Riga Latvia

[travelforthesoul]

Anyone been? What is there to do? hints and tips welcome.

I did a Wowcher mystery deal and this is what we got. Quite excited to explore a new city, but insider knowledge would be good.

anyone?

I've been to Riga, really liked the city

Majorly depends when are you going. From early May you have a proper spring, lots of botanical gardens to see: Latvian University Garden or Salaspils are my favourite. Seaside (Jurmala) is very nice, short drive or fast train ride (25 min) away. Summer is nice as well - nights are very short and light, not quite "white nights" but sun only sets for about 3 hours in June and July, also Ligo celebration (midsummer night) is not to be missed - huge bonfires, lots of singing and dancing in folksy costumes and leaf crowns. Obviously the Old Town - small but very well preserved with churches and cobble stoned streets, make sure to get a guide for Jugendstil Architecture walk across the city centre. There is also very nice museum devoted to Jugendstil and Art Nouveau. In October the foliage starts to turn into autumn colours, but weather can be very miserable. November is just a NO... dark and wet. Winter is hit and miss - can be literal winter wonderland (Old Town has a cute Christmas market) can be very grey and miserable, with only 3 hours of daylight (daylight does NOT mean sunlight). In March it is still cold and can still be snowing. April is a gamble, can be "spring awakening" with first buds, can be piles of melted old dirty snow all around, with no grass and no leaves. But most importantly... It is bordering Russia. And situation is quite tense.

We found the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia really interesting. The train to Jurmala was fun in itself and we enjoyed getting blown along the beach in October. It wasn’t particularly cheap to eat out and we found it hard to get walk-ins on the Saturday night.

We went in December and it was bitterly cold, but beautiful! We mainly walked around the city looking at sights and Christmas markets. We also got the train to jurmala which was definitely worth the trip and very easy.
For cheap and cheerful authentic food, try the Lido restaurants, there are a number around the city. Canteen style eateries and the staff were really happy to help educate us to try some of the local food.
We stayed for 5 days and I would say that was probably enough.

Loved it. The architecture is gorgeous. People seemed quite reserved.

The standout was a Georgian food restaurant in or close to the centre. Lots of little cake shops.

thank you, we are going beginning of April this year so expect it to still be cold.

Riga is beautiful. My brother lives there, he owns a restaurant there and has been there for years.,

The old town is gorgeous. I highly recommend you look at some walking tours. You'll get a guide and will learn all about the history of Riga. The art nouveau building are beautiful and definitely worth seeing. The parks are gorgeous, it's very clean and well kept.

thank you @Cocainenightmare that sounds right up our street.