Ask a Latvian how they feel about the weather and you will get a small shrug and the word "normal". Ask about midsummer and you will see a face light up. Living in Latvia is a country of contrasts: reserved in the street, generous around a fire, and proud of a language spoken by under two million people.
Here is what everyday life asks of you, with the facts we can check.
Do you need Latvian for living in Latvia?
Latvian (latviešu valoda) is the only official language. It is the language of the state, the public school system and most workplaces. Under the Official Language Law, every other language except the indigenous Livonian is legally a foreign language, Russian included. You will hear Russian on the street and in many shops, particularly in Riga and in the east, but do not open an official conversation in it by default.
EURES lists English, German, the Scandinavian languages and Russian as assets on the job market. French is not among them, so francophones should lean on English first and Latvian second.
To learn, the Latvian Language Agency offers free online resources (maciunmacies.valoda.lv), some municipalities run courses, and the National Employment Agency may fund one if you are registered unemployed. Even a few words (paldies, thank you; lūdzu, please) change the tone of a counter conversation.
What are the social codes of living in Latvia?
EURES describes Latvians as reserved, self-reliant and independent. Trust and friendship take time, so do not mistake reserve for coldness. A few habits:
- Punctuality matters, and business meetings are formal. Let the employer offer the first handshake.
- Flowers are a common gift, and many people celebrate their name day (vārda diena) as well as their birthday.
- Negotiation and compromise are valued in working culture.
- Offices dress up: business attire is usual in banks, administration and offices.
Settling in and wondering how things work locally, from translating a letter to what a form is asking? Moovy can explain in plain English, translate key lines of a Latvian document and draft a reply. For legal or official decisions, the competent office remains the authority.
What is Jāņi and why does it matter?
Jāņi is the midsummer festival, on 23 and 24 June, both public holidays. Many people leave cities for the countryside and stay awake on the shortest night around a bonfire, with songs, flower wreaths (oak leaves for men), caraway cheese (Jāņu siers) and beer. Services close, so plan ahead.
Other fixtures are the sauna (pirts), a tradition in its own right, and the Song and Dance Festival, inscribed by UNESCO, which gathers thousands of singers and dancers. On 11 November (Lāčplēša diena) people light candles for those who fought for independence, and on 18 November, the proclamation of the Republic, the anthem is sung at 21:00.
What are the public holidays in Latvia in 2026?
- 1 January (New Year).
- 3 April (Good Friday), 5 April (Easter Sunday) and 6 April (Easter Monday).
- 1 May (Labour Day and the convening of the Constituent Assembly).
- 4 May (Restoration of Independence).
- 10 May (Mother's Day, second Sunday of May) and 24 May (Whit Sunday).
- 23 June (Līgo) and 24 June (Jāņi).
- 18 November (Proclamation of the Republic).
- 24, 25 and 26 December (Christmas) and 31 December.
In years with the Song and Dance Festival, its closing day is also a holiday. If 4 May, 18 November or that closing day fall on a weekend, the next working day is a day off. Orthodox and Old Believer communities celebrate Easter, Pentecost and Christmas on their own dates.
How do payments, shops and tips work?
The euro has been the currency since 1 January 2014. Cards work in most restaurants, shops, petrol stations and hotels. On buses people often pay the driver in cash or buy a ticket beforehand. Prices are higher in Riga's old town.
Alcohol sales in shops are banned before 10:00 and after 20:00 Monday to Saturday and after 18:00 on Sunday. The sources we read set no general opening hours for other goods, and tipping is a custom left to you, not a rule.
What are the emergency numbers?
112 for rescue and fire services, 113 for urgent medical help, from a mobile or a landline. Outside family-doctor hours, medical advice is on +371 66016001, weekdays from 17:00 to 08:00 and all day at weekends and holidays, in Latvian, Russian or English. See healthcare in Latvia for expats.
How do you prepare for a Latvian winter?
Be honest about the dark and the cold. From 1 December to 1 March, cars under 3.5 tonnes must have winter tyres with the mountain and snowflake symbol and at least 4 mm tread; see driving in Latvia. Dress in layers, find the nearest sauna, and plan something to look forward to in the long evenings. Many people say the contrast is part of the charm.
What traps should newcomers avoid?
- Speaking Russian by default. Start in Latvian or English.
- Handing in untranslated papers. Administrations expect Latvian; see moving to Latvia: the step-by-step guide.
- Planning an errand around Jāņi.
- Forcing friendship fast. It comes in time.
To see where to settle, read best places to live in Latvia.
What is Latvian etiquette at work and at home?
Latvian etiquette is easier to follow than to describe, because it is mostly about restraint. At work, interviews are formal, punctuality counts and the employer offers the first handshake. Employers usually answer within two weeks after an interview, so do not read silence as refusal. At home or with friends, it is common to bring flowers. Be sparing with compliments and small talk: Latvians describe themselves, and are described, as reserved, so a friendly but unforced style works best. Latvian etiquette also values keeping your word, so only promise what you will do.
How does living in Latvia change with the seasons?
Summer is long and bright. Around midsummer the night barely falls, and the whole country seems to be outdoors: festivals, beaches, markets and bonfires. Winter is dark and cold, and spring arrives late. The calendar follows: public holidays cluster in spring and around the national days of 4 May and 18 November, and many services slow at Jāņi on 23 and 24 June and at Christmas.
Which public services run in English?
Few official ones. Most administrations work in Latvian, and several state websites exist in English with less detail than the Latvian pages. The NVA job portal is only in Latvian, and the NVD helpline can handle questions from abroad. The medical advice line speaks Latvian, Russian or English. When in doubt, write your request in simple English or Latvian, attach translated documents and keep a copy.
How do you make friends when living in Latvia?
Slowly, and on a shared activity. EURES warns that gaining trust takes time. Join a choir, a hiking group, a sauna evening or a language course. The Song and Dance Festival tradition means that amateur choirs and dance groups are everywhere. Learning even a little Latvian is the fastest way to be taken seriously, and living in Latvia becomes warmer after the first winter.
What should you pack for living in Latvia?
Think of weather and paperwork. A warm coat, waterproof boots and layers for the dark months matter more than anything fashionable. For paperwork, bring certified copies of your passport pages, your EHIC and any S1, diplomas and civil-status documents you may need to have recognised, and a few passport photos. Latvia uses the euro and accepts cards widely, so you will not need a large amount of cash, although a small amount helps on buses where drivers sell tickets.