National park · Latvia
Slīteres National ParkSlīteres nacionālais parks
Go only with a car and a full day: drive the P131 to Cape Kolka, walk the Bažu bog boardwalk and climb the Slītere lighthouse; skip it on a 2-night Riga trip (3.5 h each way).
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
265 km² (102 sq mi)102 sq mi (265 km²)
approximate
Established
2000
Best months
May–Jun, Sep
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 11Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…Treat the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian borders with R…
- Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
- Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
- Baltic states ↗Treat the Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian borders with Russia and Belarus as closed to your plans: crossings are restricted, change within hours, and sit under advisories on the far side.
- Baltic states ↗Book open-jaw flights (into Tallinn or Vilnius, out of the other) so the line runs one way; Riga is the biggest airport if you need a single hub.
- Baltic states ↗Midsummer (23–24 June) is the biggest holiday in all three countries: cities empty, many businesses close and island and coast transport sells out.
- Latvia ↗Latvia is in the EU and the Schengen area; the EU Entry/Exit System applies to non-EU visitors. Check the official EU and Latvian sources for your passport.
- Latvia ↗Borders with Russia and Belarus are not routes for casual travel; check your government's advice before going near them.
- Latvia ↗Validate public transport tickets when you board in Riga; inspectors fine unvalidated riders.
- Kurzeme ↗A car is the difference between seeing the coast and seeing one town; rental in Riga, pick up at the airport.
- Kurzeme ↗Fuel stations thin out north of Ventspils and around Kolka; fill up in towns.
- Kurzeme ↗Cards work in towns and larger guesthouses; carry some euro cash for farm stalls and small campsites.
At a glance
- Country
- Latvia
- Area
- 265 km² (102 sq mi)102 sq mi (265 km²)
- About 265 km² including the Baltic Sea coastal strip; the land core is smaller (check).
- Established
- 2000
- Best months
- May–Jun, Sep
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Tukums
Slīteres National Park is Latvia's smallest national park, created in 2000 on the base of a reserve first set aside in 1921, and it protects the Liv Coast of the Kurzeme peninsula: old-growth forest, the 1,880 ha Bažu bog, and Cape Kolka where the Gulf of Riga meets the open Baltic. It is a car destination — the sights are spread over 20–30 km of coast between the Šlītere lighthouse and Kolka, the roads are slow and partly gravel, and from Riga the drive is 3–3.5 hours each way. There is no gate fee; you pay only at individual sights. The park's value is in walking the bog tracks and standing at the cape during the April–May and September–October bird migration, not in facilities, which are thin.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 2000.
Size and age
265 km² (102 sq mi)102 sq mi (265 km²) · national park since 2000
About 265 km² including the Baltic Sea coastal strip; the land core is smaller (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Tukums.
Why go
- Cape Kolka, where the Gulf of Riga meets the open Baltic and migrating birds funnel past in tens of thousands.
- The Bažu bog, 1,880 ha of open peatland with straight old drainage tracks you can walk for hours.
- The Slītere lighthouse, whose viewing floor sits about 100 m above sea level, with forest and sea in one sweep.
- The Liv Coast villages of Mazirbe and Kolka, the last places tied to the Liv language and culture.
When to go
- JanAvoid
- FebAvoid
- MarCaution
- AprGo
- MayBest
- JunBest
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepBest
- OctGo
- NovCaution
- DecAvoid
- JanShort days, ice, many services shut
- FebCold and grey; roads icy
- MarThaw; bog tracks wet
- AprBird migration starts; cool
- MayMigration peak; long light evenings
- JunMidsummer light; everything open
- JulWarmest; Kolka beach busy at weekends
- AugWarm sea; berry season
- SepAutumn migration; quiet roads
- OctColour in the forest; wetter
- NovRain, mud, few open cafés
- DecDark by mid-afternoon
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Migrating birds at Cape KolkaApr–May, Sep–Oct · Tens of thousands of birds funnel along the coast; the cape is a known watch point. | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no |
| Lynx, elk and wolvesAll year · Present in the forest but very rarely seen. | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Orchids and bog plantsJun–Jul · The bog and meadows flower in early summer. | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no |
| TicksMay–Sep · Long grass and forest edges; check yourself after walking. | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Riga
Drive via Tukums and the P131 along the Gulf of Riga coast to Kolka, then south to the park centre.
3–3.5 h
Open the page →
From Tukums
P131 north-west through Dundaga; gravel sections near the coast.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Ventspils
P124 north along the coast via Mazirbe and Kolka.
1.5–2 h
Open the page →
From Kuldīga
Road via Talsi, then north to the coast; slow, partly gravel.
2–2.5 h
Open the page →
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Šlītere centre | Lighthouse, park information point and the start of the forest trails. | Open; lighthouse climb weekends 10:00–17:00 and daily in summer.Open; lighthouse climb weekends 10:00 AM–5:00 PM and daily in summer. |
| Bažu bog | The park's largest peatland, crossed by straight old drainage tracks. | Open on foot; no boardwalk, wet underfoot. |
| Cape Kolka and the coast | Sandbank, lighthouse on its artificial island, bird-watching point and fishing villages. | Open; parking charged in summer. |
| Strict nature reserve core | Old-growth forest kept free of visitors. | Closed; no entry. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
6 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Approximate positions along the Liv Coast from the Šlītere centre to Cape Kolka, for orientation only.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | Free | person | No gate fee for the park or its marked trails. |
| Slītere lighthouse climb | EUR 2–4 (≈ US$3–5) | person | 2026 estimate; the lighthouse is open weekends 10:00–17:00 and daily in summer. |
| Cape Kolka lighthouse area | EUR 0–3 (≈ US$0–4) | person | 2026 estimate; the cape and beach are free to walk. |
| Guided nature walk | EUR 5–15 (≈ US$6–18) | person | 2026 estimate; seasonal, book ahead. |
| Parking at Cape Kolka | EUR 2–5 (≈ US$3–6) | car | 2026 estimate in summer. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry no permit
Restricted nature reserve core permit or guide
Camping outside designated sites permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- €2–4≈ US$3–5
- €5–15≈ US$6–18
- €2–5≈ US$3–6
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on Dabas aizsardzības pārvalde (Nature Conservation Agency) — Slīteres National Park before you go.
Park rules
- Stay on marked tracks
- The strict reserve core is closed; walking off-track damages fragile bog and forest.
- Dogs
- Keep dogs on a lead on trails and out of the reserve core.
- Fires
- Only at designated campsites; no fires in the forest or on the bog.
- Litter
- Carry everything out; bins are rare outside the villages.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the park administration.
Where to stay
Near the park
Mazirbe and Kolka guesthouses
Small guesthouses and rooms in the Liv Coast villages, 10–25 min from the park centre.
Near the park
Camping near Kolka
Seasonal campsites and simple cabins; book in July and August.
Near the park
Dundaga and Tukums
More beds and shops, 40–90 min away by road.
Safety
Gravel roads and wildlife at dusk medium
Wet bog and forest tracks medium
Cold sea and strong currents at Cape Kolka high
Ticks medium
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- The lighthouse area, Cape Kolka and the village roads are reachable by car with short walks.
- The bog tracks and forest paths are soft and uneven; not suitable for wheelchairs or strollers.
Visiting lightly
- Buy from the Kolka and Mazirbe shops and cafés so the Liv Coast villages keep a reason to stay.
- Do not pick orchids or other plants; several species here are protected.
- Take rubbish back to the villages; there is little collection along the coast.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Slīteres National Park?
Nothing. There is no gate fee for the park or its marked trails. You pay only at individual sights: the Slītere lighthouse climb (about €2–4 in 2026) and Cape Kolka parking (about €2–5 in summer).
What are the best hikes in Slīteres National Park?
The Bažu bog tracks give the longest walk, 2–4 hours on straight old drainage lines across open peatland. Shorter options are the forest paths around the Šlītere lighthouse and the walk out to the Cape Kolka bird point.
When is the best time to visit Slīteres National Park?
May, June and September. May and September bring the bird migration at Cape Kolka with long daylight and quiet roads; June has the longest evenings. July and August are warmest but busiest at the cape.
Do I need a car for Slīteres National Park?
Yes, in practice. Buses run to Kolka and Mazirbe but are slow and infrequent, and the sights are spread over 20–30 km of coast. From Riga the drive takes 3–3.5 hours each way.
Can I see lynx, elk or wolves in the park?
Almost certainly not. They live in the forest but avoid people; the realistic wildlife sighting is birds at Cape Kolka in April–May and September–October.
Is Slīteres National Park worth it on a short Latvia trip?
Only with a car and a spare full day. On a 3-night Riga trip, use the time for Jūrmala and Sigulda instead and save Kurzeme's coast for a longer loop.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go