Located about 30 minutes from Riga by train, you’ll find the resort seaside town, Jurmala. To get here get off the train at the Majori stop. It’s a beautiful journey to this cute little town and an easy nice day trip to Jurmala from Riga.

FYI make sure you are ready to get off before it stops. I had a bit of an issue getting off with my luggage. My rolling luggage is about 30 pounds and I had a purse and backpack on. The steps off the trains are very steep and I couldn’t really get down so I was putting the luggage first when suddenly I heard the whistle blow that the train was leaving. It had only been stopped about 30 seconds! The doors shut hard and my backpack (which was on my back) was on the inside. I was on the outside! I tried to pry them open as the train started moving and literally couldn’t they were totally unmovable. I had to throw my luggage down and twist out and jump off the train. It was actually scary and I cut my thumb. So standing on the platform, bleeding, in freezing weather, I decided I was not going to go check out the beach as I thought I would but instead was going to the hotel and relax a bit.

Day Trip to Jurmala

While it’s a great day trip town, I stayed over and think that if you have time in your travels it’s a good place to hang out and relax (or detox if you’ve been partying in Riga!).

I stayed at Jurmala Spa Hotel which is a 4-star hotel that focuses on spa treatments and has over 200 types of massages. They also have saunas, pools, and steam rooms you can use for free as a guest. Rooms were spacious and had ocean views. I got there just in time for sunset. You do have to wear a swimsuit in the saunas, etc. You can walk around in your bathrobe. The robes are only supplied in premium rooms. If you don’t have that type of room you can rent a robe.

At Jurmala they actually do full week-long health programs and have doctors there so you can use it as a health retreat as well as a spa.

The main promenade is a cobblestone street that goes out toward the sea. There are shops, hotels, and restaurants on it. Off this road are mostly residential houses.

The sea was stunning but with the high wind, I couldn’t even go out as the sand was flying everywhere. I took these images with my eyes shut, literally.

My last day here I went to Baltic Beach Hotel a 5-star property on the beach as you might have guessed. The rooms are really nice, the spa is stunning. I had a water treatment called zero gravity. Basically, it’s like laying on a water-bed, then having another water-bed on top of you. Or being inside a water-bed burrito. OR an infant in the womb lol. It was crazy. Then they turn on the jets so you can relax and they leave you there. The therapist didn’t speak English and just looked at me and said “shhh” as she put her hands to the side of her head motioning “sleep”. I couldn’t sleep but it was relaxing. I finished it off with an oxygen juice. Apparently good for the health.

This is a beach resort town and is seasonal. You can find more people here in the summer until about September. It is known for its spas and they are very affordable. Some went for about $20 for a 30 minute or about $40 for an hour massage at the Jurmala Spa. It was $13 for a manicure here. At Baltic Beach Hotel you can average about $1 per minute so $60 for an hour massage. I would want to come back and see it in the summer when the beach bars are open as well

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Sigulda is about 1 hour 20 minutes from Riga by train and I’ll share with you what to do in Sigulda Latvia! There’s a lot! The train there is around $4. I think if you’re in Riga it’s worth going even if just for the day. They have what is called the “Golden Autumn” so it seems I visited at the perfect time and I luckily had two days of sunshine, although it was windy and blistering cold (coming from a girl who lives in India so I guess take it with a grain of salt).

The biggest thing people here love is hiking. While I walked around with my tourist map, it seemed like all the locals were out hiking. There were paths through all the openings into the woods. It also offers many views points to see down over the valley and river.  You can walk everywhere here. It’s a VERY small cute town. You can actually see everything in one day if you want to.

What to do in Sigulda Latvia

1. Cable Car

For great views you can take the cable car across the valley. It’s about 10 minutes and you just come right back. You could get off if you wanted to on the other side though.

2. Cave

Being from Ohio where we have caves galore at Hocking Hills, this was a little “meh” for me. But, if you haven’t seen caves, you can come see this one which dates back to the 1600’s. You can see the carvings from people way way back.

3. Tarzans

This place was epic. If you have kids or are a kid like me, then GO HERE! Everything they offer is from $3-$6. I could have tried everything. I did the catapulting (20 meters) and the car track (what is this called) that went way faster than I thought it would.

You can do archery, paint-balling, zorbing, skiing, and more here.

4. Bungee Jump

You can bungee here! Like other things I’ll mention further down, you can do this only on the weekends. I wouldn’t have gone anyway, as I did this once in Uganda, and once was enough for me.

5. Aerodium

This is those machines that make you feel like you are skydiving. It was on my list, but also only open on the weekends. Catching these small town vibes?

6. Bobsled

Latvia’s bobsled team is the bomb! They have won gold at the Olympics. You can go with one of them down the track but only on the weekends, sadly for me I was there on a Monday. Go here for the viewpoint as well.

7. Sigulda Castle / New Castle complex

This castle is a main attraction and the “new” castle where the government works is in the same complex. You can wander around both at the same time.

8. Turaida Castle

I didn’t make it here but it’s a very popular castle and some prefer it to Sigulda Castle. It has a museum inside as well.

9. Eat at Doma

This was a cute cafe just 5 minutes from the train station. They serve fresh unique meals. I have a mushrooms soup and salad with pumpkin seeds. The bread came with dill butter. They have burgers, baguette, and lots of other yummy things. It’s a cute cafe and there are board games. Lots of people seem to come here to hang out.

10. Get spa treatments

It’s not known for it but the salon charged $7 for a manicure!

11. River fun

If you come when it’s warm then you can do kayaking, SUP, and such on the river.

Where to stay in Sigulda

I stayed just outside town, about 20 minutes drive, at Birinu Pils (Birini Castle). It was the CUTEST.

Receptionist showing me around…

“so here is the ball room… but you can’t dance because the floors might break. We also have piano here that is from this guy (she points to the photo of the man on the wall)”

We walk a bit further and she points to another photo of a young man:

“…and also we have a ghost, of course. These brothers killed themselves here.”

It was the best. It was said so nonchalant and not as a joke. One thing that I noticed is Latvians say “of course” at the end of a lot of their sentences.

The history of the castle is amazing. It’s so cool to stay in castles, and feel like you are in the space of royalty. You can wander around the grounds and inside on your own. It’s been preserved to look like it did back in the day.

The food was exceptional. You HAVE to try the tomato soup with goat’s cheese and cinnamon foam.  I wasn’t brave enough to try the beaver. The prawns with chocolate sauce was really nice, although it seemed like a strange combination to me.

Make sure to take time to see the stables and ride the horses. In winter they do sleigh rides and ice skating. It’s family run and just overall a really relaxing place to stay and escape. I could have stayed a lot longer!

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While in Riga I arranged to stay at Gallery Park Hotel & Spa. It is a UNESCO building and was once in old mansion. When searching you’ll see that there is a popular Radisson Blu here, but I really wanted to stay somewhere with charm and something unique so I can really feel like I am in Latvia.

Gallery Park Hotel And Spa Review Riga

This hotel has a long back story, as Riga itself does, and changed hands quite often. At one point it was even taken over by the USSR who once occupied this land. The soldiers stayed in the rooms. Actually, someone famous has stayed in a room as well, the late Robin Williams.

Because of UNESCO rules, you really get to see the history of this hotel. For example, when they repaint, they have to leave the original paint in patches so people can see what it looked like before. They touch up everything, but keep the style the same.

When you look out off the balcony, you can see what is now offices but was once the stables for the houses.

Some things were there from the original owners, but it was an abandoned building, falling apart. It needed a lot of renovation. The furniture was bought at auctions and is all from the time period that this was a mansion. The wallpaper in the lobby is leather! The rooms have real gold in them.

As per the rules, if they added another floor (the 4th floor) they had to do it in a different style and could not duplicate the mansion style. They made this floor more modern. My room was very spacious. I had some time to do work and relax a little while here which was really nice. I had a lot to catch up on from Israel! There was also a gym and a pool here. The pool area was beautiful. It’s small but the reason is because they can’t build out on this UNESCO building.

This hotel, like most places in Riga, is within walking distance to everywhere. It’s just on the middle line between the Old Town and the new side of Riga. Make sure to take an umbrella when you go off to explore as the weather is SO unpredictable as Latvians kept reminding me.

The restaurant serves meals all day, and there is a bar as well. I had only breakfast here and it was tasty. You can order hot meals as part of your room rate and use the buffet for yogurt, fruit, and juices.

I checked out the spa (I really am addicted) and had their signature massage. The massage was really good. I couldn’t tell you what style as it was a huge combination. There was deep tissue, some arm stuff like lomi-lomi, reflexology, and even a little reiki. I liked the way it was mixed up. After my massage I said “can I take a shower” as there was a shower in the spa room. The woman didn’t speak a lot of English and just said “no no no no”. I said “Hmm you sure?” and she replied that the oil was good, meaning leave it on your skin. In India, I would have said nahh I’m going to shower anyway. But when Latvian accents tell you no you take no for an answer lol!

Overall, if you want a cultural experience, I highly recommend this hotel. You can ask the reception to take you around and tell you a little bit about the previous owners as well. It’s almost like staying in a museum. Click through to make a booking and read reviews. 

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I bet you have seen photos of Riga’s Old Town on Pinterest.

I had, and that’s why I wanted to go, explore, and now share with you my little guide to Riga. It was on the bucket list! Riga is the capital of Latvia.

Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia make up the 3 Baltic countries.

My Little Guide to Riga

As I’ve shared before, my little guides don’t include everything as can’t see it all, but are what I would share with my friends if they were to visit Riga! Here is a map of the places I will mention in this article. You can zoom in and out with the plus and minus buttons on it (bottom left).

Things to know about Riga, Latvia:

It’s part of the EU so you draw out Euros here from the ATM

50% of the people speak Russian, and the other half for the most part speak Latvian

It’s SUPER affordable compared to other hotspot European destinations

For WiFI I used my SkyRoam dongle as I was going between 4 different countries in a small time, and it was better than getting SIM cards in each one.

Public transport are trams and buses but you can walk almost anywhere.

For taxis, try Red Cab, they were really reliable and I used them to and from the airport.

Trains in Latvia are older and slow but are very cheap and reliable.

Air Baltic flies routes from many destinations so check their site to compare prices.

On a budget? I came from London, so would search London – Riga on this site. If you’re interesting in traveling by rail or bus from an international destination, you can compare those prices on Omio to see what the best/cheapest route is from your destination. It will compare will flights as well since sometime with budget airlines you find a deal that’s cheaper than train travel. EasyJet is in their system but not Ryanair so you can search that separately to compare. This search engine also compares the time it will take so you can look at that along with the amount it will cost.

Latvia was once Sweden, German, and Russia. It’s a relatively new country.

What to do in Riga

Touring the Art Noutveau district is an absolute must. I had a guide who told me a little about it which is kind of necessary or you might as well not bother seeing the buildings. One fun fact is that they taxed windows. One house you can see made fake windows. Another, because they were taxed by size, made really tiny ones except the bottom floor.

fake window – to save money from taxes!

This is one of the best places in the world to see this type of architecture. The foreign embassy workers get to live in these houses. The update is expensive though as they have rules to follow because of their historical value. Find these houses on Elizabetes iela and Alberta iea (roads).

Wandering through Old Town Riga is another must do when you are here. You don’t need a guide for this. I went when it was raining so my photos weren’t epic like I’d hoped they would be. Try some Balsam liquor which is Latvia’s drink of choice. It’s kind of like a bitter Jager.

another example of windows, getting smaller to save tax money!

Riga Central Market is the largest and they say, best, market in Europe. It’s a UNESCO site as well.

Other popular places include House of Blackheads which is where the president works, St. Peter’s church, the National Opera House, and Doma square for cafe’s and bars. There are also more museums, a zoo, and other things but I’m narrowing it down for you.

See that little face in the top right? It represents these men who wanted to sacrifice for God so they put themselves in concrete and died!

It’s a very green city and there are parks everywhere. There’s a lover’s bridge in the park near the Old City.

Where to eat in Riga

I’ll share some of my favorite meals with you. I had a healthy steamed flounder at the Latvian National Museum of Art restaurant only to then go back to my room to find giant marshmallows lol, so much for my diet! The Sunday brunch at Biblioteka no 1 was perfect and I highly recommend it. Garage near Hotel Berg had great food and is in a really cool area.

biblioteka

garage

3 chefs

But by far, the best meal was at 3 Chef restaurant where they make it an experience and make the food in front of you. They put it on fire, add smoke, and let you eat food art off your placemat. Very very cool place!

What I found with food in Latvia is that is seasonal and they like to serve up healthy fresh food. It’s very natural. I ate a lot of berries, pumpkin, and mushrooms (they love to mushroom hunt). You’ll find lots of fish on the menu, including catfish. I also saw venison, beaver, and oxtail. The one thing I didn’t try was the ostrich tartare. Everywhere serves Rye bread to go with your meal and a lot of places served dill butter. In fact, there was dill in a lot of my dishes, from soup to even inside my bread roll. Love dill, so that’s awesome for me!

Where to stay in Riga

I stayed at Gallery Park Hotel. You can read a full review.

Where to shop in Riga

While I was in Old Town, I walked to Pienene and it’s a “Made in Latvia” shops with cute things rather than just souvenirs. I loved it. It’s also a cafe.

These next three you can go to all at once as they are near each other: Riija, 8 Rooms, and Amoralle. This area has even more shops to go in as well. 8 Rooms is in side the mall. The mall didn’t have a lot to offer other than this shop. Riija was very cute and had awesome homewares.

Amorelle is famous here and makes nightgowns and house robes. It’s so luxurious looking and the shop was packed. It isn’t really my style, but it’s worth checking out to see what the fashion vibes are like here.

A few I wanted to see but didn’t have time are: Zofa, Modernists, and Paviljons.

Another thing I wanted to do but just didn’t have time was check out the views from Radisson Blu. It’s the tallest building in Riga as they don’t usually allow places to build higher than 6 floors here. Supposedly it offers the best views. I hope you’ve enjoyed my little guide to Riga. There is much more to see but here is a good start. If you want more: check out this luxury guide to Riga.

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Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.

A Luxury Guide to Riga

Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in Riga.

I’m Anita, a traveler from Latvia. Though mainly a budget traveler, I doesn’t swear off splurging from time to time… I have lived in Riga since 1999 so you could say the city has no secrets from me! I have been to many luxury places here over the years.

What makes Riga a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?

Firstly, believe me when I tell you that Riga is an astonishingly beautiful city. Or better still – don’t believe me and go check for yourself! Secondly, it’s a city inhabited by people with great taste, which just shines through in its architecture, interiors, gardens, parks… In cultural events, too. Riga is renowned for exceptional customer care and a wide choice of activities to accommodate a variety of interests. Furthermore, Riga is not extremely busy or noisy, allowing you to relax in comfort.

What 5-star hotel is the best in Riga?

It’s hard to pick just one, but if I have to, I’ll go with the Hotel Bergs. Located in a quiet passage of central Riga, at a walking distance from the Old Town, it’s an excellent property with high standards of service and facilities. Everything is perfect, from the friendly welcome at the check-in to the immaculately clean spacious rooms and the absolutely delicious breakfast.

What about boutique hotels in Riga, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?

The Dome Hotel occupies an ideal spot close to numerous chief attractions of Riga, including the Old Town and the Art Nouveau area. It’s your classic big chain hotel, yet with a far more personal feel. The rooms are cozy and quiet, have wooden floors, modern bathrooms with comfy bathrobes, a Nespresso machine, complimentary water and a good night chocolate.

The breakfast is a piece of art, delicious, freshly made. The hotel’s 5 stars are well-deserved indeed! Make sure to visit the sauna on the top floor with a truly amazing view over the city. Another highlight of the place is the restaurant, serving excellent fish dishes.

Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler in Riga?

Plenty, both in Riga and nearby. The two most unusual ones are practiced in the town of Sigulda, just 30 kilometers from Riga: bobsleigh rides and Aerodium flights.

Aerodium is a vertical wind tunnel letting you get a bird’s eye view of the world thanks to a powerful air stream. The Aerodium athletes have already showcased their skills at the Torino 2006 Winter Olympics and at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, and now this breathtaking experience is yours to have!

As for the bobsleigh tracks, there are fewer than 20 in the whole world, and only a handful in public usage, so Sigulda rides are a unique chance! There are two types of them: the rookie ride called Vucko, or “the soft bob”, and “the real bob”. The latter can speed up to nearly 130 km/h and costs 50 Euros while Vucko keeps it at around 80 km/h and costs 10-15 Euros. You don’t have to book, but the pro version is only available at certain times. 

For a close-to-nature summer experience, kick your confining shoes and walk 2,6 kilometers barefoot on a variety of surfaces at a country resort called “Valguma Pasaule”, 60 kilometers from Riga.

If sailing is your thing, you can rent the yacht “Hugo”, currently the most ultramodern yacht in Latvia. Proud holder of the “European Boat of the Year 2010” award, it can accommodate a maximum of 10 people for a one-day voyage at 1100 Euros on weekends.

Where are the best hangouts during the day in Riga?

I would recommend the Old Town Walking Tour, I really think it captures the real essence of Riga. An extremely friendly and knowledgeable local guide Zane Šūpulniece will show you all the main sights and share exciting stories about the city’s past. I’d say this excursion is a great appetizer, making you hungry for further discoveries! But if you’re pressed for time and want to make the most of it, choose the Segway Tour with Zane.

If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in Riga and what are their best dishes?

There are countless options again but I would especially recommend the library-style restaurant called Biblioteka 1. The interior really makes you feel like you’re seated in the safety and comfort of your own home! You can choose a 9 course tasting menu for 60 Euros or just the main courses for 30 Euros – quite pricy for Riga but cheap by the overall European standards.

The introduction of the courses is great: each one comes with a little story and a presentational gimmick. To be enjoyed at Tērbatas iela 2.

Tell us all the hot shopping spots in Riga; who’s carrying the trendy local designers? 

Of all the local designers I would like to give credit to Amoralle, a luxury brand of prêt à porter loungewear and lingerie: underwear, nightgowns, corsets, bodies, stockings, socks… The company is based in Riga, and all garments are locally produced, from the initial concept to the final product.

Silk and chiffon are combined with lace, velvet, crystal and pearl embroidery. All the items are handmade! At the moment there are 20 Amoralle outlets in countries like Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Australia, France, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Russia, and the USA. The Riga’s shop is located at Brīvības iela 33.

What is the best salon and spa in Riga?

In my opinion, ESPA Riga is one of the best – six floors of superb facilities, luxury comfort, dedicated attention and fantastic treatments. The ground floor is taken up by an 18 meter indoor pool; the 2nd floor has a great gym with the latest Technogym equipment.

The SPA itself starts on the 3rd floor where they give you a towel, a quality bathrobe and a pair of slippers. The changing rooms and showers are all of the same luxurious kind, of course. Saunas and steam rooms occupy the 6th floor. The SPA’s unique feature is the heated outdoor pool with salted water, jet sprays and a Jacuzzi. At about 4°C outside, it’s a real treat! There are two large relaxation rooms with individual music selection and soft comfortable sofas to wait for your massage. The massage is very professionally done, and you get several oils and types of massage to choose from. The final accord is another session in a relaxation room with some snacks.

Time for a great sunset view in Riga… where would you go?

I’d definitely go to the seaside in the town of Jurmala, 25 kilometers from Riga. Besides that great sunset view, you’d also enjoy a walk on a first-rate white sand beach.

Now that the sun’s gone down, fill us on the best places to go for some evening drinks or a great pre-gaming spot.

Take the chance to combine nice cocktails with a magnificent view across the city in the Skyline Bar on the 26th floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija, at Elizabetes iela 55.

Another great option is the cozy Star Lounge Bar on the upper floor of the Albert Hotel Riga at Dzirnavu Street 33, a perfect place for more glorious views over Riga’s parks and Art Nouveau architecture.

If you end the night at a fancy club in Riga, which one do you head towards?

After a great dinner at that Biblioteka 1 restaurant I mentioned, you can hit the “Coyote Fly” night club right next door. Powered by the best DJs and VJs from Latvia and abroad, it attracts more than 4500 party-goers a week!

Including both the most experienced revelers of Riga and such celebrities as Xzibit, Eve, Dizzee Rascal, Tony Hawks, Jon Olsson, The Dudesons, and many others. The interior is both modern and inspired by the primeval grandeur of Riga’s Vērmanes Garden, while the layout and the acoustics of the concert hall ensure excellent visibility and sound.

Anita Sane, is a part time traveler and a mature career woman from Latvia. She has been traveling mostly solo for over 10 years now, gaining considerable experience in planning and taking solo trips. She has just recently started a travel blog at thesanetravel.com, sharing her experiences of solo value for money travels around Europe, Asia and Oceania. She is also in love with travel photography and has documented her trips throughout the years, believing that one picture is worth a thousand words.

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