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Do you want to find interesting things to do in Riga? Are you visiting Riga for a corporate event or incentive? Riga Out There has been offering Tours in Riga and Excursions in Latvia since the beginning of 2005.
The best way to travel in Riga or to travel in Latvia is to let Riga Out There Team organize it for you ! Our professional and personable organisation is based in Latvia and, because we deal directly with our providers on a daily basis, we are able to offer you unmatched value for money. In fact, there are so many things to see and do in Riga that we have a whole section dedicated to it: Riga Things To Do!
When you travel to Riga you will find fun activities and cultural tours to suit the tastes of every individual, couple, family and group.Our Tours & Activities guarantee fun in Riga. From the adrenaline buzz of AK-47 Shooting to a thrilling ride down a Riga Bobsleigh Track, a Riga weekend is like no other you will have experienced. If you are interested in Riga Culture or in Riga History then we have the Riga sightseeing tours, Latvian day trips and Riga cultural tours for you.
Alternatively, if Riga Nightlife is the thing you want to experience then we will ensure that you visit Riga's best Bars and Clubs. Because at Riga Out There we know all the best places and people if you really want to Party in Riga! So whether you are a group of friends, a couple or individual, or a Stag Weekend planning to hold your stag in Riga we know all there is to know about Riga nightlife.
Many visitors arriving in Riga for the first time are very happy that we pick you up from Riga Airport. Returning guests enjoy being met at Riga Airport and sitting back and relaxing while the familiar faces of Riga Out There's friendly staff Transfer you to your hotel. And if you wish to travel in Riga in real luxury and style we also provide the best form of Riga transport - a Riga Limousine Transfer.
For those of you looking for Alternative Things to do in Riga you can enjoy a Riga Bicycle tour, enabling you to explore the industrial, urban and undiscovered corners of the Latvian capital. Alternative Riga Nightlife, Restaurants and Sightseeing Tours are also a brilliant way to experience a different side of Latvia and of Riga before you return to the comfort of your Riga Hotel. If you are searching for accommodation in Riga, whether it is top class Riga hotels or simply a Cheap Hotel in Riga then we are also the people to help you find and book the perfect Accommodation in Riga.
Riga Out There offers original and highly imaginative sightseeing tours to all of Latvia and Riga's best Tourism Attractions - before everybody discovers them in 2014! Riga is one of Europe's hidden treasures when it comes to fascinating History and Culture. But not for long! Riga will be the 2014 European Capital of Culture...and, finally, the secret will be out. In the mean time, however, Riga Out There offers original and highly imaginative sightseeing tours to all of Latvia and Riga's best Tourism Attractions - before everybody discovers them in 2014!
Our Riga Travel Guides organise Riga Tours and tailor-made Latvian Excursions to the most interesting tourist sites in Latvia. Our Sightseeing Tours in Riga, Latvian Daytrips and Riga cultural tours include popular experiences such as the Riga Old Town Walking Tour and the Riga Sightseeing and Balzams Experience.
For a visit to one of northern Europe's most beautiful palaces or a Cold War step-back-in-time try out our Rundale Palace day trip and Riga Out There's Nuclear Bunker Tour. And if you want to keep the atmosphere distinctly retro why not join one of our extremely popular Back to the USSR tours?
When it comes to culture, Riga certainly has more to offer than your usual European city. To help you decide the best way to use your time in Latvia we have written a Riga Cultural Guide that tells you all you need to know about Riga's amazing Art Nouveau District, UNESCO-listed Old Town and world famous churches. In fact, our cultural guide lets you know everything you need to know about pretty much everything in the Latvian capital including Riga's parks, waterways and districts.
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Population
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The population of Riga is split almost 50-50 between ethnically Latvian and Russian people. 2.3 million in Latvia. 800,000 in Riga |
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The price of living continues to go up at a startling pace, but most things will still seem very cheap compared to many other European cities. |
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Size
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64,000 sq.m, so slightly smaller than Ireland
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· Berlin – 1300 · Brussels 2030 · Helsinki 370 · London 2370 · Madrid 3650 · Moscow 840 · Oslo 870 · Paris 2360 · Prague 1360 · Rome 2570 · Stockholm 440 · Tallinn 320 · Vilnius 290 · Vienna 1380 |
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Time Difference
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GMT + 2 hours.
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Ethnic Population
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Latvia has the greatest population of Russians of the Baltic States, especially in the capital (55% of Riga's population is Russian). |
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Electricity
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The electricity current is 220V AC 50Hz so if you are coming from the UK bring a European plug adaptor with you. |
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Taxis
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Taxis are cheap but as in most European cities there are plenty of rip-off merchants out there. Taxis should cost around 50 centimes per kilometre. It pays to agree a fare in advance rather than relying on the often suspect metre. |
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Emergencies
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In an emergency dial 112. |
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Dining in Riga Real estate Transport to Latvia AIRPORT CONNECTIONS: Riga International airport is expanding at a breathtaking rate. Last year there were almost 2 million passengers with that number expected to double within two years. Direct connections to the UK include London's Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports; as well as Manchester and Liverpool. There are also numerous direct services from Riga to Dublin. BUS CONNECTIONS are numerous but due to its geographical position expect most international bus journeys from Riga to be long. The central bus station is open from 5am until midnight. The nearby train station offers direct journeys to Russia, Belarus, Lithuania and Estonia. Trains are cheap but journeys tend to take longer than if use buses. FERRY CONNECTIONS : The Latvian port Ventspils has ferry connections to Germany, Sweden and the Estonian island Saaremaa. Money matters Gone are the days when travellers arrived in Riga with a fistful of Dollars ready to exchange for local currency. Although for peace of mind travellers should still consider bringing travellers' cheques with them, it is interesting to note that Riga has one of the highest number of ATM cash machines of all the capital cities in Europe. Ironically, the Latvian Lat is almost identical in value to the British Pound. (give or take +/-2%) There are 100 centimes in a Lat. So if a coffee costs 80 centimes, you are paying 80 pence. A five Lat taxi ride will cost you 5 Pounds in British money. Note that the highest denomination note is 500 Lats! There are a number of ATM machines as well as a Bureau de change at Riga international airport. Almost every restaurant and shop in the capital accepts credit and debit cards. Bank opening times are 9am-5pm; Monday to Friday. Several exchange bureaus are open 24-7. Driving regulations Health and visa regulations Citizens of EU countries do not need a visa to enter Latvia. UK visitors are permitted to stay for up to 90 You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK. No injections are required for visitors although Tick-borne encephalitis is a problem in Latvia, especially in some parts of the countryside during the summer months from May to August. If in doubt, you should consult your GP about inoculations against Tick-Borne Encephalitis. If you plan to visit the Latvian countryside during the summer months, be sure to bring plenty of mosquito repellant!! Elderly travellers should be aware that temperatures can drop to as low as minus 30 degrees in winter.
Visitors might be surprised to learn that Latvian food has a lot of similarities with British food given the geographical disparity between the two. Potatoes,dairy products, meat and fish are the mainstay. When Latvians eat at home they like to have big, hearty portions that please the stomach rather than the eye. Since joining the EU the prices in restaurants have more than doubled. Don't let this put you off though, as you're still likely on the whole, to pay about half the price for a meal that you do in other major European cities. The restaurant scene has developed at an incredible pace in recent years. Forget your tired and clichéd Soviet stereotypes where Riga is concerned – the city offers everything from Tibetan to Czech food, with Japanese restaurants full of kimono wearing waitresses currently all the rage. The Latvians aren't so keen on fast food, so unless you are a McDonalds aficiendo be prepared to sit down, be patient and treat your dining experience with the respect it deserves. There are a number of establishments which serve food round the clock, while most restaurants don't stop serving until at least 10pm.
Real estate prices in Latvia have increased by anything from 300-800 per cent over the last 5 years. Although the gravy train won't reward you with those sorts of returns in the short-term any more there are still plenty of opportunities available to buy a second home in Latvia or play the real estate game. Most analysts predict that prices in the real estate market will continue to grow by 20 per cent per annum in the coming few years. But be warned! If you are going to invest in real estate in Latvia seek out the services of a legal representative. After all, you wouldn't go into a house purchase at home with your eyes closed. The most sought after areas are Vecriga, Jurmala, Mezaparks and the Art Nouveau Districts around the centre of Riga. Update September 2007: The Latvian real estate market is experiencing some''readjustments' at the current time. New laws have been brought in to discourage pure speculation and prices are expected to fall temporarily.
Latvia's roads differ widely in quality ranging from recently upgraded dual-carriageway to nothing more than dirt tracks in places. Recently the police have begun to crackdown on reckless driving due to the country having one of the highest death toll rates in Europe. The speed limit in towns is generally 50 km/h, with this increasing to 90 kph on the country's open roads. Remember - drink driving is for idiots, and with taxis so cheap in Latvia who needs to risk such a thing anyway?
As is the case on most of the continent Latvians drive on the right-hand side of the road. Comprehensive car insurance is a must. Winter tyres are a legal requirement between December 1 and March 1.
days in any six-month period. For further details on this visit www.am.gov.lv. All visitors are advised to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before they set off for Latvia. British nationals intending to live and work in Latvia will need to obtain a residence permit from the Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs.
