City Information
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Queensway
Travel
Airport
Riga International Airport is 13km south-west of the city.Upgrades
of the airport’s general facilities and services were completed in
Dec 1999, including an ATM machine, pharmacy and a branch office of
Hansabank. There is a 24-hr information desk and bureau de change on
the ground floor.
Airport to City Centre
The journey from the airport to the city centre takes about 15-20
mins by taxi, with a choice of state-owned or private vehicles.
Private taxis are more expensive but seldom have meters, so agree on
a price before setting off. Be aware that rates rise by 50% between
2200 and 0600. A taxi to the centre during the day should cost no
more than Ls6 but can cost Ls5-7 depending on the deal. Bus No 22,
every 30 mins, connects to the city centre. It costs 20 santimi and
runs from 0515 to 2315.
Getting Around
Riga has 7 tram lines, 24 trolley-bus routes and 30 bus routes. Maps
of the networks can be picked up at news stands throughout the city
or from the Jana Seta map shop on Elizabetes St 83/85. A ride
anywhere in the city costs 20 santimi. Most systems operate between
0530 and 0030 but some tram routes have a night service on the hour,
others stop earlier.
What to see
sista minuten resor - restresa
Queensway
Travel
Riga Castle: The home of President Vaira Vike-Freiberga,
built in 1330 as a base for the Order of the Brothers of the Sword.
There is no entry inside, but for a good view head for the Vansu
Bridge.
The Dome Church: The largest church in the Baltics, dating
from 13c, noted not only for its imposing dimensions, including 2m
thick walls and a 90m steeple, but also for its fine organ
containing 6,768 pipes.
Freedom Monument: Built in 1935 and designed by Latvia’s
greatest sculptor, Karlis Za le. For Latvians it symbolises the
struggle for independence. In front stands the famous Laima Clock, a
noted meeting place for courting couples since the beginning of the
last century. On the corner of Raina and Brivibas.
St Peter’s Church: Dating from 1209, a mixture of mainly
Gothic, Romanesque and Baroque architecture, it once boasted the
highest wooden steeple in the world, until it was burned down in
1941. Take the lift and a camera to the top of the restored steeple
for an instant panorama of the city.
Art Museum: This imposing building has vast rooms and
handsome marble staircases. The ground-floor contains 19c Russian
and Latvian landscapes and portraits, the upper-floor has more
abstract works from 20c.
Powder Tower: Built in 1330 and the last of the originals
standing. Look out for the cannonballs still lodged in the walls.
The Museum of War on the third floor contains a display of the armed
and political struggles of the last century, from WWI to
Independence.
Jugendstil Architecture: Riga has preserved its Old Town as
an inhabited museum of art deco buildings. Notable examples include
the building by Russian architect Mikhail Eisenstein at Alberta St
2, 2a, 4,6,8,13, Strelnieku St 4a.
House of Blackheads: Dating back to the 14c and currently
undergoing a $5million renovation, this Gothic building on Town Hall
Sq was a stopover for single members of the Merchants Guild.
Strelnieku Sq by Occupation Museum.
Where to walk
Start at Valdemara St and walk along Elizabetes St to the Daugava
River, enjoying all the charming side streets en route, principally
Alberta, a museum of jugendstil and art nouveau buildings by
architect Eisenstadt, and Rupniecibas, with fine examples of
medieval, renaissance and 19c architecture. At the river, go left by
the jetty and walk along the front.
Alternatively, in the Old Town (Vecriga), stroll from Dome Sq down
Pils iela, past Riga Castle on Pils Sq to Torna iela up to the
Powder Tower, right at Basteja boulevard towards the Freedom
Monument and Bastejkalns, scene of a battle involving Peter the
Great, and Konvalda Garden to the Esplanade and Vermanes Garden
along City Canal full of ducks, paddleboats and a floating beer
garden which opens in May.
