Riga

Riga, Latvia

Riga greets visitors with a unique and breathtaking silhouette, beautifully reflected in the Baltic Sea. A stroll through the city centre offers a charmingly confusing mix of a modern metropolitan city with exclusive shopping, vibrant nightlife and international cuisine, and ancient traditions in a capital that has been multi-cultural throughout its 800-year history.

Population:

632,614 (2019)

Currency:

Euro (EUR) €1 = 100 cents

Emergency Numbers:

Emergency: 112
Fire&Rescue: 01
Police: 02
Emergency Medical Services: 03

Opening Hours:

Shops in Riga are normally open 9am–5pm on weekdays while on weekends opening hours are reduced. Shops are open on Sundays at their own discretion. Most supermarkets are open until 10pm.

Newspapers:

The Baltic Times
Kapitals
The Economist

The City

Riga is not only a pretty sight with its tall church steeples pointing to the sky, it is also the most dynamic capital of the Baltic States. Riga is a vibrating big city, with broad avenues, majestic Art Nouveau palaces, trendy cafés, restaurants, clubs and shopping centres. Tourism is booming and the opening of restaurants with specialities from the most remote parts of the world please the increasingly cosmopolitan locals, as well as visitors from afar.

For art lovers, a simple walk around the city centre may be enough excitement: Riga is, above all, famous for its spectacular Art Nouveau architecture. There is no other European city with so many buildings featuring the particular 19th-century style. The easiest way to discover architectural extravaganza not likely to be seen elsewhere is to simply walk around with your head up.

Do & See

Riga offers plenty in terms of sightseeing and entertainment, just as one would expect from a city that was named European Capital of Culture in 2014. Guided tours normally depart from the Old Town Square. Many of the most beautiful and interesting sights are concentrated in the Old Town, so it is a good idea to start your tour from there.

Dining

Traditional Latvian food culture is dominated by typical Russian and Eastern European dishes, using a lot of potatoes, cabbage, beef, pork, and fish, served in big portions. Riga also offers countless opportunities to try international favourites, from American steakhouses to Indian veggie food, Chinese, Japanese, Italian, Russian, or Ukrainian specialities.

Visitors must try Riga's famous Black Balsam, a thick and black yet smooth and velvety alcoholic liqueur. This 45 per cent alcoholic drink is said to cure sore throats as well as hangovers. The exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, but basic ingredients include ginger, oak bark, bitter orange peel, and cognac.

Cafes

Below you can find some nice places in Riga that have pleasant interiors and also serve good coffee and pastries. Many cafes in Riga are also open for breakfast if you feel like eating out or grabbing something on the go.