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Voykit pocket guide · Latvia
Daugavpils
Give Daugavpils one full day and two nights: the fortress and the centre are the trip, and it is a cheaper base for Latgale than Riga.
Daugavpils is Latvia's second city and the capital of Latgale, 3–3.5 h by car or about 3 h by train from Riga. Its draw is the 19th-century fortress on the Daugava, a compact historic centre of red-brick classicism, and the Church Hill ensemble of four confessions. Sights are walkable and prices are low; most travellers use it as a one- or two-night stop on the way to Aglona or Lithuania.
- Country
- Latvia
- Best months
- May–Sep
- Avoid
- Dec–Feb (cold, short days)
- Stay
- 1–2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR). Cards and contactless work almost everywhere in Riga.
- Daily spend
- Budget €30–50 excl. bed · Mid €50–90 excl. bed · High €90+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- LMT, Tele2 and Bite sell prepaid SIMs in Narvesen kiosks and supermarkets.
- Emergency
- Emergency (all services) 112 · Police 110 · Ambulance 113
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · EU two-pin.
- Tipping
- Restaurant: About 10% in Riga if no service charge.; Café or bar: Round up.; Taxi / Bolt: Round up or tip in app.; Guide: €5–10 per person.
- Water
- Tap water is safe.
- Toilets
- Paid public toilets €0.50–1; free in malls and museums.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3.50 |
| Canteen or café lunch | €5–9 |
| Restaurant main course | €8–15 |
| Draught beer | €3–5 |
| 5 km (3.1 mi) taxi ride3.1 mi (5 km) taxi ride | €3–5 |
| Museum entry | €1–5 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | €5–15 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- RIX · Riga Airport
- AirBaltic runs a free coach (line BT001) for its passengers between RIX and Daugavpils, about 3 h 25 min, stopping at Jēkabpils; it leaves the airport at night (check times with the airline).
- DGP · Daugavpils Airport (Lociki)
- Renovated former air base 12 km (7.5 mi) northeast; no scheduled flights — check before planning around it.Renovated former air base 7.5 mi (12 km) northeast; no scheduled flights — check before planning around it.
Typical fares
- City bus, one ride
- about €0.70
- Tram, one ride
- about €0.50
- Taxi, per km
- €0.57 day / €0.79 night (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
The centre is small and walkable. City buses (tickets about €0.70) and four tram routes (about €0.50) cover the rest; taxis charge roughly €0.57/km by day and €0.79/km at night (2026 estimate). The fortress is about 2.5 km (1.6 mi) north of the centre — take a bus or taxi rather than walk with bags.The centre is small and walkable. City buses (tickets about €0.70) and four tram routes (about €0.50) cover the rest; taxis charge roughly €0.57/km by day and €0.79/km at night (2026 estimate). The fortress is about 1.6 mi (2.5 km) north of the centre — take a bus or taxi rather than walk with bags.
See and do
Known for
- Daugavpils fortress
- Church Hill (Jaunbūve)
- 19th-century centre on Rīgas iela
- Latgale region base
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Aglona Basilica | Bus or car via the A13/P62; a seasonal train service runs Riga–Daugavpils–Aglona (check dates) | About 1 h 30 min by car each way |
| Rēzekne | Train or bus east, about 1 h 30 min | About 2 h |
| Naujene Local History Museum | Car or bus toward Krāslava, then a short walk | About 45 min |
| Vilnius | Bus or car via the E262 through Kaunas | About 4–5 h |
Sleep
- Centre (Rīgas iela / Vienības iela)
- Walk to the historic centre, museums, cafés and the market; best for a short stay without a car.
- Station area (Stacijas iela)
- Beside the railway station and the ice hall; practical for early trains and buses.
- Fortress side (Daugavas iela)
- Quiet, close to the fortress; fewer places to eat, so plan dinner in the centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | SveikiSVAY-kee |
| Thank you | PaldiesPAL-dee-es |
| Please | LūdzuLOO-dzoo |
| How much is it? | Cik tas maksā?tsik tas MAK-sah |
| Can I pay by card? | Vai varu maksāt ar karti?vai VA-ru MAK-saht ar KAR-ti |
| Where is the toilet? | Kur ir tualete?koor ir twa-LE-te |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Handshake, 'labdien'; avoid: Hugging strangers
- Flowers: Odd numbers; avoid: Even numbers (funerals)
- Homes: Shoes off; avoid: Arriving empty-handed
- Language: Start in Latvian or English; avoid: Assuming everyone speaks Russian
- History: Listen; avoid: Joking about the Soviet period
Scams and watch-outs
- The fortress is a working historic site with restoration under way: some buildings are closed — check opening times before you go.
- Latgale has the most continental climate in Latvia: winter days are short and cold, and summer can be hot.
- Daugavpils sits near the Belarus and Russia borders; check current border and visa rules before any onward crossing.
- Not every café or bar posts prices — ask the total before ordering.
Daugavpils is a calm, low-crime city by day; the usual cautions are unlit side streets at night, unposted bar prices and winter ice on pavements. Emergency number 112.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Daugavpils yet. Suggested stay: 1–2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Daugavpils fortress
- Church Hill (Jaunbūve)
- 19th-century centre on Rīgas iela
- Latgale region base
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Daugavpils city council: daugavpils.lv
- Pasažieru Vilciens (Latvian passenger trains): www.pv.lv
- Wikivoyage: Daugavpils, revision 5266191 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5266191
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Daugavpils
Lūdzu, uz šo adresi
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
There is no US embassy in Daugavpils; the US Embassy is in Riga. Other countries: embassies in Riga (check addresses).
Russian is widely spoken in Daugavpils; English is common among younger residents.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/daugavpils). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.