Latvia

Riga

Activities: 

  • The Corner House: Former KGB headquarters from WWII to 1991, today the Corner House is a museum telling the story of the occupation of Latvia and the history of the KGB in Latvia. The first portion of the museum is a room that outlines the history of the place. However, you can reserve a tour to take you through the rest of the rooms, including the prison cells, the interrogation room and the execution room. Not part of the tour is a viewing of a secret tunnel, which was only discovered in recent years. If you ask your guide at the end of the tour, he/she may take you for a look at it. 
  • Explore Riga’s Old Town: The Old Town is filled with quaint shops, delicious bakeries and coffee houses, and plenty of restaurants and bars. Note that many of the streets are cobblestone, so wear comfortable walking shoes. 
  • Ziedlejas Wellness Resort: This resort is ~1 hour outside of Riga in Gauja National Park and they are known for their “pirts” or saunas. Saunas are traditional in Latvian culture. At Ziedlejas, there are three sauna options. I did the “Woolen Pirts” which is the most traditional. For 4 people, the maximum number of people allowed, the experience was ~3 hours. For 2 people it would be closer to 2 hours. It consisted of relaxation in the sauna, cold plunging, and a bathing experience (similar to a hammam if you have experienced that). 
  • Visit Milda: Milda is the freedom monument in Riga, similar to the Statue of Liberty in the US.
  • Riga Central Market: A great spot for shopping for locally grown food and flowers. 
  • Shopping: Two of my favorite stores were home good stores right across the street from each other. I would suggest checking them out: Riija and Musmaja Terbata. 

Accommodation: 

  • I stayed at the Pullman Hotel, which was a perfect location right on the outer edge of the Old Town. When looking for a place to stay, I would suggest staying in or near Old Town. 

Food: 

  • 3 Pavaru Restorans: This was the best meal I had in Riga. You can do an a la carte menu or a prix fixe menu, both of which have a limited number of options. The meal starts with a small surprise that will leave you wanting more. For dessert, I would strongly suggest the strawberries with a foam made from condensed mint-flavored foam. It was one of the best desserts I’ve had.
  • Gutenbergs Hotel: The rooftop of a hotel in the Old Town, with amazing views of the city. The food was good and there was a variety of options. The appetizers were a standout.
  • This Place Doesn’t Need A Name: A quaint spot in the Old Town with a vast menu of food options. The Korean corn ribs were delicious. This would be a great date spot.
  • Mr. Fox: The reviews speak highly of their brunch, but I went for lunch and had a very delicious, healthy meal. Think salads, bowls, and smoothies. 
  • Lido: Traditional Latvian buffet restaurant. 
  • Mārtina Bekereja: A small bakery near that Corner House that has delicious pīrāgs, which reminds me of a dense, savory croissant, typically filled with butter and bacon. 
  • HuMMus: Israeli spot in the Old Town with a variety of hummus options. 
  • Casa Nostra: Great Italian food. 

Bars / Drinks: 

  • Nekadu Problemu: Outdoor spot in the heart of the Old Town with a vast drink / beer menu, bar food and live music. If you’re looking to get some food, I would suggest the chicken fingers and the grauzdini (fried rye bread with garlic) 
  • Ala Pagrabs: An underground cave bar known for traditional Latvian dancing on Wednesday night. 
  • Funny Fox: A fun karaoke spot. 
  • Skyline: This is the indoor rooftop bar / club at Radisson Blu. There are nice views of the city. If you like espresso martinis, I would suggest the Rigatini, which is an espresso martini made with Balsams (the national drink of Latvia).
  • Sapni un Koktēli: A fun two story bar that has DJs playing global hits, as well as traditional Latvian songs.  
  • Tim’s Mints / Kiwi Bar / Cuba Cafe / Shot Cafe: All great spots for going out or grabbing drinks with friends.

Notes: 

  • Latvia does not accept AMEX, so make sure to bring a Visa or MasterCard. That said, everywhere I went took credit card / Apple Pay. If you want to pay with cash, the Euro is the currency of Latvia. 
  • It rains a lot of Latvia, so make sure to pack a rain coat. 
  • Most of the main attractions in Riga are walkable. However, if you want to get around quicker, download Bolt, which is the Uber equivalent. You can also rent scooters through Bolt and it’s easy to scooter around the city. 
  • Balsams is a herbal, high alcohol content liqueur that is the national drink of Latvia.
  • The strawberries in Latvia are the best I’ve ever had. I would strongly suggest getting some at the market. 
  • Latvia was the first place I tried sparkling rhubarb wine and I would definitely recommend it. It’s sweet, yet dry. My favorite brand was Abavas Rabarbers. 
  • I went to Latvia during Vispārējie Latviešu Dziesmu un Deju Svētki, which is a song and dance festival that happens in Riga every 5 years. Latvian singers and dancers from around the world fly into Latvia for a week-long series of concerts. It’s one of the most incredible, moving and cultural experiences I have participated in. If you have the opportunity to go, I would highly suggest it. Note that Latvians from around the world fly in for this, so tickets to the events are not easy to get. That said, it’s not impossible and there are Facebook groups where people are selling extra tickets they have.