Low prices
First, it's cheap. Let's admit that today the cost of the trip itself is one of the key factors when choosing a destination. Tickets for a plane from Moscow to Riga can be found from 7,000 rubles, for a train - from 5,000. In principle, what the hell is not kidding, you can also get to Riga from the Russian capital by personal car: a route of more than nine hundred kilometers you will overcome where in eleven hours, at the same time admire the wonderful landscapes.
Finding a budget hotel or hostel is also not difficult. If you search in the city center, then housing prices start at 1000 rubles per night. If you are not embarrassed by walking, then you can find a room for a lower price, but a little further from the historic center.
Tasty food
Riga has many excellent, both expensive and, which is especially nice, budget restaurants with a variety of national dishes and cuisine of other countries rethought in its own way. We advise you to pay attention to potato pancakes, which are served almost everywhere and are worth special attention, since they are excellently made in any restaurant. Most often they are served with sour cream or lightly salted salmon, and are also served with lettuce with lemon dressing, sea buckthorn and pomegranate seeds.
Among the places to visit, we can mention the famous Le Dome (Miesnieku, 4), a fish restaurant that reinterprets traditional Latvian dishes in a new way. In 2010, according to a poll by The Baltic Times readers, it was recognized as the best fish restaurant in the Baltic countries. We highly recommend trying their signature rye-bread layered dessert Le Dome with cheese cream and strawberry sauce. Just for the sake of it, it is worth coming to Riga.
Beautiful sea
It is, of course, not located in the capital of Latvia itself, but very close - 15-20 minutes by car to Jurmala, and you are on the shore of the Gulf of Riga. If you go out of season, you will be able to enjoy secluded walks along the edge of the cold, shallow, but mesmerizingly beautiful sea, which stretches for many kilometers along the forest. It is especially romantic in Jurmala in winter, when the sand on the beach is covered with snow, and large modern cottages and small Soviet summer cottages with finely glazed terraces are empty and resemble the scenery for some good movie.
Local fashion
Yes, Riga is a great place for shopping. In addition to all the traditional mass-market and luxury brands, there you can find a dozen interesting distinctive Latvian designers. Most of the things are quite affordable and pretty in design. By the way, Riga even has its own fashion week, RigFashion Week, which you can also visit if you wish. It's not difficult to get to the shows, and a lot of impressions will be provided: freaks in strangely combined clothes, local celebrities, long-legged models and a sea of champagne - everything is like everyone else's, only very homely.
The 22nd season of Riga Fashion Week has ended
The 22nd season of RigFashion Week took place from 17 to 21 March in the capital of Latvia.
Calm atmosphere
Riga is perhaps one of the most boring cities in Europe. Here no one is in a hurry, does not worry and, it seems, does not even know what stress is. You will walk around the small historical center in a couple of hours: the sights will not have time to tire, but you will be able to imbue with the spirit of the city and its architecture.
The most pleasant moment will come when small streets, myriad parks and smiling people will set in a new way, and you will forget that you were once worried about traffic jams, exchange rates and difficulties at work. Riga is a great place to come to your senses, stop and think about what is impossible to think about in the crowd of always rushing aggressive people.
Text: Ekaterina Eremeeva