Ventspils
Understand
Ventspils is the Latvian flower capital and is adorned with flowers from spring till autumn. Even the City Festival on the first weekend of August is a time when florists from the Baltic States cover Promenade of Ostas iela with carpets of flowers.
Ventspils is a modern summer and sea resort city, which has all the amenities to spend a summer week at the beach and exploring the surrounding places. Its roads and sidewalks are made up of various kinds of cobblestones. Ventspils is famous for its artistic spirit and its numerous cow statues all over the city from the 2002 Cow Parade.
Due to immigration of many workers from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine in the past, about 1/3 of the population of Ventspils is from those countries.
- š Tourism Information Centre, DÄrza iela 6, ā +371 63622263, +371 63607664, fax: +371 63607665, tourism@ventspils.lv. Information about sightseeing, events, recreation, transport and accommodation. Guided tours with the certified guides of Ventspils. Tourist maps and brochures.
Get in
There are bus connections from Riga, LiepÄja and KuldÄ«ga. The closest railway stations with passenger service are in Tukums and LiepÄja, approximately 120 km east and south of Ventspils, respectively; Ventspils has no passenger services. There is a ferry from NynƤshamn in Sweden
By bus
There are regular bus services from Riga (2Ā½ā4 hr, ā¬7.55), LiepÄja (2 times a day, 3 hr, ā¬5.50), KuldÄ«ga (about ā¬3) several times a day. All buses arrive at the central Bus Station on Kuldigas iela 4. Schedules can be found on 1188.lv.
- š Ventspils Bus Station (Ventspils autoosta), KuldÄ«gas iela 5, ā +371 63622789.
By car
The most commonly used routes are from:
By boat
- See also: ferries on the Baltic Sea
Stena Line ferries run between NynƤshamn in Sweden and Ventspils, an 11- to 12-hour journey. These are mainly used for transport of HGV's to Sweden but passengers and small vehicles can use the service. Tickets can be purchased from an office at Ventspils Ferry Terminal.
By plane
- š Ventspils International Airport (VNT IATA) (some 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of the city). The airport mostly serves general aviation and has not seen commercial flights in years. Despite the grandiose name the flights it did see some time around 2008 were domestic ones (from Riga).
Get around
Within the city centre, most locations can be reached on foot within 15-20 minutes at most. But cars and bicycles can travel just as easily on the roads and bicycle paths around town.
Public transportation is run by the local bus company 'Ventspils Reiss' with modern blue coloured buses and minibuses. Most bus stops have a map of the routes and schedules for the lines that stop there.
Do not trust the signs. Since most streets in Ventspils intersect at 90Ā° angles, all signposts marking the directions to interesting or important locations are at 90Ā° angles as well. So often a sign will be pointing in the wrong direction (if your destination lies at a different angle) or onto impassable objects such as a wall (if your destination lies behind it). So be wary and carry a map - which you can get for free at the tourist office next to the ferry terminal.
See
- š Livonian Order Castle, JÄÅa iela 17, ā +371 63622031, +371 63626288, muzejs@ventspils.gov.lv. One of the oldest medieval fortresses to have survived. In 1290 the castle was first chronicled and this date is now considered to be the year of Ventspilsā foundation. In 1995 extensive archaeological research and renovation of the castle began. During renovation, features retained included niches of the 14th century, wall paintings of the 15th century, door openings of the 17th century and prison doors of the 19th century. The Castle has now outwardly regained its 19th century look. There is a nice museum inside, offering both permanent (i.e. city history) and occasional (i.e. money design, Japan post-World War II photography) exhibitions. ā¬3 or day ticket for all 3 museums (Castle, Seaside Open-Air Museum and The House of Crafts): ā¬5.
- š Ventspils Market Square, ā +371 63622263. Established at the beginning of the 17th century. Has all kinds of local produce, vegetables, fruits, cloths. But the best bet here seems to be the meat, which is sold at numerous stalls in various forms; raw, smoked, sausage-d. Check out the beautiful carillon bell/clock tower, which has some history aspects, starting from the listing of various market measurements. Each hour the clock plays the melody āPie dzintara jÅ«rasā (On Amber sea - "Am Golf von Biskaya" Latvian version), except for 12:33 and 00:33, when the song āUz priekÅ”u, Kurzemeā (Ahead Kurzeme) of Uldis MarhilÄviÄs is played.
- š Ventspils House of Crafts, ā +371 63620174, amatumaja@ventspils.gov.lv. Old school building (1763) with an exhibition hall and a craft shop, with weaving, ceramics and retro photo workshops and a 19th-century classroom. ā¬1.
- š SenÄu putekļi (museum), Erglu 1, ā +371 63625004. MāF 11ā17:00. A small local-ethnographic collection founded and donated by the author Herberts Dorbe (1894ā1983). Free.
- š Ventspils Town Hall Square, ā +371 63622263, tourism@ventspils.lv. It houses a modern library, International Writers and Translators' House, Lutheran church (early 18th century) and the Digital Centre.
- š Ostgals, ā +371 63622263. Ancient fishermen's village (mid-19th century) that is now a part of the city, a national cultural and historical monument.
- š Seaside Open-air Museum (Seaside Park with Anchor and Jungle Trail / JÅ«rmalas parks ar Enkuru taku un Džungļu taku), RiÅÄ·a iela 2, ā +371 63624467, +371 63622263, brivdaba@ventspils.gov.lv. Seaside Open-Air Museum. Museum of maritime fishing with ancient houses, a windmill, smokehouse, mesh huts, barns and a spacious boat, exposition of anchors and the history of narrow-gauge railway. Founded in 1954 to preserve the heritage of the seaside fishing village. Today it is the only open air museum dedicated to fishing in Latvia. It features fishermenās homesteads, barns, wind mills (from the Užava parish), smokehouses, curing cabins, net sheds and other samples of native building and household artefacts. In an area of 4 ha, you will find an extensive sea boat collection and the largest anchor collection in the Baltics with more than one hundred exhibits dating from the 17th century to present day. At the Seaside Park you can enjoy the Enkuru taka (Anchor trail) which is formed of the biggest anchors. Also, a Jungle Trail with footbridges, bridges, wooden animal sculptures, playgrounds and picnic places. ā¬2.
- š SvÄtÄ Krusta Romas katoļu baznÄ«ca, JÅ«ras 32, ā +371 63622361. This Catholic church with its Corinthian columns without eye-catching tower leave a classicist impression.
- š Ventspils St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (SvÄtÄ Nikolaja pareizticÄ«go baznÄ«ca), Plosta 10.
- š Southern Pier (Dienvidu mols), ā +371 63622263, tourism@ventspils.lv. Pier promenade, sculpture "Cow-Sailor", š 19 m high observation tower, sightseeing object ā fishing boat and chain chair, and further out the š Ventspils South Pier Lighthouse.
- Flower artwork. At various locations throughout Ventspils there are examples of flower artwork in the streets. The flowers are arranged not only in flower-beds, but also a flower-clock and vivid flower-sculptures: The Duck Family in the Childrenās Town, Lady-Birds at the Promenade of Ostas Street, Underwater World next to the Beach Waterpark, Bobsleigh Team on the main street Lielais prospects, and the newcomers The Bunny Family at the end-station Kalns of the narrow-gauge train.
- Cow Parade: in 2002 Ventspils hosted this international art event and several of the cow sculptures still reside throughout the city.
- Latvijas melnÄ (Latvian Black Cow) dwells on the Promenade of Ostas iela;
- Pretim gaismai (Towards the Light) that usually climbs the lamp post on Pils iela next to āLatvenergoā JSC;
- Ms. Moo-Dunk the basketball cow resides near the Basketball Hall of the Olimpiskais Centrs Ventspils;
- DzÄ«ve ir skaista (Life is Beautiful) is situated at the Childrenās Town;
- JÅ«ras govs (Cow of the Sea) dwells next to the Livonian Order Castle facing the River Venta;
- Nafta (Oil) lives next to the Childrenās Home Selga;
- Londonas govs (London Cow) welcomes the residents of the camping site Piejūras kempings.
- CeļojoÅ”Ä govs (Travelling Cow) is shaped like a huge suit-case and awaits the city guests on the Promenade of Ostas iela to take some pictures;
- Govs-Matrozis (The Sailor Cow) is a giant blue-coloured cow dressed as a seafarer and situated at the Southern Pier of Ventspils;
- Å Å«pojoÅ”Ä govs (Cow on the Swings) is a large, but cute and girly cow sitting on the swings not far from the excursion boat Hercogs JÄkabs.
Do
There are a lot of things to do in Ventspils ā go grab a free booklet at the castle to find some of them. The city is very-well-prepared for families with kids.
- š Ventspils Blue Flag Beach (Ventspils ZilÄ karoga pludmale), ā +371 63622263, tourism@ventspils.lv. A fully facilitated white sand beach with broad dune belt, viewing tower, pier promenade, special areas for surfers and nudists.
- š Narrow-Gauge Railway Mazbanitis (PiejÅ«ras BrÄ«vdabas Muzejs), RiÅÄ·a 2, ā +371 63624467, brivdaba@ventspils.gov.lv. WāSu 10:30ā13:30 14ā17:30 (May 1āOctober 30). Ride on the historic, World War I and former German narrow-gauge railway (600 mm) steam engine (1916) along a 2.6 km track from the Seaside Park (Muzejs) via beach to the Adventure Park (aka Kalns) ā Kalna linija: 11:30, 12:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30 to Kalns; 12:00, 13:00, 15:00, 16:00, 17:00 to Muzejs). There are actually two lines, another one only does a 1.4 km circle around the Seaside Park (Rinka linija: 11:00, 11:15, 17:20). Adult ā¬3 (Kalna linija), ā¬2 (Rinka linija).
- š Skiing Hill "Lemberga hÅ«te" (SlÄpoÅ”anas kalns "Lemberga hÅ«te"), Saules street 141, ā +371 28611333, inta.lapsina@ocventspils.lv. Great viewpoint in summer, and best ski destination in winter.
- š Akvaparks, MedÅu iela 19 / PiejÅ«ras parks. 10:00-21:00 (1st weekend in June till September). Heated open-air swimming pool. 200 m to the beach.
- š Olimpiskais Centrs Ventspils, Sporta iela 7/9, ā +371 63622587, olimps@ocventspils.lv. Ice skating rink, basketball, skate park, etc.
- š Children's Town (BÄrnu pilsÄtiÅa), VasarnÄ«cu iela / Lielais prospekts, ā +371 63622263. Summer: 07ā22:00, winter: 07ā20:00. Go play with your kid(s) at this park with a lot of child-oriented attractions.
- š Cinema Rio Kino, Pils iela 28, ā +371 22480248, kinorio@kinorio.lv.
- Walk and play on the beach. Take a dip in the sea. The beach has well-developed infrastructure including cabins, benches, playgrounds and attractions.
Events
- Knights Festival at the Castle. First half of June.
- Festival of the Sea. Beginning of July.
- Ghetto Games Festival. End of July. A youth festival celebrating ghetto basket, streetbike freestyle, BMX freestyle, MTB freestyle, skateboard, etc. FB.
Buy
- Ventspils Regional Market at the Market Square
- š Tobago Shopping Centre, Lielais prospekts 3/5. Rimi, etc.
Eat
- š Skroderkrogs, Skroderu iela 6 (In the center), ā +371 63627634. Good food, good music, kids-friendly.
- š KafejnÄ«ca Ukraina, GanÄ«bu iela 95a, ā +371 63622677, +371 29119747.
- š KafejnÄ«ca BetÄnija, PlatÄ iela 11. Cheap and basic.
Sleep
Budget accommodation is scarce in Ventspils, so it is better to continue further to LiepÄja or KuldÄ«ga. Also, Rinda, just 30 km north and a little inland, has a cheap place to stay.
- š PiejÅ«ras kempings, VasarnÄ«cu 56 (600 m to the beach), ā +371 63627925, camping@ventspils.lv. ā¬5 per tent + ā¬5 per person, camper van ā¬15, huts ā¬40-80 (4-5 people).
- š Hotel of Olimpic centre, Lielais prospekts 33, ā +371 63628032, viesnica@ocventspils.lv. Hotel guests receive 20% discount when using the sports park. ā¬28/38 double, ā¬48 triple.
- š Guesthouse SpicÄ«te, Cirpstene village, VÄrves pag., Ventspils novads (the village is 4 km southwest from the centre of Ventspils), ā +371 29508200, viesunamsspicite@inbox.lv.
- š Hotel Vilnis, Talsu iela 5, ā +371 63628606. Regular hotel, 75 beds in 53 rooms.
Go next
- Cape Kolka ā A beautiful wild cape inside SlÄ«teres National Park. North.
- Irbene ā Visit the worldās eighth-largest radio telescope at the Irbene Radio Astronomy Centre, located between Cape Kolka and Ventspils. Irbene was a Soviet village that is now abandoned, leaving behind dull concrete buildings.
- KuldÄ«ga ā The capital of Duchy of Courland, Venice of Latvia, with unique and wooden architecture, red-tile roofs, bridges, cobbled streets, the widest widest waterfall ledge in Europe, and nearby the longest underground (sand) cave labyrinth in the Baltics. In the centre of Kurzeme.
- PÄvilosta ā A small fishing village with nice beach, camping and museum. South.