The castle ruins

Smiltene is a town in Valka District, Latvia with approximately 6,000 inhabitants.

Get in

There are plenty of buses from Riga.

Get around

Use your feet, the town is small.

See

• 1 Kalnamuiža. Smiltene manor house. The estate also features the ruins of a Livonian Order castle and a cheesery built in 1763. (updated Mar 2015)

• Ruins of Smiltene castle. 
• 2 Lazdukalns (Hazel Hill) Sight Tower, Parka iela 8. This 19 m high platform offers a beautiful panorama over the town and surrounding countryside (updated Feb 2015)

Do

Swim in Lake "Niedrājs" or do cross-country skiing around this lake in winter, where there are pine woods and a Nordic feeling. There are some bicycle rental places and routes in neighbouring forests.

• 1 "Donas" farm and bakery, Smiltene district, Blome parish, ☏ +371 26425426, +371 64720056, dona@inbox.lv. Tours are available by prior reservation. Visitors can learn about the bread-making process and even bake their own bread to take home with them. A fee is charged for tours (7€, note may vary depending on chosen activities). (updated Mar 2015)

Eat

• 1 Park Hotel Brūzis, Brūža iela, 2, ☏ +371 64773708, hotelbruzis@inbox.lv. Mon–Sun 12:00–21:00. A good place to have a meal and to sleep is Park Hotel "Brūzis" ("Brewery" in English, because there used to be one). Excellent food and best beer in town. (updated Feb 2015)

Sleep

• Strenču Viesu Nams, Rīgas iela 28a, Strenči. (updated Mar 2015)

Camping

• 1 Green Camping, Daibes 1, Plāņu pagasts, Strenču novads, ☏ +371 20420295, greencamping@inbox.lv, greencamping.lv@gmail.comMULTIPLE-EMAIL. (updated Mar 2015)
• 2 Krāči, Burtnieku novads, ☏ +371 27886969 (Ilze), +371 26647065 (Juris), +371 29218371 (Kalvis). Situated on the banks of the Gauja river. (updated Mar 2015)