The Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum is one of the oldest open-air museums in Europe. Now its territory covers 87.66 hectares of forest on the banks of Lake Jugla. The museum displays 118 historic buildings from all Latvian regions - Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Latgale dating from the 17th century to the beginning of 1930s.
The museum features the homes of Latvian farmers, craftsmen and fishermen, with permanent exhibitions of household and work equipment that are characterised by the specific time period, region and the owners' occupation. Visitors can also learn more about Kurzeme Liv fishermen and Latgale old-believers' houses here.
On May 16, 1997, the house of New Farmers was opened - a testimony to the the Agrarian reforms of 1920. The museum is a workplace for craftsmen and it hosts traditional feast day celebrations. The exhibition hall holds artwork exhibitions from applied art studios and the museum's collection.
Why visit
The Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum offers a one-of-a-kind journey into the country’s rural past. Set beside a peaceful lake and surrounded by a pine forest, it features over 100 traditional buildings that recreate village life as it once was across Latvia’s four regions. You’ll wander through farmsteads, windmills, churches, and artisan workshops, all brought together to preserve the spirit of Latvian heritage. With live craft demonstrations, folk events, and seasonal festivals, this museum blends nature, history, and culture in a setting that feels both authentic and immersive.
Historical highlight
What makes this museum especially unique is that its buildings weren’t built here - they were moved. Since the 1920s, original structures have been carefully dismantled from villages and farms across Latvia and rebuilt on this site. Each building, whether a fisherman’s hut or a blacksmith’s forge, is an actual piece of Latvian history, preserved in its true form.
How to get there
The Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum is situated approximately 13 kilometres from Riga’s Old Town, near the scenic Jugla Lake, and is easily accessible by various means. Public transport is a convenient option - several bus lines heading in the direction will take you close to the museum in about 30 to 40 minutes, followed by a short walk. If you're traveling by car or taxi, the journey takes roughly 20 minutes from the city centre, and there is on-site parking available.
