Valmiera is the main town of northern Vidzeme, set on the Gauja River between Cesis and the Estonian border. It is not as postcard-pretty as Cesis, but it has a stronger working-town feel: students, theatre, river paths, and a compact old centre shaped by medieval Livonian history.
The old core is small. St Simon's Church anchors it with Gothic brickwork, an old organ, and a tower view over the town. Beside it are the Valmiera Castle Ruins, the remains of a castle built by the Order of the Sword Brothers.
The Valmiera Museum fills in the local history in buildings around the castle grounds, while the Valmiera Drama Theatre gives the town more cultural weight than its size suggests. Add a walk along the Gauja and Valmiera becomes a worthwhile stop, especially if you are already exploring the national park towns of Vidzeme.