Great Shopping & Fine Food
If shopping is your sport, Riga will more than meet your expectations.
This capital of taste offers many boutiques, luxury shops and
specialist stores, often in pleasant low-traffic or pedestrianised
streets. Riga has established a reputation in the years as a fashion
centre and it has earned that reputation as one of the great adventurous
shopping highlights in Riga is Riga Central Market, located downtown
and centred on five enormous World War I era Zeppelin hangars.
This is the best place to go buy any souvenirs or specialties
of Riga. If you are in need of a break, enjoy the divine cuisine
of the many cafes and restaurants found in Old Riga and experience
a friendly relaxed atmosphere.
Ancient & Modern
Today Riga is a large European city and a political, economic
and cultural centre of the Baltic region. It is home to almost
one million people. There are countless opportunities to spend
a wonderful time in Riga, a truly historical and cultural treasure
whose old centre is a listed UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.
Riga has a unique and beautiful skyline that is sometimes reflected
in the river Daugava, but often hidden by the fog.
Riga celebrated its 800th birthday in 2001 and the Old Town is
the most ancient part of Riga, dating back to the 11th century
when log buildings were established and later destroyed by Germans
in the 13th century, in order to create the first stone buildings.
With modernisation the Old Town has become merged with the modern
city, while surviving landmark buildings recall the glories of
centuries past: the Dome Cathedral, St. Peter’s Church,
Three Brothers, House of Blackheads, the Swedish Gate, Mentzendorff’s
House, Riga Castle, the Great Guild and Small Guild buildings,
and other famous sights.
Art Nouveau was the dominant architectural style of Riga about
100 years ago, and no other European city has so many surviving
examples of 19th century Art Nouveau architecture. Whether you
are after medieval architecture and cobblestone streets or extravagant
Art Nouveau buildings and manicured 19th-century parks, Riga has
an abundance of visual delights for all tastes.
Top 10 attractions
Riga Top 10 – don’t miss
• Art Nouveau architecture area - Riga is famous for its
Art Nouveau architecture.
• Wooden architecture area
• Latvia National Opera - The celebrated national opera
of Latvia presents an impressive opera- and ballet repertoire.
• The Dome Cathedral - The largest church in the Baltic’s,
measuring 187 x 43 metres, with walls two metres thick.
• The view from the top of St. Peter’s Church - From
the observation platform built on the top of the tower, you can
enjoy a wonderful bird’s eye view of Riga.
• National song and dance festival
• Riga Central market
• Riga Zoo - The pride of this fine Zoo is their large herd
of kiangs, wild asses from Tibet.
• Open-air Museum - Watch craftsmen perform various tasks
or try some Latvian cuisine and drink in the old inn.
• Lido Recreation Centre - one of the biggest and most beautiful
log buildings in Europe. |
