LV
Daugavpils
Latvia’s second city, with a vast 19th-century fortress and the Mark Rothko Art Centre
Latvia’s second city, with a vast 19th-century fortress and the Mark Rothko Art Centre
Built by the Russian Empire in the 19th century, the fortress is a small town in itself, with ramparts, gates and barracks. It is one of the best-preserved of its kind in north-eastern Europe.
Photo: Laima Gutmane, CC BY-SA 4.0
Inside the fortress, the former arsenal shows original works by Rothko alongside contemporary exhibitions. It also has rooms where visitors can stay overnight.
Photo: Laima Gūtmane (simka), CC BY-SA 3.0
On one hill in the Jaunbūve district stand Orthodox, Catholic, Lutheran and Old Believers’ churches, including the domed cathedral of Saints Boris and Gleb.
Photo: Zairon, CC BY-SA 4.0
Walk the earth ramparts and moats around the fortress for views over the river and the old garrison buildings.
Photo: Scotch Mist, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try Latgalian dishes such as kļockas (dumplings), potato pancakes and smoked fish. The Smakovka museum covers the local home-distilled spirit, with tastings.
The city centre has inexpensive cafés.
Trains from Riga take roughly 3–4 hours; buses are similar. Daugavpils also has bus connections to Vilnius.
Trams run through the city and out towards the fortress.
Latvia uses the euro (EUR).
Fortress, art and churches.
Explore the fortress and the Mark Rothko Art Centre.
Visit Church Hill and the lead shot tower.
🛂 Entry rules: EES and ETIAS
Latvia is in the Schengen area, which has two EU border systems for non-EU visitors.
EES (in force): since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System registers non-EU visitors’ passport details, fingerprints and a photo the first time they enter the Schengen area, replacing passport stamps. Allow extra time at the border on your first trip; later crossings are quicker. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens are not registered.
ETIAS (not yet running): a €20 online travel authorisation for visitors who don’t need a visa, such as UK, US, Canadian and Australian citizens. It hasn’t started and no start date has been confirmed, so nobody can apply yet; ignore websites that offer to “pre-register” you for a fee.
Visa-free visitors can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, not per country.
Official information: EU: Travel to Europe (EES & ETIAS) · Reviewed September 2026
Russian is widely spoken; learn a few words.
Check temporary exhibitions at the art centre.
Book trains from Riga in advance at weekends.
The old lead shot factory has a tower you can climb.
Quick answers for planning time in Daugavpils.
Yes, for its fortress, the Rothko centre and its mixed cultural heritage.
Yes, in 1903.
Roughly 3–4 hours by train.
A hill with churches of four Christian denominations.
May to September.
Planning a wider trip? Our Latvia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.