Bachelor Party Capital of Europe - The Don'ts of Visiting Riga & Latvia

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Riga is a popular tourist destination in the Baltics with incredible night life, affordable fun, and incredible architecture. If you like Art Nouveau this is the city for you! These are the do's and don'ts of visiting Riga and Latvia in general.
Latvia travel advice
Filmed in Riga, Latvia
#Riga #Latvia #visitlatvia
Copyright Mark Wolters 2024

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[streips]

I'm a local, so I don't really need to watch your video, but for those coming for bachelor parties, please keep in mind that there are lots and lots and lots and lots of cameras all around Old Town and the surrounding neighborhood, so if you decide to be naughty by, for instance, deciding that it would be a good idea to pee on the Freedom Monument, you can be sure that your bachelor party will end much differently than you had expected.

[opalgriffin]

As a local - if you want to come in winter, do it for the Christmas markets, because they're great. Otherwise, come another time, because it will be either very gray and gloomy, or, if it's sunny in winter, then you bet it will be incredibly cold. :D

Another recommendation - don't stick to eating out just in the Old Town or city center around the parks. Since the inflation due to covid and the war in Ukraine, a lot of places have been hiking up their prices and slacking on the quality, so really look at recent reviews to figure out if the food is worth it, because of lot of places will serve very expensive (for local standards/salaries) and incredibly mediocre food.

[allanfoster]

I have Latvian friends who live in the countryside. It is like a fairyland, really beautiful.

[gurgicaanastasovska]

While in Latvia, you must try Karums, cottage cheese chocolate bar

[zakris]

I visited Riga in 2022 and absolutely fell in love with Riga, Latvia, the food, the history, the architecture and the people!

[runcisrenars]

Happy to see you in my hometown, Wolter! Quick tip - if the weather is good, renting out a bike is a good idea. Riga has a lot to see, and you can even cycle to Jūrmala (about 20km) and go back via train.

[JustinCase]

That museum in Latvia looks so fantastic. Great tip thank you so much!

[saffiralady]

The most respectful and factually correct review of Riga/Latvia I’ve ever heard from a foreigner. Thank you so much!

[ilmarsdzenisflorida]

So many compliments, latvians love to hear that. It's like music to our ears.
You didn't mention Kuldīga, it's also a great place in Latvia.

[kellyphx]

One or two-day side trips to both Tallinn and Vilnius are also great, but Riga is definitely my favorite. Love it.

[backins]

On the topic of joking about ussr: if you understant why it is not ok to joke about what a certain grman party did to the jewish people, - its the same here. The atrocities comited by the soviets are still alive in peoples memories (especialy in the older generations). And Do not call baltic (Estonia, Latvia Lithuania) people russians, you will come of as an absolute jack..ss. Cheers from Lithuania brothers.

[joehoe]

I've been to Riga 2 weeks ago... bit late this video, but we experienced a lot of the tips listed here. There are some few additions to make:
- Latvia has a dille obsession. You see it in all the Baltic states, but Latvia is the dille (a particular herb) king in putting it in food. It's just crazy, they put it in water, soup, fish dishes, you name it.
- For vegetarian people: be aware. There isn't that much choice if you don't eat meat. They even put it in the beetroot soup as well. You can safely choose fish, but if that's a problem too, there isn't that much to choose.
- Don't think the building with the black heads is original. It's a reconstruction. Although Riga was spared most troubles in WWII in bombardment of the city (just 3% of the buildings was destroyed back then, a very low percentage), the St. Maurice guild is a rebuild from 1999. The local tour guide we had (Kaspars, you're a top guy!) was very annoyed that this building is THE poster building for Riga. As he said: "Rīga has so many buildings remaining in original state and they chose one that is not in original state. Even I am older than this building."
- Check the quarters with the food market. Go to see that part of the city as soon as possible. It's a nice part now that is going to be gentrified very soon. Now it's still original and of the people. In 10 to 15 years it's one big tourist trap. Now you can go to Christ Church there and actually see 9 different building styles on just 1 square! That's quite rare in world cities.
- Don't miss out the Science Tower. It's a tower commissioned by Stalin in the early 50s, but the Rigans have designed and built it themselves (with a fiat from Stalin of course... or else...). It's one of 6 towers as a gift from the Soviet Union that were built. The one in Warsaw is the most famous, in Kiev there is one, but this is the smallest of the 6 and best integrated in the neighbourhood. It's one of the last buildings with commie symbols on it in the whole country.
- Don't anger the beavers! There are beavers in the park you saw in Mike's video. Sometimes drunk tourists try to make a picture of them with them, and that can be... messy if you do so.
- Don't forget to clothe yourselves properly if visiting a Church for checking them out. Some churches still don't accept visible knees, shoulders, etc. They can deny access or kick you out. That would be a shame.

[McClavo]

Rick Steve's videos used to be my "go to" videos to explore Europe but I now enjoy my lunch watching your videos as the content is much newer and you come across as more of a common traveler. Nothing against Rick but obviously his videos are "made for television" with high production costs while yours are made with a phone in your hand. Keep the vids informative and enjoyable to watch.

[rupuchnieks]

As a latvian I am not sure if a title of bachelor party capital is suitable, but otherwise I approve this video :)

[derronstravels]

Yes, Riga is cold and dark in the winter, but the Christmas market is amazing. Also, I 100% agree that the Occupation Museum in Riga is one of the best in the world.

[egilssiermaize]

Dont pee on our monuments and you will be fine! Also youre right about the market it is fun to go there with friends even as a local.

[jeeeyjey]

1:10 I have to correct you on this - yes, its cold. but thats what makes it one of the most perfect christmas destinations in europe! The christmas market is really charming, has a great vibe and the snowy landscape is really awesome - considering that nowadays you rarely get a lot of snow in western europe, its actually a nice thing to do to witness "proper winter" and wander around the markets and old town among the snow

also, places like Jurmala or nature reserves are some of the most beauftiful winter landscapes I've ever witnessed - its something different, but definetly worth it!

Same applies for Estonia by the way

[Gerp]

Fun fact the garlic bread is that color because it's made from rye bread(they go good with garlic sour cream sauce btw).

[brucelee]

Mmmm....pelmini.Takes me back to my school days - friend's parents were Latvians by birth - his dad was conscripted into the Russian Army and his mom ended up as a hospital nurse in the Luftwaffe. They met in a 'displaced persons' camp after the war. Their dog's bowl was a Luftwaffe hospital issue bowl. And when we met up at his home on the weekends his mom cooked us traditional food. And I learnt how to curse bad drivers in Latvian too.

[DarkSailor]

Thank you for making amazing video :)
Additionally, as a Eastern local, here are some additional things to do, which I usually dont see being mentioned in other travel videos:
*Basilica of Aglona (Aglona is home not only to one of most important churches in the country but also to some museums and "devilish" sites, like Devils lake (Velnezers) or Island of Sacrifices (Upursala))
*Palace of Rundale (approx. 30 min to 1h drive from Riga)
*Araišu Ezerpils (Araishu Lake-castle, if you are interested to see how tribal Latgalians lived before Christiany)
*city of Cēsis (whole city is historic sight itself)
*city of Kuldīga
*fortress of Dinaburg (Daugavpils)
*...