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EuropeLatviaCēsis Municipality

Cēsis

Cēsis Municipality, Latvia · Europe

About Cēsis

Cēsis works well as a base: 10 minutes from Priekuļi, 13km from Gauja National Park.

Cēsis is a town located in Cēsis Municipality, Latvia. With a population of 15,020, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Cēsis sits in Latvia, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Riga time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Cēsis to your route.

About Cēsis

Cēsis (Latvian pronunciation: [tseːsis] ; (German: Wenden, Livonian: Venden, Estonian: Võnnu, Polish: Kieś) is a town in Latvia and the center of Cēsis Municipality, located in the northern part of the Central Vidzeme Upland. Cēsis is on the Gauja River valley, and is built on a series of ridges above the river,

Read more overlooking the woods below. Cēsis was selected to be one of the candidate cities for the title of the European Capital of Culture 2014 (Riga was the Latvian city that won the title), as well as for the European Capital of Culture 2027 (Liepāja took the title).

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Cēsis

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Cēsis?

Cēsis offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Cēsis?

Plan your road trip to Cēsis with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Cēsis as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Cēsis located?

Cēsis is located in Cēsis Municipality, Latvia, Europe. The coordinates are 57.3119 latitude, 25.2746 longitude.

What is the population of Cēsis?

Cēsis has a population of approximately 15,020 people, making it a town in Latvia.

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Quick Information

Population
15,020
Continent
Europe
Country
Latvia
Region
Cēsis Municipality
Timezone
Europe/Riga
Coordinates
57.3119, 25.2746

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Latvia

Police
112
Ambulance
113
Fire
112
Driving side
right
Full driving guide for Latvia

Tags

EuropeLatviaCēsis MunicipalityTown

Worth the detour from Cēsis

5 notable places within an hour's drive.

national park

Gauja National Park

Latvia's largest and oldest national park with forested sandstone cliffs, medieval castles, caves, and the scenic Gauja River valley.

13 km · about 25 min drive

museum

Līgatne Secret Soviet Bunker

A 2,000 m² nuclear command bunker 9 m beneath an innocuous rehabilitation centre in Gauja National Park, built for Soviet Latvia's elite and classified until 2003: original 1980s equipment, canteen and all. Guided tours only.

14 km · about 25 min drive

castle

Turaida Castle

A striking red-brick medieval castle rising above the wooded Gauja valley near Sigulda, its round tower offering sweeping views over Latvia's 'Switzerland'. An easy, scenic drive from Riga.

29 km · about 35 min drive

natural wonder

Gutmanis Cave

The widest cave in the Baltics, a sandstone grotto with centuries of carved inscriptions, beside the Sigulda–Turaida road with parking.

30 km · about 35 min drive

racetrack

Sigulda Bobsleigh Track

Olympic-standard bobsleigh and luge track in Gauja National Park offering public rides, with its own access road and car park.

30 km · about 35 min drive

When to drive here

May to September

Far northern latitude: short daylight hours outside summer make long drives harder.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Cēsis.

Priekuļi

🇱🇻 Latvia

5 km awayPop. 2,136

Drabeši

🇱🇻 Latvia

8 km awayPop. 2,323

Stalbe

🇱🇻 Latvia

16 km away

Līgatne

🇱🇻 Latvia

17 km awayPop. 1,017

Rauna

🇱🇻 Latvia

20 km away

Mūrmuiža

🇱🇻 Latvia

22 km away

Kocēni

🇱🇻 Latvia

24 km away

Valmiera

🇱🇻 Latvia

27 km awayPop. 22,812

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence