Libau: Beach, Sea and Culture for Your Trip

• Liepāja has a wide sandy beach.
• Lake Liepāja and the surrounding meadows belong to the Lake Liepāja nature reserve and the specially protected Natura 2000 area. It is important for the breeding and migration of waterfowl.
• The Trade Channel is three kilometres long, connects Lake Liepāja with the Baltic Sea and separates Old Liepāja from New Liepāja.
• Liepāja has cycling routes with a total length of more than 50 kilometres.

Lake Liepāja is a lagoon lake formed by the retreat of the Baltic Sea. A particularly distinctive access point is at the end of Lauku Street: from there, an almost one-kilometre-long footbridge leads across the lake to a 10-metre-high birdwatching tower.

The Trade Channel is more than just a geographical connection. Visitors can enjoy water-based activities there by catamaran, boat or raft, or use a sauna in a floating house. This creates distinctly different experiences by the water at the lake, canal and Baltic Sea coast.

The Zirgu Island Nature Trail is approximately four kilometres long and has wooden footbridges. Two viewing platforms offer wide-ranging views of Lake Liepāja. The trail also includes a birdwatching tower and outdoor fitness equipment. A route for skating and cycling is located nearby.

The Karosta Prison Museum showcases a real prison that has remained largely unchanged since the Tsarist era. Visitors can take part in the reality show “Aiz restēm” (“Behind Bars”) and the game “Slēgtā istaba” (“Locked Room”) there. The “Lielais dzintars” concert hall opened in 2015. Tours of Great Amber include the Great Hall as well as other concert and art spaces.

At the North Mole, the maritime history becomes visible. It was built at the end of the 19th century as part of the Liepāja Sea Fortress and military port and is 1,800 metres long.

The Liepāja Museum presents several permanent exhibitions and other historical artefacts. Trinity Cathedral complements this focus with late-Baroque exterior architecture featuring Classical elements and an interior shaped by the Rococo style. Its 55-metre-high tower is open to visitors and offers a panoramic view of the city.

When choosing accommodation in Libau, different travel interests and locations can determine the focus: coast and water, nature observation, museums, architecture or concert culture. The fixed tour schedule is particularly important when visiting the Karosta Prison Museum. Visits are only possible with a guided tour; tours begin every hour on the hour.

What is special about Trinity Cathedral?

Trinity Cathedral houses the world's largest unchanged mechanical organ, with 131 stops, four manuals and more than 7,000 pipes.

Can the Karosta Prison Museum be visited without a guided tour?

No.

What period does the Liepāja Museum cover?

The exhibitions and collections range from the Stone Age to the 19th century. They include archaeological objects, works of art and other historical artefacts.

To the higher-level travel overview: Liepāja.