Latvia · Kuldīga
Venta Rapid
Venta Rapid is a waterfall on the Venta River in Kuldīga, western Latvia. It is the widest waterfall in Europe at 249 metres across, and becomes as wide as 275 metres during spring floods.
Facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia, compiled September 2026; season and access are our estimate, not a visit report. How we build these pages.
Venta Rapid drops 249 metres (817 ft) on the Venta River. It is a plunge-type fall, and the nearest base for a visit is Kuldīga, Latvia. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Venta Rapid is the tallest of the 2 waterfalls we cover in Latvia. As a plunge waterfall, water leaves the rock entirely and falls free through the air.
What you can do here
A walk-in-and-look waterfall
No commercial adventures run at Venta Rapid itself — the experience is the approach and the view. Guided day trips from Kuldīga are the easiest way to combine it with the area around it.
Also good forHikingPhotography
When to go
Getting there
- Base town Kuldīga, Latvia
- Country Latvia
- Region Kuldīga, Nordics & Baltics, Europe
- Access Moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail
How it compares
This waterfall
Venta Rapid
Latvia
Height249 mWidth—
Most similar
Rjoandefossen
Norway
Height241 mWidth—
Also a plunge waterfall, of similar height and in Norway
Largest curtain
Victoria Falls
Zimbabwe · Zambia
Height108 mWidth1,708 m
Largest single sheet of falling water
Tallest on earth
Angel Falls
Venezuela
Height979 mWidth—
Widest on earth
Khone Phapheng Falls
Laos
Height21 mWidth10,783 m
Measured across the whole multi-channel system
Angel Falls is 3.9× taller than Venta Rapid. It drops 2.3× further than Victoria Falls (108 m). We don't have a reliable crest width for Venta Rapid yet, so it is left off the width chart. Tallest · widest lists.
On the map
56.96806, 21.97889
Quick answers
Where is Venta Rapid?
Venta Rapid is in Latvia (Kuldīga). The nearest base is Kuldīga, Latvia. Its coordinates are 56.9681, 21.9789.
How tall is Venta Rapid?
Venta Rapid drops 249 metres (817 feet). It is a plunge-type waterfall on the Venta River.
When is the best time to visit Venta Rapid?
Peak flow is May to July. Snowmelt peaks in May and June; by August some of the smaller falls thin out.
What can you do at Venta Rapid?
Beyond the viewpoints: hiking and photography. Access to the main viewpoint is rated moderate — a real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail.
How do you get to Venta Rapid?
The usual base is Kuldīga, Latvia. A real walk — expect stairs, uneven ground or an hour on the trail from there.
Nearby
Closest to Venta Rapid
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