Parks and the outdoors in Riga

Parks and the outdoors in Riga

1. DoVecrīga

   Bastion Hill

   A small, pleasant park surrounding Brivibas Bulvaris. Sites in the Bastejkalns include a Chinese and a Japanese building, and the Bridge of Love over the Pilsetas Canal. The Bridge of Love has several locks on the railings put up by recently married couples. There is also a memorial to the two people killed here in the tumultuous events of 1991.

2. DoCentrs

   Esplanade Park

   Designed by Georg Kuphaldt, who was expelled by Germany in 1915 as a spy because he had a telescope in his garden.

3. EatVecrīga

   Gardenia at Hotel Garden Palace

   Mediterranean and European cuisine. Cosy and elegantly casual restaurant.

   Open now · closes 11 pm·€5 and up

4. EatOuter East Bank

   Lido Entertainment Center

   The wooden building features three floors of dining, a built-in wooden windmill, and a small amusement park outside. The ground floor and basement operate cafeteria-style. There is a huge choice available, including a variety of soups including borscht and the Latvian cold beetroot soup, as well as kebabs, breasts, chicken sausages, fish, red meats. Blinis are another specialty here.

   Main restaurant: daily 11:00-23:00, express restaurant: daily 13:00-23:00, beer cellar: Mon-Fri 18:00-00:00, holidays 12:00-00:00, playroom: Mon-Fri 17:00-22:00, holidays 12:00-22:00·Cafeteria: €3.30 for a meat main course and €0.70 for a plateload of roast potatoes. Pancakes for €0.60. Top floor: Buffet for set price of €16

5. SeeOuter East Bank

   Mežaparks district

   Forest Park is a pleasant park area on the outskirts of Riga. There are large, gorgeous residential houses once inhabited by Riga's prewar elite during the summers. They were largely let go during Soviet times but many are now being refurbished, repainted, and brought back to their original glory.

6. SeePārdaugava

   National Library

   Nacionalā Bibliotēka

   An important part of the West Bank's cityscape, the National Library was built in 2008-13. It is perhaps the most remarkable part of the "New Riga" giving a more gentle feel to skyscrapers and other high-tech buildings that have been constructed on the West Bank of the Daugava since independence. The building was nicknamed the "Castle of Light" (Gaismas Pils), and the architect intended to mimic the towers of Vecriga, although casual tourists may rather see it as a cruise ship that has just arrived from the Baltic Sea and is anchored across the river from the Old Town.

7. SeeOuter East Bank

   Old Jewish cemetery

   A huge area that reminds of the Jewish population of Latgales apkaime. Established in early 18th century, this cemetery kept expanding till the beginning of 20th century. After all local Jews were exterminated by the Nazis during World War II, Soviet government destroyed the remaining gravestones and converted the area into a Park of Communist Brigades. Now there is a small Jewish memorial.

8. SeeVecrīga

   Riga Castle

   Rīgas Pils

   One of the medieval castles in Latvia, on the bank of the river, which is now the seat of the Latvian president. The museum in the castle can be visited by the public.

9. SeeOuter East Bank

   Riga Ethnographic Open Air Museum

   Latvijas Etnogrāfiskais Brīvdabas Muzejs

   The museum is in Jugla, near a lake of the same name. There are many traditional Latvian countryside houses collected in a forest/park and exhibitions inside them about the traditional things. The employees are often dressed in the traditional Latvian costumes, creating a nice atmosphere.

10. SeeVecrīga

    The Large Guild

    Housed the guild of the tradesmen, who would join after being a member of the Blackheads (see House of Blackheads). Home to the Latvian Philharmonic – you can't just walk inside. It's the exterior that's worth seeing though.

11. SeeVecrīga

    Triangula Bastion

    A modern building with an excavated fragment of the historical fortification wall system along the river. The building has the best view terraces in Riga.

    09:00:22:00·Free

12. SeePārdaugava

    University of Latvia Botanical Garden

    Botaniskais Darzs

    The Botanical Garden is quite large and featuring an impressively broad and well-cultivated collection of plant species. The long history of the garden is reflected in its rich built heritage. There is a butterfly house within the garden's grounds, where you can experience free-flying tropical butterflies. Apart from botanical interests, the garden is simply beautiful and great for a stroll.

    Apr-Sep 09:00-19:00, other months 10:00-16:30, Butterfly House has shorter opening hours (check website)·€3, Butterfly House €4.50 extra

13. EatVecrīga

    Wok to Walk

    The Latvian location of the international chain of stir-fry restaurants. Choose your ingredients and watch them being cooked in a giant wok.

    Open now · closes midnight tomorrow·€6

14. SeePārdaugava

    Ķīpsala

    An island in the city centre with Nordic dwelling architecture and a beach that is very popular in the summer.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Riga (CC BY-SA 4.0).