Latvia > Vidzeme > Riga
Riga
N 56°56.83', E 24°6.384'
2015-07-04
http://www.liveriga.com/ru/
Our rating: 7.80
Overall rating: - Rate this place - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Riga is a nice destination for a weekend trip. The city can be visited in one day and on the second day you can go to Sigulda or Jurmala. Almost the entire population is fluent in Russian. Latvians use Russian language even in everyday life, at least in Riga. For us, it was a little bit surprising. Cheap and delicious food in Riga is available at Lido restaurants, there are several of them in the city (some addresses Tirgoņu iela 6, Elizabetes iela 65, Dzirnavu iela 74/76). 7-10 euro for a dinner per person. The kitchen is traditional, Latvian. We did not use a guide and just walked around the city. All the information can be found on the internet as almost the whole city is covered with free WiFi. We spent the night at the Radisson (booking.com ), the highest hotel, which offers the best view of the old town. Skyline bar is opened from 15:00 on the 26th floor, though everyone can use the panoramic lift to 26th floor (even if you do not go to the bar).
Radisson Hotel in Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga in the morning
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga in the evening
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Gallery Riga, with a roof terrace.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Fire Escape ladder in the Hotel
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
In the old city we walked in the morning, when the streets are completely empty.
Square in front of the Riga Castle ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Yakovlev barracks ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Three Wall Street Yard ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Powder Tower (XIII century) ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Well House in Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Latvian National Opera ©Yuriy Buriak
Freedom Monument in Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Around this monument, there is a park Bastion Hill as well as few others.
Bastion Hill Park ©Yuriy Buriak
Bastion Hill Park ©Yuriy Buriak
This crow does not afraid of people at all.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
There is almost no good graffiti in Riga. This one not bad.
Graffiti in Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Graffiti in Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
On the other bank of the river Daugava there not many buildings, although they are high.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
The new library building has a viewpoint on the upper floors.
New Library ©Yuriy Buriak
Livu square is the most beautiful in the city.
Livu Square in the Old Town ©Yuriy Buriak
Livu Square in the Old Town ©Yuriy Buriak
The house with the cat is well-known among tourists.
The house with the cat ©Yuriy Buriak
But the house with the dog we found by accident.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Funny installations.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
These figures made of granite can be bought, although the prices are extremely high.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Jauniela Street is known by the Soviet films about Sherlock Holmes . For the people from the former USSR this movie is legendary. And Jauniela Street played the role of Baker street.
Jauniela Street ©Yuriy Buriak
We are watching the first series of the movie.
Jauniela Street ©Yuriy Buriak
And here is the home of Sherlock, "Baker Street 221B" (Jauniela 22)
Jauniela Street, 22 ©Yuriy Buriak
The main dominant of the city is the St Peter's Church which is visible from everywhere.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Funny columns.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
In the background is one of the main attractions of the city - the House of Blackheads.
Town Hall Square ©Yuriy Buriak
There is an observation deck on the bell tower of the church of St. Peter, but we did not visit it and went to the observation deck on the building of the Academy of Sciences (Akademijas laukums, 1).
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Interesting buildings to the right are the former hangars for dirigibles and now it is Riga Central Market.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga TV tower also has an observation deck, but it's not very good, according to reviews.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
From the top is visible "Spikeri" Quarter, the area of the former ghetto.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
On the Turgenev street we found a few wooden houses.
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
"Spikeri" Quarter is now a museum and an art space.
Art Quarter "Spīķeri" and promenade ©Yuriy Buriak
Art Quarter "Spīķeri" and promenade ©Yuriy Buriak
Art Quarter "Spīķeri" and promenade ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
In the evening, at sunset, take a walk along the AB dam which offers a nice view of the old town.
View of Riga from the AB Jetty ©Yuriy Buriak
Riga ©Yuriy Buriak
Do not miss: - Riga Castle - Latvian Ethnographic Museum - Kalnciema Quarter - Albert Street, with Art Nouveau houses - Free tour at 12:00 from the Church of St. Peter (link ) Maps and brochures of Riga can be downloaded here . Getting there: There is a large airport in Riga. Taxi to the center costs 12 euro. Bus 22 goes to the old town (40 minutes), buy tickets in the machine. Or take minibus 222, buy tickets from the driver (2 euros). Airbaltic Airport Express is the fastest option, 20 minutes, 5 euros.
Tags, Latvia: city , observation deck Tags, all countries: city , observation deck
- Rate this place -
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Our rating - 7.80
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help
Visitor's rating - 0.00
Location : ------------ 1 - Far beyond the settlements, you must spend minimum a day 2 - Near the small town, you need to walk long distance 3 - Can be reached only by car 4 - A small town with a poor public transport 5 - Outside the settlements, but with excellent transport links 6 - A small town with excellent transport links 7 - Medium-size city 8 - Suburb of the capital or major city, the ability to reach by public transport 9 - Big city 10 - Capital
Impressions : ------------ 1 - No point in visiting 2 - Boring, wasted time 3 - You can visit, if you have a lot of free time and nothing better to do 4 - A lot of things, but not so interesting 5 - It seems to be interesting, but hard way to spoil the impression 6 - There is something interesting, but the rest is not worth the attention 7 - Probably interesting, but for everybody 8 - Very cool, but difficult to see everything and long-distance trails 9 - Very cool, but there are similar facilities in other locations 10 - Very cool, this is not anywhere else
Number of tourists (weekend afternoon) : ------------ 1 - Crowds, impossible to see everything normally 2 - A lot of tourists, a long wait 3 - A lot of tourists, the organization is lame 4 - A lot of tourists, but good organization 5 - There are many tourists, but they are concentrated in one place and you can walk freely 6 - Many tourists everywhere, but the large space is compensated 7 - The average number of tourists. To photograph, you must wait 8 - Tourists are, but they do not interfere 9 - There are few tourists 10 - You are alone
State : ------------ 1 - Only title left 2 - Dull ruins 3 - On restoration 4 - The picturesque ruins 5 - Have not been restored, the state is poor 6 - Partially destroyed, but the rest of the normal state 7 - Have not been restored, good condition 8 - OK, but it is possible to make better 9 - Looks good from the outside, partial repair inside or without repair 10 - In excellent condition, well-groomed area
Picturesque (for the photographer) : ------------ 1 - - 2 - - 3 - Horrible background, normal pictures only from the top 4 - wires and cars do not allow make normal photo 5 - Interfere with foreign objects 6 - In the city, but more or less normal photo can be made 7 - Beautiful, but you can take pictures with just one point 8 - Very nice, but you can only shoot at a certain time 9 - Very nice, but hard to get to the good weather or permanently interfere with tourists 10 - Very nice, but occasionally interferes with the weather or tourists
* - Note: Description of the evaluation is not always appropriate for a particular object, it's just a little help