Riga Travel Forum

Hi,there. We are going there this May for about a week for the first time. My hobby is baking rye bread and classical music. Could anyone tell us info about them. I would like to bake Latvia bread by myself there. At least visiting some bakeries is quite enough. We don't mind staying in the center of the town or not.Thanks.

See my answer in your previous posting.

Anita

Dear Anita,
thanks for your reply, but I can't find it out. Could you write me down again.

Here is the copy of my answer. Please let me know if you are looking for cheaper accomodation in Riga:

My first answer is about getting from the airport and choosing hotel.

Many plains arrive in Riga airport around midnight. There are taxis always available and the price to the city centre must be less than 10 Lats (about the same as 10 British pounds).

About hotels my first choice would be Reval hotel Ridzene (5 stars). The early bird rate for standard double/single room is now 116 euros per night.
http://www.revalhotels.com/en/Hotels/Latvia-Riga/Reval-Hotel-Ridzene

My second choice would be Albert hotel 3 stars.
The have double/single room for 92 euros for May.
http://www.alberthotel.lv/

I will collect the information about bakeries and will post the resaults early next week.

Best wishes from Riga,

Anita

Thanks Anita,
Your recomended hotels are pretty expensive for me. I don't care to stay at B&B,not so far away from the center.Probably I'm arriving midnight.

Garden Palace Hotel near Old town ca. 50EUR
Monika Hotel very close to the center ca. 50 EUR
See these and other similar option www.laterooms.com www.booking.com or www.hrs.de . If these options for some reason are not OK, then please infrom and please confirm more specifically your requests.

Thanks, Sergeyu,
I'm choosing which one to stay. Any place to bake?

Re: Places to bake

1) either in countryside- that what Anita suggested, but because of teh distance 150km from the capital and transport schedule, this means day trip option not possible, you will have to stay there overnight. If you chose this option, then you should ask Anita about details

2) try to establsih contact with big bakeries in Riga. If you're interested , I can find out from the directory the contact detaisl of few of tehm , and then you can approach them with inquiry of visit and baking course. I think at least few of them should agree to that, but you will need cleraly explain what you would like to do with them.

Hi,Sergeyu,
Many thanks for your info. #1 seems to me interesting,but it is also difficult to try that. Then #2 you showed is quite possible for me. I'm now deciding which flight to take and how long to stay there and where to do.
About accomodation, I have stayed a private house in chez with reasonable price.
any ideas?

Hello there,

I have been quite busy lately and just now I read how far you are with your planning.

One more option you may consider is to visit most popular rye bread bakery in Latvia named "Laci". It is not so far away from Riga and with appointment they would allow to see how they are making bread. I am not so sure that they would allow you to bake by yourself. They have a website in English with downloadable presentation of rye bread baking process. http://www.laci.lv/about.html?l=3

If you would still be interested to bake yourself I can contact those two farm bakeries I mentioned in my earlier postings and ask about aarangements. It would be nice to know at least approximate dates of your visit then.

Talking about accomodation you should name the price you are looking for then the suggestions may be more on the point.

Best wishes from Riga,

Anita

Hi, Anita,
I've just heard of Bread Museum in Latgali. As for farm bakeries you mentioned,
are they far from Riga or Latgali? Could you tell me where they are?
I'm going to visit the bakery site you showed from now on.
Many many thanks.
Tsutom

Yes, you are right about bread museum. I just did not find the information that they offer bread baking experience. I understand they just show different exibits.

Farm bakery Jaunkaleji is in the direction of Latgale, but still in Vidzeme, Kalna Pakalniesi is in Vidzeme region of Latvia.

Best wishes,

Anita

P.S. Both farm bakeries are situated about 150 kilometres from Riga.

Hi! The bread museum is in Aglona. This is a small town in the eastern part of Latvia - Latgale region. By the way very beautiful place. Here you will find contacts and pictures about the museum: http://www.viss.lv/?p=91741&l=eng

Hi, Anita,
These two farm bakeries are also interesting to me. They are on the way to Latgale, bread museum, aren't they? Is it possible to stay there? If so, I'd rather spend time in the country side than in the Riga, except the bakery factory. I need more info of them.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Tsutom

Hi, Lana,
the site you showed seems to me that I could stay at some B&B near the museum, and participate baking, right? But I'm not sure how to contact them.
I would leave Riga for Latgale by bus. Is there any other way to get there?
I'm exciting to be there soon.
Thanks.
Tsutom

Hi! The best transoprtation to Latgale is a car. You can rent a car in Riga.

Hi pal,

Yes,I think so, but I'm afraid to drive in foreign country. The other way left is the bus, isn't it? Would you please give me bus info to Latgale?

Here is the timetable of busses: http://www.1188.lv/satiksme/. The direction from Riga to Aglona. Not very often, just 1 time in a daynight. Probably you should search busses for direction Riga - Preili.
Good luck!

Hello,

what I found out about Jankaleji bakery is the following: They are located about 37 kilometres from Madona town. You can reach Madona by public transport from Riga and then take a taxi from there. They offer opportunity to bake a bread yourself. They also offer lodging in their farm and preparing meals for additional fee. They speak English. They have no e-mail or website. You can see something about them here: http://www.madona.lv/eng/business/food_industry/?doc=1457

This map of Latvia also maybe helpful for you even Jaunkaleji is not on that. You can look for Madona and Lubana. The place is somewhere between those two: http://www.viss.lv/latvija.php?ek=1&lang=lat

The price for the bread baking process is 12 Latvian lats and for lodging 25 lats per night. One Latvian lat approximately equals one British pound.

You have to arrenge the date of your visit in advance because the owner of the bakery is often traveling around and he must be at home to make it possible.

Best wishes,

Anita

Hi, Anita,
Thank you for your info. Yes, I'd like to visit them. I'm going to write a letter to them as they don't have e-mail.
As for transportation, is it easy to get there by train or bus? You say that I could go to Madona by public, and from there by taxi. I'd better rent a car, after a long time when I did in Portugal.
Tsutom