Latvia by campervan: safety and healthcare
Campervan safety in Latvia: vehicle security, healthcare, emergency contacts and practical prevention. What to know before you go.
Published 18 September 2026Last checked 19 September 2026
Currency
Euro
EUR. Cards nearly everywhere, cash in villages and markets
Language
Latvian
Russian widely spoken, English in Riga and among the young
Driving
Right
90 km/h out of town, 50 in town, 80 on gravel
Power
230V, type F
The same round two-pin plug as most of the continent
Tap water
Safe to drink
Ask for krāna ūdens
Emergency
112
One number for police, fire and ambulance
Safety and health
Safety and health
Latvia is a safe country to travel by road, and the risks are natural rather than criminal. Theft from parked vehicles is not the running problem it is in southern Europe. Ordinary care covers it: nothing visible through the windows, doors locked in city traffic, and a busy occupied place preferred to an empty one. Riga's old town at night has the pickpocket and inflated-bill problems of any tourist centre, and the bar that hands you a menu on the street is the one to walk past.
What works
- Check for ticks after every walk. Latvia is a known tick-borne encephalitis area and a vaccination is worth asking your own doctor about before a long trip.
- Drive expecting animals at dawn and dusk. Elk, deer and boar all use forest roads, and gravel gives you less braking than you expect.
Health and pharmacies
- 112 is the only emergency number and covers police, fire and ambulance. English is available on the line.
- A pharmacy is an aptieka. Ranges are smaller than in southern Europe and much is prescription only, so bring what you rely on.
Keep the vehicle registration document and proof of insurance in the glovebox. Roadside checks are routine rather than adversarial, and a driver who can produce both is on their way in two minutes.