This little known museum has an amazing collection of soviet era helicopters and even some jets. It is run by a private collector who has built up the collection over the past ten years. Rarely seem outside Russia these copters and planes are impressive and interesting and if you have an hour whilst waiting for your flight can be seen for small fee

www.aviamuseum.org/EN/
Ten min walk from the main terminal...ask the helpful staff on the information kiosk inside the building as other staff seem unaware of its existence (as do official tourist info in riga)
full info and list of exhibits here
aviamuseum.org/EN/
Only bettered by the equally unknown air museum at east midlands aiport (ask in aircraft model shop...the only one I have ever found in an airport even though that would seem a great place for one!)

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A quirky little museum that claims to be the only museum in the world devoted to the Sun. I have no reason to doubt this claim and the museum has a section on astronomy (currently only in Latvian except for a short dvd) and a collection of sun related sculptures and painted sun signs from all over the world. As well as being artistic they also reveal a lot about the attitude of humans to the sun, from the all seeing eye sun from Turkey to the animated Indonesian sun devil and traditional Latvian sun charms. You also get the chance to create your own sun sculpture. A quirky little museum created by a private collector

www.saulesmuzejs.lv/index_en.html
Vaļņu street 30, Riga, LV-1050
(+371) 67225587
Google map: bit.ly/16LskJU

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We had a great day out of Riga. Me and my friends from the UK booked the Liepaja tour from the local tour operator Around Latvia. I personally would recommend this tour if you are interested in the military and the history.

www.aroundlatvia.com

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One of the great pleasures of historic central Riga (Vecrīga) is aimless wandering, and you’ll find some of the most evocative streets and lanes at the northern end of the Old Town. Don’t miss the narrow, intimate Trokšnų iela, and the Swedish Gate at Aldaru iela. Close by are the equally photogenic Mazā Pils iela and Klostera iela.

Trokšnų iela, Aldaru iela, Mazā Pils iela & Klostera iela
Google map: bit.ly/SGH96M

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I visited on a chilly autumn morning in October so I needed something to stave off the cold. The hot chocolate and muffin that I ordered did the job perfectly. Among other things, Kuuka Kafe serves great coffee, superb homemade cakes (try the carrot cake), and panini. The interior is cosy and welcoming, and try to nab the very comfy sofa if you can. While not extortionate, Kuuka Kafe isn't the cheapest café in town, but it’s worth it, and you’ll probably find yourself going back at least once.

Grēcinieku iela 5, Old Town, Riga
(+371) 28 77 39 34
Google map: bit.ly/RWGvUq

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It's the best restaurant we found in Riga. The food is served in tapas sized portions so you can try three or four of them. Everything we had was great.

internationalsv.lv
Hospitalu 1, Riga, Latvia
+371 67 49 12 12
Google map: bit.ly/V3RomN

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We booked two day tours (the Grand Riga Tour and Sigulda Tour). Both were surprisingly good! The guides and service were excellent. Thanks Gatis and Gundega (tour guides) and Janis!

www.latviantourguides.com
+371 29787307

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‘Beaming Riga’ (Staro Rīga) is the festival of lights which transforms the panorama of Riga in dark evenings of November. November 18 is also the birthday of Latvia, so coming to Riga on these dates kills two birds with one stone. ‘Beaming Riga’ is a festival all around the city which transforms the city using light, video and
other technologies - buildings, squares, monuments, streets are live and talking through
technologies and creativity.
"Beaming Riga 2011” will take place in the city on 17th – 20st of November in urban
environment. Some more dark autumns evenings transformed into the urban fairy tale by
arts.

www.staro.lv/en

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‘Sound Forest’ (Skaņu Mežs) is a music festival which plays not only with your ears, but mostly with mind. The first Sound Forest was organized in 2003. The festival is organized to show the latest activities in the world of music and this is also a provocation for new angles in music. The artists in Sound Forest are surprising, boring, shocking, incomprehensible etc. These are brave artists from all over the world - the future of music – the music for which we are probably not ready yet. As the organizers of the festival say,
they are doing it to “knock the mind out of the comfortable and dull "reality" to remind
you of an alternative”.
Sound Forest 2011 will be in Riga on 16th – 17th of September.

www.skanumezs.lv/en/category/news-summary-in-english/
Miera street 58, Riga
+371 29464264
Google map: bit.ly/odTmG0

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This year is the XXI Riga International Film Festival "Arsenals" is happening from 10th – 18th of September, Every time the selection of Arsenals films highlights some period in the history of cinematography, and offer audience an opportunity to get to know a particular world region and its culture - this year focusing on the cinema of Southeastern Asia: the programme will offer films from Thailand, the Philippines,
Malaysia, „disguising, wrapping and winding the Oriental essence, applying codes and masks as the sign of the festival this year”.
Arsenals is an event that takes over Riga in autumn since 1986 showing the most vivid
international cinema events and the latest and most interesting Baltic films. Several cinema-related events and works of art are also coming out to the streets and screenings of classical silent films accompanied by live music performed by professional musicians is a great tradition of this festival.

Since 1998 Baltic Film Competition is a special section of Arsenals and screens
films produced in the Baltic region in the last two years. Tihs is the film festival
which demonstrates and rewards the latest and best Baltic feature films, short films,
documentaries and animated films.

www.arsenals.lv/en/
Blaumaņa street 31/15, LV 1011, Riga, Latvia
+371 67210114
Cinema ‘Kino Citadele’ and cinema ‘KSuns’
A subscription ticket for five films - 12Ls; 10 films - 20 lats.
Google map: bit.ly/nrThMG

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The contemporary arts forum White Night (Baltā Nakts) presents art, theatre, music,
movement and other art projects and performances. Every year White Night is organized all over the city at the end of August/beginning of September. ‘White Night 2011’ will be here on 10th of September. More than 65 art, music, theater, survival, performance
events in former factory VEF, Spikeri, Miera street, Old Town, and the centre of Riga
and in suburbs. Enjoy the beauty of arts all night long for free, heading form one place to
another! White Night forum is organized by Riga City Council Department of Culture in
cooperation with the active Latvian cultural organizations, involving a number of Latvian
and foreign artists. The city’s cafes, galleries, bookstores, clubs and other establishments
take an active part in the forum.
„White Night” is part of the joint “European White Nights” project by Brussels, Madrid,
Paris, Riga and Rome. This idea is also adopted by Amsterdam, Bucharest, Porto and
Valletta (Malta), as well as Toronto, Tokyo, Montreal, Chicago and other cities.

www.li.lv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=283&Itemid=1

* Kristine is our Been there local for Riga. Her page is here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/riga-local-kristine.jsp and she has her own blog here: www.friendinriga.blogspot.com

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In the Town Hall square next to the House of Blackheads you will aslo find The
Museum of the Occupation of Latvia housed in a black communist-era building -
.detailing events of Latvia's recent history, from the World War II occupations to the
events of independence in 1991, the museum is definitely worth a visit, in order to
gain a clearer understanding of Latvia.

www.omf.lv/
Strēlnieku laukums 1, Rīga LV-1050
+371 67212715
Google map: bit.ly/ni3iQJ

* * Kristine is our Been there local for Riga. Her page is here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/riga-local-kristine.jsp and she has her own blog here: www.friendinriga.blogspot.com

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The House of Blackheads in the Town Hall square built in 1344, is a stunning example of Gothic architecture. The original house was the headquarters of unmarried local merchants, known as the Blackheads. It was a place which played an important role in the life of society and traditions; VIPs from all over the Europe were often guests there and had wild secret parties.

A German merchant club the Brotherhood of Blackheads existed here until the middle
of the 20th century. On the top of the building you see a blue astronomical clock and inside the
building in the basement there is an exhibition about the history of the building. Its rooms and halls are rich with golden decorations, 19th century furnishings, paintings, the Latvian State highest award - the Three Star Order
- and the medal collection. Rooms of the building are also rented for cultural and private
events/celebrations, different concerts and exhibitions.

Rātslaukums 7, Riga, LV-1050
+371 67044300
Google map: bit.ly/o0kBd1

* Kristine is our Been there local for Riga. Her page is here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/riga-local-kristine.jsp and she has her own blog here: www.friendinriga.blogspot.com

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You will find the Town Hall square (Rātslaukums)
as you walk through The Old Town. And you don’t want to miss it because it’s what you see on postcards from Riga. You need to take your own picture at this place.
With stalls, workshops and various feasts The Town Hall Square used to be the centre of public life during The Middle Ages. Historians believe it
was originally a market place, but after expansion of the city in 1211 the Town Hall square was formed here. Punishments were executed and pageants used to be arranged here
as well. During World War II the luxurious development of the square was completely destroyed. Thanks to grand reconstruction works in this century the main buildings - the Town Hall and Blackheads House - have been restored.

Today at the Town Hall Square you will find a renovated House of Blackheads, souvenir shops, City Hall and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. In the centre of the square you can see a figure of Roland which is a symbol of judicial
power, freedom and independence of many European cities.

It’s located between Kaļķu Street and Grēcinieku Street, close to the river Daugava.
Google map: bit.ly/qYOlPf

* * Kristine is our Been there local for Riga. Her page is here: www.ivebeenthere.co.uk/articles/riga-local-kristine.jsp and she has her own blog here: www.friendinriga.blogspot.com

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To experience the feeling of being ‘up there’ you should visit the radio and television tower at Zaķusala - the 368 metre high tower in Riga which is the tallest in the European Union and a symbol of Riga.
The observation deck is the highest publicly accessible viewing point in Riga. From there you can easily see the city and in the right weather conditions you can see the Riga HES at Salaspils and the highest points of Sigulda (around 50km away from Riga), as well as the Gulf of Riga and ships in the gulf. Not many visitors, welcoming service staff.
You can book an excursion there (around 45min) or just go there and enjoy the view. For detailed information (mission, history, services, technical information etc) check their website. To get there you will have to take a trolley bus number 19 or 24 (at the city center) to the “Zaķusala” stop, which is located on the Salu Bridge. The tower is a 20 minutes walk from the bus stop. It is also possible to park buses and private cars at the tower car park.

www.tvtornis.lv/tvtornis/index.php?l=en
Zaķusalas krastmala 1, Rīga, LV-1050
+371 29409027
Google map: bit.ly/qMzZL9

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You get a great view of Riga from the 26th floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel Skyline bar in the city centre – there are beautiful sunsets you can enjoy together with your friends with a glass of your favorite drink there! Radisson Blue Hotel you will easily see walking just some three minutes from the Freedom Monument to the historical centre (away from the Old Town). The bar opens at 3 - 4PM, but you can't always get the table near the window and you can't reserve. But you can go there and walk around enjoying the sights, and you can do it for free. The best thing is that from this place you can enjoy the lights of Riga at night. If there are any free tables on the left side of the room – you are lucky, the view from there is the best. They have also panoramic elevators (and the view from the toilets is worth seeing).

www.skylinebar.lv/en
Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija, Elizabetes Str 55, Riga
+371 67772222
Google map: bit.ly/nAcbWa

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If visitors want a great view of Riga I usually advise them to go to the tower of the Academy of Sciences. It’s in the centre of Riga, it’s easy to go there and the view over Riga is really wide  - you can see the Old Town, the so called Moscow Suburbs of Riga, Central Market and you can enjoy the contrasts. The building itself was built after World War II, between 1953 and 1956 and it was the first skyscraper in the republic. The building is a cousin to similar Stalin-era skyscrapers in Warsaw and Moscow, and an example of Stalinist architecture. You can see the 360 degree wide birds eye view to Riga from the 17th-floor balcony (height of 65 metres, 213 ft).

www.lza.lv/index.php?mylang=english
Akademijas laukums 1, Riga, LV-1050, Latvia
+371 26804899
Google map: bit.ly/qiMpsQ

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The most popular place to see Riga from the height of birds is the Tower of St. Peters Church. The church is located in the Old Town, it’s included in the UNESCO World Heritage and from there you can enjoy romantic views to the old buildings, the river Daugava - which divides the city into two parts, and bridges. It’s a postcard worthy sight.

www.peterbaznica.lv
Skārņu street 19, Riga, LV-1050
+371 67229426
Google map: bit.ly/nuG6p6

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LIDO restaurants and bistros you will find also at the airport, shopping centres and other places, but in the centre of Riga I would advice bistro Vērmanītis located next to the Vermann’s garden. Vegetables, meat, fish, salad, desserts – always fresh food, wooden interior, Latvian music and bellyfull just for around 2 – 4Ls. Vērmanītis is one of these places budget travellers are choosing and enjoying for their Latvian meals.

www.lido.lv
Elizabetes iela 65, Riga, LV-1050
+371 67286289
Google map: bit.ly/qbJH6U

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For those who are not used to hearty Latvian food and who do not want to make
their wallet empty because of it, there is affordable vegetarian food at Indian bistro Rāma. The whole place where you will find Rāma is called the Hare Krishna centre – there is an
Indian shop in cellar with incense sticks, cosmetics, food, pictures of deities, jewelry
etc. There is also vedic yoga centre, the girls working there are wearing saris and the
place is filled with Indian chants. The vegetarian food is light and tasty – rice, cutlets, salad, buns, snacks, vegetarian pizza, lassi, fresh juice
and a big variety of teas with a special accent on yoga teas. Happy hour if from 18.30 – 19.30 during which time you get hot dishes with a 25% discount and if buying yoga tea you can get any of their Eastern sweets for free.
Even without these discounts you will pay around 2 -3Ls (£2.50-£3.50) for a good meal. Sounds good, no? This place invites you to get your inner balance while eating.

www.krishna.lv
Krišjāņa Barona iela 56, Rīga, LV-1011, Latvia
+371 7272490
Google map: bit.ly/oZ85f2

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