Essentials
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Ostgals (Old Town/Port area) for historic charm and proximity to the promenade.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Pārventa for modern apartments and lower prices, or the City Center for proximity to cafes and the Digital Center.
- City
- Ventspils, Kurzeme Region, Latvia
- Population
- 33,000
- Internet Speed
- Avg 150 Mbps (Fiber optic is widespread; Latvia has some of Europe's fastest internet)
- Currency & Banking
- Euro (€). 1 EUR ≈ 1.09 USD. Major banks: Swedbank, SEB, Citadele.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Highly mineralized, meeting EU standards)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- LMT, Tele2, Bite. Pre-paid 'Zelta Zivtiņa' (Tele2) offers 10GB for ~€5.
- Banking for Expats
- Revolut and Wise are widely used. Swedbank is the local favorite for digital services.
- Accommodation
- Short-term via Airbnb; Long-term via SS.com or renting through local agencies like City24.lv.
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and contactless payments (Apple/Google Pay) are accepted everywhere, even in small kiosks.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb options range from €40-€80/night; Hotel Jūras brīze starts at €45/night.
- Budget Accommodation
- Ventspils University of Applied Sciences Hostel (Inženieru iela 101) - approx €20-€25/night.
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Ventspils Digital Centre (Akmeņu iela 3). Open workspaces with high-speed fiber from €5/day.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Krogs 'Zītari' (Skolas iela 11) or Windau Coffee (Pils iela 25) - quiet mornings with good Wi-Fi.
- Networking Events
- Ventspils High Technology Park (VHTP) events and Ventspils Business Incubator meetups (LIAA).
- Social Events for Expats
- Internal events at Ventspils University; 'Expats in Ventspils' Facebook community.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Bolt (Standard ride €4-€8 within city limits).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bolt Scooters (summer only); Bike rent at Adventure Park or local hotels (~€10/day).
- Best Beach Nearby
- Ventspils Blue Flag Beach (Walking distance from center, features white sand and dunes).
- Top Regional Airline
- airBaltic (Operating primarily from Riga International Airport, 2.5 hours away).
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Ryanair, Norwegian (flying via RIX).
- Highway Access
- A10 Highway connects Ventspils directly to Riga.
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Ventspils Bus Station (Kuldīgas iela 5) for frequent regional and intercity connections.
- Public Transport Passes
- Ventspils Reiss buses. Single ticket €0.60; Monthly pass approx €25.00.
- Regional Travel
- Frequent buses to Riga (€8.55, 3 hours) and Liepāja (€5.40, 1.5 hours).
Culture and Attractions
- Museums & Art Venues
- Seaside Open-Air Museum (Riņķa iela 2) featuring historic fishing huts and a narrow-gauge train.
- Historical Sites
- The Old Town Hall Square and St. Nicholas Evangelical Lutheran Church.
- Religious Sites
- St. Nicholas Orthodox Church (Platā iela 13).
- Annual Events
- Ventspils City Festival (August); Sea Festival (July).
- Cultural Districts
- The Promenade of Ostas Street (Port area).
- Theater Venues
- Theatre House 'Jūras vārti' (Karlīnes iela 40).
- Local Markets
- Old Town Market Square (Market days: Tue, Fri, Sat).
- Music Scene
- Concert Hall 'Latvija' (Lielais laukums 1) - home to a world-class organ and piano factory.
- Street Art
- The Cow Parade (Govju parāde) - 27+ unique fiberglass cow sculptures located throughout the city.
- Cooking Classes
- Occasional workshops at Ventspils Vocational School (Ventspils Tehnikums).
- Art Galleries
- Ventspils Museum in the Castle often hosts contemporary Baltic art.
- Historic Buildings
- International Writers' and Translators' House (Annamaizas iela 13).
- Local Heritage
- The distinct local dialect (ventiņu valoda) and the city's unique currency, the 'Venti'.
- Must-See Landmarks
- Livonian Order Castle and the Promenade with ship 'Azova'.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Būšnieku Lake Nature Trail (8km loop for cycling/walking).
- National Parks Nearby
- Slītere National Park (45 mins drive north) featuring Cape Kolka.
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Over 60km of dedicated cycling paths throughout the city and forest parks.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Ski Hill 'Lemberga hūte' (Saules iela 141) - man-made hill with views of the Baltic Sea.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Birdwatching towers at Būšnieku Lake and near the South Pier.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Designated picnic areas in the Seaside Park (Jūrmalas parks).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- North Kurzeme Regional Hospital (Ziemeļkurzemes reģionālā slimnīca, Inženieru iela 60).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Ventspils Water Park (Ūdens piedzīvojumu parks) - Spa, sauna, and fitness classes.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Olympic Centre Ventspils (Sporta iela 7). Modern gym, track, and pool. Day pass ~€6.
- Laundry Services
- Self-service laundry at Ventspils University Hostel or 'Tīrība' dry cleaners.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Bolt Food (Main service in the city).
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Sklandrausis (Sweet carrot/potato rye tart) available at 'Ventspils tirgus'.
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Burgerbārs (Kuldīgas iela 31) offers plant-based burgers; Cafe 'Ostas 23' has veg options.
- Best Dessert Spots
- Bitīte (Ganību iela 11) - Traditional Latvian pastries and cakes.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Ventspils Central Market (Pils iela 14) for fresh local produce and smoked fish.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- 220.lv, 1a.lv, and Amazon.de (standard shipping to Latvia).
- Grocery Delivery
- Barbora.lv (via Maxima stores) or Rimi Drive.
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Lielais prospekts area and the Livonian Order Castle surroundings.
- Local Brewery
- Užavas Alus (Located nearby in Užava; available in all Ventspils pubs like 'Skroderkrogs').
- Wine Bars
- Ventspils Wine Shop & Bar (Kuldīgas iela 25).
- Street Food Stalls
- Summer kiosks along the Promenade (Ostas iela) selling smoked fish and grilled corn.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Skroderkrogs (Skolas iela 4) - European/Latvian fusion; Tex-Mex (Ganību iela 14).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Omniva and DPD parcel machines (found at every supermarket); Latvijas Pasts.
- Tech Repair Services
- IT-S (Brīvības iela 17/19) for laptop and phone repairs.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Olympic Centre Ventspils sports halls.
- Language Classes
- Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (Latvian for foreigners courses).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Ventspils Main Library (Akmeņu iela 2) - Architectural award winner with silent zones.
- Community Centers
- Ventspils Culture Centre (Kuldīgas iela 18).
- Gaming Lounges
- Local PC gaming clubs near the city center (limited; most use Digital Centre facilities).
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Olympic Casino / Fenikss (Lielais Prospekts area).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,100 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €33,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €850 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = €25,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €1,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = €45,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €750 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = €33,750)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. €950 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = €61,750)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. €700 per m² (e.g., 65 m² = €45,500)
- Corporate Tax
- 20% (only on distributed profits; 0% on reinvested earnings)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 0% (usually covered by the 20% corporate profit tax)
- Tax System
- Personal income tax (PIT) is 20-31% depending on income level.
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 31% (for income over €78,100 per year)
- VAT
- 21%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable under EU anti-tax avoidance directives.
- Property Tax
- Yes, ranges from 0.2% to 1.5% of cadastral value.
- Property Transaction Tax
- 1.5% State duty for individuals purchasing residential real estate.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Latvian Digital Nomad Visa allows for a reduced 15% PIT rate for those employed by OECD employers.