Our route
Riga - bus to the Estonian border
Transportation
- Ryanair flight from Warsaw to Riga
- Flixbus ride from Riga to Tallinn (Estonia) - 4hrs
- In Riga we use Bold App
Travel tips
βοΈ ARRIVAL
- Ryanair Warszawa Modlin ticket to Riga - PLN 39 per person
- from Riga we continue to Tallinn - FlixBus - PLN 69.99 per person
π TRANSPORTATION
- efficient access from the airport to the old town - Bus No. 22 - ticket in the machine 1.5 euro, or directly from the driver 2 euro (card only)
- you can walk everywhere in the city
- the vicinity of the station and the market are heavily dug up because they are building a new Baltic railway connection - it will be beautiful!
- unfortunately it was raining quite hard - Uber doesn't work, but we used Bolt as needed π
π ATTRACTIONS
- Free Walking Tour - 2-hour guided tour (in English) - great introduction to the history and the whole city - free, so we pay at the end with a tip - it's worth it!
- churches - St. Peter's, Cathedral - admission 5-7 euros, towers 9 euros
- Art Nouveau Museum (9 euros) and around ul. Alberta - beautiful Art Nouveau tenement houses!
- interesting architecture scattered around the old town - Cat House, Blackhead house, Three Brothers House
- Canal cruise (β¬15 - β¬12 when booked through the river cruises website - a super fun one hour cruise, first on the river, then on the canal
- Church of the Nativity - an impressive building and beautiful decorations, you can enter for free
- Central Market in the hangars where zeppelins used to be kept - soap and jam, fruit, vegetables and lots of woolen socks π
- there is a smaller Palace of Culture and Science next to the market (seriously, it looks the same) - it has a nice observation deck 6 euros
π₯π· FOOD
- the most popular Lido - a gastro bar with local food, a bit like a restaurant in Ikea π you take the trays and choose what you want - prices around 3-4 euros for a chop/schnitzel; you get extras for that
- Black Magic Bar - iconic place, looks like an old pharmacy, delicious desserts, you must try Black Balsam (4.5 euro shot) - taste ... specific π
- Black Balsam available in every store, the cheapest probably in the Rumi supermarket - 4 euros, and now a promotion of 7 euros for two 0.2l bottles
- Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs" (Folk club ALA cellar) - an insane restaurant in the basement - live music and local dances at 8:00 pm; great food, large portions and reasonable prices - you must try the local bread with garlic - a revelation with beer π
- Zviedru vΔrti - small family restaurant, good options for lunch
Travel essentials
- travel dates: 29 August - 1 Sept 2022
- accommodation: Hanza Hotel
- currency: euro (β¬)
TIPS:
- Old Town is easily accessible on foot
- River cruises are 20% off when booking on the website - Riga Canal Cruise
Our itinerary
Day 1 - 29.08.2022
- arrived at the airport at 18:00
- took bus to the Old Town
- checked in to the hotel
- walk around Old Town
Day 2 - 30.08.2022
- toured the Riga Central Market
- completed a Walking Tour of the Old Town
- enjoyed a traditional Latvian lunch at Lido
- tried Black Balsam at the world famous Black Magic Cafe
- shopped for local merchandise
- visited famous Three Brothers and Blackheads House
- explored the Old Townβs lesser know highlights
Day 3 - 31.08.2022
- toured The Riga Art Nouveau District with an amazing architecture
- visited the Art Nouveau Museum
- roamed the back streets of the Old Town
- enjoyed a River Cruise through the Cities internal canal
- attended a Latvian Folk Club for traditional food and dance
- tried traditional Latvian Garlic Rye Bread
Day 4 - 01.09.2022
- boarded a Flixbus to Tallinn at 9:50
What to do
- explore Riga Old Town (VecrΔ«ga)
- enjoy amazing Art Nouveau Architecture around Albert Street
- visit beautifulΒ Art Nouveau Museum
- visit the Town Hall Square
- visit House of the Blackheads
- find Three Brothers and theΒ Cat House
- visit Freedom Monument
- shop at Riga Central Market
- visit Riga Cathedral
- walk through Swedish Gate
- visit St Peter's Church
- visit beautiful Nativity of Christ Cathedral
- strock the heads of Town Musicians of Bremen
- have a shoot of Riga Black Balsam in famous Black Magic Bar
- enjoy traditional music and dance at Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs (Folk club ALA cellar)
- enjoy a cruise on the Riga canal
Still to do
- explote Riga Motor Museum
- visit Museum of the Occupation
- visit Latvian National Museum of Art
- visit Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation
- visit Ethnographic Open Air Museum
- enjoy JΕ«rmala beach
Favourites
- Free Walking Tour - Tours in Riga
- Riga Art Nouveau Museum - closed on Mondays
- Art Nouveau District
- Riga Science Academy - Viewing platform
- Riga Canal Cruise - 20% off when booking on the website
- Cathedral of the NativityΒ
Some prices
At the time of our travel:
1 euro (β¬) = 4,74 zΕ (PLN)
- Bus airport to old town - 2β¬
- Dinner for 2 with drinks - 31,50β¬
- Shoot od Black Balsam - 4,50β¬
- Chocolate cake - 4,60β¬
- Glass of wine - 4β¬
- Potato pancakes with sour cream - 6β¬
- Small beer - 3β¬
- Lunch with drinks for 2 - 28β¬
- Boat cruise on the canals - 12β¬
- lunch at Lido for 2 - 21,55β¬
- coffee and Black Balsam shoots for 2 - 13,60β¬
- coffee - 4,40β¬
- Art Nouveau Museum ticket - 9β¬
- Gin and tonic - 7β¬
- lunch for 2 with drinks - 28,80β¬
- Beer plate - snacks at ArtFolk Club - 7,5β¬
- Bottle of 0,2 ml Black Balsam - 5-7β¬
- Flixbus from Riga to Tallinn - 70 zΕ
Favourite places to eat
- Lido - chain cafeteria with local food, several locations
- Rooster Restaurant - for lunch and dinner
- Black Magic Bar - best place to try Black Balsam
-
Folkklubs ALA Pagrabs (Folk club ALA cellar) - great food and live music
-
Zviedru vΔrti - small, family restaurant great for lunch
Our favourite local food
Latvia, Riga - Black Balsam and chocolate
Latvia, Riga - Potato pancakes with sour cream
Latvia, Riga - Beer Madonas Alus
Latvia, Riga - Pork meatballs
Latvia, Riga - Latvian rye bread
Latvia, Riga - Beer Mezpils Alus
Latvia, Riga - Gin and tonic
Latvia, Riga - Black Magic Bar
Latvia, Riga - Beer snacks
Latvia, Riga - Pasta with vegetables
Latvia, Riga - Herrings
Latvia, Riga - Black Balsam
Latvia, Riga - Black Balsam
Latvia, Riga - Traditional salad
Latvia, Riga - Pork chop with cabbage
Latvia, Riga - Turkey with potatoes
Latvia, Riga - Beer Lacplesis
Latvia, Riga - Roast beef