Liepaja, Latvia

Liepaja is a city in western Latvia on the Baltic sea and the administrative center of Liepāja district. It is the largest city in the Kurzeme (Courland) region of Latvia, the third largest city in Latvia after Riga and Daugavpils and an important ice-free port.

The main areas of interest for tourists are the city centre with many churches and the seaside park with white, soft sandy beaches. Liepāja is rich in different architectural styles and has lots of green parks and waterfronts.

Karosta, which is the northern suburb and former secret military town, is now a place for tourists and artists. Karosta boasts beaches with scenic blasted fortresses, a big orthodox cathedral, a prison now operating as a hostel and many other things. Another area for tourists might be the Ezerkrasts (Lakeside), which is near the Liepāja lake.

Things to See and Do

* Seaside Park
* Amber Clock
* Craftsman's House
* Fortresses at Karosta
* City Centre

Cruise Season - March - Nov
Currency - Lats (Ls) (LVL)
Language - Latvian
Land Area - 60.4 km²
Population - 90,000 approx
Electricity - 2 round pins European style
Time - GMT plus two hours
International Country Telephone Code - + 371

Port Location - The port is located approximately 5 kms from the town centre of Liepaja.

Travel Links - Liepāja International Airport is located out of city limits north of the Lake of Liepāja in a little town named Cimdenieki. Regular daily flights to Riga, Hamburg and Copenhagen are available by the Latvian national airline AirBaltic.

Liepāja has a railway connection to Jelgava and Riga and through them to the rest of Latvia's railway network. There is one passenger station in the New town, but the railway extends further and links to the port.

A ferry service connects Liepaja with Germany. The ferry terminal is in Ziemelu priekspilseta, 15 minutes from the center by bus.