Top Latvia hotels
St. Peter's Church Riga
62 Reviews St. Peter's Church [1209], is named after Saint Peter. A rather plain looking Church on the outside, it's built of stone which probably saved the Church from being devastated by the fire that burnt...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Old Town Riga
53 Reviews Bastion Hill was a beautiful garden that was a real pleasure to walk through. The landscaped garden was begun in 1881, and is very pretty, as a brook with many waterfalls runs through the Park, and...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
35 Reviews This building was a different, brightly coloured design. It was an apartment house and shop, and is known for the blossoming foliage-shaped corner with a stylised sun above. Designed in 1903 by...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
House of Blackheads Riga
41 Reviews Unfortunately, the lovely "House of Blackheads" I was viewing today, was not old, it was only completed in 1999. World War II, and because the House of Blackheads was one of the most impressive...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Central Market Riga
22 Reviews Riga Central Market, one of the largest markets in Eastern Europe, is visited daily by 80,000 to 100,000 people. It was wow! How big is this place, certainly the biggest Market I have ever been to!...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Freedom Monument Riga
49 Reviews The Freedom Monument is a symbol of freedom, sovereignty and an independent Latvia. The Monument honours soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920). This impressive monument...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Three Brothers Riga
19 Reviews These residential buildings are charming, looks so much to be medieval. It is said, these three brothers (Tri Brali) are best examples of medieval buildings in Riga. The three brothers are different...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Swedish Gate Riga
16 Reviews The Old Town of Riga used to be surrounded by walls on all sides, but now-days, not much is left. The Invaders tore must of them down in the 1800s. The Swedish Gate is an attractive city gate, so...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Museum of the Occupation of Latvia Riga
26 Reviews I decided to view this museum as I had previously visited the Freedom Museum in Estonia..The museum was Established in 1993 to show what happenend here in Latvia during the years of Occupation from...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Dome Cathedral Riga
38 Reviews The Dome Cathedral is the largest place of worship in the Baltics The foundation stone of the Dome was laid in 1211, when Bishop Albert had a great plan of building a church, a monastery, some more...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
National Opera Riga
23 Reviews The National Opera House is set in a lovely position overlooking some very nice Parks and gardens. The Theatre is affectionately known as “The White House,' and when viewing it, I could see why! An...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Powder Tower Riga
24 Reviews This lovely old tower with Ivy growing over the red bricks, was once used for storing Gun Powder. Built in the 14th century, the building is now part of the Museum of War, with displays including...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
20 Reviews Riga Castle was built in 1330 in the old Town as the residence for Master of Livonian Order. Originally the castle was fortress-like 3 story building with an inner courtyard and four towers. Since...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Daugava River Riga
15 Reviews The Railway Bridge connects the two banks of Riga that are divided by the Daugava River. I happened to see this Bridge when I was having a look at the central markets. The Bridge was built in 1872,...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Orthodox Cathedral Riga
21 Reviews The Nativity of Christ Cathedral is surrounded by a lovey park. Built in the Neo-Byzantine style between 1876 and 1883, during the period when the country was part of the Russian Empire, it is the...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Cat House Riga
16 Reviews Not every house has a cat in the roof :) But in Riga - yes, it is :) The house surely has the Cat name after two black cats put on the roof. The owner of the house turned cats’ tails into the Guild...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Latvian Riflemen Monument Riga
13 Reviews The Red Riflemen Monument is another impressive monument and also a very controversal! The monument was built in 1970, to honor the Latvian red Riflemen who guarded Lenin during the Russian...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Musicians of Bremen Monument Riga
8 Reviews The Musicians of Bremen Statue is strategically placed between three major churches in Riga, Saint Peter's, Saint John's and Saint George's churches. The German city of Bremen, by the way, is twinned...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum Riga
6 Reviews I will confess up front that I am a complete sucker for 'skansen' type museums, so the fact that we made a beeline for the open air ethnographic museum just outside Riga should come as little...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Jurmala Beach Riga
6 Reviews If you fancy something of a change from the city, then I can very well recommend a visit to the water park at Jurmala. It must be a good 20 miles out of town, but you can get there very quickly and...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Bastejkalns Park Riga
9 Reviews Coming over Bastion Hill you’re greeted by an outdoor dance floor filled with energetic couples. Welcome to Bastejkalns Park. A little further on you come to Lover’s bridge (second picture) where...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Laima Clock Riga
12 Reviews Hard to say for me why Laima clock is famous in Riga, but anyway it was nice to see how it looks. This clock was donated by Laima chocolate manufacturer, and the main thing people like it as it is...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Academy of Sciences Riga
13 Reviews The Academy of Sciences was a building that caught my attention, as it looked something like the American Empire state building! This tall building was built between 1953 and 1956, as a gift from the...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
10 Reviews Located next to each other in Riga, is the Small and Great Guild Halls, both impressive buildings. The Great Guild [1354], was a Merchant's organization for German merchants. The first building from...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Bastion Hill Riga
7 Reviews Bastejkalns is one of the parks that surround Old Riga Town. Bastejkalns in translation to English mean The Bastion Hill, so from the name we can guess that this place was very significant for the...
See All 801 Things to Do in Riga
Sponsored Links
Kolkasrags (Kolka Horn). This place attracts general interest also by its geographical position - in a way it can be regarded the Centre of Europe as here is the crosspoint of the lines uniting the farthest corners of our continent. Counter currents meet at the sea here, and in stormy weather here tempest waves up to 7 m high.
The beach Majori (from 2000) and beach Bulduri (from 2002) in Jurmala are awarded with BLUE FLAG ( a symbol of high environmental standards as well as good sanitary and safety facilities at beach ).I prefer Majori, which is the perfect place with a nice pedestrian walkway lined with small souvenir shops, ice-cream and sidewalk cafes. The area abounds with wide beaches, dunes and elegant cottages near piney woods. Fresh sea wind and soft golden sands are the most important things for me in Jurmala. This is small paradise for latvians forever, our place to relax and breathe in fresh and very medical air of famous latvian pine forests. Yes, it's our Riviera.
Visitors of Riga can admire buildings of remarkable Gothic, Baroque, Classicism and Art Nouveau architecture. This variety and richness of styles has been recognised by experts of the United Nations organization and in 1997 the Central part of Riga was included into the UNESCO World Heritage List as: 1. one of the world largest and best preserved assemblages of the Art Nouveau buildings,2. a city with architecture that reflects various periods of city history from 1201 to the present day,3. a city with a unique collection of wooden architecture in the central city area.
Riga with 806 thousand inhabitans has more big-city attractions than any other city in the Baltic States. Riga is rich in history, culture and diverse entertainments. But for me this city has particular scent and colour. Riga parks where we can spend a while sitting on a bench or just take a walk, or relax in cozy outdoor cafes. The banks of the Daugava (our river) and the spirit of Old Riga. My Riga page.
There is a nice castle a short walk from Sigulda. It was founded in 1214, but got todaly destroyed when in the 18th a lightning hit the place where they used to put all their gunpowder into. Well, that's not exactely what you want to happen. But they rebuilt it now, and it is the most complete castle structure in the area. There is a small entrance fee, but its worth it for the tower, from which you have a nice view.
This is Rundale Palace - not far from the Latvian-Lithuanian border. It has a remarkable land area and surrounding the palace itself are gardens that are being worked on at present and ensure that the site will become even more attractive in the future. The Palace was built in the 1760s when Latvia was known as Courland. It has been mistreated for many centuaries where it had fallen into disrepair. Only in the last 30 years has there been funding for restoration. and it is still being presently refurbished. Which is what makes this place unique from any other. You can actually see the work in progress as rooms viewed go from being completely restored to the devistating condition they were found in, 30 years ago.
The Russian Orthodox Cathedral is an interesting building ,for we in the Netherlands don't have such buildings.It was often the end of my bus ride from where I was exploring the city centre.But one time was very special. I was shooting some film in the area around the Cathedral when suddenly a lot of differentbells were ringing.I decided to have a look and guess what.There was a wedding going on. Nice.So for a free concert of churchbells wait fora wedding at the Cathedral.
The town of Sigulda is easily reachable as a day trip from the Capital Riga. Although the scenery may resemble the Alpine pastureland to an extent - the trains may not be quite as punctual in getting you there.The town has many pretty little corners, although most people come to walk or trek around the valley the town sits in. Shortish walks to the other side of the valley can be easily tackled in a day trip with a variety of ruins, castles and caves to explore. There is also a useful cablecar (only one in the Baltics) which stretches across the river valley. The service is roughly half-hourly in the afternoon.The town is also setting itself up as an adventure sports destination (see other must see tip) with bungee jumping off the cable car, rafting and wintersports when the snow comes. The downhill skiing is quite limited - although nicely unusual in heading down from the town to the...
The Bobsleigh / luge track at Sigulda run wheeled bobs in the summer. Even if you are not around at the prescribed times you can get hold of the people who run it and they will make arrangements.They drive and break whilst you sit in the middle and get scared. It's actually incredibly smooth so you don't notice the G's your pulling so much. A cool experience and when I did it (about 3 year agos) only about $5.( 3 latis)The rest of the town is delightful as well with some very nice walks and a cablecar across the valley. A couple of ski runs too - but not much use in the summer!
Livonians are another Baltic tribe who still speak their own distinct language, although there are less and less speakers. Driving along the Livonian coast, from the Cape Kolka into the Gulf of Riga will make discover a landscape of enless white sand beaches, tiny fishermen villages and a sensation of total loneliness.
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,...
Prieka Pietura Sigulda
5 Opinions
Kolonna Hotel Cesis Cesis
9 Opinions
Reviews and photos of Latvia attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Latvia sightseeing.
More Cities in Latvia
More Regions in Latvia
Q: Hi, We are travelling to Europe later this year and want to try and find some relatives which I have never meet. My father was...
A: Why don't you use www.tradukka.com?
Read 2 Replies
Sponsored Links
