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For a great day trip out of Riga, catch local bus number 1 to the Ethnographic Open Air Museum (the stop is called Brivdabas Muzejs). Here you can view authentic wooden houses, windmills and farmsteads from all over Latvia set in a beautiful pine forest on Lake Jugla.
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Riga
Drift through the cobbled streets and the Old Town squares taking in the wonderful variety of architecture – Gothic, Baroque, Renaissance and Art Nouveau. Here you will find the city's main attractions, the Cathedral and the Castle. Make time for the Occupation Museum which brings the past to life. Watch the locals haggle in the Central Market, cunningly converted from old Zeppelin hangars, or join them relaxing in Bastejkalns Park. Pick a gift of exquisite amber jewellery before trying hearty Latvian food, washed down with a local beer. For a contrast try to get tickets for the opera or a classical music performance.
When to go...
Riga is certainly a city with a lot going on. For all things musical, consider the Riga Opera Festival, an annual event taking place in June at the Latvian National Opera. One of the most celebrated festivities in Latvia is the midsummer Festival of Ligo or Jani, a celebration of the summer solstice and the feast day of St. John the Baptist. Traditionally wreaths of leaves and flowers are worn on the head and folk songs are chanted everywhere. Also around midnight, bonfires are lit and jumped over for good luck. The sun goes down for only a short while so it is a magical time to stay awake and walk around the Old Town.
