Riga, Latvia cruises
Your guide to Riga.
Formerly a member of the Swedish and Russian empires, Riga’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, dense with beautiful examples of Medieval and Art Nouveau buildings. Consequently, Riga’s cobbled streets evoke a feeling of stepping back in time, and just exploring the architecture is a joyous way to pass time in the city. Further afield, you’ll find the sandy beaches of Jurmala, the magnificent Rundāle Palace and the sobering Salaspils.
Exploring.
The White House, otherwise known as the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, is one of Riga’s major landmarks, worth seeking out for the building’s grand façade alone. Riga Castle and the Dome Cathedral are both symbols of the city; the latter’s organ featuring over 6,800 pipes. The House of the Blackheads is probably Riga’s most emblematic landmark with interiors that are unforgettably opulent. The tiered tower of St Peter's Church is an iconic feature of the Riga cityscape. The 400-foot structure features a viewing platform, around two-thirds of the way up, offering excellent views over Riga’s orange rooftops.
Eating and drinking.
Old Riga boasts several of the region's best restaurants, together with good casual dining options (including a choice of pizzerias) and plenty of cafes. The city also offers cuisines from Eastern Europe including Georgian, Ukrainian and Armenian, while lovers of French, Greek, Vietnamese and Latvian food won’t be disappointed. Potatoes are a common accompaniment to a variety of Latvian dishes and typical native meals include cabbage soup, grilled pork ribs, grey peas with fried meat and smoked fish (including salmon, sprats and trout). Latvian beers are known for their quality and Aldaris, which is brewed in Riga, is understandably popular.
Shopping.
The main shopping areas in Riga are along Brivibas iela, K. Barona iela and Marijas iela while Centrs, on Audeju iela, is the main department store. Also worth a visit is the central market on the outskirts of the old town by the banks of the River Daugava. Housed in five WWI Zeppelin hangers, Central Market is one of Riga’s great browsing spots and Eastern Europe’s largest market. It’s a cavernous place where tens of thousands of visitors shop for smoked fish, meats, exotic spices, and colourful fruit. Like Old Riga, Central Market is another of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Beyond Riga.
The spa town of Jurmala lies between the River Lielupe and the sea and features an 18-mile sand beach along with a choice of restaurants, galleries, museums and attractive wooden houses. Salaspils, a former concentration camp southeast of Riga, stands as a grim reminder of the atrocities committed during World War II. The site features moving memorials and a visit here is a truly sobering experience. Further south still you’ll find Rundāle Palace, one of two Baroque Palaces built for the Dukes of Courland. Now a museum, visitors can explore the Palace’s grounds and interiors, including the State Rooms and family vault.