Riga is an impressive buzzing, progressive city which also offers a memorable mixture of history and culture.
Weather and When to Go
Moderately warm summers, cool springs & cold, often stunningly clear winter days. Any time of year: this city always represents good value. I would recommend going in April, May, September or October. This isn’t a city with a beach that needs be visited in summer, and either side of summer prices are cheaper and there are fewer tourists.
Where to Stay
Hotels are affordable in Riga, and there are so many cheap and budget places to stay. If you are tight on funds these hotels and hostels are some of the best value for money and also highest rated:
• Cinnamon Sally Backpackers Hostel
• The Naughty Squirrel Backpackers Hostel
• Tree House
Top Things to See and Do in Riga
Get to know the narrow cobbled streets of the picturesque old town with its mixture of architectural styles. Nearby is the splendid and much photographed Art Nouveau quarter, centered round Alberta Street.
The Freedom Monument is a memorial which honours soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence from 1918 to 1920.
Nearby lies the beautifully landscaped Bastion Hill Park (Bastejkalns) with its narrow paths, rock garden and water cascades.
St Peter’s Church tower has an observation platform which affords breathtaking views over medieval and modern Riga, the River Daugava and the Gulf of Riga.
Just a short bus ride away from the city centre lies the Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum – one of the oldest and largest open air museums in Europe.
Located on the banks of Lake Jugla, the museum showcases houses, farmsteads, windmills and even churches in a beautiful woodland setting.
Culture
Riga has a rich cultural heritage which can be admired in its many excellent museums and galleries. Museums include The Bourse – the Art Museum of Riga which is set in the former stock exchange, the Riga Art Nouveau Centre and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. Riga Cathedral hosts world class organ concerts and Riga’s modern cultural scene is also very vibrant.
Eat and Drink
Try Pelmeni – a tasty dish of Russian ravioli stuffed with meat or vegetables. Pork dishes are the mainstay of Latvian cuisine and cabbage in various guises also plays a major part in many meals. The famous drink of Riga is Black Balsam and the best place in town to sample this is in one of the many atmospheric bars in the old town.
Shopping
Shopping in Riga’s Central Market is a must. The five large halls which contain the market were originally used as Zeppelin hangars. Here you can buy all sorts of fresh produce including vegetables, meat, fish and dairy produce. Local crafts, food and alcohol all represent good value for money and can be found in Shops scattered throughout Riga , with the highest concentration in the Old Town.
Best Places to Visit Nearby to Riga
Take a local train or a riverboat to the seaside resort of Jurmala, less than 30 kilometres away from the centre of Riga.
This attractive resort is characterized by its long beaches of silvery-white sand and historic wooden buildings built in a variety of styles including Art Nouveau, Romantic and Functional.
If you enjoy Riga you might also like to visit the other Baltic capitals of Tallinn and Vilnius.
Money and Budget
Latvia uses the Euro, prices are very cheap. You won’t spend a fortune here, especially compared to other European cities. The main tourism attractions are walkable, whilst there are also free city sightseeing walking tours available.