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Tourist Places to Visit in Riga, Latvia, Europe

Tourist Places to Visit in Riga, Latvia, Europe

Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia is geographically positioned at 56°56′56″ N 24°6′23″ E. It is the financial, commercial, industrial and cultural centre of Latvia and it also houses one third population of the country. Riga is one of the member cities of Eurocities and the Union of Capitals of the European Union.

Geography of Riga:

Riga is situated at the mouth of the River Daugava on the Gulf of Riga between 1 and 10 meters elevation. The city of Riga spans over an area of 304 sq. km.

History of Riga:

The origin of the name Riga is uncertain, although, one theory states that, Riga derives its name from the Riege or River Rīdzene which is a tributary of the River Daugava.

According to the historical sources, Riga was founded in the year 1201 and Livs were the original settlers of Riga. The major historical landmarks in Riga include the building of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, the Riga Castle and the Freedom Monument.

How to reach Riga?

Riga is served by its own airport, called Riga International Airport which is located in Marupe municipality, around 10 km away from the heart of the Riga city. Including London, Frankfurt and Moscow, the Riga Airport operates flights to numerous major European cities.

The major airport transfers include:

Baltic Taxi
Riga Limo
Riga Airport Transfers
Airbaltic Airport Express

Riga has a good connectivity to all around the country by both train and bus services and few international connections as well.

Taxis and rental vehicles are very common in the city.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Riga:

Being a cultural capital of Latvia, along with Umea in Sweden, Riga organizes the European Capital of Culture in 2014.

Some best shopping options in Riga include:

Central Market
Konventa Seta
Taste Latvia
Galerija Istaba

The reputed mid range and splurge restaurants in Riga are:

Sweetday Cafe
Alus Ordenis
Rozengrāls
Bergs

Things to do in Riga:

Riga Old Town Walking Tour
Riga Central Market Tour
Classical Old Riga walking tour
Grand Riga Tour

Must see in Riga:

House of the Blackheads:

The House of the Blackheads is very popular building located in the Ratslaukums 7 in the old town of Riga. It was originally erected in the 14th century and the current structure dates back to the 1990s. Don’t miss this twin building.

Riga Castle:

Dating back to 1330, the Riga Castle is the official house of the President of Latvia. It was rebuilt in the beginning of the 16^th century, 17th and 19th centuries after damaged by the opponent attacks.

St. Peter’s Church:

Constructed in 1209, the St. Peter’s Church is the oldest church of Riga. Tourists can enjoy an entire view of the Riga city by climbing up the tower of the church. The entrance fee is 4 Lats.

Other places of attractions near Riga include:

The National History Museum
Latvian National Museum of Art
Rundale Palace
Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
The Big Guild
Wagner Concert Hall
Jacob’s Catholic Church
Arsenal Museum of Art
Latvian Parliament
Museum of Foreign Art
Riga Cathedral
John’s Church
Porcelain Museum
Museum of the Barricades of 1991

Best time to visit Riga:

Throughout the year is best, especially from June to mid September is ideal to enjoy holidays in Riga.

Accommodation Options in Riga:

Riga houses most of the star rated hotels of Latvia along with dozens of modernized mid range hotels and budget options such as camping and hostels. The prominent hotels in Riga are listed below:

Radisson Blu Elizabete Hotel
Hotel Centra Riga
Hanza Hotel
Riverside Hotel
Maritim Park Hotel Riga
Albert Hotel
Hotel Avalon
Wellton Elefant Hotel
Opera Hotel & Spa
Europa Royale Riga
Radi un Draugi
Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija
Monika Centrum Hotel
Dodo Hotel
Hotel Garden Palace

Places to Visit in Rezekne, Latvia, Europe

Places to Visit in Rezekne, Latvia, Europe

Rezekne is a city belonging to the region of Latgalia in the eastern Latvia and spans over an area of 17.48 sq. km. It is popularly called as Latgales sirds, translating as the Heart of Latgalia, which refers the position of Rezekne in the Latgalia region. Rezekne is the seventh largest city in Latvia in terms of population.

Rezekne is home to many historical churches, museums, beautiful lakes, a typical statue and an art house, making it one of the major tourist destinations in Latvia.

Geography of Rezekne:

Rezekne coordinates with 56°30′23″ N latitude and 27°19′50″ E longitude, is located at an altitude of 158.2 meters, around 240 km east of the national capital, Riga and about 60 km from the border of Latvia and Russia.

History of Rezekne:

The history of the Rezekne dates back to the 13^th century with the construction of a stone fortress the knights (which is now Rēzekne castle ruins). Rezekne also witnessed the rule of Germans, Russians as well as Lithuanians in the past. Rezekne gained town rights in 1773.

How to reach Rezekne?

The Riga International Airport is the closest international airport to Rezekne, located about 250 km away from the Rezekne city. This is the most important airport of Latvia with flights to major European cities such as Minsk, elsinki, Frankfurt, Moscow, Munich, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Rome, Vienna and Warsaw.

Rezekne can be reached from the Riga Airport by taxi or scheduled bus services.

For local travel, tourists can use taxi or public transportation.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Rezekne:

There is a museum in Rezekne called the Latgale Culture and History Museum describes the history and culture of Rezekne by the exhibitions and galleries.

Rezekne is home to many upgraded shops and the major food corners in Rezekne include:

Mols
Ermanitis
Rozalija

Things to do in Rezekne:

Boating
Cycling
Visiting historical sites

Places to see in Rezekne:

Rēzekne Castle:

Constructed by Livonian Order in 1285, the Rezekne Castle is situated in the heart of Rezekne. It was heavily damaged in the Swedish-Russian War during the middle of the 17^th century. Now tourists can see the only ruins of the castle.

Evangelical Lutheran Holy Trinity Church:

Being one of the major churches in Rezekne, the Evangelical Lutheran Holy Trinity Church was constructed in the 1930s, designed in the neo gothic style architecture by the architect J.Cirulis.

Latgales Mara:

The Latgales Mara is a typical as well as one of the renowned statues in Rezekne, built to commemorate the Latgale’s liberation from the Bolsheviks. It was inaugurated on September 8, 1939 and Leons Tomašickis was the architect of this statue.

Other places of interests near Rezekne are as follows:

Heart of Jesus Cathedral
Orthodox Church of the Birth of Holy Jesus’ Mother
Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church
Nicholas Old-Believers’ Church
Green Synagogue
Kovšu lake
Latgale Culture and History Museum
Art House
The Embassy of Latgale GOR
Rāznaslake
Aquaterrarium
Lubāns Lake

Best time to visit Rezekne:

From June to August will be the best time to visit Rezekne.

Accommodation Options in Rezekne:

As like most Latvian cities, Rezekne houses limited number of hotels with decent facilities and services. For more facilitated hotels, tourists can reach neighboring city. Some of the fine hotels in and around Rezekne are listed below:

Hotel Latgale
Kolonna Hotel Rezekne
Hotel Razna
Raznas Licis
Meiranu Krasts
Viesu nams Rumes
Park Hotel Latgola
Hotel Dinaburg
Best Eastern Latvia Hotel
Ferienhaus Pilskalni
Sventes Muiza
Guest House Mazais Ansis
White Parrot Apartments
Guest House Aleksandria
Ritupes Starki
Paradize Hotel

Top Tourist Places to Visit in Ogre, Latvia, Europe

Top Tourist Places to Visit in Ogre, Latvia, Europe

Ogre is a Latvian town located in the central part of the country, around 35 km east of Riga, the capital of Latvia. It consists of 3 parts, namely Ogre, Jaunogre and Pārogre. The Coat of arms of the Ogre town features striking river and pinewoods of Ogre. Ogre is home to an exhibition centre, music and art schools, historical churches, cemetery and a beautiful park with different tree species.

Geography of Ogre:

Ogre is situated at the confluence of the rivers of Daugava and Ogre at 56°49′07″ N 24°36′20″ E covering an area of 13.58 sq. km.

History of Ogre:

The name of Ogre is derived from the river Ogre and it is believed that, the river Ogre was named by Catherine the Great of Russia. Ogre gained a health resort title in 1862 and town rights in the year 1929.

How to reach Ogre?

Ogre is served by the Riga International Airport which is around 45 km northwest of Ogre town and handles flights to major European cities such as Landon, Paris, Moscow, Budapest, Bucharest, Madrid, Amsterdam, Dublin, Oslo, Helsinki and Copenhagen.

For airport travel, tourists can take taxi at the airport or use coach service to save money. Ogre is also connected to Riga by regular train services.

Ogre houses many travel agencies offering cars and bikes for airport travel and sightseeing.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Ogre:

There are numerous nationally renowned churches and museums in Ogre including the Museum of Latvian Scouts and Guides and the Ogre Lutheran church.

Ogre is also home to many modernized shops with latest branded products as well as colorful important local art works.

Tourists can visit the following food corners to have some tasty traditional and international delicacies:

Police Academy
Dakota Cafe

Places to see in Ogre:

The Ogre Museum of History and Art:

Situated at Kalna prospekts 3 in Ogre, the Ogre Museum of History and Art is one of the main cultural centers in Ogre showcasing the rich history, culture and growth of the town with the objects and frequent exhibitions.

The Lazdukalni dendrology park:

The Lazdukalni dendrology park is located at Pavasara gatve 6 in Ogre covering an area of 8.5 hectors. This park is home to around 410 trees, hundreds of plantations and eye catching shrubs. Tourists can hike up of the hill.

St. Meinhard’s Roman Catholic Church:

Built in the 20^th century, the St. Meinhard’s Roman Catholic Church is known for its grand construction and holiness, designed by an architect L. Smits. It is situated at Meža prospekts 1 in Ogre.

Other places of interest in Ogre include:

The Pārogre Railway Station
The Museum of Latvian Scouts and Guides
The Ogre Lutheran church
Nicolas Brīnumdarītāja Orthodox church
Brīvības Street 12
The house “Kūrmāja”
The Lazdukalni dendrology park
Brīvības Street 11
The bridge over the River Ogre
BOVU Rehabilitation Centre “Ogre”
Zilokalnu Prospekts 17
The oak tree
A cemetery of German soldiers
War monuments

Best time to visit Ogre:

Ogre can be visited between the months of May and September while the weather remains pleasant.

Accommodation Options in Ogre:

Ogre is a colorful town housing some standard accommodation centers with all the basic facilities and services. Tourists can refer the hotels of neighboring towns for more comfort and better hospitality services. Here are the some fine hotels in and around Ogre:

Gastehaus Pukkalnini
Tambovici
Guest House Vecupe
Prieka Pietura
Dikli Palace Hotel
Hotel Wolmar
Baltvilla Viesnica Hotel
Aparjods Hotel
Gastehaus Pukkalnini
Segevold Hotel
Kolonna Hotel Cesis
Vecgulbenes muiza
Senleja Hotel
Motel Vejakalns
Birnu Palace
Ferienhaus Ziedu Gravas

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Liepaja, Latvia, Europe

Beautiful Tourist Places to Visit in Liepaja, Latvia, Europe

Liepaja is a city located in the western Latvia between latitude 56°30′42″ in the north and longitude 21°00′50″ in the east. It is the 3^rd largest city in Latvia behind Riga and Daugavpils holding a major ice-free port. Liepaja belongs to the region of Kurzeme housing many reputed educational institutions of the county namely the University of Liepaja, the Liepaja Applied Art School and the Liepaja Marine College.

Geography of Liepaja:

Situated on the Baltic Sea, Liepaja is spread over an area of 60.4 sq. km, around 215 km southwest of Riga, the capital of Latvia. Liepaja experiences a temperate marine climate with a cool summer and mild winter.

History of Liepaja:

It is believed that, Curonian fishermen of Piemare were the first settlers of Liepaja, with the foundation of the settlement on the Liva River called Liva which takes its name from the river deriving from the Livonian term Liiv (sand). Liepaja was one of the prime cities during the Soviet Union rule in Latvia.

Connectivity to Liepaja:

The Palanga International Airport is the closest airport to Liepaja, located around 65 km away from Liepaja with scheduled flights to Riga, Copenhagen, Oslo and seasonal flights to Dublin, London, and Moscow.

The Riga international Airport is situated about 220 km east of Liepaja and operates flights from and to the major European cities including Rome, Frankfurt and Madrid.

Liepaja has a good connectivity with Riga, Kuldiga and Ventspils by regular bus services and it costs about 6.40 Lats from Riga to Liepaja. Railway connection is also good to Riga.

Culture, Food and Shopping in Liepaja:

Liepaja is the place of many grand festivals including the Baltic Beach Party. Liepaja also houses many museums concentrating on the history and culture of the region.

The major shopping options in Liepaja include:

Ostmala
XL Sala
Ezerkrasts
Kurzeme

List of the fine restaurants in Liepaja include:

Barons Bumbiers
Fontaine Royal
Old Captain
Kolumbs

Things to do in Liepaja:

Windsurfing
Swimming
Visiting historical sites

Places of Interest in Liepaja:

Beaches in Liepaja:

The whitest sandy beaches are the top tourist attractions of Liepaja and the major beaches include Vecliepaja and Dienvidrietumi. There is a biggest music festival of Latvia was held at the central beach of Liepaja.

Seaside Park:

Situated in the western portion of the Liepaja city, the Seaside Park or Jurmala Park is spread over an area of 70 hectors measuring a length of 3 km. It is home to a bowling center, 3 stadiums, mini-golf, many attractive plants and colorful events in the summer months.

Craftman’s House:

Housing world’s longest amber necklace (123 meters), the Craftman’s House is one of the major tourist destinations in Liepaja. A necklace has a weight of around 20 kg.

Other places of attractions near Liepaja include:

Saint Anne’s Church
Statue of Hermes
Joseph’s Cathedral
Liepāja Holy Trinity Lutheran Cathedral
The Saint Trinity Cathedral
Meynard’s Church
Liepaja Lake
Orthodox cathedral
Submarine Accumulator Fence and Hangar
Twinned town of Chernobyl
Horse Arena
Temporary Art Gallery
Karosta Prison
The Liepaja Museum
Libava Fortress

Best time to visit Liepaja:

From the beginning of August to the end of September is the best time to travel Liepaja to explore beautiful beaches.

Accommodation Options in Liepaja:

Tourists can choose any kind hotels in Liepaja as per their requirement and budget condition including five star, mid range and cheap. For budget travelers, hostels are ideal. The prominent hotels in Liepaja are listed below: