Riga is the capital of Latvia and a city full of suprises.
She lies on the shore of Daugava River and as an Unesco World Heritage Site , she always "wears her best" while welcoming loads of tourists.
The House of Blackheads,The Three Brothers,The Cathedral, Monument of Freedom, Riga's Castle, the Swedish Gate and the Powder Tower, Jurmala open-air museum, St.Peter's church with the 360o view are only some of the sights that a traveller should visit while in Riga.
What gives Riga a special character is the Art Nouveau style on the buildings, so Art Nouveau disctrict is a place you should visit , located almost 15 minutes walking north from the center, in Albert street.
In Alberta iela (in Latvian) you will have the chance to see the most typical examples of Art Nouveau architecture of the buildings. Do not forget to bring a camera with you, these buildings will draw visitors eye like a magnet, compelling the gaze. After all, is Art..
Many coffee shops and great restaurants are located in this area, so have a cup of coffee and a snack before returning to the historic center.
Tip: walk the Strelnieku iela in direction to the river and you will find Kronvalda Park.The best way for your way back is through that park. You will even see some statues , a small river, a playground , in general a very well maintained park, the best place, to my opinion, to take a breath after a long walk in a summer day.
Another thing that gives a special character to Riga is the many parks located.. simply everywhere in the city! Beautiful areas with small rivers passing through with various fountains here and there,seem like an oasis right in the city center. I was impressed of how neat everything was, how clean and trimmed were being kept. Here you can see a lot of visitors as well as Latvians taking a break , having their lunch or just reading a book. A wonderful place for sure!
The next thing that , in my opinion, gives Riga a special flavor is food!! Believe me Latvians know how to eat well! There are many very good restaurants in the city , some with traditional cuisine , others with modern one but if I'd have to suggest one and only restaurant that would be LIDO!!
First of all the concept is amazing, chain of restaurants in various spots within the city,serving an epic selection of local and european dishes for main courses, some cooked in their own traditional way. Salads, deserts, drinks and many others in a self-service style while the prices are good and the quality is the best. Keep in mind that it can be crowded sometimes , especially around noon. As a result you can not sit there for ever since there are plenty of other people waiting in the queue to find a table.
Hint: Parunasim kaffee'teeka is a hidden jem, a coffee shop that you must visit. The atmosphere is relaxed and tranquil and you can order from a great selection of hand-made pastries, along with some great coffee, tea, beer, wine and yes...an amazing hot chocolate.
I trully enjoyed the small-hidden- yard ,so beautifully decorated! Loved it!!
Riga was a big suprise for me , and even though I had already done my homework about where to go and what to see in this city , the rule of travelling is that you never stop discovering hidden gems in every place you visit.
With it's many squares and parks, museums and all the historic buildings in the center, the exceptional National Library of Latvia on the west side of Daugava River, all the cosy cafes and open air spaces, Riga offers more than one could expect.
This city will pleasantly suprise you..
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