Essentials
- City
- Daugavpils, Augšdaugava Municipality, Latvia
- Population
- Approximately 78,000
- Internet Speed
- Excellent fiber connectivity; average 150-500 Mbps via Tet or Balticom
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (EUR). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Swedbank, SEB, Citadele
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, though high mineral content; many locals prefer filters
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- LMT, Tele2, and Bite. Pre-paid 'Zelta Zivtiņa' (Tele2) is popular (~€5/week for unlimited data)
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and Wise are widely used. Swedbank offers easy local account opening for EU residents
- Accommodation
- Mix of Soviet-era apartments and renovated city center flats (€300-€550/month)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, card payments accepted almost everywhere, including small kiosks
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com, and local ads on ss.com
- Budget Accommodation
- Daugavpils University Hostel (Studentu viesnīca), Sporta iela 5a (~€15-25/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- City Center (Centrs) near Rīgas iela for architecture and restaurants
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Centrs for walkability or Esplanāde for proximity to parks and the university
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Coworking 'Daugavpils' at Mihoelsa iela 47 (~€10/day, €100/month)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Lira (Rīgas iela 46) or Ezītis miglā (Rīgas iela 30). Reliable Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Daugavpils Business Incubator (LIAA) events at Viestura iela 2
- Social Events for Expats
- English Language Meetups organized by local EVS volunteers; check 'Daugavpils Expats' Facebook groups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (Average ride within city: €3.00 - €5.50)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bolt Scooters (available April-October); Nextbike station near the Train Station
- Best Beach Nearby
- Stropu Lake Blue Flag Beach (Lielais Stropu ezers), roughly 15 mins by tram
- Top Regional Airline
- airBaltic (Operating primarily out of Riga International Airport, 230km away)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Ryanair, and Finnair via Riga (RIX)
- Highway Access
- A13 (E262) connecting to Lithuania and Russia; A6 connecting to Riga
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Daugavpils Pasažieru Station, Stacijas iela 44 (Daily trains to Riga ~3.5 hours, €7-9)
- Public Transport Passes
- Single ride ticket €0.70; Monthly pass for all routes ~€30.00
- Regional Travel
- Lux Express and Daugavpils Autobusu Parks (Direct buses to Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Daugavpils Regional Hospital (Daugavpils reģionālā slimnīca), Vasarnīcu iela 20
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Jogacentrs, Saules iela 49 (Classes approx. €10/visit)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- OCD Fitness (Olympic Center Daugavpils), Stadiona iela 1 (~€45/month)
- Laundry Services
- Pašapkalpošanās veļas mazgātava 'Lidveidīgs', 18. Novembra iela 18a (~€5 per load)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Bolt Food (dominant provider in the city)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Pelmeņi (Dumplings) or Aukstā zupa (Cold beet soup in summer) at Gubernators
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Orange Bowling & Restaurant (Cietokšņa iela 60) offers plant-based burgers
- Best Dessert Spots
- Šokoladņa (Rīgas iela 26) - Famous for handmade truffles and hot chocolate
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Daugavpils Central Market (Autoosta area) for fresh local produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- 220.lv and 1a.lv for electronics and household goods
- Grocery Delivery
- Barbora (Maxima delivery service) or Rimi Online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Viestura iela and Rīgas iela junction area; Artilērijas Pagrabi (Rīgas iela 22)
- Local Brewery
- Latgales Alus (Daugavpils Alus) - local brewery outlet on Muzeja iela
- Wine Bars
- Vino d'Amico, Rīgas iela 16 (Italian wines and appetizers)
- Street Food Stalls
- Kebabnīca 'Hasans', Rīgas iela 52 (Cheap, popular late-night spot)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Happy Panda (Cietokšņa iela 5) for Chinese/Asian fusion
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Daugavpils Fortress (19th-century bastion fortress)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Mark Rothko Art Center, Mihaila iela 3 (€10 full ticket)
- Historical Sites
- Church Hill (Baznīcu kalns) - 4 denominations' churches in one square
- Religious Sites
- Saints Boris and Gleb Cathedral (Largest Orthodox cathedral in Latvia)
- Annual Events
- Daugavpils City Festival (June); Rothko Center Anniversary (April)
- Cultural Districts
- Cietoksnis (The Fortress District) - hub for artists and history buffs
- Theater Venues
- Daugavpils Theatre (Daugavpils teātris), Rīgas iela 22a
- Local Markets
- Weekly flea market in the 'Ditton Nams' area
- Music Scene
- Latvian Culture Center (Vienības nams) hosting folk and classical concerts
- Street Art
- Murals within the Fortress and 18. Novembra iela underpasses
- Cooking Classes
- Latgale Culinary Heritage Center (by appointment for groups)
- Art Galleries
- Daugavpils Local History and Art Museum, Rīgas iela 8
- Historic Buildings
- Unity House (Vienības nams), built in 1937 in the functionalist style
- Local Heritage
- Latgalian pottery traditions; visit local workshops in the outskirts
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Daugavas Loki Nature Park (The bends of the Daugava River)
- National Parks Nearby
- Rāzna National Park (~1 hour drive North-East)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Promenade along the Daugava River and Stropu Forest trails
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Priedaine Observation Tower (32m high) overlooking the river bends
- Birdwatching Locations
- Gubišče Lake on the edge of the city
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated picnic areas at Lielais Stropu ezers
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Omniva and DPD parcel machines (found at every supermarket)
- Tech Repair Services
- Datorservis, Ģimnāzijas iela 11
- Table Tennis Spots
- Olympic Center Daugavpils table tennis hall
- Language Classes
- Latvian and Russian courses at Daugavpils University (Saules iela 1/3)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Latgale Central Library, Rīgas iela 22a
- Community Centers
- Polish Culture Center or Russian Culture Center (Varšavas iela)
- Gaming Lounges
- Ditton Nams arcade area
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Olympic Casino in Hotel Park Hotel Latgola
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €750 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €22,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €450 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €13,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €700 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = €31,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €400 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = €18,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €650 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = €42,250)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €350 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = €22,750)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (on distributed profits only)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% for residents (as profit is taxed at corporate level)
- Tax System
- Residence-based taxation; 23% flat individual income tax (average)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 31% for income above €78,100
- VAT
- 21%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, in accordance with EU ATAD directives
- Property Tax
- Yes, 0.2%–1.5% of the cadastral value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- 1.5% State fee for ownership transfer
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Reduced social tax for micro-enterprises; Special 15% rate on turnover for some businesses