LATVIA /

BEST LOCATIONS:

SLITERE NATIONAL PARK / LOCATION - remote coastline where the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga meet

• Altitude: Sea level (up to ~30-40 meters on the coastal dunes).

• Bortle Scale: Class 2 to 3 (Excellent to Rural Dark Sky).

• Why Go: The clean maritime air minimizes atmospheric haze, resulting in striking, unobstructed horizons right over the water.

Set on the remote coastline where the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga meet, this area is widely regarded as one of the darkest spots in the country.

LIELZELTINI OBSERVATORY AND BALGALE / LOCATION: Tukums district

• Altitude: ~40 meters.

• Bortle Scale: Class 3 (Rural Sky).

• Why Go: It’s secluded enough for deep-sky viewing but offers equipment and local astronomy experts (visits must be booked in advance)

This is recognized as one of the best astronomy hubs in Latvia. Located about 1.5 hours from Riga, it pairs dark skies with professional telescopes for viewing the Moon, Saturn, and deep sky objects.

IRBENE RADIO ASTRONOMY CENTER / LOCATION: Ventspils district

• Altitude: ~20 meters.

• Bortle Scale: Class 3 (Rural Sky).

• Why Go: Surrounded by dense pine forests and located far from metropolitan lights, it offers highly unobstructed views of the zenith and is open to daytime/nighttime tours

Originally a Cold War-era, Soviet espionage site, the area now hosts giant radio telescopes and is completely isolated by the deep Kurzeme forests.

GAUJA NATIONAL PARK / LOCATION: Sothwestern iceland, northeast of Reykjavík

• Altitude: ~60 to 100 meters.

• Bortle Scale: Class 3 to 4 (Rural/Suburban Transition).

• Why Go: Many protected nature trails and lakeside clearings, like the areas around Cenas tīrelis, provide natural vantage points that shield you from direct urban streetlight

If you are closer to Riga but want to escape the city's glow, the edges of this national park provide accessible deep sky and Milky Way visibility.

OTHER NOTABLE LOCATIONS /

Razna National Park

Altitude: ~180 meters

Bortle Scale: 3-4 (relatively dark skies, minimal light pollution)

Kemeri National Park

Altitude: ~5-20 meters (lowland area but far from urban lights)

Bortle Scale: 3-4

Sēlpils Hill

Altitude: ~140 meters

Bortle Scale: 3 (dark skies suitable for stargazing)

Daugava River Valley near Krāslava

Altitude: ~130 meters

Bortle Scale: 3-4 (less light pollution due to rural setting)

TOP HIGHLIGHTS:

Highly visible Milky Way

Northern Lights during high solar activity

HIGHEST PEAK: Gaiziņkalns - 312 meters

BEST BORTLE SCALE: Class 3 - Class 4

OFFICIAL DARK SKY AREAS: NO