castle
Cēsis Medieval Castle
One of the most iconic medieval castle ruins in the Baltic states, the 13th-century stronghold of the Livonian Order set in a picturesque park.
27 km · about 30 min drive
EuropeLatviaValmiera
Valmiera
Valmiera, Latvia · Europe
About Valmiera
Valmiera is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Kocēni, 38km from Gauja National Park.
Valmiera is in Latvia, with about 23,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Kocēni, about 6 km away.
Valmiera () is the second largest city of the historical Vidzeme region, Latvia, with a total area of 19.35 square kilometres (7 square miles). As of 2002, Valmiera had a population of 27,323, and in 2020, it was at 24,879. It is a state city (although without a separate municipal government), and is the seat of theRead more
Valmiera Municipality. Valmiera is one of the oldest cities in Latvia; it was a member of the Hanseatic League. According to the ethnic composition, Valmiera has the largest proportion of ethnic Latvians among the state cities.
Valmiera lies at the crossroads of several important roads, 107 kilometres (66 miles) to the north-east from Riga, the capital of Latvia, and 50 km (31 mi) south of the border with Estonia. Valmiera lies on both banks of the Gauja River.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Valmiera?
Within an hour or so of Valmiera: Cēsis Medieval Castle (27 km), Gauja National Park (38 km), Līgatne Secret Soviet Bunker (38 km), Turaida Castle (53 km).
Where is Valmiera?
Valmiera is in Valmiera, Latvia, about 6 km from Kocēni.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 22,812
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Latvia
- Region
- Valmiera
- Timezone
- Europe/Riga
- Coordinates
- 57.5411, 25.4275
Tags
Worth the detour from Valmiera
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
national park
Gauja National Park
Latvia's largest and oldest national park with forested sandstone cliffs, medieval castles, caves, and the scenic Gauja River valley.
38 km · about 45 min drive
museum
Līgatne Secret Soviet Bunker
A 2,000 m² nuclear command bunker 9 m beneath an innocuous rehabilitation centre in Gauja National Park, built for Soviet Latvia's elite and classified until 2003: original 1980s equipment, canteen and all. Guided tours only.
38 km · about 45 min drive
castle
Turaida Castle
A striking red-brick medieval castle rising above the wooded Gauja valley near Sigulda, its round tower offering sweeping views over Latvia's 'Switzerland'. An easy, scenic drive from Riga.
53 km · about 60 min drive
natural wonder
Gutmanis Cave
The widest cave in the Baltics, a sandstone grotto with centuries of carved inscriptions, beside the Sigulda–Turaida road with parking.
53 km · about 60 min drive
racetrack
Sigulda Bobsleigh Track
Olympic-standard bobsleigh and luge track in Gauja National Park offering public rides, with its own access road and car park.
56 km · about 65 min drive
When to drive here
May to September
Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.
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