New Year and Christmas in Latvia. A trip to Riga for the new year

I couldn't even imagine that Riga would be like this magnificent city. For some reason it seemed to me that the capital of Latvia is quite ordinary, does not represent anything special, therefore, when we planned our new year trip, could not decide for a long time what to choose as a destination: Tallinn or Riga. Even despite the fact that we have already been to Tallinn five times. In the end, the choice fell on Riga, and I am very, very glad that we came here.

Latvia - northern country, so the weather for the New Year in Riga is not much different from Moscow. , on the outskirts of Riga, we got into a real snow storm, which only intensified upon arrival. The snow fell for six hours in a row: sometimes softer, sometimes with furious force, flying into the eyes and behind the collar. Brrr! It was unpleasant. But the impressions of Old Riga nullified the feeling of discomfort from bad weather. Old Riga inspired, surprised and amazed - so much so that I wanted to walk on it all night long. The city turned out to be beautifully decorated for the holidays, and its houses were like the scenery of old London. Snow drifts and flakes falling from the sky added to the festive atmosphere, and all together created the impression that we found ourselves in a work of art, on the pages of books with classic Christmas stories, where old houses and narrow streets, sloping roofs, constant magic and romance.

Riga is a great travel destination new year holidays, moreover, one of the closest residences of the real Christmas, which we are only trying to recreate, to Russia.

1. We settled in Radisson Blu on the street Elizabeth, so named in honor of Empress Elizabeth, who greatly favored Riga during her reign.

2. I will tell you about the hotel separately. Today let's go from it through winter fairy tale directly to Old city.

Old Riga is called the historical center of the city, located on an island separated from the rest of the districts by a narrow canal on the one hand and the wide Daugava (in Russia this river is called the Western Dvina) on the other. So the old city here is much larger - outside the center there are dozens, or even hundreds of blocks of stunning old buildings, churches and cathedrals, mansions, estates. Probably, the name of the historical center was assigned a long time ago, when all this splendor seemed to be a novelty. And over time, the inhabitants of Riga did not begin to revise the city toponyms.

From the hotel to the Old Riga - a stone's throw. You need to go through the park, then past the university, another park, there cross the canal along footbridge and that's it - you're there.

4. Park fence from the side of the university and an old pedestal for posters. There are incredibly many such authentic, classic details in Riga, and all of them create the general cinematic atmosphere of the city. I had never been to Riga before, but when I read books about some beautiful city of the twenties or thirties, I always imagined it that way.

5. Riga very often resembled Prague: by the architecture of buildings, the amount of Russian on the streets and something so inexplicable in the air. Nevertheless, with all this, the city is individual, it cannot be confused with any other.

6. This is not Old Riga yet - almost the whole city looks like this, with the exception of sleeping areas.

7. There is no metro in Riga. But there are trolleybuses and trams.

8. Incredibly beautiful old building of the University of Latvia. Windows from the bottom to the top illuminate the incredibly popular in Baltic countries electric lamps in the form of seven candles located on an isosceles triangle - a stand. The same fashion - to put such a Christmas candlestick on the windowsill - has long been in Russia: in St. Petersburg and, in general, the North-West of the country.

9. Behind the University of Latvia there is another park, in the middle of which runs the same canal, on the other side of which is the historical center. In the distance in the photo - the silhouette of the National Opera.

10. Most of the bridges across the canal are pedestrian.

11. View across the park to the building of the University of Latvia.

12. I have never been in such a truly Christmas city before. There is some incredible magic in the air of Riga!

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15. The snow does not stop and only gets stronger. However, this is not a problem. There are a lot of cozy coffee houses in Riga where you can drop by, shake off an avalanche of snow from your coat, scarf and hat and sit by the window to take a breath, so that in a couple of tens of minutes you can run out into the street again and continue an exciting walk through one of the most Christmas cities in the world.

There are very narrow streets in Old Riga, but, nevertheless, traffic is not blocked here - you can stop by to admire it on your own by car. You can even park here - however, parking will be golden. By analogy with Moscow, you need to pay for parking here, the tariff varies depending on the area, in addition, it is progressive: the first hour is cheaper - the second is more expensive (in the Old Town, the first hour of parking at the sidewalk will cost 4.27 euros, from the second hour - 7.11 euros for each 60 minutes, horror!). For local residents issue subscriptions.

16. A successful new one adjoins the old architecture in the historical center. In general, Old Riga successfully combines buildings from various eras: both from the Middle Ages and from the times Russian Empire, and the First Republic, and the Soviet period, and modern times. Looking around is interesting.

17. Old Riga, as it seemed to me, is not at all comparable with Tallinn. These are two completely different Baltic capitals. I would equally recommend visiting both.

18. The historic center is beautifully decorated for Christmas. It is quite spacious, there is a lot of air and open spaces, which on the eve of the winter holidays were occupied by numerous Christmas markets.

19. Most of them are still working in the first days of January. It is immediately clear that Riga loves a tourist from Russia. And with pleasure prolongs the celebration of Christmas and New Year for Russian holidays. Rigans themselves go to work immediately after the New Year - like the whole of Europe. True, unlike most European countries, where Christmas trees in landfills begin to accumulate from the second of January, here the holiday does not even think of stopping at this time.

20. Restaurant dedicated to the American forties, fifties and sixties. Something like - only with real iconic cars displayed right in the restaurant hall.

21. The snow is getting stronger and stronger. The Christmas mood is all the higher.

22. There are a lot of people in the Old City, but there are no crowds. In addition, there are simply dozens, if not hundreds of lanes where you can turn off the main streets and immediately find yourself face to face with beautiful Riga.

23. The city is decorated with love and very generously.

24. One of central streets. Lots of coffee shops! Almost like Starbucks in New York, coffee shops in Riga are on every corner.

25. Snowplows cannot cope with the intensity of precipitation, so on the first evening there is no thought of driving around the city by car. Even on studded tires, which, by the way, are allowed to enter Latvia during the cold season (you can check the time period for which this permit is on the national government websites), the car easily goes out of control: it slips when accelerating, turns on ABS when braking. As a result, you have to drive with maximum concentration and at a snail's pace. Accelerating to 30 and above is dangerous.

26. The old city is very spacious and in excellent condition. For some reason, before my trip to Riga, I often came across reviews where they blamed the devastation that prevails in the capital of Latvia and the general depression of the region (the main argument is the country's dramatically decreasing population, which has decreased by almost three times since independence). In fact, in the center I did not encounter devastation, and in general, after Portugal, Latvia and, directly, Riga look very solid. And even more so when compared with provincial Russia.

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28. That evening, walking around Riga, I could not get rid of the memories of my very first trip abroad. , and the weather on my first day there was exactly the same: snowfall, frost and Christmas mood.

29. By the way, not only the weather, but also the architecture and the general mood reminded me of Prague. Riga is a twin of the Czech capital. I have never met a single city that is so similar to Prague.

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32. What comfort in these streets, wrapped in snowdrifts!

33. Main Riga fair.

34. She is the most beautiful!

35. There are enough people, but there is no feeling of a crowd. The best thing for a holiday. Almost all Russian speakers: both strollers and sellers. Along with this, no "tagil" around.

36. main tree- real! Looks and is beautifully decorated.

37. Right next to her is a very beautiful decorative house with a manger in which the newborn Jesus lies.

38. Mulled wine (not disguising its name as "Christmas drink") and other sweets are sold everywhere. Mulled wine at the main Christmas market costs 2.50 euros. I will definitely tell you about prices in detail in the next note about Riga. But, forestalling your questions, I will say: Riga is a very economical city. Often bills come out significantly cheaper than in Moscow. Yes, even with the current exchange rate.

39. There are many vats in which all sorts of snacks and drinks are prepared right on the fires.

40. Very beautiful decor of tents and pavilions set up in the square. Real Christmas!

41. How beautiful!

42. The fair is big enough.

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44. Everyone is cold and tired - it's time to go to our warm and cozy hotel :)

Riga - perfect place in order to celebrate the New Year and Christmas. The reality here turned out to be much higher than expectations, which were quite restrained. I don’t know if I was the only one who was so “lucky” - earlier I had the impression that the capital of Latvia is a rather boring place. In fact, everything turned out to be exactly the opposite. Riga has definitely become not only one of the main discoveries of the 2016 that has just begun, but of all recent years. The fact that at least once a year we will definitely look here is now a fact.

A little later I’ll tell you about what a cool hotel we lived in, and what Riga is like outside historical center- everything is very cool there too.

Happy holidays to all of you, friends! Don't even think about celebrating! We still have at least one full evening, night and day ahead! Don't slow down! :)

New Year- a special holiday and you need to celebrate it in a special way. Perhaps this is the only holiday that you look forward to and hope for a miracle, faith in magic. I want something new, unusual, exotic. It is for this that we recommend that you go to the meeting of the New Year 2018 in Riga!

Undoubtedly, the New Year is a family holiday and it should be celebrated with the family. But, as you celebrate the New Year, so you will spend it. A wonderful pastime is the meeting of the New Year 2018 in Riga.

New Year's Riga - the city of a fairy tale

New 2018 Year of the Yellow Earth Dog in Riga, wonderful moments

In Riga, all Christmas trees are decorated differently, so it will be interesting to visit each of them;
On New Year's Eve, various entertainment events are held in this city;
The first live Christmas tree in Riga was decorated at the beginning of the 16th century;
IN new year's eve, in this country, it is officially allowed to drink alcohol in public places;
The most comfortable guests of Latvia will stay in luxury hotels;
At city fairs, you can buy souvenirs and jewelry made from natural stones;
In Latvia, it is customary to celebrate Christmas twice - on December 25 and January 7.

Video: ancient traditions and Riga's secrets of New Year's Latvia

This article will tell you how to spend an exciting New Year holidays in 2018 in the beautiful Latvian city of Riga. It is in the New Year that every adult wants to feel like a child and plunge into the atmosphere of a fairy tale and magic.

Video: Riga Christmas tree 500 years old

The celebration of the New Year in Latvia takes its roots back to the beginning of the 16th century. Around this time, according to the stories of the old-timer, on main square city, a festive tree was installed.

If you have already decided on your decision to spend the winter holidays in Latvia, then we will tell you which hotels are better to choose, and how much money, approximately, you will need for your vacation.

All the streets of New Year's Riga are decorated with sparkling garlands and toys. Bells, on the City Hall, perform festive motifs. Also, here, it is worth visiting the New Year's fairs, where you can find interesting gizmos.

The festive decoration of the city, as well as the pleasant bustle, make Riga a real fairy-tale place.

Video: New Year's Riga

Where to go and what to do during the winter holidays in Riga in 2018

The city of Riga has centuries of history and is considered an ancient place. On the territory of Riga there are beautiful castles, monuments, churches and other buildings.

Comfortable accommodation in Riga for the New Year 2018 of the Yellow Earth Dog

To get to Riga, you will need not a very large amount of money, since the fare is budget. You can also choose one of the ways to stay that suits you.

New Year 2019 in Riga will be an excellent option for celebrating in the ancient European city. The capital of Latvia boasts unique sights, developed infrastructure, high level of service. Right here on Town Hall Square, the first Christmas tree in Europe was installed for the first time, which is a special reason for pride for the inhabitants of Riga. On the eve of the Christmas holidays, local streets will be decorated with original illumination, lit candles with garlands will appear on the windows, and figurines of Santa Claus, the Snow Maiden and fairy-tale characters will be installed on shop windows.

If you are going to spend in Riga, you need to know a number of weather nuances. average temperature in December-January it varies within +5 - -5 ºС, snow falls and the sun often peeps out during the day. However, the city's proximity to Baltic Sea makes a significant difference in the lives of tourists. In particular, the humidity level is close to 100%, so even small negative temperatures are difficult to endure. The situation is aggravated by piercing winds, the gusts of which often reach 5-10 m/s. If you are planning to spend the New Year 2019 in Riga outside, don't forget to bring a warm hat, scarf and mittens.

Global warming has not bypassed Riga either: Lately in early January, more and more lies began to fall instead of snow. In the future, according to weather forecasts, Latvian capital risks celebrating Christmas and New Year without snow. As a result of weather disasters, tourists often take an umbrella with them. This useful attribute will save you from getting wet, help you maintain a festive mood and health.

What to do in New Year's Riga?

Riga - unique city, where a huge amount of entertainment is provided for tourists. The list of main leisure options includes:

trade fairs;
restaurant premises;
mass folk festivals;
sightseeing.

ordering new year tour to Riga, it will not be difficult to combine all the listed activities. However, do not forget that the presented city does not belong to the category of cheap ones, as a result of which a standard 5-day trip will cost residents of Moscow from 25,000 rubles.

Where to settle?

If you are going on a New Year's trip on your own, take care of booking a room at a local hotel. The following is the cost of a standard double room in the central hotels of the city:

"Hotel Irina" (3 *) - 30 euros / day;
"Hotel Vesta" (3 *) - 35 euros / day;
"Europe Royale Riga" (4 *) - from 50 euros / day;
"Royal Square Hotel & Suites" (5 *) - from 100 euros / day.

Budget prices for rental housing can be found, perhaps, but in hostels. There are several dozen of them in Riga, but in new year holidays a bed in such institutions costs at least 10 euros per day.

Trade fairs

In order to feel the spirit of the New Year holidays, go to the famous Riga fairs. The largest of them are located in the following places:

Domskaya Square;
Kalku street;
Livu Square;
Eagle park.

Here on malls hundreds of products are sold, ranging from small souvenirs to natural fur coats. Tourists at fairs are offered to try mulled wine, confectionery, Riga bread, etc. Special attention should be paid to decorations. Of course, you will not find diamonds at such sales, however, exquisite items made of amber, amethyst, and other stones are sold in almost every shop. Hand-made is extremely popular in Latvia, so some products are exclusive and one of a kind.

The main feature of shopping in Riga is “ tax free"- a nice bonus that allows Russian tourists to return up to 10% of the cost of the item. Residents of countries that do not belong to the European Union may not pay VAT on the purchase of goods. Therefore, when purchasing things in Latvia, you keep receipts, thanks to which you will subsequently receive value added tax on products.

Entertainment establishments

Those who do not want to celebrate the New Year 2019 in Riga under open sky usually visit one of the cozy restaurants in the old town. The list of the most requested ones includes:

"locale";
"Rozengrals";
"I.e. Dome";
"B-bar-restaurant", etc.

Among the main Latvian delicacies you will be offered sprats, seafood, various types of cheeses, baked meat with herbs. Riga balsam, local dark beer, herbal vodka are ideal as alcohol for a cultural dinner. The average check in the restaurants of the city is within 100 euros. The only caveat will be booking tables in advance, otherwise there will most likely be no empty seats available on New Year's Eve.

There are pretentious nightclubs for young people in Riga (“Essential”, “Faraons”, “Saxophone”, “Casablanca”, “Big Point”, etc.). Entrance to such establishments is paid - from 20 euros per person, while not all clubs allow visitors after midnight. Those who are lucky enough to get inside are offered all sorts of cocktails, Laser show, dance music, performances by artists and dancers. In other words, in Riga clubs you will find the whole range of entertainment for young people.

Mass celebrations in Riga

You can cheaply meet the New Year 2019 in Riga in crowded places. On the night of January 1, they will be:

The main Christmas tree on the Town Hall Square;
Embankment November 11;
Freedom Monument.

Stages will be set up here, where the hosts of the holiday and artists will perform. All those present will be able to dance round the Christmas trees, dance to fiery rhythms, see colorful fireworks over the Daugava, which will be the culmination of the holiday. Interesting fact: in Riga it is allowed to bring alcohol with you to public events however, the bottle must be packed in an opaque bag. At the same time, permission does not mean permissiveness, and polite police officers who have gone over their norm will take them out of the holiday.

Latvian capital - ancient city, where dozens of sights have been preserved. Among them:

The Dome Cathedral;
Riga castle;
Church of St. Peter;
Large and Small Guilds.

Most of the cult historical monuments includes the old city. All castles, churches and ancient buildings located in this part of Riga is very compact, and you can see them in just 1 day. For those wishing to learn more about the history of the capital of Latvia and the significance of various sights, we recommend taking a sightseeing tour of the city. Its cost is 15-20 euros per person.

For fans of historical expositions, the Riga Ethnographic Museum will kindly open its doors (admission - 1 euro). Exhibitions in several halls tell about the formation of Latvians as a nation, their habits, customs and way of life. Organ music concerts are held daily in the Dome Cathedral during the Christmas holidays. For a nominal fee, anyone can listen to works of art that are in the walls ancient temple sound even more majestic.

New Year 2019 in Riga will surely bring a lot of positive, joy and fun. The city has everything necessary for tourists - from ancient castles to modern shopping centers and water parks. Having visited the capital of Latvia at least once, you will appreciate its mystery, originality, rich historical heritage.

Fireworks for the New Year in Riga you can see in the following video:

The thinner the tear-off calendar becomes, and the closer the mark “December 31” is on its pages, the more actively the “spirit of the traveler” wakes up in me, and the question arises in my head where to celebrate the New Year. For several years now, I cannot imagine 10 days of New Year's holidays spent in own city not on some (however modest) journey.

Last year, my choice fell on visiting Riga on New Year's holidays: I prefer to spend the New Year at home, as I conservatively consider it a home holiday that should be spent with family. However, I prefer to spend the following days not on watching New Year's TV shows, but on discovering new cities and even countries.

To be honest, the New Year's trip to Riga was a somewhat spontaneous decision for me: my husband and I simply purchased a travel coupon on one of the sites. At the time of purchase, we had a valid Schengen visa, so no additional surcharges arose.

So, we had to leave Penza for Moscow on January 1 in the evening, and on January 2, transfer to the bus in the capital, and spend another 11 hours on the road to Latvia. To get to know Riga, we had three full days and then, also by bus, we went back. So, what is it, New Year's Riga?

Riga-Moscow by bus: impressions

To be honest, I am accustomed to traveling in any form and on any mode of transport. Plane, car, bus, train - I can endure everything with absolute comfort, regardless of the distance that I have to overcome. That is why moving Riga-Moscow by bus was relatively easy for me. Most of the travel time was in the evening and at night, so I just slept.

Our transfer was carried out on a comfortable bus of the famous European company "Ecolines": the seats were comfortable and comfortable for sleeping, there was a dry closet in the bus cabin, which functioned all the way. In addition, a nice flight attendant was always at the service of passengers, always ready to bring you an extra blanket, or take an order for drinks and food from a special menu (of course, paid).

In general, we were on the road for about 12 or 13 hours. We left Moscow at 4 pm, and early in the morning we were already in Riga.

Accommodation in a hotel in Riga for the New Year holidays

We were not immediately settled in the hotel, as we arrived in the city very early. However, things were allowed to be left at the reception. We were to stay at the Monte Cristo 4 * hotel ( reviews and booking) on the outskirts of the old town (address: Kal?ju iela 56, R?ga, LV-1050). I immediately liked the hotel: made in the spirit of old England, it is located in an old Riga house on a very beautiful narrow street paved with real stone.

Inside, everything is also decorated in the appropriate style, however, everything is new, clean and modern. Our room was on the third (and last) floor of the hotel and was medium in size. And in the mornings we were awakened not by the sounds of cars and buses, but by the cries of real sea gulls.

By the way, one evening we used the services of a local restaurant, and within 30 minutes they brought us a very tasty, hot pizza directly to the room.

By the way, the breakfasts at the hotel were also good: the restaurant is located on the minus ground floor (probably a former basement) and is very stylized (in the form of a palace banquet hall). Guests are invited to Buffet with a pretty good selection of food. Of course, one should not forget that in tourist cities Europe's buffet cannot be compared with treats in resort hotels. However, it was impossible to leave the table hungry here.

The most wonderful thing about this hotel is its location. For myself, I very clearly understood that finding the best accommodation in this regard is not at all easy. The hotel is located on the very outskirts of the Old Town: on the one hand, all the main attractions are within easy reach (7-10 minutes on foot), on the other hand, it was quiet here even on New Year's turbulent nights, as there was nothing for the crowd of tourists directly on our street look.

That is why everyone who wants to visit Riga during the New Year holidays, or at any other time of the year, I recommend choosing accommodation on the outskirts of the Old Town. Moreover, this is a significant savings on transport - you can reach any interesting point on foot.

Riga on New Year's holidays: what to see?

In the cost of our trip from travel company included only travel and accommodation, as well as medical insurance. However, for me it was a plus - I like to plan my travels on my own. We had relatively little time - only 3.5 days - and we wanted to use them as efficiently as possible.

Day one (arrival)

After we had placed our things in the hotel, we had to urgently look for something to do before checking into the hotel, which was planned at 13 o'clock. Since almost everything around was still closed, and we didn’t really want to go to the sights in travel clothes, we went to the Forum Cinemas “Kino Citadele” located directly across the road from the hotel, where we spent several hours waiting in warmth and comfort. By the way, do not be afraid that in the cinema you will not be able to understand a word - there are many screenings with films in Russian. Just make sure to ask at the checkout in advance.

Then we checked into our hotel in the hotel, put ourselves in order and decided to walk around the city quite a bit. We devoted the rest of the day to simply exploring Old Riga, visiting its Christmas markets, of which there are many.

When it got dark, we just admired the city, decorated with New Year's lights, and festive shops.

We then returned to our hotel room and went to bed early to recharge for the next day.

Second day

On this day, we planned to visit the main sights of the Old Town in Riga and visit the festival taking place here in honor of the birthday of Sherlock Holmes ( Feedback about the holiday).

Our itinerary is as follows:

Dome Square and Dome Cathedral;

Town Hall Square and the House of the Blackheads;

Church of St. Peter;

Monument to the Bremen Town Musicians;

Swedish gate;

Three brothers.

A walk through these and some other sights of Riga took us the entire first half of the day from morning until lunch. Then we went to the celebration of Sherlock Holmes's birthday, which I described in more detail in a separate article.

In the evening, we had planned a visit to the Chekhov Russian Theater in Riga. We watched a comedy production called The Whole Truth About Women. By the way, I advise all theater-goers planning to visit Riga not to ignore the work of this theater. The acting here is simply amazing. There will be no language barrier, as all performances are in Russian.

After the performance, we walked around the evening city a little more and enjoyed the New Year's atmosphere, which, despite the absence of snow, was literally in the air here, and returned to our hotel.

Day Three

On this day, we agreed to rent a car in Riga, and went to explore the suburbs of the capital of Latvia. Our route consisted of two main destinations:

Deer farm in Mora, the story of the visit to which I devoted a separate article;

Castle in Sigulda.

To be honest, we really enjoyed traveling around Latvia by car. It's very good roads and quite a bit of traffic on the highways. Given the fact that there was no snow at all during our stay in the country, it was quite safe and calm to drive.

Day four (departure day)

We decided to dedicate the last day of our stay in Riga (or rather half of the day) to visiting Christmas markets, buying souvenirs and gifts, and shopping. As a result, by the time our bus arrived, we were very tired, but very pleased.

To be honest, the trip to Riga was one of the most atmospheric and somehow festive in my memory. If you still doubt whether the capital of Latvia is suitable for spending the New Year holidays here - do not hesitate, the answer is definitely “Yes!”.

Selection of hotels in Riga

Do you want to celebrate the New Year in Riga? We will tell you how and how much it costs: prices for hotels and restaurants in 2019, weather, what to do on vacation, as well as reviews from tourists.

The festive atmosphere in Latvia lasts longer in winter than in others European capitals. Here they celebrate the New Year and two Christmases - according to the Catholic and Orthodox calendars. Riga welcomes its guests with bright illuminations and Christmas markets, and even bridges and buildings glow in a special solemn and a little mysterious way.

How is New Year celebrated in Riga?

In Riga, Christmas trees of the most unusual and bizarre shapes can be found throughout the city. The capital surprises tourists with unusual creations: wooden, mirror, LED Christmas trees and even labyrinth Christmas trees. Forest beauties adorn Domskaya and Station Squares.

If you are going to celebrate the New Year 2019 in Riga, we recommend that you arrive on December 23-24 to take part in the celebration and catholic christmas Same. From mid-December, Christmas markets open, the largest of which are on the Dome Square, in the Egle Park on Kalku Street, on the esplanade and Livu Square. Here you can taste confectionery, the famous Riga bread, local beer and mulled wine, buy leather and amber souvenirs, handicrafts.

Most of the townspeople and tourists gather on December 31 at the Freedom Monument and on the 11 November Embankment near the Daugava River. A stage with screens is set up here, people are entertained with songs and dances. On this day, it is officially allowed to drink alcoholic drinks on the street, which you can bring with you or buy right there in tents. Exactly at midnight fireworks rumble over the river. The youth go out to have fun night club, Essential, Faraons, Saxophone, Big Point, Casablanca are very popular.

December weather

The weather in the capital during the New Year holidays is unpredictable: the fallen snow can easily be replaced by rain and temperatures up to +5°C. But most often there is snow and a slight frost of -1 ... -4 ° C or near zero, however, high humidity and piercing wind increase the feeling of cold. You need to dress warmly, it is advisable to have waterproof and windproof clothes.

Where to go and what to do during the winter holidays

Most interesting place for tourists in the capital of Latvia - Old Riga, city center. Here are located ancient castles, buildings and churches, everything is quite compact, so you can easily see the main sights in 1-2 days, periodically warming up in cozy cafes. So observation deck Peter's Cathedral offers a magnificent panorama of the Old Town.

If the weather is not too conducive to walking, you can use the services tourist buses. The red sightseeing bus departs from the National Opera House. Sightseeing tour usually lasts about 1.5-2 hours.

In the Dome Cathedral for Catholic and Orthodox Christmas and on New Year's Eve traditional Christmas concerts are held with the participation of local and foreign performers. Any day you can come in and listen to a small 20-minute organ concert, which is given here at noon.

History buffs will be able to visit the local Ethnographic Museum, the exposition tells about the way of life of Latvians in the Middle Ages, exhibitions of applied art are also held here.

What else to do in Riga after the New Year 2019? If the weather and time permit, you can go to Jurmala to breathe in the healing sea air, admire the castles in Rundale or Cēsis. At the entrance to Jurmala, there is the Livu water park, which is open on holidays. The water park has a swimming pool, tower, slides, Finnish and Turkish saunas, a jacuzzi, so you can safely go there for the whole day.

According to reviews, the prices for clothes and shoes of branded brands are lower here than in Moscow, even without sales, so you can successfully buy. True, on January 1, all major shopping centers, as well as museums, are closed, they only work grocery stores from 10-11 am. Cafes and restaurants open in the afternoon.

Restaurants in Riga to welcome the New Year - 2019

Not all establishments in Riga are open on New Year's Eve, so it's better to take care of the place in advance, as many serve group orders and you won't be able to get there "from the street". It is easier for tourists to find a hotel with a restaurant; most hotels organize festive banquets.