Cape Kolka

Kolkasrags

A dramatic windswept spit where the Gulf of Riga meets the open Baltic Sea, marked by shifting sandbanks and a distant lighthouse. Visit for the wild meeting of waters, driftwood beaches and remote Livonian coast atmosphere.

Things to do

• Watch the meeting of waters — Stand at the tip of the spit where the Gulf of Riga's calmer waters collide with the open Baltic, creating visible clashing waves and currents.
• See the Kolka Cape memorial — Visit the striking metal sculpture and stone dedicated to those lost at sea, set among windswept pines near the shore.
• Spot the offshore lighthouse — Look out to the old Kolka lighthouse standing on an artificial island several kilometres offshore, best seen on a clear day.
• Walk the driftwood beaches — Stroll the wild sandy shores littered with bleached driftwood, shifting dunes and pine forest edges typical of the Slitere National Park coast.
• Explore Slitere National Park — Hike the nearby nature trails and boardwalks through ancient dunes and forest, or climb the Slitere lighthouse tower for panoramic views.
• Visit Livonian fishing villages — Drive the coastal road to Vaide, Kosrags and Mazirbe to see traditional wooden houses of the Livonian (Liv) minority.
• See the boat cemetery at Mazirbe — Wander the atmospheric graveyard of abandoned wooden fishing boats left to decay among the coastal grasses.

Food to try

• Smoked Baltic fish — Buy freshly smoked flounder, herring or plaice from local fishermen and roadside smokehouses along the coast.
• Sklandrausis — Try this sweet traditional Livonian and Courland rye-crust tart filled with potato and carrot, a regional specialty.
• Fresh grey peas with bacon — Sample pelēkie zirņi ar speķi, the hearty Latvian dish of grey peas fried with onion and smoked pork.
• Rye bread — Pick up dense dark Latvian rupjmaize, ideal paired with smoked fish for a beach picnic.
• Fisherman's soup — Look for warming fish soup made from the day's Baltic catch at small guesthouses and cafes in the villages.

Local customs & good to know

• Respect the swimming danger — Never swim at the very cape as the colliding currents and underwater sandbanks make the water treacherous even in calm weather.
• Honour Livonian heritage — This is the heart of the tiny Livonian (Liv) people's homeland, so look for Liv flags, place names and the annual Livonian festival at Mazirbe.
• Bring supplies — The cape is remote with few shops or facilities, so pack food, water and fuel before arriving.
• Pay the parking fee — A small charge applies for parking near the cape, which supports the maintenance of this protected nature area.

Nearby

• Livonian Coast Villages — 16 km
• Talsi (Kurzeme) — 56 km
• Lake Engure — 64 km
• Ventspils (Kurzeme) — 73 km