48 hours in Riga – Weekend Edition
Riga In Less Than 48 Words
Riga, the Latvian capital, is one of the more interesting Baltic capitals, a metropolis with a beautiful ambience and a pulsating atmosphere. It has a well-preserved medieval heritage as well, with its UNESCO World Heritage Site Old Town and Art Nouveau architecture.
House of Blackheads (Photo by Lili Segal)
First 24 Hours
You can arrive at the Latvian capital via the Riga International Airport, which is located five miles southwest of the city center. From there, you can catch Bus 22 that will take you directly to the heart of Riga, near the Freedom Monument. It arrives at the terminal every 30 minutes, while the journey costs around Lt0.20 and takes 20 minutes. Alternatively, you can opt to hire a taxi, which will cost you upwards of Lt8.
Riga is a pretty large city; so navigating it may be fairly difficult, especially for first-timers. You should remember, though, that most of its attractions are located in its Old Town, found by the eastern banks of the Daugava River. You may collect valuable tourist information from its main tourist office (Schwab House, 00 371 704 4377, website). It is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm.
CHECK IN: Get your bearings back at Riga’ hotels
You can arrange your stay for the 48 hour visit to Riga at one of its excellent hotels. One of the best in the city is the Reval Hotel Elizabete (71 Elizabetes iela, Rīga 1050, 6777 2345, website). It is conveniently located at five-minute’s walk from the Old Town, and has good facilities and a friendly staff.
Reval Hotel Elizabete (Photo by Reval Hotels)
A nice alternative is the Hotel Centra Riga (1 Audēju iela, Rīga 1050, 722 64 41, website), which is a four-star hotel with a delicious breakfast, good bar, and comfortable rooms. You can also try out the Hanza Hotel (7 Elijas iela, Rīga, 6779 6040, website). It offers exquisitely-designed rooms, professional staff, and is at a convenient location near tourist attractions.
ST. PETER’S CHURCH: Let’s take a view
A popular tourist attraction in Riga is St. Peter’s Church (19 Skārņu iela Rīga 1050, 7 229 426), which dominates the city skyline. It was built in 1209, and is most known for its tall tower. The church had been struck by lightning six times and had collapsed twice, It was last restored in 1973. The best option there is taking the elevator to the top of its tower, where you will be rewarded with sweeping views of the city from a height of around 70 meters.
FREEDOM MONUMENT: If you’re feeling patriotic
One of the most recognizable landmarks in the city is the Freedom Monument (1 Brivivas iela / Pilsetas kanals Riga, Latvia). It is an impressive memorial built in 1935 to honor the soldiers who had fought during the Latvian War of Independence in 1918. The structure was designed by Kārlis Zāle out of granite, travertine, and copper, and stands 42 meters high. You can admire its numerous sculptures and bas reliefs that depict Latvian culture and history, and also try to see the figure of Lady Liberty holding three gilded stars at its very top.
Freedom Monument (Photo by Giorgio Minguzzi)
VECRIGA: Have a historical hike
Of course, a visit to Riga would not be complete without heading to its Old Town, Vecrīga. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is located by the eastern banks of the Daugava River, and is closed to vehicular traffic, meaning that you can only see its sights on foot. The area is mostly known for its impressive array of old churches and cathedrals. Of these, the Riga Cathedral (Palasta street 2, +371 67227573, website) is the most notable. It dates back to 1211, and is considered to be the largest medieval church in the Baltic States.
Vecrīga (Photo by Klinne)
RIGA CASTLE: Visit a royal residence, and then some
Don’t forget to pay a visit to the Riga Castle (3 Mazā Pils iela Rīga 1050), a 14th century castle that today serves as the official residence for the President of Latvia. It is known for its impressive architecture, four rectangular towers, and a rectangular courtyard. It is not only the administrative seat of the country, but a venue for several museums as well. Of these, the Latvian Museum of National History (3 Mazā Pils iela, Rīga 1050, 7 223 004, website) is the most prominent. It was established in 1920, and features a collection of artifacts and exhibits showing the glory of Latvian history and world culture. The site is open from Wednesdays to Sundays from 11 am to 5 pm.
Riga Castle (Photo from Google images)
DINNER TIME: Discover Riga’s restaurants
You are guaranteed a delicious dinner at the restaurants available all over the city. One of the best in the city is Varzob (21 Peldu ieal, Riga, 67211332), which serves an authentic Asian cuisine, and is best suited for those with exotic tastes. A nice alternative is Vincents (19 Elizabetes, Riga, 733 2634, website). It offers creatively-prepared dishes and a good wine selection.
Have a taste of Italy in Monterosso (9 Vaļņu iela, Rīga 1050, 67 50 71 70, website), which specializes in authentic Italian delicacies, especially pizza and pasta. You can also try out Kiploku Krogs (Jekaba 3/5 Street, Riga, +371 67211451, website). It is a unique restaurant serving up mostly garlic-based dishes at reasonable prices.
Next 24 Hours
Your next 24 hours in Riga can be used to discover the city’s other tourist attractions. One of the must-sees in the city is the House of Blackheads (1 Kaļķu iela, Rīga 1050, Latvia, 6721 1076). It is a 14th century building used by the Brotherhood of the Blackheads Guild, which is an organization formed by Riga’s unmarried German merchants. The structure was severely damaged during World War II, but has since been restored in 1995. You can admire its impressive architecture and the various exhibits found inside.
ARSENALS: Come to appreciate art
Latvian National Museum of Art (Photo from Google images)
Art lovers will definitely enjoy themselves at Arsenāls (10a K.Valdemara Street, Riga LV-1010, (+371) 67 325051, website). It is better known as the Latvian National Museum of Art, and contains a collection of Latvian and Baltic art works from the 18th century to modern times. The site is open during Mondays and Wednesdays to Sundays from 11 am to 4:45 pm, with admission costing you around Lt1.
ETHNOGRAPHIC MUSEUM: Learn more about Latvian culture
You can also try visiting the Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum (Zemitāna iela 6, Rīga, LV – 1012, 6 737 81 55, website). It was established in 1924, and is located on a forest park beside a lake. Inside, you’ll find over 114,000 artifacts and buildings representing Latvia’s ethnic groups.
AVIATION MUSEUM: Explore the skies
If you’re a fan of airplanes, then you should probably take a sojourn at the Riga Aviation Museum (Riga International Airport, Riga, Latvia, website). Established in 1956, it is considered to be one of the largest of its kind in Europe, and features mostly Soviet aircraft. Some of the most notable displays there are the L-29 Delfin trainer, Mi-4 Hound helicopter, Mi-6 Hook heavy transport helicopter, MIG 23 Flogger, MIG 27 Flogger B, and the MIG 29 Fulcrum. The site is open during weekends from 9 am to 6 pm.
Riga Aviation Museum (Photo from Google images)
RIGA ZOO: See unique wildlife
One of the most popular attractions in Riga is the Riga Zoo (Meža prospekts 1, LV-1014, Rīga, +371- 67518409, website), which attracts over 300,000 visitors ever year. It was established in 1996, and covers an area measuring roughly 1.35 square kilometers. Inside, you can find over 2,100 animals of more than 400 different species, including the European tree frog, Peregrine Falcons, White-tailed Eagles, Barn Owls, Eurasian Eagle-owls, and Lesser Spotted Eagles. The site is open daily from 10 am to 7 pm, and admission will cost you Lt4.
NIGHTLIFE: Enjoy Riga’s vibrant nightlife scene
At night you may proceed to Riga’s bars and clubs to have a taste of the exciting nightlife of the city. One of the most popular is the Skyline Bar (Reval Hotel, 55 Elizabetes iela, Riga, (+371) 7772222), which is known for its cheap cocktails that you can enjoy while taking in the city views. A nice alternative is the 8 Bar and Lounge (19 Valnu iela, entrance from Gleznotāju, Riga, 0067 35 95 95), which is a hip place popular among the young crowd.
You can also try out the Café Cuba Bar (15 Jauniela, Riga, +371 67 22 43 62). It is a Cuban-themed bar with superb cocktails, a relaxed atmosphere, and a few photographs of Cuba and Fidel Castro.
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