Riga Old Town Hostel is one of the best hostels in Riga. This is opinion of many travelers visiting Riga and known to me. For a long time Riga Couchsurfing base point was in Backpackers Pub, which is located inside of Old Town Hostel.
Writing Trolejbuss behind the glass was placed in order to avoid confusion. It is very useful because when Hybrid Trolleybus is without trolley poles, it looks exactly like a bus. The route of Trolelybus 8 was recently extended and now it crosses with the route of Bus 8. I can only imagine how many people took the wrong bus :) Check also interesting photo of Trolleybus depo. Picture was taken at recently renovated Grecinieku stop.
Another very useful fact to know about Riga is that almost all shops have full working day even on Sundays. Shopping in Riga couldn't be compared to Milan or New York, but some of the popular brands like Giorgio Armani have their representative stores in Riga as well. This Emporio Armani shop is located on the cross of Elizabetes and Baznicas streets.
Studio 69 is not only a night club, but a whole entertainment complex, which includes, different bars, restaurants, casino, hotel. And on top of that Studio is connected to Rai with its 3 dance floors and hundreds of regular visitors. Studio 69 has reputation of relatively expensive place for middle and upper-income workers. In fact here are a lot of people just pretending to be rich and the atmosphere of the club is very simulated. Pros:
Good music
A lot of nice looking girls
Sushi Bar
Shisha Bar (aka Hookah or water-pipe)
Cons:
A lot of rich people poor in spirit
Cheap young girls looking for a sponsor (for somebody it could be more pro rather than con :))
Enigma is one more blacklisted club in Riga. This place change name so often, that you can't track all of them. The most recent former names of this place were Puzzle and Pink Panther.
Do you remember photo of Mobile Aerodium facility next to Olympia? This is another one. Fixed Aerodium in Sigulda. Finally I have tried Aerodium aka Wind tunnel myself. That was not that easy as I supposed to. Now I understood that Aerodium is real sport and a lot of things depends on your skill only. If you don't know what Aerodium is, check this video from Winter Olympic Games.
13 krēsli (13 chairs) is brasserie in Old town on Dom Square. The Hanseatic buildings around make 13 chairs a lovely and favourite place for many locals and foreigners. The terrace is busy all summer season, but now they are going to close it down for cold winter season.
在ラトビア大使館 aka Embassy of Japan in Riga resides in the same building with the world-famous companies. Modern Business Center Valdemar sits on the intersection of Valdemara Street and Elizabetes.
Mercedes-Benz is one of the best car brands in the world. In my humble opinion of course. The irony of it is that Riga Mercedes center is located in one of the city poorest areas - Maskachka. Some of Mercedeses, which have already appeared in this blog before:
Flat surface is one of Riga's hidden features. Riga is flat as a pancake and it is extremely useful for bicyclists. This hill on Lāčplēša iela is the highest natural point in Riga center, but it is only 8 meters above sea level. See also Riga highest natural point (24m) and absolute highest point (370m).
Today is the 60th birthday of Zebra Crossing. Can you imagine? :) Not many Rigans knows that zebra on Aspazijas blvd between Kalku and Brivibas is unique because of its width. On the photos is depicted a kind of flash mob. People gathered next to our famous zebra to chalk some greeting writings.
La Belle Epoque (more famous as French Bar) is the friendliest and the cheapest place in Riga, which is overcrowded every day except Sunday. Why? Just because it is closed on Sundays! 99% of visitors are foreigners, students and foreign students. French Bar is the best place to practice any language. Multi-cultural, free and easy atmosphere makes this place really unique for Riga. French Bar is located on Maza Monetu iela in Old town.
A great photograph exhibition is being held now in Rigas Makslas Telpa (Riga Art Space) The exposition is related to criticism of Soviet architecture. Lots of interesting materials, photos and quotes in one place. I couldn't imagine that more than 2/3 of Riga population are living in standardized apartment buildings, which are almost the same. And only 3,6% of Rigans are living in center. I highly recommend this art exhibition to all native people to visit it. The entry fee is 1-3 EUR only.
This architecture master piece is located on Bruninieku street in Lower Center. Sharp roof angle could be very useful during winter. Heavy snow doesn't break the roof because it is just slip down.
Kalpaka bulvāris during shiny summer day. Boulevard is named after Oskars Kalpaks, the first commander of Latvian army. Previous names of this boulevard between Brivibas and Elizabetes were: During soviet times it was Komunāru bulvāris (Boulevard of Commune members) During interwar period the street name was the same as now - Kalpaka bulvāris. The earliest name known to me was Totlēbena bulvāris, basically devoted to Eduard Totleben, another army general, but of Russian Empire.
Franču projekts in Latvian or французский проект in Russian (literally French Project in English) is a nickname for a couple of 18-floor buildings, which were built in the middle of 1980s in Purvciems area on Madonas street. Basically there is nothing French except formwork, which was ordered in France. Relatively new construction method of making monolith structure by pouring concrete into moulds gave such name to these apartment buildings.
Baltā nakts (White night) is an annual city-wide culture event, which involves more than 150 artists showing their work during on the night of 13 September. Most of these works are related to paintings, colors, lights, music and video performance and even to Religious topics. This picture of dancing fountain has been taken in Kronvalda Parks.
Radio Bars (Radiobar) is another Riga place of good reputation. Radio Bar is located on Zirgu iela in Old Town. Smoking kills and it is forbidden almost everywhere in Riga, including night clubs. Such law makes people gather next to doors of any club. The best thing about this club is chic and sexy bartender girls. And the worst thing is that they never respond :)
Kaļķu Vārti (Kalku's Gate) is cafe and restaurant at day time and nightclub at night. It is located next to another good place Mad House. Kaļķu Vārti is one of my favorite places in Riga, nice service, considered design and a lot of fun guaranteed :) The best time to visit Kalku varti is during the summer season, because of lovely open terrace. When you get bored of dance music in underground, you can always go upstairs, plop down on a couch, listen soft chill-out music and have a good cocktail. see also photo of bar of Kalku Varti :)
A young couple kiss in the Riga central park. So romantic, huh :) BTW, today is 9.9.9 day, which was noted because of many weddings, the same phenomenon as the last year 8.8.8. day.
Убежище (shelter) built in Dünamünde fortress. The shelter was designed to protect military personnel against enemy attacks from the air. In fact it is almost invisible from the areal view.
I didn't know before that Riga Pine is famous even outside of Europe. I knew that Latvian Pine tree was always exported for ship masts, but couldn't imagine that to Latin America too. Thanks to Antonio from Brazil, who commented my blog and exposured me this fact.
13. Janvāra iela (13th January street) is not named because of Riga riots, that happened in 2009, 13th of January. It is named because of riots that happened in year 1905, basically it was the beginning of Russian Revolution in Latvia.
Audēju iela 14 is address of the modern building inside of old town. It is nice when the modern architecture is interweaving with old medieval buildings.
Mad House is relatively new place in Old Town. It was opened about 1-2 years ago just opposite Babylon club. Despite entrance fee is free, Mad House is a little bit more expensive than regular place in Riga. It is located in the most touristic area on Kalku street. A lot of foreigners, glamour girls and nice people can be met here. Unlike most of the Riga clubs, Mad House is open every night and has blameless reputation.
Österreichische Botschaft (Austrian Embassy) is located in the area of the most beautiful architecture in Riga. Sind österreichische Volk unter meinem Lesern? :) See also of German Embassy, which building is not less beautiful.
1st September is the symbol of the beginning of the student life. Another popular symbol of student life is kojas (dorms) Each window of this Soviet built building belongs to separate room, which fits four students. Dormitory of RTU is located on Kipsala island.
August has passed and, again, it's time for the city monthly theme! September's topic is Big. What does Riga have really big? The Big Christmas Tree, of course. Also Bigbank. Anything else? A Big problem! Big Game is casino network with fruit machines. My attitude to Riga casino is the same as Riga Mayor's one - All gambling places should be removed from Riga or concentrated in one area. Especially small ones, made at the corner like Zilais Dimants on Ernesta Birznieka-Upisa iela. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants
Riga Photos, Top Stories, Wonderful Sights, Remarkable Places, Typical & Famous People, Travel Guides & Official Information, Shopping, Party & Nightlife, Glamour & Fashion Clubs, Sport & Crowdy Bars, Alternative & Underground Pubs, Luxurious & Cheap Hotels, Live Webcams, News, Vague Rumors & Wild Facts about the biggest City in Baltic States
