Port information & tips for Liepaja
Liepaja, the charming "City of the Wind," welcomes its visitors as a cultural jewel on the Latvian Amber Coast. The port city impresses with a fascinating mix of Hanseatic heritage, magnificent Art Nouveau architecture, and a kilometer-long, fine sandy beach. Special highlights include the monumental Holy Trinity Cathedral with its world-famous organ, the historic Karosta district with the golden-domed St. Nicholas Maritime Cathedral, and the extensive Seaside Park. Cruise ships dock at the Liepaja Central Terminal in the modern free port. From this pier, the city center, which is about three kilometers away, is easily reachable in a few minutes thanks to provided shuttle buses or a short taxi ride, inviting you to extensive explorations.
The port of Liepaja, a significant gateway on Latvia's Baltic coast, is easily accessible thanks to good road connections and regional transport routes. Cruise ships dock in the immediate vicinity of the city center, allowing guests to comfortably explore the charming city. Due to potentially longer journeys from the DACH region, an overnight stay in advance is often recommended for a relaxed start to your cruise.
Car
Liepaja is excellently accessible from the DACH region via the European long-distance road network and in Latvia via the well-developed main roads A9 (from the direction of Riga/East) and A11 (from the direction of Lithuania/South). The cruise terminal, at Brivostas iela 14A, is clearly signposted and is located in the commercial port area. Approximately 20 unguarded parking spaces are available directly at the ferry terminal (Stena Line, in the same port area). Additionally, there are paid parking zones in Liepaja in the city center (Zone L) and in the area of Seaside Park (Zone L2), as well as free parking options near the "Lielais Dzintars" concert hall and at the end of Kurmajas Prospekts. Payment is easily made at machines or via app (Mobilly, EuroPark, Carsleep).
Airplane
For international guests, Riga International Airport (RIX) is the main point of entry. It is located about 210 kilometers from Liepaja and offers numerous direct connections from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. From Riga Airport, you can reach Liepaja directly in about 3.5 to 4 hours by bus (line 22 to the Riga bus station, then transfer to a long-distance bus). Alternatively, the smaller Liepaja International Airport (LPX) is available, located only about 6 kilometers from the city center and mainly offering domestic flights, often in connection with Riga. From LPX, you can reach the city center and thus the terminal comfortably by taxi or city bus (line 2) in about 15-30 minutes. Private transfers are also a comfortable option and shorten the journey from Riga to approx. 2.5 hours.
Train
Liepaja Station (Liepaja-Pasazieru) is located at Rigas iela 71 and is about 4 kilometers from the port. From there, the cruise terminal can be reached in less than 30 minutes on foot or comfortably with a short taxi transfer. A direct train connection exists between Liepaja and Riga, with a travel time of about 3 hours and 15 minutes. This usually runs twice a week, on Fridays and Sundays to Liepaja, and on Saturdays and Sundays from Liepaja to Riga. For travelers arriving in Riga by plane from the DACH region and wishing for a scenic onward journey, the train ride is an attractive alternative to the bus.
Check-in & Embarkation
Please note that you will usually receive a fixed time slot for check-in with your travel documents, which is binding for your embarkation. Plan sufficient time for your journey to the port accordingly and take into account that the latest embarkation time - depending on the cruise line and destination - is usually scheduled about one hour before the planned departure.
The same applies during the trip: for shore excursions, you should be back on board at least one hour before departure. Always follow the current announcements and the notices on board, as docking and departure times can change at short notice.
