'Riga. The Paris of the Baltics'. The Perfect Esca:
Riga truly is an undiscovered jewel of the “New Europe” with a depth of history & dozens of activities.
Targeted at adults, plan to dine “alfresco” in the Summer months in one of the numerous “Laukums” or Squares, where many Restaurants provide live music whilst you dine at remarkably low prices. Take the toepath from outside the Apartment down passed the River where you can stop off at one of many of the small bars or cafeterias for a speciality coffee (for less than £1) or a beer (for £1.40).
Or take a boat trip along the River, which provide everything from the “Tourist Tour” to full on board 5 star cuisine & service.
Or just perhaps a rowing boat or a 'pedallo' for two along the 'Pilsetas Kanals', the small tributary river that divides the Riga Old Town (Vecriga) from the main suburbs and shops.
For the culturally minded there is the National Opera House.
And of course there is the usual attractions of the Riga night life with its nightclubs and late night bars
Currency:
The national currency is the Latvian Lat.
The currency is strong and stable and pegged to the Euro. As a new European State, Latvia is expected to join the European Single Currency in 2010
If you are thinking of changing money, get some at the airport before you arrive, but change most when you are in Riga as the exchange rate is more favourable. Most Restaurants, Bars, and even taxis accept credit cards so no need to panic if you run short of cash!
Climate:
Being part of Continental Europe, Latvia enjoys a remarkable variation in weather, and contrary to popular belief, Summer can be really hot, especially in July when the midday temperature can rise rise to as much as 36°C.
At this time of year dawn breaks at 4:30am and the sun doesn't set until 10:30pm. May to September daytime temperatures average 67°F (17°C). The weather in Spring & Autumn fairly mild.
Rainfall is common throughout the year with the heaviest being the occasional thunderstorm in August.
However during severe spells of Winter, Latvia can suffer from the cold winds from Russia & snowfall is common. The coldest months are January and February and Riga can experience extreme temperatures (-25°C in crisp, clear blue sky), but averages are only -1°C during the day because of the proximity of the Baltic Sea & the Gulf Stream.
For this reason a lot of the older buildings get very cold in the Winter months. This is not a problem for our air conditioned apartment
Other Activities:
City Centre activities, site seeing, nightlife.
