Riga Favorites

Favorite thing: The most interesting buildings are in the Art Nouveau or Jugendstil style. You also find medieval houses and churches. But nowhere in central Europe I saw so many facades in this kind of architecture.

Favorite thing: If you seek good advice on travelling and accomodation go to the Riga Tourist Information Centre on the square with the blackheads house. The staff is always super friendly and they speak English as well as German sometimes. They can give you info on all areas of latvija and call for you at hotels if you ask with a smile.

Favorite thing: If you don’t have your mobile with you, but need to make a call, it is always possible to use one of the public phones, which you can find all around the city.
Some of them work by using the coins, but mostly you need a prepaid card, which is possible to buy in any food or newspaper place.

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Favorite thing: Throughout this century, Jurmala has been Riga's playground, from the elegant days of the 1930s to the years of occupation. Jurmala was also the ultimate destination for the Soviet Union's elite retirees.
It might cheer you up to know that the beaches at Majori and Bulduri have been awarded the coveted mark of any self respecting beach community worth its weight in tourist dollars, the prestigious Blue Flag.

Favorite thing: Attend any Latvian hockey match and you’ll undoubtedly see people wearing red and white-striped hats with furry brown ears. The ears in fact are one of Latvia’s most interesting symbols. Lachplesis (the bear slayer), hero of the epic poem of the same name, was the superhuman defender of the land from evil forces. Like all mythological protagonists he wasn’t all man in the sense that he had bear’s ears. Ironically he could kill bears with his bare hands not to mention Latvia’s enemies. On November 11, Latvians commemorate their fallen heroes who sacrificed life and limb to defend their nation. A sombre event, Lachplesis Day is marked by the lighting of candles in apartment windows and by Riga Castle.

Favorite thing: Whenever you feel tired of walking or just don’t know how to spend your time in Riga, you can always go to the movies.
In the very centre- between Central Train Station and Central Buss Station you can find big cinema, with many halls.
Movies there are shown in English, with Latvian and Russian subtitles.

http://www.forumcinemas.lv/?lang=eng

Favorite thing: Riga is supposedly named after the Ridzene or river Riga that was filled in approximately one hundred years ago. It is still possible to trace the old riverbed along some streets in Vecriga (Old Riga), namely Valnu. The meaning of the word Riga is still disputed to this day and the fact that a similar word does not exist in the Latvian language further complicates things.

Favorite thing: It is not allowed to drink alcoholic drinks on the streets of Riga. If you will meet the policeman while holding open bottle you might be asked to pay the fee.
Even it is only a bottle of beer.

But again, if you really want to have a drink in the streets, you can try to do like the girls in the picture. ;)