Ventspils with Children

Ventspils is a Latvian resort town, famous for its convenience for families and an “impossibly large” number of playgrounds, clean sand and entertainment for children. So what is this city like, is it good for all family members and is it really true that on the beach of Ventspils you feel like you are in Lithuania?

Latvia and the Latvian coast, and Ventspils in particular, is an ideal vacation destination with children. Located in the northwestern part of Latvia, it is surrounded by countless sea lanes and can be reached in several ways. If you are traveling from the center of Lithuania – make a versatile trip on the way to Riga and from it, along the entire charming and wild coast, driving towards Liepaja. We assure you – impressive and undiscovered. If you drive from the Žemaitija side, your journey will stretch along Liepoja, the towns, the coastline, and you will taste and discover wonderful nature as well. Just be prepared that the trip will last a long time, so you can plan to stop on the way.

In Ventspils, you will be greeted by countless different sculptures and fountains, we wish you to discover as many of them as possible and take a fun photo to remember. And we wish the whole family to take advantage of the advice on what to visit in Ventspils.

Ventspils GUIDE – where to have fun, what to see, what to visit, where to eat and where to stay with children

We have prepared this guide for you in cooperation with Visit Ventspils. You will find all places in the “Traveling with Children” Ventspils map.

Where to have fun with children:

1. Children’s town – free large children’s playground
2. Overview tours – narrow Mazbanitis, by train Ventspils Train, or by Jekabs excursion ship
3. Children’s park “Fantazija” – a free park with children’s playgrounds
4. Wonderland – playground
5. Cat path
6. Adventure Park
7. Water park Ventspils Ūdens adventure park
8. Beach water park
9. Blue flag beach
10. Lake Bušniekiai
11. Jungle trail

Where to go for a walk:

1. Port promenade
2. South pier
3. Old town
4. Jūrmala Park
5. Renki Park
6. Usma Elkrag Nature Trail
7. Būšnieki lake educational trail

What to visit and see:

1. The famous cows of the city
2. Deer Park
3. Mini zoo
4. Mini Zoo “Silkalni”
5. Mini Zoo Buki
6. Flower sculptures: “Underwater World”,Watch,Flower head
7. Castle of the Order of Ivonia
8. Planetarium and Observatory
9. Science center Vizium Zinātnes centrs “Vizium”
10. Coastal Household Museum
11. City fountains
12. Tower
13. Security – lookout tower
14. Museum of Storms
15. Center for Radio Astronomy

Where to eat:

1. Cafe “JŪRAS BRĪZE”
2. Cafe “OSTAS 23”
3. WEST CAFE
4. Creative Bread Laboratory “RAMALA”
5. Children’s cafe Pepija in the Children’s Village

Where to live:

1. Livu10 Apartments Ventspils
2. Olympic center “Ventspils” hotel
3. Guest house PODNIEKI
4. Ventspils Podnieki
5. Beach camping

Read our detailed reviews of these places.

Ventspils with children – “Travels with children” recommends

Steam locomotive Mazbanitis

A trip to Ventspils with children is fun to start in the steam locomotive MAZBĀNĪTIS, which takes you around the town’s attractions and really makes you feel good. Here you can choose between a two-line route or (1.4 or 3 km long). The longer route is circular, so you will return to the same place, at the nearby sports center CENTRS.

Blue flag beach

After the steam train ride, you can continue your journey on foot along the sea. The Blue Flag beach is famous throughout the Baltic region and here you will find a fully maintained beach that meets international environmental quality standards.

When the summer season starts, there are beach volleyball and soccer fields and cafes. Children can play on various structures, slide and swing. Boasting white fine sand, the beach is almost 80 m wide, with dunes up to 9 m high in places. The total length of the Blue Flag beach is 1.2 km. Beach facilities also provide an opportunity to rest by the sea and for people with mobility disabilities, they can move along paths and use specially designed platforms. Professional lifeguards also work on Ventspils beach.

The beach also has a specially maintained 500m long surfing beach with special facilities for preparing, storing and drying surfing equipment.

For lovers of untouched nature, as well as those who want to take a walk with their four-legged friend, the 10th wooden fence was recently installed here, located at the end of Saulrieta street. The paths of the new infrastructure go to the sea crossing the protected area of ​​European importance – the gray dune.

The newest object of tourism and military heritage of Ventspils is located here too: that’s the Tower of the protective line of the 46th coast guard company of Ventspils.

Tower

There is an observation tower (19 m above sea level) next to the beach at the South Pier.

Security tower

The guard line tower of the 46th Coast Guard Company of Ventspils is available to visitors as an observation tower. Visitors can climb the tower’s internal stairs to the platform at the top, which offers a view of the sea. Visitors can climb the internal staircase to the open observation deck at the top, which offers a view of the sea.

We assure you, both parents and children will like it, after all, seeing the sea and feeling the wind in your hair are indelible impressions for everyone.

Water park in the summer season

Right next to the main beach you will find a water adventure park. The beach water park offers 3 different swimming pools for active recreation in the summer season, where the water temperature is +24 °C. There are 8- and 10-meter towers with various slides near the pools. According to their wishes, water sports enthusiasts can go standard, family, turbine, try a free fall tube and inflatable boats.

There are also attractions suitable for little ones – an octopus, a frog, a ship and a mushroom.

Water Park

In the cold season, you can enjoy water entertainment in the children’s pool with funny figures – snake, bird and mushroom, swim in the artificial wave pool, float in the mountain river, descend from a height of 6 m on the 53 and 56 m long roller coaster, enjoy the spa baths or take a dip in one of the many saunas and saunas – Turkish or steamed. A pleasant rest is guaranteed by a water cascade and underwater currents (swimming against the current), a water waterfall and underwater massage currents, a massage shower and baths. If it’s too hot, you can jump into the ice water pool or rub yourself with specially prepared ice or cool down in the cold room.

Boat ride

If you still have the energy for water fun, we invite you to enjoy a ride on the HERCOGS JĒKABS boat in Ventspils. From May 1 until October 31 from the pier at the intersection of Ostas and Tirgus streets, a 45-minute trip to the Venta river delta is organized for tourists 5-7 times a day. This is a unique opportunity to review the city of Ventspils and the production activities of the free port. If you saw the town by steam train, why not by boat?

Cows

If we have already returned to land and you want to exercise your legs – try to count all the cows living in Ventspils. In 2002, the “Cow parade 2002” event took place in Ventspils, which is considered the largest and most successful public art event in the world. Then 28 life-size fiberglass cows were turned into amazing works of art, which were later sold at a charity auction. Six exhibits from this Cow Parade can still be seen in Ventspils.

In 2012, marking the 10th anniversary of the Cow Parade 2002, 25 colorful participants of the Ventspils Cow Parade 2012 once again settled in the streets, squares and parks of Ventspils. After the charity auction, the cows live with their new owners, but some of them still delight the guests of the city and the people of Ventspils themselves. There are 17 cows in total – but maybe you will find more of them?

To make it easier to find all the things, a walking map is created, so that every cow is visited.

Adventure Park

The adventure park is an active recreation and sports complex that offers various entertainment and sports opportunities throughout the year.

In the adventure park you will find many activities for the whole day:

• All-season toboggan run
• Bumper cars
• Bumper boats
• Trampoline boats
• Rope tracks in the trees
• Paintball, Laser pointer, Airsoft shooting range with military equipment
• Wake Park
• Catapult, trampoline complex, jumping rubber trampoline
• Chamber pumping track
• Crazy rotor
• Playhouse and inflatable rides
• Children’s driving school
• Disc golf
• Football – frisbee field and other attractions
• Organized picnic areas

If the weather is good in winter – an artificial ski hill. Illuminated ski slopes, snow park with trampolines, slides, toboggan hill with belt lift, training track with belt lift and safety net, ski track.

Flower sculptures

There are many flower sculptures in Venspils – be sure to visit at least some of them – a true symbol and uniqueness of the city.

Ostas street promenade

As you continue along the harbor, you will find yourself walking along the OSTAS street promenade. Until the 20th century in the middle of the century, there were port warehouses called “spikers”. The promenade of Ostas street or the Venta embankment is full of tourist objects – the castle of the Livonian Order, the monument of Kr. Valdemar, the figurative flower garden “Mārītes” (Boružės), etc. As you walk along the promenade, you can admire the renovated stoders (night lights), which will create a special aura and feel of the harbor in the evening.

Castle of the Livonian Order

Walking along this promenade, you will reach a real historical pride – the castle of the Livonian Order. Rebuilt many times, it has happily reached our days. Now it is the oldest convent-type castle in Latvia, built in the 13th century. Restoration of the castle of the Livonian Order in 2002 was marked with the great Latvian architecture award, the Ventspils Museum, considered the most modern in the entire Baltic region, was established in its premises.

The digital exhibition “Living History” (Dzīvā vēštra) is displayed in the museum located in the castle of the Livonian Order, dedicated to the history of the castle, the city, the port and the region of Ventspils. It was awarded the prize of the Latvian Culture Foundation as the first digital exhibition among Latvian museums. The permanent exposition presents the period from the first people moving to the Ventspils area to the present day.

The castle also has a prison exposition “Government bread” (“Kroņa maizē”), which tells about the period when prison cells were installed in certain rooms of the castle… The image gallery attracts attention.

There is no shortage of events in the castle of the Livonian Order throughout the year: art and historical exhibitions, concerts and events enriching the city’s cultural life, charity events are held regularly. For representatives of the younger generation, the museum staff offers educational classes and creative workshops, where you can not get bored while learning the history of Ventspils. In the courtyard of the castle, everyone can try their hand at archery, and if you register in advance, you can also shoot a real cannon.

Children’s town

Walking towards Leilas Street, you will reach the Children’s Town. The children’s town was established in 2000, it is located on Lielais avenue near the seaside, in the territory of the former Recreation Park. There are more than 40 different play equipment designed for both the smallest and teenagers. Here you can turn a 1.5 m high globe, those with a sweet tooth can enjoy the delicacies of the children’s cafe “Pepija”, you can smile at the flower arrangement “Family of Ducklings” or all year round on Sundays at 11:00 a.m. come with your offspring to some event for children.

Renki Park

The city is also full of named parks such as Renki Park. The garden was named after one of the richest families in Ventspils – the Renki family at the end of the 19th century.

Beautiful – with huge hundred-year-old trees, unique – with unusual sculptural elements, Renki Park also attracts those who like silence and walks. In the summer, there are picnics in nature, exhibitions and open-air performances, concerts and festivals, equestrian competitions and dog shows…

Children will be delighted by the sculptural objects of the artist I. Berga – the lost items of the fairy-tale giant Lutausius: shoes, a hat, a button, a ball of thread and a bundle of keys. The long-legged Fly (Muša) and the giant Spider (Zirneklis) invite you to caress, author U. Kurzemnieks (U. Kurzemnieks). The park is home to Cloud Sheep (Mākoņaitiņas) – 10 lambs and lambs (author G. Burvis (Ģ.Burvis), Park animals (Dārza zvēriņi) – a cow, a cat and a grasshopper (author A. Dzervė (A. Dzērve). The Sea Cow grazes in the park (Sea cow), which is in perfect harmony with the Crab (Krabju krabis) and the Turtle (Bruņurupucis) (author V. Šuškēvičius). The floating fountain, benches and huge swings in the pond of Renki Park will bring a lot of positive emotions to the residents and guests of the city.

Coastal Household Museum

If your family is interested in history, we invite you to take a look at the real history of Latvian fishing and visit the Museum of Coastal Household. The only Latvian museum dedicated to the history of fishing – Ventspils Coastal Household Museum – was established in 1954. In the four hectares of the museum territory, there are residential fishermen’s houses, net dryers, smokehouses and other monuments of folk architecture, including the Užava windmill. The evolution of boats and fishing gear from the 18th century can be seen on the territory of the Coastal Household Museum.

One of the most impressive exhibits of the museum is the 1916 the show’s steam locomotive and two passenger cars – Siaurukas (Mazbānītis). 20th century in the 1960s it ran regularly between the seaside fishing villages.

Old material values ​​are not only preserved in the territory of the Coastal Household Museum, traditions are respected here: Easter and St. John’s Day are celebrated according to the old traditions, you can learn how to pour candles, bake bread or work at the mill, beat butter and make pancakes.

Children will be delighted with the large playground made of natural materials in ethnographic style.

Jungle trail

If you travel to Jūrmala Park, visit the Jungle Trail. The main inhabitants of the jungle are the works created by sculptors, which were born during the traditional international symposium of wood sculptors “Art of Poplars”. You will see a wooden crocodile and a giant stork. While walking, you will get to know the various road surfaces – dolomite slabs, wooden blocks, crushed stone, crushed bark, various pine cones, etc. The jungle path is 380 m long and will especially appeal to children – you can climb and climb like in a real jungle, there are various steps, hanging bridges, a tower and a rope course that reaches 2 m at the highest point and goes from one tree to another.

Cat path

In the adventure park you will also find the Cat Trail. On the track, tensioned ropes, nets, bridges of various constructions, swings, logs, ropes and ladders are attached to the growing trees at various heights, forming a path more than a hundred meters long without going down. The obstacles are divided into four different courses of difficulty – green, blue, red and black. This season, the Katino track will be available for the eighth track – Jēgos – which is the most difficult to overcome according to the level of difficulty.

Children’s Park “Fantazija”

The whole family will also like the Užwentis forest park, which includes the Forest Park and the children’s park “Fantazija”. In the children’s park “Fantazija” a forest path with 12 objects of various levels of complexity was opened in 2007. The obstacle course is made of elements of mooring ropes and is about 100m long.

Animal farms and zoos

Deer Park – here you will see beautiful deers.

Mini Zoo “Silkalni” – here you can see various types of decorative chickens, pigeons and waterfowl. Decorative pigs and rabbits joined them. The mini zoo is located only 15 km from Ventspils.

Mini Zoo Buki – the zoo is very close to Ventspils, about 2 km in the direction of Kuldyga. Here you can not only see, but also feed various animals. In the mini zoo, you can see different types of animals and birds, from goats, geese and chickens to camels, alpacas, emus, ponies and other animals, as well as exotic birds, lizards, arthropods, tarantulas and more.

Mini zoo – Lejnieki Farm, which has various breeds of domestic animals and exotic animals, including Shetland ponies, steppe whistlers, Peruvian pygmy pigs. The zoo is particularly proud of the aviary where you will see several species of birds including Jacobin pigeons, peacocks, pheasants and more. The mini zoo is located 45 km from Ventspils.

Science center Vizium Zinātnes centrs “Vizium”

The main task of the Science and Innovation Center is to tell about physics, mathematics, engineering and technology in simple words, in order to promote the understanding of science and its comprehensiveness.

There are 80 interactive exhibits dedicated to these topics, 20 educational programs and 6 technical creative workshops and at least 6 science shows.

You and your curious children will definitely like it.

Planetarium and Observatory

The dome of the planetarium is 8 meters in diameter. The software used here allows you to display unique constellations and 360-degree movies.

The observatory has a high-quality telescope with which observations of the Sun are made during the day, and planets, the Moon and stars are observed in the evenings (from September to April). Lecturers participate in observation sessions.

Center for Radio Astronomy

And as the evening approaches, let’s go to the astronomy center – which you can find in Irbene. The 32m rotating parabolic antenna RT-32, which is the largest in Northern Europe and the eighth largest in the world, is now working here for scientific purposes. There is another 16m antenna RT-16. The antennas were renewed in the summer of 2015. Parabolic antennas are used for the study of objects in interstellar space, for studying the Sun. Radiolocation of asteroids and near-Earth artificial objects, space debris and large bases for interferometric observations, tracking objects beyond our Solar System.

Flowers, fountains, sculptures, water, boats, steamboats, water parks. Ancient boats and fishing nets, castles and kings, snowshoes and play towns. all this and more you will discover and experience while traveling in Ventspils with children.

Ventspils with children is an ideal destination for both a weekend trip and a summer vacation.

Ventspils with children – where to stay

Our recommended places:

1. Livu10 Apartments Ventspils – a family-friendly place with children and pets in an authentic old house in the old town of Ventspils. Friendly and helpful hosts from Lithuania. Near the center, children’s play park (5 min walk), central beach and Water Park (800 m). Large enclosed courtyard, treehouse, swing, trampoline, sandbox. You can book directly or online: Livu 10 Apartment 1, Livu 10 Apartment 2, Livu 10 Apartment 3, Livu Apartment 1 in the Old town, Livu Apartment 2 in the Old town, Livu Apartments in the Old town, Livu Studio Apartments.
2. Olympic center “Ventspils” hotel – convenient, because you will be able to spend the night in the cozy and comfortable hotel of the Olympic center “Ventspils” in the very center and at the same time enjoy the pleasures of water in the water attractions and SPA complex of the Ventspils Water Adventure Park.
3. Guest house PODNIEKI – there are children’s playgrounds, basketball and football fields in the territory. The property has an outdoor barbecue area, the equipment of which can be used free of charge. A little further from the city and the beach.
4. Ventspils Podnieki – this is a vacation home in Ventspils, located in a good location, with a private beach, a garden and a parking lot. All rooms have a terrace with lake view.
5. Seaside camping – in the green zone of Ventspils, less than 2 km from the city center and about 800 m from the blue flag beach of Ventspils. Children’s Town, Beach Water Park are nearby.

Ventspils has a particularly large offer of accommodation in the private sector – you will surely find the most suitable one for you. Find where to live here – a very large selection of various types of accommodation is available too.

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