Riga is the capital of Latvia.
Understand
It is useful to understand that although from 1940 to 1991 Latvia was a constituent republic of the USSR, the official language is Latvian. However, a significant minority (up to 40% nationwide and possibly just over 50% in the capital Riga) is Russian speaking. The majority of ethnic Latvians living in the city, especially those old enough to have attended school during Soviet times, can also speak and understand Russian. However, they greatly prefer to converse in Latvian as Russian is seen as a language of oppression of the Soviet years. English and also German are widely understood at places regularly visited by tourists and foreigners but you may be out of luck when leaving the city centre or visiting places off the beaten track.
Get in
By Plane
Get around
See
Riga has several districts. The most popular among travellers is the Old Town (Vecriga), German influenced architecture and magnificent Doma Cathedral with the world famous organ inside, along with vivid nightlife, makes Vecriga the most interesting spot. You will need approximately half a day to walk around Vecriga.
The area around Vecriga is mostly built in 18-19 centuries are has many buildings that resemble the ones in Paris or Rome. Many movies about "foreign life" were filmed here during Soviet times, as it was considerably easier to film here than to go overseas.
The mostly residential areas outside Riga centre are largely filled with grey cement apartment blocks built in the typically ugly Soviet style. These areas are nearly identical to those all over the former USSR. However, they do give an idea of how the vast majority of the people in Riga live and of the history of the area.
Do
Sit outside in the summer months and enjoy the day. Go to the river and take a walk during summer days to see the sunset, just perfect.
Go to the beautiful opera house and see top class opera and ballet.
Go to the Skyline Bar at the top (26th floor) of Reval Hotel near the Peace Monument. Views are great and drinks are reasonably priced (beer 2 Lats Cocktail 4-5 Lats). Finding a table might be difficult.
Budget
Buy
The markets next to International Bus Terminal are full of people selling their wares at stalls, both inside the large halls and around the outside. The market is actually quite non-touristy with more emphasis on selling things like second-hand clothing, food, furniture or kitchen supplies. In here you can buy almost anything... Very good for souvenirs.
Don't go to the souvenir shops, instead buy items like amber and wool mittens and socks in the central market or throughout Old Riga in little stands. You might haggle and get good prices for souvenirs.
If you are looking for Soviet era items, such as hats, medals, pins, or complete uniforms, go to a street market like the one held on Saturday and Sunday mornings in Sadovnikova iela (iela means street in Latvian). To get there just take Gogola iela near the central market.
On the way there you will see old buildings that aren't exactly well conserved, but there are some that are breathtaking.
There is a Stockmann department store next the Riga Central Train Station (Centrālstacija)
Eat
Riga as the most vibrant and cosmopolitan city of the Baltics offers countless opportunities to sample both local cuisine and international favorites. Latvian food can be hearty, using a lot of potato, cabbage, beef, pork and fish. I diversity of foreign cuisines is also available -- sushi restaurants in particular are currently in vogue.
If you want to eat cheap, try "Čili Pica" (pronounced "chili pizza"). They have several restaurants. One is on the ground floor of Stockman shopping mall near central station. Another is next to the freedom monument. You'll get nice pizzas for a very good price!
If you want to try some Latvian type of food go to "Smilsu Pulkstenis" in Kalku iela #7 ;) Still cheap and tasy!
There are plenty of of restaurants (called 'Restorans') and cafés around the old town, many of which serve food until midnight, some later.
Lido is another chain of restaurants, where you can get lots of food for good prices simply by pointing at it. The Lido Entertainment Center operates a bus to and from Riga; the center itself provides buffet-style dining, live music and other amusements.
Alus Seta (literally Beer Yard), serves huge portions of excellent meat and two veg from a grill at the front of the tavern, as well as an excellent choice of Beer. Probably the best value place in town.
Drink
Latvia produces a number of excellent and award-winning beers (alus), which are widely available. Aldaris is a major brewery with several kinds of beer.
Tērvetes beer is considered the best Latvian beer, also Užavas and Piebalgas beers are exceptional. Cesu alus is a safe bet, euro lager style. Avoid Livu alus, it's bad.
Latvia is also Europe's northernmost winegrowing region, and local wines and even sparkling wines can be bought in supermarkets and restaurants. Expect neither the grandeur nor the pricetag of a Bordeaux.
Pulkvedis is a trendy place, 3 Lats on popular days, free on others. The basement offers technoish and/or alternative sounds. Beware of extremely high prices for taking care of bags (2.5 Lats per bag), thieves who steal bags, and last but not least, entrance personnel not giving back sufficient money, calling very aggressive security on complaints, with possible bloody nose as a consequence.
Also try Riga Balsam. It's available almost everywhere and I guarantee that if you're cold... you won't be after a shot of it! ;) It will also clear out your bowels.
Sleep
Budget
Mid-range
Apartment rental is a fairly popular option.
See apartments for rent in Riga Some dealers include - Quality apartments and accommodation for tourists for short-term & long-term rental in Riga, Latvia. Book online.Riga Old Town apartments,Riga Accommodation, Apartments in Riga and general info, List of apartment renting companies in Riga
Splurge
Get out
From here you might wander west, to see Liepaja , a wonderful city on the Western coast of Latvia, (and the famous former military town of Karosta with its Soviet Prison for tourists is also in Liepaja), or north to Tartu or Tallinn in Estonia, or south to Vilnius or Klaipeda in Lithuania. Or drive the 40 kilometers to the National Park at Sigulda. You can even take a ferry to Sweden.
If you have more than just a couple of days in Riga, take a local train from the main Railway station to Jūrmala. Jurmala is a famous seaside resort and was a popular resort amongst citizens of the USSR. It only takes 25 minutes to get there from Riga by train. Get out in Dzintari Station and walk down the main street to the Concert Hall. The Concert Hall stages international singing competitions once a year and if you come at the right time it is the one not to be missed. You can also get out Majori Station with its long pedestrian-only main street. Great crowds wander the streets in the summertime. Try Cafe Leonora on the main street. It has amazing hot chocolate, cakes and sweets!
In Jūrmala, there is also a big aquapark Livu Akvaparks http://www.akvaparks.lv/. Viestura iela 24. It is excellent by any standards and has activities for all ages, from young children to the elderly.
Walk down the beach and try to find a piece of amber that is often washed by the waves from the Baltic sea, thus the name Dzintari - The Amber.
Riga (Latvian: Rīga) the capital of Latvia, is situated on the Baltic Sea coast on the mouth of the River Daugava, at . Riga is the largest city in the Baltic states.
The Historic Centre of Riga has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the city is particularly notable for its extensive Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) architecture, comparable in significance only with Vienna and Saint Petersburg .
Business and commerce
Riga is home to numerous academic institutions, including the University of Latvia (Latvijas Universitāte), Riga Technical University (Rīgas Tehniskā Universitāte) and Riga Stradins University (Rīgas Stradiņa Universitāte). The Latvian Parliament (Saeima) also sits in Riga, as does the President of Latvia, Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga, who resides in Riga Castle.
Business and leisure travel to Riga has increased significantly in recent years due to improved infrastructure. Riga as a city-port is a major transportation hub and is the center of the local road and railway system. Most tourists travel to Riga by air via Riga International Airport, the largest airport in the Baltic states, which was renovated and modernized in 2001 on the occasion of Riga's 800th anniversary. Air traffic at the airport has doubled between 1993 and 2004. Baltic sea ferries connect Riga to Stockholm, Kiel and Lübeck. Riga was also home to two air bases during the Cold War: Rumbula and Spilve.
Almost all important Latvian financial institutions are located in Riga, including the Bank of Latvia, which is Latvia's central bank. Foreign commercial trade through Riga has been on the increase in recent years and received new impetus on May 1, 2004 when Latvia became a member of the European Union. Riga accounts for about half of the total industrial output of Latvia, focusing on the financial sector, public utilities, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, wood processing, printing and publishing, textiles and furniture, and communications equipment manufacturing. The port of Riga is an important cargo shipping center.
See also
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