Vidzeme Travel Guide

Explore Cēsis Cēsis keeps a medieval heartbeat with timber houses and a 13th-century castle overlooking the town; visitors wander cobbled lanes, visit the castle museum and use the town as a gateway to Gauja hikes. Explore Valmiera Valmiera perches on the Gauja with riverside paths, castle ruins and a compact old town; visitors hike nearby trails, paddle the river and drop into intimate cafés and summer theatre events. Explore Madona Madona crowns Latvia’s rolling uplands and draws winter skiers and summer cyclists alike: cross‑country trails, small ski hills, scattered lakes and rural homesteads offering straightforward country food. Explore Alūksne Alūksne’s lake and ruined medieval castle invite boaters and history walkers; wooden streets, summer concerts and nearby forests offer kayaking, shoreline saunas and straightforward countryside hospitality. Explore Cēsis Castle Cēsis Castle in northern Latvia displays medieval stone keeps and reconstructed halls from the Livonian Order period; visitors tour the museum, walk the cobbled Old Town and attend seasonal concerts in the castle yard. Explore Gauja National Park Latvia’s largest national park, the Gauja valley features sandstone cliffs, caves like Gutmanis, medieval castles near Sigulda and marked hiking and canoe routes. Explore Gulbene A northern Latvian town known for its narrow‑gauge steam railway and surrounding lakes; travelers ride the historic line, hike forest trails, and attend seasonal folk events in timbered squares. Explore Smiltene Smiltene’s park and restored manor house anchor a town of timber buildings and market stalls.