Latvia
Travel Destination – Latvia
Latvia features Riga’s Old Town with its medieval streets, restored architecture, and prominent Art Nouveau buildings, alongside cafés, galleries, and a steadily evolving cultural scene. Outside the capital, the landscape shifts into pine forests, quiet lakes, and long stretches of Baltic coastline, including well-known seaside areas such as Jūrmala. Inland regions consist of national parks, small rural towns, and seasonal outdoor activities including hiking, cycling, and winter sports.
Healthcare in Latvia is generally well developed in major cities, particularly Riga, where medical facilities are accessible and of a good standard. Pre-travel preparation and preventative measures help ensure a safe and smooth trip.
Health Risks
Pre-travel preparation
Before travelling to Latvia, it is sensible to book a pre-travel appointment with a health professional who can look through your vaccination record and check that routine immunisations are up to date. It is also a practical time to discuss whether additional preventative measures are worth considering for your trip, depending on the destination, itinerary plans, and your health. Regular medications can be organised prior to travel to avoid locating and purchasing them overseas.
Booking this visit around six to eight weeks before departure is ideal, particularly if any vaccines need time or multiple doses to complete. If travel is coming up sooner, it is still worthwhile attending, as even a brief consultation can help clarify risks and support safer travel decisions. Advice is usually shaped around your itinerary, whether you are staying mainly in Riga, spending time in coastal areas such as Jūrmala, or heading into forests, lakes, or smaller rural communities.
It is also strongly recommended to arrange comprehensive travel insurance before departure. This should include cover for medical treatment, unexpected illness or injury, and any planned activities such as cycling, hiking, winter travel, or more remote regional travel.
Food and water hygiene
Food in Latvia is generally safe, and most travellers eat without issue. However, gastrointestinal illness can still occur with international travel and new environments. The main risks tend to come from changes in food handling, storage, or hygiene standards rather than the local cuisine itself.
Simple precautions significantly aid prevention. Washing or sanitising hands before eating is important, particularly after public transport or time in busy areas. Choosing food that is freshly prepared and properly cooked reduces risk, especially meals served hot. It is best to be cautious with food that has been left exposed for long periods, such as buffet items or street food that is not actively kept hot or cold. Raw salads and unwashed fruit carry more risk unless you can be confident in how they were prepared.
When travelling outside cities or if water quality is uncertain, bottled or appropriately filtered water is a useful precaution. Ice in drinks is usually safe in established venues, but caution is reasonable in more informal settings.
Insect avoidance
In Latvia, insect bites are usually a seasonal inconvenience rather than a major health threat, but risk increases with time spent outdoors. Mosquitoes are most noticeable in warmer months, particularly near lakes, rivers, marshland, and forested areas. Ticks are the main concern from a health perspective, as they may carry infections such as Lyme disease and tick-borne encephalitis. Ticks are present in grassy and wooded environments, and risk increases with activities like hiking, camping, berry picking, or simply walking through tall grass.
Protection is mainly about reducing exposure, which can be aided by wearing long sleeves and long trousers in forested or grassy areas, especially during peak tick season. Repellent containing DEET or picaridin should be applied to exposed skin, and clothing can be treated with permethrin for added protection if you are spending extended time outdoors. After outdoor activity, it is sensible to check skin carefully for ticks and remove any promptly.
Our Travel Doctors
Our fully qualified doctors have an interest in travel medicine and immunisations. And they know travel. Their expert advice will be tailored for you, your travel companions and your trip.
Which shots do I need for Latvia?
Hepatitis A
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Hepatitis A is a viral infection that affects the liver and is usually spread through contaminated food or water, particularly where hygiene or sanitation conditions are less consistent. It can cause symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and jaundice, and illness may last from several weeks to months.
For travel to Latvia, hepatitis A vaccination is recommended, especially for those with higher exposure risk, such as visiting friends and relatives, staying in rural areas, or eating frequently outside standard restaurants. In these situations, exposure to different food handling environments may increase risk. Vaccination provides long-lasting protection after a completed course.
Measles
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Measles is a highly contagious viral infection spread through airborne transmission and can remain infectious in the air or on surfaces for a period of time after an infected person has left an area. It typically causes fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a characteristic rash, and can lead to complications such as pneumonia or more serious effects on the nervous system.
Although measles is generally well controlled in Australia, outbreaks continue to occur in Europe, including parts of the Baltic region. Travellers are most at risk in crowded environments such as airports, public transport, and large public events. Protection is achieved through two documented doses of a measles-containing vaccine, usually measles-mumps-rubella. Those unsure of their vaccination history should seek medical advice before travel, as additional vaccination may be recommended.
Hepatitis B
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Hepatitis B is a viral infection that affects the liver and is transmitted through contact with infected blood or certain body fluids. This can occur through unprotected sexual contact, medical or dental procedures involving unsterile equipment, or sharing items such as razors or needles. In some cases, infection can become chronic and lead to long-term liver disease.
For most short-term travel to Latvia, the risk is considered low, and vaccination is not routinely required unless there are specific risk factors. It may be recommended for travellers with potential exposure to medical care, higher-risk activities, or longer stays. Many Australians have already received hepatitis B vaccination in childhood, but confirmation of immunity or completion of the course is important for those unsure of their status.
Influenza
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Influenza is a contagious respiratory virus spread through droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. It typically causes sudden onset fever, body aches, cough, sore throat, and fatigue, and can range from mild illness to more severe disease, particularly in older adults or those with chronic health conditions.
Influenza circulates seasonally in Europe, including Latvia, and timing can vary from Australia’s influenza season. However, international travel can increase exposure risk year round. Travellers can also be exposed through close contact in airports, public transport, and indoor settings.
Annual influenza vaccination is recommended for all travellers aged six months and older, particularly those at higher risk of complications. Vaccination reduces the likelihood of illness disrupting travel plans and is especially useful for winter travel.
COVID-19
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COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and spreads mainly through airborne particles, particularly in indoor or crowded environments. Symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue, and loss of taste or smell, and severity can range from mild illness to significant respiratory complications.
For travel to Latvia, COVID-19 vaccination is recommended in line with current Australian guidance. This includes maintaining up-to-date booster doses for those in higher-risk groups, such as older adults and individuals with underlying medical conditions. Boosters are recommended six-monthly for adults over 75, and annually for those between 65 and 74. Exposure risk increases in enclosed environments such as airports, aircraft, and busy indoor public spaces, making vaccination an important layer of protection, particularly during peak travel or winter months.
Routine vaccinations
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Routine vaccinations refer to standard immunisations recommended in Australia to protect against common but potentially serious infections. These include diseases such as tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella. Many of these illnesses are uncommon in Australia due to high vaccination coverage but continue to circulate at varying levels internationally.
For travel to Latvia, ensuring routine vaccinations are up to date is considered an important baseline measure rather than a destination-specific requirement. Exposure risk can increase in any international setting, particularly through close contact in airports, public transport, accommodation, or community settings. A travel health consultation can help confirm whether boosters are due and ensure overall protection is aligned with current Australian immunisation guidelines.
Latvia
Other health risks in Latvia
Gastroenteritis
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Gastroenteritis is an infection of the stomach and intestines, usually caused by viruses or bacteria spread through contaminated food, water, or close contact with an infected person. It commonly leads to diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, and sometimes fever. Symptoms often begin within a short period after exposure and are usually self-limiting, although dehydration can become a concern if fluid losses are significant.
Prevention is mostly about basic hygiene habits that are easy to overlook while travelling. Handwashing before eating is important, particularly after using public transport or visiting crowded indoor spaces. Food that is freshly prepared and served hot is generally lower risk. Caution is reasonable with items left uncovered for long periods, such as buffet-style food or pre-prepared meals that are not properly chilled or heated. Bottled or filtered water should be used if there is any uncertainty about water quality, especially in more rural settings.
Tuberculosis
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Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infection that spreads through the air when a person with active lung disease coughs or sneezes. It most commonly affects the lungs and usually requires prolonged close contact for transmission. For most short-term travellers to Latvia, the risk is considered low, particularly in typical tourism environments. Increased risk is generally associated with extended close contact in healthcare settings or long-term exposure in crowded living conditions.
Tick-borne encephalitis
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Tick-borne encephalitis is a viral infection spread through bites from infected ticks, mainly in forested and rural areas of Latvia, particularly during warmer months when outdoor activity is higher. It can also, less commonly, be contracted through unpasteurised dairy products.
Early symptoms may resemble a flu-like illness, including fever, fatigue, headache, and muscle aches. In some cases, the infection can progress to involve the nervous system and lead to more serious complications. There is no specific treatment once infected, so prevention is important.
Vaccination may be recommended for travellers spending extended time outdoors in rural or forested regions. Protection also includes using insect repellent, wearing long clothing in wooded areas, and checking for ticks after outdoor activities.
Non-infectious conditions
Crime and unrest
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Latvia generally has low levels of serious crime affecting visitors. Most concerns relate to opportunistic petty crime, such as pickpocketing or bag theft, which may occur in busier parts of Riga, transport hubs, and crowded tourist areas, particularly during peak travel periods or major events.
Situational awareness is an important measure to reduce risk. Keeping personal belongings secure, avoiding leaving items unattended, and being mindful in crowded or nightlife settings are sensible precautions. Public demonstrations are not common but can occur in urban areas from time to time. These are typically peaceful, but it is advisable to avoid large gatherings where movement or transport could be disrupted and to follow local guidance if they occur.
Refer to the Australian government's website Smartraveller for up-to-date information before and during travel.
Deep vein thrombosis
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Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot forms in a deep vein, most often in the legs, due to reduced blood flow during prolonged periods of immobility. It is most associated with long-haul flights, but it can also develop during any extended period of sitting, including travel by train, coach, or car, or long stretches of limited movement.
The main concern is that a clot can occasionally travel to the lungs, which may become a serious medical emergency. Although this is uncommon, the risk is higher in people with previous clotting history, recent surgery or injury, pregnancy, hormonal therapy, cancer, or inherited clotting disorders.
Prevention focuses on maintaining circulation throughout travel. Regular movement is important, including standing and walking when possible and doing simple leg and ankle exercises while seated. Staying well hydrated is helpful, while excessive alcohol intake should be avoided as it can contribute to dehydration and prolonged immobility. For those at higher risk, compression stockings or individual medical advice may be appropriate before travel.