What to see, where to stay and the best time to visit Cēsis, Latvia.
Photo: Guntars Mednis / Wikimedia Commons
Cēsis is a small town in Latvia, home to about 14,899 people, set at the edge of Gauja National Park. It's a mixed destination: a compact medieval Old Town with a castle and museum, plus nature trails and cliffs just outside the centre. Visitors come for the quiet streets, the ruined stone castle, and easy access to the forests and river valley around Cīrulīši. June is the best month to visit, with long days for walking the Old Town and exploring the park trails nearby.
One full day covers the Old Town, castle, and museum. Add a second day if you want to walk the Cīrulīši Nature Trail or see the Ērgļu Cliffs in Gauja National Park.
Castle Park, Old Town
The stone ruins of a castle built by the Livonian Order, one of the best kept in Latvia. You can climb the towers for views over the town, and in the dark western tower you find your way up with a lantern.
Castle Park, Old Town
The museum fills the manor house, called the New Castle, next to the medieval ruins. Rooms cover local history and art, and the Lademacher Tower has a viewing platform over the castle and the park.
Old Town
A landscaped park below the castle with a pond, old trees and paths. It is a calm place to walk between the castle and the Old Town.
Old Town
A large medieval Lutheran church and the oldest landmark of the Old Town skyline. When the tower is open, you can climb it for a wide view over the red roofs and the Gauja valley.
Old Town
Cobbled streets such as Rīgas iela keep the medieval street plan, with low wooden and stone houses, cafés and small shops. Rose Square is the main square and a good starting point for a walk.
Cīrulīši, edge of Cēsis
A walking trail in Gauja National Park that follows the Gauja River past red sandstone cliffs, including the Gūdu cliffs, and a spring. It is the easiest way to see the national park from the town.
Gauja National Park, near Cēsis
High sandstone cliffs above a bend of the Gauja River, reached by a short walk through forest. Viewing points give a clear look at the cliff face and the river valley.
Near Old Town
A small green park with a pond close to the centre. It is a quiet stop for a short rest during a walk around town.
Town centre
A modern concert hall and cultural centre on Unity Square. Check the programme for concerts, theatre and exhibitions during your stay.
Average weather and our month score, from 10 years of climate data.
| Month | High / low | Rain days | Sunshine | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C / -6°C | 14 days (65 mm) | 1.8 h/day | 0.6/10 |
| February | 0°C / -5°C | 12 days (57 mm) | 3.6 h/day | 1.5/10 |
| March | 4°C / -3°C | 12 days (49 mm) | 6.4 h/day | 2.3/10 |
| April | 10°C / 1°C | 13 days (58 mm) | 9.3 h/day | 3.5/10 |
| May | 16°C / 6°C | 11 days (59 mm) | 12.3 h/day | 6.9/10 |
| Best month: June | 21°C / 12°C | 12 days (81 mm) | 13.5 h/day | 7.6/10 |
| July | 21°C / 13°C | 17 days (106 mm) | 12.4 h/day | 7.0/10 |
| August | 21°C / 13°C | 14 days (88 mm) | 10.7 h/day | 7.2/10 |
| September | 17°C / 10°C | 11 days (71 mm) | 8.3 h/day | 7.1/10 |
| October | 10°C / 4°C | 14 days (79 mm) | 5.0 h/day | 2.3/10 |
| November | 4°C / 1°C | 14 days (63 mm) | 1.9 h/day | 0.7/10 |
| December | 1°C / -3°C | 15 days (59 mm) | 1.4 h/day | 0.4/10 |
Cold with a high of -1.4°C and 14.4 rain days; only 1.8 hours of sun daily. Score is low at 0.6, reflecting the dark, icy conditions.
Still freezing, high of 0.3°C, with 11.8 rain days and just 3.6 sun hours. Score sits at 1.5, a quiet, cold month.
Highs reach 4.4°C but nights stay below freezing at -2.8°C; 11.7 rain days and more sun at 6.4 hours. Score of 2.3 shows winter still has a grip.
Milder with a high of 10.2°C, 12.9 rain days and 9.3 sun hours. Score of 3.5 means weather is improving but still unsettled.
Pleasant, high of 16.2°C, 10.9 rain days and 12.3 sun hours. Score jumps to 6.9, a good month to visit.
Warm highs of 21°C, 12.2 rain days and 13.5 sun hours, the most of the year. Score peaks at 7.6, the best month overall.
Hot at 21.4°C high but wettest month with 16.7 rain days and 106 mm rain. Score of 7 keeps it a good choice despite the rain.
Still warm, 21.3°C high, 13.8 rain days and 10.7 sun hours. Score of 7.2 makes it another good month.
Cooling to 16.7°C high, 11.3 rain days and 8.3 sun hours. Score of 7.1 keeps conditions favourable.
Highs drop to 9.8°C with 14.2 rain days and just 5 sun hours. Score falls to 2.3 as grey, wet weather sets in.
Cold at 4.2°C high, 13.9 rain days and only 1.9 sun hours. Score of 0.7 marks a dark, damp stretch.
Near freezing at 0.9°C high, 15 rain days and just 1.4 sun hours, the darkest month. Score of 0.4 is the lowest of the year.
Climate averages 2015–2024 · Best time to visit Latvia →
The best areas to base yourself and who each one suits.
Good for first-timers, history, short stays
The medieval centre around the castle, Rose Square and Lielā iela has cobbled lanes, cafés and most of the town's sights within a short walk. It is the easiest base for a first visit because you can do everything on foot. The streets are hilly and cobbled, which can be hard with heavy luggage or a pram.
Good for train and bus travellers, day trips
The streets around the railway and bus station are practical and plain, with shops and direct links to Riga and other Gauja valley towns. It suits travellers arriving without a car or planning day trips. The area has little old-town character, and the walk to the castle is uphill.
Good for active travellers, winter sports, families
This hillside on the Gauja River has the town's ski slope in winter and canoeing, hiking and cycling in the warmer months. It suits people who come for the outdoors more than the old streets. It is out of the centre, so expect a longer walk, or use a car or taxi, to reach restaurants.
Good for nature lovers, quiet, hikers
A wooded area of sandstone cliffs and nature trails on the edge of town, close to the Gauja National Park landscapes. Stay here for calm evenings and walks from your door. Services are thin, and without a car you will depend on walking or taxis to reach the centre.
This is a classic Latvian winter dish made from dried grey peas cooked with fried bacon and onions. Locals in Cēsis eat it at home and in traditional restaurants, especially during colder months.
Dense, sour dark rye bread is a staple across Latvia, including Cēsis. It is served with almost every meal and often topped with butter, cheese, or smoked fish.
Smoked river and lake fish, such as trout or bream, is popular in the Cēsis region thanks to nearby lakes and rivers. It is often sold at local markets and eaten as a snack or light meal.
Cēsis is home to one of Latvia's oldest breweries, and local beer is a point of pride. It is served in pubs and cafés throughout the town, often paired with hearty local food.
These small, crescent-shaped pastries filled with bacon and onion are a common Latvian snack. In Cēsis, they are sold at bakeries and markets and eaten any time of day.
Yes. August scores 7.2 out of 10, a "good" rating. Daytime highs reach 21.3°C and lows stay around 13.1°C, so it feels like full summer. There are 13.8 rain days and 88mm of rain, with 10.7 hours of sun a day, so pack a light rain jacket but expect plenty of outdoor time.
June is the top-rated month, scoring 7.6 out of 10. Highs average 21°C and lows 11.6°C, with 13.5 hours of sun daily, the most of any month. Rain falls on 12.2 days but totals only 81mm, less than July's 106mm, making June the warmest, sunniest, and driest of the warm months.
One to two days is enough. The main sights, the Medieval Castle, the New Castle museum, Castle Park, St. John's Church and the Old Town around Rose Square, each take 30 minutes to 2 hours. Add a half-day for the Cīrulīši Nature Trail or the Ērgļu Cliffs in Gauja National Park if you want time outdoors.
Winter months score low: December scores 0.4, January 0.6, and February 1.5, all rated "avoid" for typical sightseeing. Highs stay below freezing from December to February, lows drop to -5.9°C in January, and sunshine falls to just 1.4 to 3.6 hours a day. The short daylight and cold suit travellers after a quiet, snowy atmosphere rather than long outdoor days.
Yes, July rates "good" with a score of 7 out of 10. It is the warmest month, with highs of 21.4°C and lows of 13.3°C. It is also the wettest, with 106mm of rain over 16.7 days, the most rain days of any month, so pack for showers alongside the warm temperatures.
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