Top Riga Region hotels
Very popular automobile in USSR was Moskvich. It was made for “middle class” of soviet society (if middle class was possible in that kind of society?...)Moskviches and Zhiguli and Volgas you can see in Riga's Motor Museum.
Fans of unique automobiles should not miss the great opportunity to see the car once owned by Stalin, Brezhnev and the Russian writer Maxim Gorky. The museum has a Latvian motor sport department with antique motorbikes and stories about them.Open: 10.00-18.00, Mondays 10.00-15.00
In the patio of former Orthodox Cathedral and nowadays concert hall “Ave Sol” (see my tip “Scandalous church building”) you can find romantic couple of sculptures. Woman’s head belongs to Anna Kern’s monument and the stone plate cites Great Russian poet Alexander Pushkin’s famous poem line: “I’m remembering amazing moment…” (Ya pomnyu chudnoye mgnovenye…).
This church built as Orthodox cathedral, but on 1939 was signed contract between Latvian government and Orthodox Church about the building selling. The history of Latvian state was dramatic and on 1940 Latvian Independence lost. As the result, Orthodox Church lost this building and didn’t get money. Former church building was used as concert hall during today. Nowadays drama is continuing: Orthodox Church decided to retrace the building, but Riga’s municipalities against this fact. Sufferer in this situation is the building because it needs renovation very soon.
I cannot imagine practical meaning of the horsy police, but the aesthetic side of it seems pretty and a little bit romantic. You can see Riga’s horsy police everyday in The Park of Kronvalds and in the Bastejkalns on weekends.
I'm not sure how often it happens, we happened to be there when they were changing the guard in front of the Riga Castle. I wouldn't go out of my way to see this, it's a pretty simple ceremony that involves the two guards being relieved of their duties by two other men and 1 more to escort them, I guess.Right before they passed thru the door back into the palace, the three very serious looking guards dropped their serious expressions and started walking normally, I thought it rather curious that they didn't wait until they were out of view.
Built by the Soviets during the time when Joseph Stalin ruled the Soviet Union, the Academy of Science building was the only one I saw that reminded me of Soviet architecture, resembling Stalin's seven sisters in Moscow. Although some people find this style of architecture unappealing, I think it is quite grand. Local nicknames for this building are Stalin's birthday cake or the Kremlin.In Your Pocket says "If you look close enough you can spot several hammers and sickles" but unfortunately I read that after I returned homeLocate at Turgeneva iela 19, not too far from the Central Market
Here is Reval Hotel Latvia from which 25th floor you can see a wondeful panorama of Riga. The building is quite big, so you will easily notice it from downtown.Direction: find the Freedom monument, then cross the bridge near it and go straight a little bit.
The last thing you expect to see in the middle of nowhere is this fabulous canary yellow confection of a palace, designed by Rastrelli, the man responsible for the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg.This is a little harder daytrip to do from Riga, if you are traveling by public transport you have to take a bus to Bauska and then catch a bus to Pilsrundale.I've posted more tips and photos over on my Rundale page.
For to see that you need to find "Reval Hotel Latvia" close to downtown. Then use two glass elevators for to get up to the 25th floor. Actually you won't find 25th floor's button in these elevators, so push 24th floor button and then use stairs to the 25th floor. There you'll find a cosy area with a view through the window to all Riga.
Best Eastern Centra Hotel Riga Riga
7 Reviews and 252 Opinions We had an opportunity to travel somewhere with my husband for two nights. As we have 3 small kids,...
Reval Hotel Ridzene Riga
6 Reviews and 116 Opinions This year - hotel Ridzene again. The main hotel's advantage is its very quiet location in the very...
Albert Hotel Riga
4 Reviews and 407 Opinions Despite no plausable connection with the late great Mr Einstein The Albert Hotel is a shrine to the...
Reviews and photos of Riga Region attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Riga Region sightseeing.
Q: Sveiki! I need an advice. my departure from Riga airport at 11.30, but bus arrived (internetional, from belarus) only at 8.10....
A: You should have no problem. Yes, traffic can be bad, but by 0900 it seems to clear out. I used Municipal bus and as I recall, it took about 30 minutes from the stop near...
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