Riga Travel Guide
Travel guide to Riga, latvia with comprehensive information about events, shopping, and major Riga sporting events to help you enjoy your visit more.
Riga Overview
Riga was all but overlooked by travellers until fairly recently, but since opening its doors to the world, it has quickly gained a reputation as a city that is both picturesque and exciting for visitors, a place with plenty to offer in terms of sight seeing and a great nightlife.
The capital city of Latvia, Riga, is well on its way to becoming one of the top destinations for a weekend break in Northern Europe.
Riga has a low cost of living and is often viewed as a place to go to have a cheap weekend away getting drunk in the bars that fill the centre of the city, although more recently, the local tourism offices have been "re-imagining" the city using its rich cultural heritage in order to promote the city as a place to visit for a romantic cultural break rather than a downmarket rowdy party city.
Close by, a day trip to the coastal area of Jurmala is a great way to clear away any cobwebs, along the coast there are several small villages and resorts to spend time at.
Throughout most of the year, you can get cheap flights to Riga, and it is an ideal place to visit in order to get a real feel for the country as it grapples with the struggle to keep its identity in the face of its modernisation and inclusion in the greater Europe.
Top Riga Attractions
For many visitors to Riga, its most important attractions are the many wine bars and lively nightclubs - particularly those in the Old Town area of Riga. Dome Square in the centre of the city is extremely popular during the summer months, when bars and cafés spill out onto the pavements and people enjoy themselves outdoors.
Other Riga attractions include Riga cathedral, St Peter's church with its towering spire, and the famous Latvian War museum where you can see exhibits from throughout Latvia's often troubled history.
Shopping in Riga
Perhaps Riga's most obvious landmark is the Central Market. Housed in three former Zeppelin hangars, this vast building has stalls selling everything from soviet era televisions through to the latest (copied) fashion items as well as all manner of tasty treats. It is a great place to spend half a day browsing - although you should be very wary of pick pockets around the crowded stalls.
The Audeju area of Riga is the place to go for the more upmarket shops - although the low cost of living in Latvia means that you are still assured of finding plenty of bargains.
Antiques are the most popular souvenirs of Latvia, and you will need an export license to take some items home. The shop will generally be able to sort this out for a small fee.
Riga Sporting Events
The main sporting entertainment in Riga comes in the form of Skonta Riga - Latvia's largest and most successful football team. They play at the dated Skonta Stadium close to the city centre, and exert utter dominance over the national league. Skonta Riga qualify for European competition every year by virtue of the fact that they win all Latvian national competitions, so you may have the pleasure of watching your own team compete against them at some point.
Golf is still viewed with suspicion in Latvia - although the increasing entrepreneurial class of the country has resulted in a new course being built just outside Riga - if you fancy a round during your stay.