Riga Old Town is one of the many gems of the Baltic region. Traders and travellers alike, have been visiting this famous port city for over 800 years and settlements on and around the site of the old city can be traced back even further. Founded in 1201 by the Bishop Albert, Riga was established as a trade out post and a fortified city that would be used in the fight of Christianising the local Pagans.
Today the Old town is home to many cafes and bars, clubs and pubs, hotels and hostels, boutiques and designer shops and would be unrecognizable by the inhabitants who founded the city.
It has become a central attraction in the city for entertainment and the main source of trade and commerce is now tourist based. You will find enough to occupy yourself within the Old town if you have just a short stay in Riga. With plenty of museums and shopping to keep you occupied for the day. Make sure to leave time for a nice meal or a drink afterwards in one of the many nice cafes and restaurants.
In the daytime you may wander around the city where you will find fantastic medieval churches and cobbled streets throughout old Riga and with so many beautiful sights to see you. You will have no shortage of Kodak moments. So if you are a keen photographer make sure to pack your camera. By the evening time the lights are on and music fills some of the local bars. Residents of Riga during the weekend will flood into the old town ready for drinks and dancing. During the nights, Riga feels like a totally different city, with the tour groups of over 50s vanishing, being replaced by youthful partygoers looking for excitement.
What is certain is that Old Riga has something for everyone. If you have more than 1 day in the city make sure that you get out of the old city because it is beyond this area that you will find the real city away from the usual tourist trap.
BY GAHZLY GAHZLY
