Riga and Latvia
Information
Riga is a beautiful and vibrant city. Here are some ideas of what to see there while you're over.
Things to do
Recommended places to visit.
-
Beaches
Close to Riga is Jurmala. You can sunbathe, swim in the sea or engage in sports activities at Jurmala beach, or dive into city life after the beach.
-
Museums
Riga has many interesting museums, covering the arts and Latvia's fascinating history. Some ideas - Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga Airmuseum, and the Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation.
-
Activities
You can rents boats on the Riga canal, or take a sightseeing canal boat. There's also the Riga Wake Park, and some stunning national parks, like Kemeri National Park not far from the city.
History
Capital of Latvia, begins as early as the 2nd century with a settlement, the Duna urbs, at a natural harbor not far upriver from the mouth of the Daugava River. UNESCO has declared Riga's historical center a World Heritage site in recognition of its Art Nouveau architecture, widely considered the greatest collection in Europe, and for its 19th-century buildings in wood.
Money
Latvia uses the €.
Getting around
Taxis are relatively cheap in Riga, Baltic TAXI are good and many of the drivers speak English.
Stats
- Latvia is home to 1.9million people
- Riga's population is 638,749 people
- Member of the EU since 1st May 2004