Ventspils, Latvia
Ventspils uses Latvia’s Europe/Riga time zone: UTC+2 during standard time and UTC+3 during daylight saving. Its Baltic coast location influences sunrise and sunset, with western Latvia generally seeing these events later by the clock than eastern Latvia.
Ventspils, Latvia
Friday, 4 September 2026
UTC+3 · Europe/Riga
Time and sun data for Ventspils — the largest city of Ventspils
The sun in Ventspils
Sunrise 06:42 Solar noon 13:34 Sunset 20:27 Daylight 13 h 45 min Night 10 h 15 min Civil twilight 06:01 – 21:07
Latvia · 6 cities
Largest cities
- Ventspils 32 723
All cities
Current time in Ventspils, Latvia
Ventspils has the same official time as Riga despite lying farther west. Latvia maintains a single national clock, alternating between Eastern European Time and Eastern European Summer Time under its seasonal arrangement.
Choose Europe/Riga when adding Ventspils to a world clock or calendar. A permanent UTC offset can become incorrect after a seasonal clock change, while the regional identifier applies the relevant rule.
The Baltic sunset may take its time, but the ferry timetable is unlikely to share that relaxed attitude.
The city and places around Ventspils
Ventspils is a major port city on Latvia’s western coast and is administratively distinct from the surrounding Ventspils Municipality. Within the city, the same clock applies across residential districts, the port area, beaches, and the opposite banks of the Venta.
For nearby travel, common reference points outside the city include Piltene, Ugāle, and coastal villages in the surrounding municipality. They use identical local time, although their solar times can differ slightly.
Ventspils is the primary urban and transport reference. Piltene is a nearby town in the surrounding municipality. Ugāle is an inland settlement used for regional orientation. Coastal communities north and south of the city remain in Europe/Riga time.
Coastal sunrise, sunset, and twilight
Ventspils faces the Baltic Sea, making the western horizon especially relevant for observing sunset from open coastal locations. Sunrise occurs over the landward side, where buildings, woodland, and terrain may affect direct visibility.
Daylight varies greatly by season. Summer brings early mornings, late sunsets, and prolonged twilight. Winter offers a shorter span between sunrise and sunset. The sea does not change the astronomical calculation, but coastal cloud, haze, and fog can transform what an observer actually sees.
Longitude explains why a Ventspils solar table may show a later sunrise or sunset than a table for eastern Latvia, even though both places share the same clock. For photography or marine plans, consult the exact date and distinguish sunset from the later stages of twilight.
Use Ventspils coordinates for activities inside the city. Select the correct local date and Europe/Riga display. Check sunset and dusk separately for evening plans. Consider marine weather before relying on horizon visibility.
Questions and answers
- Is Ventspils behind Riga?
- No. Their official clocks agree. The sun may rise and set at different clock times because the cities have different longitudes.
- Does Ventspils change its clocks?
- Yes. It uses UTC+2 as standard time and UTC+3 during Latvia’s daylight-saving period.
- Is sunset visible from the Ventspils coast?
- The coast offers a western outlook, but actual visibility depends on the observer’s position, clouds, haze, and the condition of the horizon.