subject: Things To See And Do In Riga, Latvia [print this page] Riga is the largest city and Capital of Latvia. Situated on the northern Baltic Sea coast and on the mouth of the Daugava River, Riga is an important seaport, as well as a major commercial, cultural, financial and industrial center of the Baltics.
Riga is home to 715,000 inhabitants as of 2009, and is only surpassed in size within the Baltic region by St. Petersburg and Stockholm.
Riga is known for its extensive and wonderful Art Nouveau buildings, where you'll find whole streets of wonderfully adorned houses in central Riga. Alberta Iela is the best place to experience this architecture in Riga. There are other architectural wonders as well, such as the Three Brothers, which are striking examples of medieval residential buildings, dating back to the 15th century.
Riga Castle is also a noteworthy structure, and it is the official residence of the president of Latvia as well as housing the Museum of Latvian History and the Museum of Foreign Art. In the old town, you can't miss the Riga Cathedral, as it dominates the landscape. Built in the year 1211, the Cathedral is arguably the largest medieval church in the Baltics.
Riga features a rich cultural scene, with a number of old established theaters. The Riga Russian theater is the oldest professional drama theatre in the country, dating back to 1883. The Latvian national Opera dates back to 1918, and features all of the opera masterpieces, as well as ballet. The Latvian National Theatre is one of the most beautiful buildings in Riga, and features the Latvian Drama School.
There are many great attractions in Riga, including the Riga Zoo, the Riga Circus which is the only permanently situated Circus in the Baltics, the Riga Museum of History and Navigation, and the V"rmanes Garden, just to name a few.
Visit Riga between May and September, as you will be able to enjoy the open air attractions and museums as well as avoid the biting cold of winter in Latvia.
