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Riga and surroundings

General information

Public transportation

  • Bus in Riga
    • It is very useful to buy an e-ticket for a number of journeys upon arrival at the airport. In 2018 that was €1.15 per ride, and you choose how many rides you want to put on it. There are also formulas for unlimited travel for a certain period of time.
    • The details of the buses of the Riga city network are fully available on Google Maps.

What to do

  • The Blackhead House, rebuilt after World War II, was the home of the brotherhood of the Blackheads in the 14th century. Seems a bit on the expensive side for what it is.
  • Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, open every day. Next to the House of the Blackheads (Blackfriars house)
    • Also (logically) connected to the museum is the KGB building, which is rather near Golden.
  • Latvian War Museum and the powder tower (done in 2017)
  • Latvian National Opera: Apparently it would be possible to visit the building from time to time (Thursdays at 5pm???)
  • Saint Peter's Church: Quite pricey, but the view from the tower would also be worth it. Closed on Monday.
  • The National Academy of Sciences Observation Deck is a nice vantage point. Seen from the old town, this is across the street from the station. It's an old-fashioned thing with a few old women at the entrance who don't speak English, but the view of the platform on the seventeenth floor is fantastic. (done in 2017)
  • If you visit the National Academy, it is also only a little bit further to visit the monument for the burnt down Great Synagogue (WWII). Immediately after the invasion of the Germans, the large synagogue was set on fire after many Jews were led in. (done in 2017)
  • And if you walk from the academy in the direction of the Daugava, you will enter the Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust Museum (small, free, closed on Saturday)
  • It is certainly worth visiting the central market in that area, a large market largely indoors , a little bit outdoor (done in 2017)
  • On the left bank, a bit outside the center, there is also the Zana Lipkes Memorials which is rated very well on TripAdvisor. This also has the holocaust as its theme. Closed on Monday.
  • Alberta Iela, for the Art Nouveau houses. There is also an art nouveau museum.
  • Latvian National Library, on the left bank of the Daugava.
  • In the same neighborhood is also the Soviet Army Victory Monument (done in 2017 and 2018)
  • The Railway History Museum is also nearby (behind the National Library). (Closed on Sunday and Monday)
  • Further outside the city:
    • Botanical garden of the university: still feasible even without public transport, not far from the cycle route to Jurmala.
    • TV tower offers a nice view but is also a bit outside the city. 2018 was the last season where you could visit the tower in its more original form, going up to an observation deck at 97m. The whole thing really gave a Soviet impression. After 2018, the tower will close for four years to be converted into a modern tourist attraction. At level 97m there will be a glass platform where you can walk around the outside of the tower, and you will be able to go up to about 200m.
    • Rumbula Forest holocaust memorial, upstream not so far from the Daugava (probably 13-15km walking one way as you don't want to walk along the major roads)
    • Latvian Ethnographic Open Air museum

Hiking in and around Riga:

Good beer pubs

Based on tips from Lithuanian brewers I met in Brussels.

  • (top!) Beerfox Bar - 61 Stabu Street, Latgale Suburb, Riga, LV-1011, Latvia, outside the Old Town but near Golden (Page on Facebook)
    • 2018: Seems to be more of a shop than a bar?
  • (top!) Alus Celle - Baznīcas iela 35, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia, again outside the old town but not so far from Golden (Page on Facebook). Great to combine with the KGB building
  • Easy Beer - Audēju iela 8, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia: In the old town (website)
    • You can also eat simply.
  • The Armory Bar - Vecpilsētas iela 11, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia: In the old town. (Page on Facebook)
  • Somewhat outside the center: Aldaris beer museum, at the brewery of the same name

FKK

  • Nude-friendly beaches between Vecāķi to Kalngale
    • There is an official nudist beach between Vecaki and Kalngale. That is not very well indicated, signs are behind the first row of dunes and in 2018 I was only able to find the sign on the land of Vecaki. People don't care much about the official zone, it is also apparently tolerated just outside the zone.
    • In the dunes between Kalngale and Garciems is an unofficial gay nudist beach. Men are typically located between the first and second dune belt, not too visible from the beach as it is certainly not officially allowed.
    • Vecaki can be easily reached by bus (minibus), with the regular city bus ticket from Riga. The last bus stop is very close to the beach. Vecaki, Kalngale and Garciems can also be reached by train, but the stations are a bit away from the beach. There is a bus from Garciems, but it doesn't seem to belong to the Riga city government.
  • Lielupe Pludmale in Jurmala
    • Article on blogspot
    • Several of the hamlets that make up Jurmala can be reached by train, but then you are not allowed to search on Jurmala. OpenStreetMap knows the stations, Google Maps in 2018 does not.