Country houses Several country houses in Ventspils vicinity offer accommodation with breakfast, a bath house and recreation in nature.

Entertainment

Out-door entertainment At sunny week-ends local residents and visitors of Ventspils like to walk down Ostas street along the River Venta; other popular places are the fountain “Boats of The Sun” and the tidy and modern city centre. During summers the most popular spot is the city beach, that has been awarded the Blue Flag. The city parks and squares are nice places for having a chat. Some people might love to have good time at the skate-park, but children gather at the Children’s Town (the Children’s Recreation park).

Theatre The city theatre company is 20 actors and actresses. The most outstanding productions have been Alice in Wonderland by L. Carroll, Chairs by Eigen Junesco, Macbeth, etc.

Museums A popular museum in the city is the Open-air museum with its most remarkable exhibit - the functioning Little Train, especially beloved by Ventspils’ guests. In summers this is the place for various cultural events. School children and local writers often visit the Memorial Museum of the writer Herberts Dorbe. Ventspils Museum of History and Arts holds exhibitions of local and visiting Latvian and foreign artists.

Cinema The cinema Rio in Old Ventspils holds different events for young people: teen discotheques and parties for students.

Clubs The most popular dance clubs are Livonija and Kurzeme, that are located in the city centre where it is easy to park the car or use services of the adjacent taxi parking lots. The clubs offer delicious and substantial meals. Prices are very low and many young peoples visit thiese clubs.

Game and Gambling clubs The most popular gambling clubs are Melnais kaķis (Black cat), Bumerangs, Klondaika and Jūrnieku klubs (Seamen club). Visitors may listen to music, have some drink and play billiards or darts. For those who prefer bowling Ventspils offers the bowling club and the restaurant Ūpis. Different competitions and events are organised at game and gambling clubs.

Refreshment

Restaurants Just at the very bank of the River Venta the nice restaurant Ūpis is located, where visitors may play some bowling on the ground floor, and dance at week-ends. A classic restaurant Vilnis is located in the hotel’s premises on the right bank of the Venta. Kurzeme is a restaurant that won the first award of the previous-year competition on the best restaurant. It offers disco dancing. The restaurant Krēta, MG in the Seamen’s Entertainment Centre, after a substantial meal offers a play of billiard or dancing in its lovely atmosphere. The special interior design of the restaurant Dzintarjūra reveals the closeness of the sea. Good meals are offered also at the restaurant Olivers.

Bars and Pubs A popular student spot is the bar Cits Ostgals, where the jovial waiter offers also the special brand of Užava beer and garlic toasts. An intimate atmosphere is in the small bar Landora in the city centre. Recently a new bar was opened in the culture centre Jūras vārti (Sea gate) with live music performances. Cafes and bistros The cafe Kika, located in the city centre, lures in all coffee and cake lovers. It is also a calm place for a private chat or just for spoiling your kids with some sweets. The café Kāpa, which is located in Pārventa, is an appropriate place for a refreshment together with friends

Shopping

Shops Many local residents of Ventspils prefer shopping in the big shopping centres which are located in the most intense housing. One of the most popular shopping centres Diāna, is located at Ventspils College near the 9-storey block houses; the shopping centre Kāpa is on the right bank of the Venta. Before travelling round Ventspils district, it is advisable to do shopping in these shopping centres, as the range of goods supplied in the shops outside Ventspils is not so wide. The rest part of the city, especially its central part, is spotted by various small shops.