A Muslim Traveller's Guide to Mosques in Latvia

Located in the Baltic region of Northern Europe is the beautiful country of Latvia. Home to vast forests, white sand beaches, historic landmarks, and numerous other attractions, it is quite surprising that the country is not considered a good destination for travel. Because Muslims around the world are venturing out of their comfort zones and choosing to explore destinations that are not considered too Muslim-friendly, this guide talks about Islam in Latvia and what facilities for Muslims in Latvia are available - specifically Mosques and Muslim prayer facilities in Latvia.

Islam in Latvia

While Islam in Latvia goes back to the 1830s, with Muslims coming from Tatar and Turkic backgrounds. The country today has a very small percentage of Muslims – only about 1% of Muslims make up Latvia’s population; which is however expanding continuously. Muslims visiting Latvia will therefore only be able to find a small number of Muslim-friendly facilities in Latvia, such as Halal restaurants and mosques.

Mosques in Latvia

As mentioned above, Muslims make up a very small percentage of Latvia’s population. Muslim tourists will therefore be able to find only one mosque in Latvia, in the country’s capital – Riga. Located on Brivibas Street 104, at the Islamic Cultural Center, the Riga Masjid opened its doors in 2005 and is today frequented by the city’s Muslim community, as well tourists from around the world. Muslim tourists will not be able to spot the mosque while walking around the city, as it is situated in an inconspicuous red-brick building. They will therefore have to look for the address mentioned above. When touring other parts of the country, Muslims will not be able to locate any other prayer facilities in Latvia, as the prayer facility in Riga is the only known mosque in Latvia. Muslim visitors are therefore advised to take along a travel prayer mat on their excursions, so that they can pray outdoors, in a secluded place, when unable to return to their accommodations at prayer times. Just like it is difficult to find mosques in Latvia, locating Halal restaurants in Latvia will also be quite tough, but not entirely impossible. There are a couple of Halal restaurants in Riga in close proximity to the mosque in Riga. They can also contact the Islamic Cultural Center in Latvia or the Riga Masjid, or Halal Latvia Ltd, located on Tallinas street in Riga, for more information regarding the availability of Halal food in Latvia.