Riga Things To Do
The Old Town
Riga Old Town is a delightful ensemble of medieval cobbled streets, townhouses, fairytale spires and charming squares. The main focus is Town Hall Square. Riga Old Town highlights include the Romanesque Gothic Dome Cathedral and the 15th century St Peter’s Church. Climb the spire for superb views of the city. Riga Old Town is also a key area for pavement cafes, restaurants, cosy bars and Riga’s famously lively nightlife. In winter go skating in Liv Square and sample gorgeously romantic cafes. Stroll along the canal in Bastejkalns Park and visit the poignant Freedom Monument.
Art Nouveau District
Riga has one of Europe’s finest surviving collections of early 20th century German-influenced Jugendstil Art Nouveau architecture with its characteristic swirling lines, elaborate stucco decoration, bizarre facades and eccentric roofs. The best examples are in Riga New Town and Riga Central District. Key streets include Elizabetes, Alberta and Strelnieku. The Latvian Museum of Architecture in the Old Town has more information on this peculiar architectural style.
Culture
Aside from architecture, Riga offers classical music and world-renowned opera and ballet, with an opera festival in June. Top Riga museums and galleries include the Museum of Occupations dedicated to the Soviet and Nazi occupations, the National Art Museum, the State Museum of Fine Arts, the Museum of the History of Riga, the Latvian War Museum, the Museum of Decorative Applied Arts and the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia. Mentzendorff’s House is a beautifully-restored 17th-century merchant’s house with original period furniture.
Nightlife
City breaks in Riga have rapidly established a reputation for fun lively nightlife. You will find cosy romantic cafes, trendy DJ lounge bars, cocktail bars, boisterous pubs, discos, nightclubs, casinos and a modest but enthusiastic live music scene. The Riga clubbing scene is thriving, with several weird and wonderful venues open until late.
Jurmala Beach
Jurmala Beach has been a popular spa resort since the 19th century and is a great short trip out of the city. Jurmala beach has soft white sand and is backed by woodlands and forest. Gently shelving water makes this a great place for swimming in the bracing Baltic Sea! Nice walks along the Lielupe River. Visit the Art Nouveau Baznica Church, explore the Kemeri National Park, splash about in the water park or simply enjoy the seafront cafes, bars and restaurants. Jurmala beach is reached by train from Riga Central station in just 20 minutes.
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