Riga was the 2nd stop in our Baltic Tour in the summer of 2024. It is a great spot for nature hikes, architecture tours and cultural exploration.
Explore Riga
Free walking tour
Though people often confuse interchangeably Lithuania and Latvia there is a vast difference between the two nations, and the general guided tour helped us acknowledge those as we learned about the historic and present country and about the city of Riga.
We decided to join also the architecture tour that elaborated on the specific type of Art Nouveau design in Riga and the northern Baltic region named National Romantic style.
We continued to explore the city also without a guide. Just next to the central market you’ll find a lovely community garden, Lastādija cultural quarter, with this gorgeous red panda sculpture of scrap metal.
Night life in the industrial zone
Our accommodation was near the Laima chocolate museum, north-east to the city center, which take off only after sunset. Hipsters took over this neglected gloomy industrial neighborhood and made it into a lively quarter full of life and rich in culture. Just follow the live music that reaches every corner of the main street and you’ll find several gentrification hubs with art, daily concerts, pubs and loads of people having fun together.
Riga’s Vegan food
The central market
The vast size of the central market of Riga just amazed us. Thanks to a tip from our local host we came at the closing time of the huge market, when the farmers’ market opens. Here we found interesting artisanal products such as the 2 kg sourdough ray bread which is baked in a wood oven covered with a thick layer of leaves from all sides. This bread loaf lasts for about a month if kept in the fridge. It has an acquired taste, but after you get used to the sourness it is just dreamy.
Another interesting find in this market was the prickly raspberry, which we have never seen anywhere else before.
Mazā Terapija
We had to extend our stay in Riga for a couple of days just to try all the whole vegan menu.
Both their traditional Latvian soups, the Börek, the Schnitzel and the soy chunks (for take away only) are highly recommended.
Jūrmala Baltic riviera
The beaches of Jūrmala served as relaxation resorts since the 18th century, though it peaked during the soviet occupation together with the neighboring health resorts Sloka and Ķemeri.
Hike on the beach from Ķemeri to Jaunķemeri
After a short train ride from Riga to Ķemeri we started our hike picking mushrooms and berries in the forest leading to the beach.
The beach itself has the whitest sand that we have ever seen. When we arrived to Jaunķemeri we decided to take the bus to Jūrmala to continue hiking there a bit more.
That beach is way more touristic and the town itself has an interesting architectural style that we could not classify, a mix of nordic rich beach villas from the beginning of the 20th century with a communistic touch.
We finished the hike at the top of the observation tower at the end of the promenade.
The Northern beach
The beaches north to Riga are much less touristic, yet we found their nature even more astonishing. You have many train stations to start from and to finish your hike at, depending on how much time you wish to walk. During our 20 km hike we encountered just a few people that you can count on one hand.
Coastal hike from Pabaži to Saulkrasti
Less than an hour from Riga by a direct train, we got off at the station Gauja. There we immediately immersed ourselves in the coastal nature reserve of the White Dune in Saulkrasti.
Here you can enjoy the tranquility of a forest along the beach over a few kilometers of winding wooden paths.
Along this complex fun pathway there are lots of surprises, such as funny sculptures and lots of edible Chanterelles and berries that we picked.
The hiking trail lead us to a complex set of breathtaking river lakes, one more beautiful then the next.
Our hike ended at Gauja train station, which is basically a shad in the middle of the forest, with trains leading back to Riga.
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