Riga Guide, map and photos. boo.com members recommend hotels, restaurants and attractions in Riga

We are two dutch guys and visited Riga. We had a good time going to the clubs and bars, but als enjouying it's buildings, terras and parks. We'd recommend anyone to find an appartment in the 'Old-Town'. It's very close to all the interesting things to see and do in Riga. Luckely we also...more We are two dutch guys and visited Riga. We had a good time going to the clubs and bars, but als enjouying it's buildings, terras and parks. We'd recommend anyone to find an appartment in the 'Old-Town'. It's very close to all the interesting things to see and do in Riga. Luckely we also came across a taxi-driver who brought us all over town to see the good clubs which are also tourist friendly (some clubs ripp off tourists). He also show'd us the places to visit and see in Riga during the day. Hope you will have as much in Riga as we did! Greets, two dutch guys.close

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by joeandwill – posted on Jun 30, 2008

1

Latvia is a beautiful city the food is excellent some of the best ive tasted drinks are reasonably priced at places the only problem is the people! As 9 Brit lads we all went all the holiday for a break and general party! Every restaurant we went in every bar & club we was welcomed with...more Latvia is a beautiful city the food is excellent some of the best ive tasted drinks are reasonably priced at places the only problem is the people! As 9 Brit lads we all went all the holiday for a break and general party! Every restaurant we went in every bar & club we was welcomed with hostility! Now after some talking with people in the hostal it is believed that after endless stag do\'s from Britain coming here recently they have been fighting causing trouble and generally giving the Brits a bad name! So partly some Brits back home are partly to blame! Unfortunately everyone now gets tarred with the same brush! Taxi drivers will try and rip u off at every turn if u can get the red cabs there governed so are cheaper if u have to get any other one haggle with them u should be paying no more than 5 lats anywhere around Riga maybe at night it will go up to 7 but definately not 10! In the clubs there are 2 prices tourist prices and Latvian prices. We went to a club called club essential we paid 6.50 lats for a vodka & redbull we watched as Latvians paid no more than 3lats for the same drink! Everywhere we turned in Essential we had evil eyes looking at us with occasional barging into us to get a rise! We walked out of the club and never returned for the weekend! Instead we went to a club call La Rocca! Biggest nightclub in Riga and definately the best we went there every night for rest of our trip we never got fleeced on our drinks yeah we had the occassional evil eye but generally people were friendly enough! Only problem was the bouncers have a tendency to take tourists down to a basement to give them a \"search for drugs\" in the process of a little kicking and stealing there money! Now im a doorman back in the UK and i know things can go on like this at home but its very rare! Here it seems it happens alot as after speaking to more people in the hostel several people knew or were victims of the La Rocca bouncers! They particuly target tourists who have been left alone by friends thinking there safe or small groups! If you go La Rocca which i recommend for great music and the shows are fantastic never leave each other alone stay together as a group! There are 22 strip clubs in Riga 18 of them are dodgy as hell getting u in the club then getting u to run a bill up of overpriced drinks or bottles of champagne that u never wanted to buy leaving u in a spot of trouble serious trouble! If your there for the strip clubs 2 I only recommend that is the Jockey Club which is situated next to Club Essentials and Dolls which is up the road from Mcdonalds near the Freedom Monument! Dolls is a little bit more expensive than the other but still good! Jockey club has reasonably priced drinks the girls are of course very nice and prices for lap dances are resonable too! I cannot confirm this myself but couple of friends I was with got offered xtras which range in price if u want that sort of thing! :) Latvia is a beautiful place with beautiful women everywhere but it seems that us Brits have a bad name! My advice is if your British break the sterotype and if your Latvian we aint all bad and try and sort the issues above as eventually it could make a dent in your tourist business and it will be u with the bad name!!! close

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by aaron-kitchener1829 – posted on Nov 15, 2007

3

Ok so i didnt visit Riga during the weekend, but i didnt have to as i wasnt gonna be drinking everynight with a load of drunken brits. And if you arent going to do that then Riga is a lovely place to visit. I was there monday to friday and was amazed at how clean and friendly everyone was, Go to...more Ok so i didnt visit Riga during the weekend, but i didnt have to as i wasnt gonna be drinking everynight with a load of drunken brits. And if you arent going to do that then Riga is a lovely place to visit. I was there monday to friday and was amazed at how clean and friendly everyone was, Go to Latvia if you want a nice, friendly trip abroadclose

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by mattvandenham2441 – posted on Nov 11, 2007

1

Riga is a great party city. Thats why its a top spot for stag and hen parties. Everything is pretty much located in the Old Town (or centre) along the cobbled streets. People are friendly. Food wasnt anything to write home about though...a lot of western european influences so i couldn't find any...more Riga is a great party city. Thats why its a top spot for stag and hen parties. Everything is pretty much located in the Old Town (or centre) along the cobbled streets. People are friendly. Food wasnt anything to write home about though...a lot of western european influences so i couldn't find any authentic latvian dishes when I was there. Definitely worth a trip to this city.close

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by grainne – posted on May 1, 2007

46

Riga is a small town, very clean, safe and historical. There are not too many things to do. People don’t speak too much English. Best place to go is Sky Line Bar, situated in the 26th floor of Reval Hotel where you can have a panoramic view of the city. If you ever get the train to go to...more Riga is a small town, very clean, safe and historical. There are not too many things to do. People don’t speak too much English. Best place to go is Sky Line Bar, situated in the 26th floor of Reval Hotel where you can have a panoramic view of the city. If you ever get the train to go to Jurmala City or Sigulda (please note that platform is called Peroni in Latvian language). Highly recommended to visit Sigulda, is a beautiful place surrounding by nature, not very tourist.close

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by Sonia – posted on May 1, 2007

74

Riga is a great city to visit with an interesting culture and laid-back atmopshere. The city is steeped in history St. Peter's Church is well worth a vist being one of Riga's most beautiful Gothic buildings. The church houses exhibitions and concerts at certain times of the year and if you're...more Riga is a great city to visit with an interesting culture and laid-back atmopshere. The city is steeped in history St. Peter's Church is well worth a vist being one of Riga's most beautiful Gothic buildings. The church houses exhibitions and concerts at certain times of the year and if you're feeling a bit more adventurous ,you can use the elevator to a height of 72m and get a bird's eye view of Riga from the observation platform. If you are fond of your tucker, Riga is not the best place for indulging your taste buds. Traditional food is for the most part deep fried or soaked in oil! Best bet is to try the touristy restaurants which generally serve excellent food. If you're looking for a day time activity which is guaranteed to get your adrenalin levels pumping, try Olympic bobsleighing! The drivers are from the Latvian National team and will run you down a thrilling Olympic track where you will go over 100km/h for a one minute ride ( definitely not for the faint-hearted!)close

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by YvonneK – posted on May 1, 2007

14

Frankly an amazing hostel! Very helpfull and charming staff, like lovely debbie and their great bartenders casper and james that guides you through Rigas spectacular nightlife, Captain Casper is a true character and also an fanatstic writer and entertainer. I am already looking forward to return...more Frankly an amazing hostel! Very helpfull and charming staff, like lovely debbie and their great bartenders casper and james that guides you through Rigas spectacular nightlife, Captain Casper is a true character and also an fanatstic writer and entertainer. I am already looking forward to return to Riga and friendly fun franks. See you there mates!close

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by landstalker6147 – posted on Apr 17, 2007

4

City is awesome (been there 5 times) and the prices are still quite cheap, although they've rocketed in last few years. But the people! You hardly see anyone dressing modestly and cheap, unless you look in the mirror. I sometimes had the feeling people looked at me pityfully when i was...more City is awesome (been there 5 times) and the prices are still quite cheap, although they've rocketed in last few years. But the people! You hardly see anyone dressing modestly and cheap, unless you look in the mirror. I sometimes had the feeling people looked at me pityfully when i was strolling around with my travelling clothes. Normally people recognize young travellers and feel mostly envy, but not in Riga. Maybe they just want to forget the poorness of soviet era, and now that they have got over it, they only wan't to see beautiful people and expensive clothes. Who knows, but sometimes I didn't feel wellcome. Otherwise I have nothing bad to say. (old)City itself is just great.close

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by yuggi798344 – posted on Apr 8, 2007

2

Spent a long weekend in Riga and it is was great. Not as cheap as I thought it was going to be (more pricey than Prague) but still a darn sight more reasonable than London. The Old Town looks fantastic and is full of utterly amazing buildings. The night-life is good too and the local beers taste...more Spent a long weekend in Riga and it is was great. Not as cheap as I thought it was going to be (more pricey than Prague) but still a darn sight more reasonable than London. The Old Town looks fantastic and is full of utterly amazing buildings. The night-life is good too and the local beers taste fantastic. None of your piss-water served up under the guise of 'British' lager (except in the Stella Bar and the Irish pubs).close

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by sdjlondonboy1207 – posted on Mar 9, 2007

2

A very quiet post communist town. Old Riga is great with cobbled streets and a blend of new and old architecture. Subtle reminders of it's history are obvious from the Occupation Museum to the Old Market by the train station. A real idea of Russian rule is felt in the old market with most of...more A very quiet post communist town. Old Riga is great with cobbled streets and a blend of new and old architecture. Subtle reminders of it's history are obvious from the Occupation Museum to the Old Market by the train station. A real idea of Russian rule is felt in the old market with most of the stall holders and buyers coming from the Russian districts. Modern Riga is found in the abundance of clubs, bars and coffee shops carefully modelled on their Western cousins. The youth are enjoying the technology and freedom with verve and party long and hard. transport is very cheap and easy to get around. A buss.tram or trolley bus ride is currently 0.3 Lts (30p). It would seem that the people are somewhat unable to smile much, extend politeness (especially when barging past), or appear optimistic. I guess they are tho, but the overall impression is that they could cheer up a lot.close

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by sunrised – posted on Feb 24, 2007

2