Sign in with Facebook"It's hard not to rave about Riga!" Riga by CatherineReichardt
Riga Travel Guide: 1,492 reviews and 3,648 photos
Mention Riga to most Brits and they will either say, "Ryanair" or, "stag parties" - or both. How sad that one of the most beautiful and historic cities on the Baltic has been reduced to this level of association!
There is so much to enjoy in Riga that it's difficult to know where to start - it is one of those destinations that, although compact, probably offers something for almost every type of tourist. If drunken clubbing to mark your last days of singledom is your thing, then you can certainly do this safely and affordably in Riga, but if unless you seek out this sort of action, chances are that the only time you might be aware of its existence is when you stumble over the prone carcasses of the terminally hungover at the airport.
Riga's lovely Old Town reflects its Hanseatic heritage, and feels distinctly Scandinavian. By contrast, the New Town of Riga is a celebration of Art Deco abundance, with over 800 buildings executed in this style - a huge number for any city, particularly one so small. The Art Deco buildings with their exuberant decoration are a powerful reminder of how prosperous a place Riga must have been in the first part of the 20th century, and are a sharp contrast to the utilitarian Soviet-era developments on the city fringes.
Riga also has its more sombre side. The Museum of Latvian Occupation is a moving tribute to Latvia's turbulent 20th century history, and is well worth a visit - the best museum that we've seen in the Baltics so far.
We were fortunate enough to visit Riga in early summer when the weather was absolutely glorious, which only served to enhance the charms of an already lovely city. One of the most attractive features of the city - particularly the New Town (which, in my experience, isn't usually an auspicious name!) - is the number of lovely parks and we were struck by how well used these public spaces were on the long summer evenings. Gauging by the tourist literature, the summer season seems to be one long procession of festivals, and it certainly has the feeling of a place where culture is celebrated rather than endured.
- Pros:Charming, cultured and very, very clean!
- Cons:Our couple of little gripes are too petty to mention ...
- In a nutshell:A wonderful introduction to lovely Latvia!
Reviews (9)
Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum
Things to Do
(7)
I will confess up front that I am a complete sucker for 'skansen' type museums, so the fact that we made a beeline for... more travel advice
Become a culture vulture!
Things to Do
(7)
It is easy to be cultured in Riga. Like most former socialist countries, enormous emphasis was placed on promoting and... more travel advice
Feel part of Riga society in its...
Things to Do
(7)
Riga is a delightful city, not least because the Old Town and Central District is punctuated by many public open spaces... more travel advice
Glory in Riga's Art Deco magnificence
Things to Do
(7)
I was fascinated by Central Riga’s glorious Art Deco architecture which made me realise what a prosperous and... more travel advice
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Comments (4)
Nice overview of Riga, Cathy! I must visit this city one day. Thanks for sharing :-)
Thank you for this look at Riga. Sounds like you had a great time. Greetings from New York City -Mark
Hey nice page. Also you are lucky to have traveled so much :D
Great tips. I went in winter so missed the parks, but I did get to see a winter wonderland. I'll have to return in the early summer for a different perspective. Was the market really in old Zeppelin hangers? Amazing!