Hotels in Daugavpils

Daugavpils: Latgale's Fortress City on the Western Dvina

Daugavpils sits in southeastern Latvia along the Daugava River, 232 km from Riga near the borders of Lithuania, Belarus, and Russia. Latvia's second-largest city, it holds roughly 80,000 residents and carries a markedly different character from the capital — Russian remains the dominant spoken language, and the urban fabric reflects layered Soviet, Imperial Russian, and Polish-Lithuanian histories. The Daugavpils Fortress, built between 1810 and 1833 on orders from Tsar Alexander I, anchors the western bank and is one of the best-preserved 19th-century military fortifications in Northern Europe. Within its walls, the Mark Rothko Art Centre — opened in 2013 — draws international visitors: abstract expressionist Mark Rothko was born in Daugavpils in 1903.

Where to Stay

Hotels concentrate along Rīgas iela and near the central Vienības laukums (Unity Square). Properties range from Soviet-era renovated hotels to small guesthouses inside or adjacent to the Fortress precinct. Business travelers arrive for cross-border trade logistics; art and history tourists extend stays to two or three nights.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Direct trains from Riga take approximately 3.5 hours; buses are slightly faster at 3 hours.
• Currency: Euro (€); card acceptance is standard in hotels but limited at smaller cafés.
• Language: Russian and Latvian both widely used — basic Russian phrases are practical here.
• Climate: Summers average 20 °C; winters drop below −5 °C with reliable snowfall.