· 4 min read
Dating culture around the world: the GO TO and NO GO for newcomers
Who pays, when to meet, what to bring and what never to say. Short, practical dos and don'ts from 10 countries, taken from our dating culture guides.
Read the full guideDating in Latvia: what newcomers should know
Updated October 2026
Dating in Latvia is calm, a little reserved and increasingly app-driven, especially in Riga. People can seem quiet at first, but warmth comes quickly once you have talked for a while, and sincerity counts for more than smooth lines. First dates are usually a coffee, a drink or a walk, and traditional gestures such as flowers or the man offering to pay are still common, while splitting the bill is also normal among younger people. Riga is multilingual and most younger people speak good English, but a few words of Latvian are always appreciated. Seasons shape social life: long summer evenings on terraces and trips to the Jūrmala beach, and cosy cafés, concerts and saunas in winter.
How dating works here
- Dating apps are widely used in Riga, alongside meeting through friends, work and hobbies.
- Men often make the first move and offer to pay on a first date, but women asking someone out is fine and splitting the bill is common, especially among people in their 20s and 30s.
- First dates are usually short and simple: coffee, a drink in a bar or a walk through the Old Town or a park.
- Bringing flowers on a date, even an early one, is a common gesture. Always give an odd number of flowers; even numbers are for funerals.
- Latvians tend to be reserved with strangers and small talk is limited at first, so quietness is not a sign of disinterest.
- Punctuality is expected; arriving on time shows respect, and a short message if you are late is polite.
- The pace is usually unhurried: people like to get to know each other over several dates before calling it a relationship.
- Public displays of affection are kept modest; holding hands is normal, intense kissing in public less so.
- Drinking is part of social life, from craft beer to Riga Black Balsam, but nobody minds if you choose something non-alcoholic.
- Riga is multilingual: Latvian is the official language and English is widely spoken by younger people; learning a few phrases earns real goodwill.
- Nature matters to many Latvians, so walks, forest trips, berry picking or a beach day in Jūrmala are popular date ideas in the warm months.
- Jāņi, the midsummer festival on 23 and 24 June, is a public holiday when many people leave the city for bonfires, songs, flower and oak-leaf wreaths, cheese and beer in the countryside.
GO TO
- Suggest a specific place and time; a café or bar in the centre or the Old Town is an easy start.
- Be on time, or message early if you are running late.
- Bring a small bouquet with an odd number of flowers if you want to make a warm impression.
- Offer to pay or to split, and accept graciously if your date insists on treating you.
- Ask about their favourite places in Latvia, summer plans or Jāņi traditions; people enjoy sharing them.
- Learn a few Latvian words such as labdien (hello) and paldies (thank you).
- In summer, suggest an evening terrace, a riverside walk or a day trip to the Jūrmala beach.
- In winter, plan something cosy: a concert, a museum, a cinema or a warm café.
- Give the other person time to open up and listen more than you talk.
- Send a short message after the date to say you enjoyed it, if you did.
NO GO
- Do not give an even number of flowers; that is for funerals.
- Do not push someone to drink more or to stay longer than they want.
- Do not assume which language someone prefers or comment on their background; ask what they are comfortable with.
- Do not bring up politics or history in a lecturing way on a first date.
- Do not be loud or overly flashy; showing off is not well received.
- Do not rush intimacy or declare strong feelings too early.
- Do not take reserve as rudeness, and do not mistake a polite smile for flirting.
- Do not follow strangers on the street who invite you to a bar they choose; overcharging scams have targeted visitors in the Old Town.
- Do not ghost after several dates; a short honest message is expected.
- Do not keep checking your phone during the date.
Safety
- In an emergency call 112. You can also call 110 for police and 113 for an ambulance.
- Meet in a busy public place for the first dates and tell a friend where you are going.
- Choose bars yourself rather than following tips from strangers, make sure card payments are done in front of you and never re-enter your PIN when asked; overcharging and card fraud have been reported in some Old Town bars.
- Do not leave your drink unattended; drink spiking has occurred in Riga.
- Use a ride app or a major taxi company and agree the rough price first, and avoid unlit streets and parks late at night.
- Keep valuables close in the Old Town, at the Central Market and at the train and bus stations, where pickpocketing is more common.
- Emergency number: 112
Questions and answers
What is dating like in Latvia?
Dating in Latvia is calm, a little reserved and increasingly app-driven, especially in Riga. People can seem quiet at first, but warmth comes quickly once you have talked for a while, and sincerity counts for more than smooth lines. First dates are usually a coffee, a drink or a walk, and traditional gestures such as flowers or the man offering to pay are still common, while splitting the bill is also normal among younger people. Riga is multilingual and most younger people speak good English, but a few words of Latvian are always appreciated. Seasons shape social life: long summer evenings on terraces and trips to the Jūrmala beach, and cosy cafés, concerts and saunas in winter.
What should you avoid on a date in Latvia?
Do not give an even number of flowers; that is for funerals. Do not push someone to drink more or to stay longer than they want.
What makes a good impression on a date in Latvia?
Suggest a specific place and time; a café or bar in the centre or the Old Town is an easy start. Be on time, or message early if you are running late.
How do you stay safe on a date in Latvia?
In an emergency call 112. You can also call 110 for police and 113 for an ambulance.
Every person is different. These are general patterns, not rules.
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