Travelling to Latvia

Looking for a new place to discover? Riga – the capital of Latvia, a small nation in Eastern Europe – can be a great option. It’s only a 3-hour Ryanair flight away from Dublin, it’s fairly cheap and it’s really nice and warm in the summer. OK, the beaches are not exactly tropical paradise, but they’re A LOT warmer than Irish ones!

 

Riga is the capital of Latvia – a country with a population of 2 million, located on the shores of the Baltic Sea and on Russia’s border. Riga was a German-controlled merchant town for centuries before it was incorporated into the Russian empire in the 18th century. In the 20th century, after a period of independence, Latvia became a part of the Soviet Union and remained so for nearly 50 years until 1991 when it regained its independence.

German and Russian influences blend in this city, mixing with the unique flavour of its native, Latvian culture. Riga’s beautiful city centre – a UNESCO World Heritage site – is very similar to old German towns like Lubeck and Hamburg. But outside of the city centre you’ll find plenty of imposing Stalinist architecture and grey Soviet-style apartment blocks… So here’s a quick guide to this unique place.

 

Clean Old Town

Riga’s city centre is remarkably tidy and neat. Everything here is centuries old and it’s a delight to wander Riga’s narrow cobblestone streets and discover quaint little cafes, bars and restaurants which are all over the place. You’ll find many arts galleries and souvenir shops too, full of amber beads, bracelets and handicrafts. But when it comes to souvenirs – you can look, but you’d better not touch! The shops in Old town charge a lot more than fair price and you’d best get your souvenirs elsewhere…

Make sure to go up the bell tower of St Peter’s Church in the middle of the Old Town for amazing views of Riga. And when you get hungry head to Lido – it’s a chain of traditional (and very cheap!) Latvian restaurants, each styled as a kitchen where you can pick any of the dishes being cooked right before your eyes.

 

The Central market

After checking out souvenirs in the Old town head to Riga’s Central market a short walk away: you’ll find the same stuff, just a lot cheaper! The market is based in and around four huge hangars – they were built in the 1920s to house German zeppelins. The hangars are now called pavilions and you’ll find all sorts of meats, fish, dairy products and condiments here. All around there are kiosks selling clothes and pretty much anything you can think of… including cheap souvenirs!

 

 

Sample the nightlife

Riga may be quiet compared to Dublin, but it has some great bars. If you fancy watching the sunset while sipping a cocktail (or a beer) head to the Skyline Bar – on the 26th floor of Radisson Blu hotel in the city centre. The views are amazing as is the atmosphere and the service.

For a more down to earth experience head to Ala Pagrabs in the Old town. It is a traditional Latvian bar that’s got cheap local beer, total lack of pretence and glamour, a studenty crowd and traditional Latvian music – and sometimes dance – every night. If you prefer something classier visit one of the many clubs/discos around – Coyote Fly for example. But be careful as some of these places are known for overcharging tourists. Always check the price before ordering and stay away from fancy ladies coming on to you and asking to buy them drinks – they’re actually employed by the place!

 

 

Out of town

After checking out Riga why not head to Jurmala – a popular seaside resort less than an hour’s train ride away. In the summer Jurmala’s sandy beaches are full of tourists and though the sea may be a little cold or shallow the beaches – and the town – are totally worth checking out.

Another popular out of town destination is Sigulda – known as “the Switzerland of Latvia”. About an hour’s train ride away from Riga, it’s particularly beautiful in October when autumn turns its forested hills yellow and red. Sigulda has Teutonic order castles, forest walks, a cable car, limestone caves, the beautiful river Gauja and lots of fascinating history and legends. Make sure to do the trail to Turaida castle (you can take the cable car on the way) – it will be the highlight of your trip, especially if you go in the autumn.

Originally published in SEDA News