-term averages from this guide, not a forecast.

What to pack

Nothing unusual for the weather this month.

Build the full packing list for your trip →

Where to go in May

Rated best or good this month

  • Riga and the Gulf coast

    Best weather of the year (Riga, Jūrmala, Saulkrasti)

  • Inland east (Vidzeme, Latgale)

    Best weather of the year (Sigulda, Cēsis, Daugavpils, Rēzekne)

  • Riga

    Mild; terraces open.

  • Aglona

    Best months: May–Sep (Basilica feast days in Aug draw crowds)

  • Alūksne

    Best months: May–Sep

  • Bauska

    Best months: May–September

  • Cēsis

    Best months: May–Sep for trails and castle hours; Jul–Aug for festivals

  • Daugavpils

    Best months: May–Sep

  • Jēkabpils

    Best months: May–Sep

  • Jelgava

    Best months: May–Sep; Feb for the ice sculpture festival

  • Jūrmala

    Best months: Jun–Aug for the beach; May and Sep for quiet walks and lower prices

  • Ligatne

    Best months: May–Sep