Latvia Travel Forum

Where can you park tourist bus near to the historic centre of Riga?

tnx.

Labdien!

I recently discovered Riga's new tradition" where newlyweds clamp a padlock to a bridge and throw away the key in the river below. Are the padlocks removed after a while (for example, at the end of each year) or does the city leave them there?

I am asking because we will travelling to Riga for our 10-year anniversary this September and locking a padlock to a bridge seemed like an original way to mark the event.

Liels paldies!

Can anyone, especially a VT member in Riga!, help me please!!
Myself and 4 friends are flying into Riga on Monday 19th May and trying to get to Moscow for the Champions league final on Wed 21st. We have Russina Visa's but I am having no luck in getting any sort of assistance or help from latvian railways (www.ldz.lv) as their international ticket office doesnt have anyone who can speak english, though apparently they are unable to take bookings over the phone or take credit card details in any case.
Is there anyone who is prepared to help a fellow VT member by simply contacting ldz and asking whether there are still common seats available on the 004R (Yurmala) train departing Riga on 20/05/08 @ 18.10 and on the return journey the 003R from Moscow on 22/05/08 @ 21.02 (Their live interactive timetable suggests there are 67 places on the outward, and 80 on inward available. As we will be arriving in Riga @ approx 11.00 on 19/05/08, I'm hoping it will be just a case of getting the bus straight to the station(22 0r 22A) and buying tickets, but I'm desperate to know whether this is going to be possible or do I need to look for an alternative.
Thanks in anticipation!
Please email me direct any info - gimcrack1971@hotmail.com
Steve

I was planning a trip to Riga for August, but have been reading posts on some other boards and have been seeing a lot of warnings not to go to Riga. Most of them are discussing the rise in muggings and the rip off joints. Buying a drink in a bar and ending up with a large bill or broken arm if you refuse to pay.

Now I am a pretty big guy myself and have done a lot of travelling on my own, and nobody has ever bothered me. Its the fact that I don't really want to worry about it and have to be looking over my shoulder all the time. A vacation is supposed to be for relaxing and enjoying ones self, not having to worry about getting beaten up over an overpriced drink.

Granted most of these are coming from British Stag parties or tourists from the UK. Apparently there is no love loss between the Latvians and the Brits.

Just some basic questions:

How are Americans treated in Riga?
What are the places to avoid to stay out of these situations?
What are some good places to go? Nightlife, restaurants

Any advise offered would be greatly appreciated, as I am still planning to make the trip.

Hi! I am going to be in Liepaja for one night in July. Can someone tell me where a good place to stay would be? Something with a mid range price. We were looking at the Park Hotel Roze by the sea, but I was not sure if it was better to be in town. Any information would be great! Thanks!

Sara

Hello from Vancouver :D




Me and my causine will be traveling to Riga on May 2nd. As two successful business men we are looking forward to some time off and a good time. We are 20 and 26 from London (UK) and Vancouver (Canada).




We would appreciate it very much to get in touch with locals in Riga and find out what nightclubs/bars are to go to... Ive heard that Voodoo and Club Essentials are good hang out...




We would also love to get in touch with any tourists going at the same time who are also looking for a good time!




If you guys have any suggestions or inputs on where to go and what to do please dont hesitate to post!




C YA

Can anybody recommend a tour guide for the Old Town?

Thanks for your help.

Hi,

I have booked a stag weekend for May this year.

There are 15 of us altogether and will be staying for two nights.

Since booking the stag we have read negative reviews regarding Riga and the way in which stag parties are targeted by dodgy strip clubs and bouncers. We have also read stories of stag parties being conned and even robbed!!

We're a sensible bunch and pretty much keep to ourselves, it just that 99% of us are of oriental descent and will stick out like sore thumbs!

What sort of reception is our party likely to receive out in Riga? Are the stories truly as bad as they say? Or are they just extreme cases? Bearing in mind we are from London and similar things happen here too. We just never come across them.

Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

Have went through a lot of hostels, a private room for two costs at least 50euro. I believe the same price is good enough to stay in a hotel as well? Any hotel/hostel around the price could you recommend? The euro is 20% higher than the time I started planning for this trip.  I am okay with mix-dorm but my friend has never done that. Thanks.

Hi,
Has anybody eaten at 'Piligrins' (Pils laukums 4) or 'Da Antonio' (Pulkveza Brieza 11)?

Thanks for any feedback.

Hi, I am planning on visiting Riga for a few nights, but would like to go to another town to experience more culture and get a feel for the country. Where else would you recommend that I go. I will most likely have just a night or two to spend. Any feedback would be just great!

Hi,

I am planning to stay in Sigulda for a few days in August. We want to walk the trails to see the castles, explore the national park, visit the bobsled track and possibly the adventure park.

Are ticks common in the Sigulda and around? We are coming from Australia and can't get vaccinated against tick diseases. Mainly worried about my 2 year old daughter, it would be horrible if she got sick or worse.

Thanks

We are travelling to Riga in mid May. Can anyone recommend a cozy, reasonably priced hotel, bed and breakfast, or hostel for our stay?

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.

Will travel to Tallinn, Riga, Sigulda, Vilnius by bus in late April. Tried to check bus schedule and fares on web (www.eurolines.ee) but got contradictory prices. For example, from Vilnius to Warszawa, if I use LTL as currency, the fare is LTL105 for train departs at 2130; if use EURO as currency, the fare is 30euro and only departs at 1500 on the same day (1/5). Any tricks here?

Hi!

My friend and I (tow 30 year old girls) are planning a trip to the balticsn for a total of 15 days (flying out of Helsinki). We have planned 5 days in Lithuania and I now need to figure out where we should go in Lithuania. We are looking for a good mix of culture and fun. If you could let me know what your recommendations are that would be great. We will be arriving from the area of the hill of crosses in Lituania. Thanks!

We are thinking of touring Latvia and the other Baltic States, as well as Poland in July. We have allocated 18 days, and plan to travel independently. We have no knowledge of these languages - though one of us can speak some German.

Can you tell us if this time-frame is too short?
Will we likely have difficulty not being able to speak the local languages?
Are we likely to have trouble getting transport, or accommodation without booking well in advance?
We have some ideas about what we want to see, but just in case.... What are the main features of these countries that we should try to see whilst we are there?

Any information would be very helpful.

Regards,

Can you put bicycles in buses/coaches in Latvia? In some countries they have special luggage holds underneath where you can put bikes.
The first day i arrive we dont have that much time, so i thought i'd bus it to Sabile and then cycle to Kuldiga and then stay the night there. Then the next day cycle to Liepaja, and stay the night there. the last two days are unplanned, but will probably involve taking the train to Daugavpils.
Does anyone know if that's going to work.
Thanks

Hy VT' s, every year I use to prepare a trip for my wife in april, and i' m planning visit Riga, we already know Helsinki and Tallin.
We pln to saty 3 nights in Riga , is it enought to enjoy and have some impression of the city?
Any suggestion about what to do? if at last I could not visit Riga I may visit stockholm, any advise?? thank's .

Hi, there.
I'm going to visit anyplace to try to bake rye bread there. Don't you have some information of such facilities or B&B homes in Latvia?
It will be around this May from Japan.

Hey everyone,

I'd like to travel from Riga to St. Petersburg (and back) but haven't decided yet whether to take the bus or the train.
Does anone know how much both are?
Is it safer to take the bus or the train? (is the train safe anyway?)
Is the bus much less comfortable?
Do I have to get a ticket for either a day in advance or can I get a ticket the morning I leave Riga?

Thanks a lot for your help,

Tatjana

We are travelling to Riga on the 05th March 08 for 5 days,Having just got back from Iceland we need to be a little tighter with our cash so decided to spend 2 days being careful with money ie free tourist attractions and cheap bars and restaurants and the last few days being more extravagant and treating ourselves.If anyone could advise us of cheap bars/Restaurants it would be appreciated?I would also be interested in any good quality restaurants people could recommend?Do we need the travel cards or is it easier to walk everywhere? .Should i buy latvian currency in UK or wait until i get to Riga?
Any good advice would be welcome.


Regards

Mike

Hi to all,

Once again, I'm visiting Riga in April this year, can anyone let me have any information update concerning bar closures since my last visit (two visits in November last year), I noted with disappointment that DeLacy's was closed.

Best regards to all of you in Riga, and looking forward to being back in your lovely city again soon.

David.

Hey everyone,

I'll be in Riga for one day in April and I was wondering whether Riga has a hip area or maybe a student area which cafés etc. (something that is not too touristy if this is possible). Anyone any idea?

Thanks a lot, Tatjana

Hi VTers

I fly into Tallinn Sunday morning 3 March and then out of Riga late Saturday (8th). I plan to get a bus from Tallinn to Riga mid-week but I'm not sure when exactly. I know it all comes down to personal opinion but I've heard that Tallinn isn't that exciting and that Riga is much more appealing. Where do you all recommend I spend more time in?

Also: any must-see and must-do tips would be fabulous! Thanks.

Hi There,

I will be in Riga next week and I'm planning to purchase a 5 day ticket for the trams, buses and trolleybuses. I am wondering if anybody knows if I can purchase these in the airport anywhere?

Also, I was planning to get the number 22 bus from the airport to the city centre but I'm not sure that it will leave me close to my hotel. I will be staying in the Reval Hotel at the corner of Brivibas iela and Elizabetes iela. Maybe there is a better alternative public transport route. I may even decide to get a taxi. Approx. how much would a taxi cost? I will be arriving at 9pm so I assume that there would be very little traffic.

Finally, I have a question about the smoking ban. Is there a complete ban on smoking in bars and restaurants or do most have a designated smoking area. I come from Ireland where we have a complete smoking ban so I'm not that worried if there is the same in Latvia, I would just like to know so I don't light up in a bar and get into trouble!

Any help is very much appreciated!

Paldies,

Lauren

Hello Everyone,

I plan to visit the Baltic States at the end of August/ beginning of September. I am on the process to look for flight, rental cars, hotels etc.

Have everyone ever heard from SIA addCar Rental (www.addcarrental.com)? Is it a serious company with a good reputation?

Of course I am also thankful for additional tipps. So dont hesitate to give your tipps about hotels, restaurants, sights to visit etc.

Thank you for your help
Oliver

Hi,
I wonder if anyone could help with a website link or similar - I am trying to get an mp3, or be directed to the album that 'Ветер'is on, (the Russian version of 'Rudens' in Latvian, aka 'Lonely feeling to be lonely' in English. Maybe someone knows of a Latvian site I can buy mp3s online. Thanks a lot in advance!
L

Hi everyone,

I will be visiting Riga at the end of April and have not yet decided on how to get from the airport to the city centre. The home page of Riga airport mentions a shuttle bus that goes to Brivibas Blvd at the city centre. But I can't find that street on the map (viamichelin.com). Could someone please tell me where Brivibas Blvd is? Close to the main station maybe?
Or would it be better to take a taxi from the aiport right to the hotel?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance,
Elena

I have booked a stag weekend to riga on for the month of May and have since heard many bad reports regarding the ill treatment of groups of lads. We are not going to to Riga as sex tourists that aspect of Riga will not apeal to us. We are all well balanced, educated men yand just want to have a good drink ,laugh, and a dance in a few clubs.

All the lads who are going have been on many weekend trips around europe and never had any trouble. What welcome are we to expect in Riga?

We shall respect the local people. But will they show us the same respect back