EuroVelo 13, the Iron Curtain Trail, runs for more than 550 kilometres through Latvia. It begins at the Estonian border near Ainaži and continues to the Lithuanian border at Nida, staying as close to the sea as possible. A journey along it moves between the open Baltic shore, the coast of the Gulf of Riga and towns where a longer pause makes sense. Its scale makes it more rewarding to choose stages than to treat the route as a single uninterrupted ride.
The name points to Europe’s divided past, yet this is more than a history lesson. Riga offers an urban interlude, Ventspils has well-developed cycling infrastructure, and Liepāja and Karosta bring preserved Soviet military heritage into view. The contrast between coastal landscape and these traces of the twentieth century gives the ride its particular character. Leave time to explore rather than building each day around distance alone.
Before setting out, check the map, surface and waymarking for the section you plan to ride. EuroVelo explains that development levels vary across the network, so a continuous signed cycle path should not be assumed. Navigation, clothing suited to coastal weather and a flexible daily plan make the trip easier to enjoy. If the full coast is too much for one journey, choose a town and a nearby section: the meeting of sea, forest and history is compelling even on a shorter ride.