The capital of Latvia, Riga offers travellers many insights into Eastern Europe architecture and culture. Fashion is also high on the list in Latvia with many fascinating and modern boutiques and fanciful restaurants springing up around this intriguing city. Decide what hotel you would like with HotelTravel.com as a base for enjoying this country’s culture.
HotelTravel.com architectural buffs are sure to be fascinated by the stunning examples of Art Nouveau architecture that is prominently displayed throughout Riga. Situated along the Baltic Sea coast, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is becoming a top tourist destination. Riga has an impressive number of hotels and restaurants on offer as well as a thriving theatre scene and a vibrant nightlife. Shopping enthusiast can visit the Domina Shopping Centre, the largest shopping centre in the Baltic States.
Arguably the most interesting Baltic capital, Riga has emerged from a turbulent modern history with much of its medieval heritage intact. Today the Latvian capital is home to a UNESCO-protected Old Town featuring outstanding churches while its proximity to the Baltic coast makes it a great beach getaway in the warmer months.
Riga is known for its vast swathes of parkland to the east of the city, which deserves a day of exploration for its well-kept 19th-century gardens. In the city, however, Forest Park is a favourite among picnickers and architecture lovers alike for its grassy patches and pre-war elite abodes respectively. For the active, Riga is just a short hop from the Baltic coast, where diving, swimming and sunbathing can be pursued in the warmer months.
Architecture makes up some of Riga’s best sights, with Art Nouveau, Soviet era and medieval constructions around every corner. The best districts to witness the city’s well-preserved heritage buildings are the Old Town and the Art Nouveau district, the latter featuring hundreds of examples. For something different, visit the opera or the Riga Motor Museum, the largest museum of its kind in the Baltic states.
Riga International Airport, 13 kilometres from the city centre, provides the main access point for visitors. Receiving flights from Dublin, Prague, Helsinki, Warsaw, Munich and London, among other European and limited Middle Eastern cities, the three-terminal airport also receives low-cost flights with easyJet and Ryanair.
Banks: 10.00 to 18.00, Mondays to Thursday
Post Offices: 08.00 to 19.00, Monday to Friday; 08.00 to 16.00, Saturday
Government Offices: 08.30 to 17.30, Mondays to Friday
Business Centres: 08.30 to 17.30, Mondays to Friday
Shops: 090 to 180, Mondays to Saturday
Very central and lovely rooms. Don't get the hotel to book you a taxi to airport without agreeing a price before you leave! We were ripped off!! Taxi driver rather than hotel probably. Everything else...
