Mosquitoes in Latvia: Ķemeri Bog, Gauja Valley & Kurzeme Ticks (2026)

Riga's Old Town and the Jūrmala beaches need little more than a spray in your bag. Summer mosquitoes gather in the windless woods before the Ķemeri bog boardwalk and in the Gauja valley around Sigulda, and ticks carry tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease, most of all in Kurzeme and around Cēsis.

Some, and mostly in the woods. Riga and the Jūrmala beaches are light on bites, and Latvia has never reported a local case of dengue, chikungunya, West Nile or malaria. Mosquitoes gather in the forests on still summer evenings, notably on the way to the Ķemeri bog boardwalk. The bite-borne illnesses to plan around, tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease, come from ticks.

Disease risk NegligibleNo local dengue, chikungunya, West Nile or malaria has ever been reported; ticks carry TBE and Lyme disease, with the highest TBE risk in Kurzeme and the Cēsis area.

Bite nuisance NoticeableRiga and the beaches are light, while the woods at Ķemeri and in the Gauja valley draw mosquito complaints on still summer evenings.

CirculatingTBE (Kurzeme & Cēsis ticks)Lyme disease (ticks)No dengue or chikungunyaNo malariaNo West NileNo yellow fever vaccine

CDC noticesNo country-specific notice for mosquito-borne disease

Jun–Sep tripsStill evenings from June to August bring mosquitoes to the woods, with big numbers reported at Ķemeri in August, and horse flies join them in high summer. Ticks are out from spring, with Latvia's 2026 tick season announced in late March, and across Europe most TBE cases fall between June and November.

Data checkedOctober 2026 · sources

Ķemeri, the Gauja valley and the windless woods

At Ķemeri National Park, the wind decides how bad it gets. Reviewers call mosquitoes the park's main drawback and say they are worst in the forest on the way to the Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk, where the wind doesn't reach. Out on the open bog it's better. An August visitor described the park as full of huge mosquitoes, while one who used bug spray had them buzzing around without a single bite. The boardwalk loops run about 1 mile (1.5 km) and 2.2 miles (3.5 km), so put on repellent before the trees, wear long sleeves and keep moving until you reach the bog.

The Gauja valley around Sigulda, Turaida and Cēsis is wooded river country, and it tends to bring the same evening mosquitoes on still days. Latvia also has a reputation for horse flies in high summer. A picaridin or DEET spray in your bag covers an evening in Riga or Jūrmala. For woodland trails, CDC advises a repellent with 20% or more DEET when you need protection from ticks as well as mosquitoes. Our picaridin vs. DEET comparison covers the trade-offs.

Ticks in Kurzeme and around Cēsis

Latvia has consistently reported a high rate of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control says, with 5.2 to 11.7 cases per 100,000 people a year in 2018–2021 and 222 cases in 2021. Latvia's Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (SPKC) registered nearly 190 TBE cases in 2025, slightly more than in 2024, along with more than 500 Lyme disease reports, LV portāls reported. In late March 2026 the centre said Latvia remains a high-risk country.

The risk sits mainly in Kurzeme, the western region, and in parts of Vidzeme. In 2026 the state paid for children's TBE vaccination in eight municipalities: Kuldīga, Ventspils, Dienvidkurzeme, Talsi, Saldus, Cēsis, Tukums and Limbaži. Together they accounted for about half of Latvia's cases over the past five years, at more than three times the rate in the rest of the country. The list includes Cēsis in the Gauja valley.

For travelers to TBE-endemic areas, CDC's Latvia page says: "TBE vaccine is recommended for persons who will have extensive exposure to ticks based on their planned outdoor activities and itinerary. TBE vaccine may be considered for persons who might engage in outdoor activities in areas ticks are likely to be found." If you'll hike, camp or stay in the countryside, especially in Kurzeme or around Cēsis, take those plans to a travel clinic 4–6 weeks before you fly. Ticks here also carry Lyme disease, so check your entire body after any walk in forest or meadow, as CDC advises, whether or not you're vaccinated.

Where you're going

How the main stops compare for a June–September trip.

cruise port

Riga's Old Town & cruise port

Disease risk NegligibleBite nuisance Occasional

Mostly light on a summer cruise day or city break. Keep a small spray in your bag for evenings, and save the real precautions for the woods outside town.

beach

Jūrmala & Majori

Disease risk NegligibleBite nuisance Occasional

The Baltic beach resort tends to be light on bites. It's also the way in to Ķemeri National Park, where the woods are another matter.

countryside

The Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk

Disease risk NegligibleBite nuisance Annoying

Reviewers call mosquitoes the park's main drawback, worst in the windless woods on the way to the 1-mile (1.5 km) and 2.2-mile (3.5 km) loops. Spray before the forest section and keep moving to the open bog.

countryside

Gauja National Park: Sigulda, Turaida & Cēsis

Disease risk NegligibleBite nuisance Noticeable

A wooded river valley that tends to mean evening mosquitoes. Cēsis is one of the eight municipalities with Latvia's highest TBE risk, so check for ticks after every hike.

Driving the Baltic coast? Our Estonia briefing covers Tallinn, the Lahemaa and Soomaa bogs and Saaremaa's ticks, and our Lithuania briefing covers Vilnius, the Trakai lakes and the Curonian Spit.

The Latvia kit

Riga needs only the spray. Add the rest for Ķemeri, the Gauja valley and Kurzeme.

Picaridin 20% travel sprays for the boardwalk woods and Gauja valley evenings, small enough to carry on a Riga day too.
A light long-sleeved layer for the forest stretch before the Ķemeri bog, where the wind doesn't reach.
Permethrin for hiking clothes if you'll hike or camp in Kurzeme or around Cēsis. Treat trousers and socks at home before you fly. It goes on clothing, never on skin.

Carry-on trio → Permethrin → Full rankings

What travelers report

Paraphrased from a TripAdvisor hotel review and linked so you can read it in full. It dates from November 2017, well outside the summer season this page covers.

Pullman Riga Old Town (Riga) · November · 2017
A November 2017 guest titled the review 'Beware the mosquitos!': they were bitten in the hotel, had not expected insects so late in the year, and advised bringing repellent. TripAdvisor ↗

CDC recommends no malaria medicine and no yellow fever vaccine for Latvia. See a doctor for a fever, headache or spreading rash in the weeks after a tick bite. And any fever during or after your trip means a doctor visit, and you tell them you were in Latvia.

Traveler questions

Is the Ķemeri bog boardwalk buggy?

The woods on the way to it can be. Reviewers say mosquitoes are worst in the forest sections where the wind doesn't reach, and an August visitor found the park full of huge mosquitoes. The open bog is easier, and one visitor found no flies on the boardwalk section at all. Put on picaridin or DEET before you start, wear long sleeves and pick a breezy day if you can.

Are there mosquitoes in Riga and Jūrmala?

A few, and both tend to be light in summer. A small repellent in your bag covers an evening in the Old Town or on the beach at Majori. The woods are a different trip, so plan on long sleeves and repellent if you add Ķemeri or the Gauja valley.

Do I need the TBE vaccine for Latvia?

It depends on your plans. CDC recommends the TBE vaccine for people who will have extensive tick exposure based on their planned outdoor activities and itinerary, and says it may be considered for people who might do outdoor activities where ticks are likely. Latvia's highest risk is in Kurzeme and in the Cēsis, Tukums and Limbaži municipalities, so hiking, camping or a countryside stay there is the plan to take to a travel clinic 4–6 weeks before you fly. A Riga city break carries little tick exposure.

What should I watch for after a tick bite in Latvia?

Watch for a fever, headache or spreading rash in the weeks afterward. Any of them means a doctor visit, and tell the doctor about the bite and where you were. Ticks here carry both tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease, and Latvia's Centre for Disease Prevention and Control logged more than 500 Lyme disease reports in 2025, LV portāls reported. A full-body tick check after every walk in forest or meadow, as CDC advises, helps you find a tick early.

Sources

Health authorities, surveillance reports and news coverage of official bulletins used for this briefing, last checked October 2026. Traveler reports are linked where they appear. This page summarizes public-health guidance and is not medical advice.

Riga and Jūrmala are easy. Latvia's woods bite, and Kurzeme is tick country.