Riga Inside - What's Happening - Patricia Tourist Office

Current recommendations

What's happening

Riga this week

Tours:

Low cost day trip out of Riga

Check out new Self Directed - Self Guided tours to places in and around the greater Riga area. Great way to see more of the countryside. more info

Riga restaurants:

New low in customer service - Salt & Pepper Cafe

TGI Fridays is only 3 blocks away and the service is FAR superior and the burger almost as tasty though slightly higher in price. TGIF will be my choice from now on.

Ham-Cheese Fast Food Sandwich shop - its a great choice!

Armenian restaurant Akhtamar

Iguana - Elizabetes 87 (Bergs Bazaar)

Dome Steak House - Smilsu 2

more information < - eating ...

New Riga Business Directory

www.infoRiga.com

New Video click to play

Riga's Icons

Photo montage of interesting and notable scenes in the Art Nouveau capital of the world.

Summer's over !

Time to roll back the prices on accommodations... many good values for traditional hotels and furnished apartments are available.

Patricia Tourist Office has lots of information about Riga hotels and great low rates. more info

Most asked questions

Money exchange more info
Airport taxi - OK more info
Airport bus - #22 www.rigabus.info

Latest NEWS ITEMS

New German guide to Baltics published The biggest German Automobile Association, the ADAC, has published a guide to the Baltic states for the first time. Lithuania expects the growing number of German tourists next season. The guide refers to the states as the new stars of European tourism. The guide costs EUR 7.80. Verslo Zinios, 31.08.2006

Jurmala attracts 36 percent more visitors In the first half of 2006, the volume of tourists visiting Jurmala increased by 36 percent compared with H1 2005. Chas, 31.08.2006

www.visitjurmala.com

New hotel classification system may raise number of stars The associations of the hotels and restaurants of the Northern and Baltic countries have reached an agreement on unified requirements for a hotel classification system. There will be a definite number of minimal criteria for the classification of hotels in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark and Sweden. Edvins Buka, director of the Latvian Hotels and Restaurants Association, notes that some Latvian hotels will probably raise their number of stars due to this agreement, because “hotels in Latvia have more quality than in Scandinavia”. A council will be formed which will elaborate the classification criteria. The unified system will also be used in Iceland, Greenland and the Faeroe and Aland Islands. Dienas Bizness, 30.08.2006

English translation and articles from http://www.standbynews.info

Important events and activities for Riga and Riga Region this week and next.

www.rigaevents.info

Use Tram when visiting LIDO Center photos & info

Don't use the Number 17 bus when visiting the LIDO Center on Krasta Boulevard. Instead, take number 7 or 9 Tram going South from the Opera House (11 stops) or Central Market (10 stops) then walk one block to the right (West) and enter through the back parking lot. click for Schedule Information

We found the number 17E bus to be overcrowded, hot, and with a grouchy driver on our recent trip.

Beware of taxis on the street in front of the LIDO center. They are famous for overcharging even locals. If possible take a red colored Renault taxi stopped inside the LIDO property near the security gate. If no taxis available, dial 800-1313 (payphone inside main building next to ATM) and tell the dispatcher you are at LIDO Krasta. more info

Be delighted - adventure outside of Riga City

Take a train or bus or rent a car and visit the Sigulda area just one hour East of Riga. We especially recommend:

Krimulda church
Krimulda village
Ragana Witch Cafe (wonderful for all ages)
Turaida Castle grounds
Cat House Cafe half block North of Hotel Sigulda

Need assistance visiting Sigulda, contact the friendly, helpful staff at Patricia Tourist Office. 371-728-4868 map

Tourist Visitor Advisory Riga & Latvia

Alerts Riga Latvia

Watch the street crime. Pickpockets and lookouts with mobile phone communication will spot you at the Stockmann store or using one of the ATM machines located around the city. They will surprise you later on the street.
Jurmala is having some trouble with bad restaurants, bad service and bad food. The beaches are not as clean as normal. One car with luggage was reported stolen in front of their hotel.
Watch out for the crowds in late November as the NATO members invade Riga. Hotels will for sure be booked solid and complete areas of the city closed. Plan ahead.
Be careful of taxi overcharging. Trips originating at the central bus station, Riga Hotel, LIDO Krasta or street hailed cabs to the airport are especially huge problem. click more information
Warning food poisoning due to hot weather more info

more information - is Riga Safe?

This is a new Riga Inside site was created 13 July 2006 to provide lots of inside information known only to those in the know; which, we hope to be the staff of our tourist office.

Riga is an exciting place to visit but not free of controversy, intrigue, ordinary street crime and surprises everywhere.

Some have encouraged us to create a Riga nightlife site; but, we are resisting as we believe there is much more to see and do in Riga and the Riga Region (about 1.5 hour radius). For the most part, one can explore the nightlife aspects of Riga on their own.

Keep coming back and back as we promise to update this site weekly at least!

Also you may subscribe to the Riga Tourist office RSS News Feed and see the latest information as soon we post it.

Coming soon - no, it here now !

a paid advertising site called www.rigadirectory.info. This site accepts advertising from various Riga and Latvia companies, service organizations, restaurants, tourist attractions and shops, cafes and more. There will be a searchable index directory of where to find those goods and services you are looking for. more info

new information on "hop on and hop off" bus tours of Riga. Patricia tourist office is now your one stop location for all tours of Riga and the greater Riga region of Latvia.

That's all now... but much more to come ... check back again!

Best regards, Mike Johnson, General Manager,

... your friend in the Baltics ! who?

Back Issues

13 July 2006	Introduction, Travel warning NATO conference in November
16 July 2006	Visit Jurmala recommend west of Majori
19 July 2006	Restaurant recommendations
21 July 2006	Announcing new Riga Events site
26 July 2006	Restaurant prices increased, Blue flag back Jurmala, Take Tram 7 to LIDO Krasta, Beware of Taxi overcharging
28 July 2006	Food poisoning in hot weather,
03 August 2006	Money exchange Riga Airport, Riga airport bus, Riga airport taxi
09 August 2006	Riga Hotels availability and prices, news about new airlines Riga airport, News about declaring cash money on arrival in Latvia
10 August 2006	Bad customer service Salt & Pepper Restaurant Palasta Street
13 August 2006	Added info Riga Festival 17 to 19 August
16 August 2006	Added info Low Cost Day trips Self Directed Tours; announcement of new Business directory www.inforiga.com
19 August 2006	Food poisoning again in Riga restaurant
22 August 2006	How to charge Riga Stockholm ferry tickets to a credit card Declare cash over 10,000 Euros on arrival


FAQ	How To	Tours	Packages	Video	Slide Show	Photos	Airport Info	Ferry Info

Search Back Issues	Issue 1014 - 1 September 2006	Riga Inside
*lots of inside information -- known only to those in the know!*


Home First Christmas Tree	Riga History	Places of interest	Riga's Churches	so many museums!	Special Riga	What about Art Nouveau?
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