Experience in Riga, Latvia by Valerija

What is it like to live in Riga? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

Riga is a city that attracts tourists from all over the world. One of the advantages of this city is that it is rather small, and even if you choose an accomodation that is not situated in the centre, still it takes not more than max. 30 minutes to arrive to the heart of Riga if you use public transport, not speaking about taxi or a car. Riga is a cozy city with lots of sightseeing places to see such as the Dome square, Russian Orthodox Cathedral, the Statue of Liberty, St. Peter's Church etc. The Old Town is very beautiful, you can find there not only the signs of the Riga's Medieval past, but also its recent past, for example, the exhibition of the Occupation Museum will tell you what was it like to live in Soviet Latvia.

What is the student lifestyle like in Riga?

Apart from the studies, students have a very vast range of opportunities to have fun in Riga - these are night clubs, cafes, cinema etc.

How much does it cost to live in Riga?

The costs are not high at all - if you want to be very careful with your money, lodging can cost starting from around 15 euro/per night for an apartment (not in the hotel, but in a regular multifloor house) and ending with apartments with 2-3 bedrooms for comfortable living. There is no problem for me to help you with finding an appropriate apartment.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Riga? Is there any advice you can give?

It is not difficult to find accomodation in Riga, but you will definately need an advisor who can help you with choosing the right option in the right district.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

Riga cafés, restaurants can offer you a broad choice of food starting from the simpliest one and ending with the most exotic cuisine. Everything depends only on your finances. You can have a rather good meal for even 3 euro. The key factor is just to have a person at hand who knows such places.

What places would you recommend visiting in Riga?

The Quiet Centre, The Old Town, The Russian Orthodox Cathedral, The Central Market...

Is it good to eat out in Riga? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

The catering service in the center of Riga is of a rather high quality. One of my favourite places to have a meal is Tokio City (Japanese cuisine).

Is the nightlife good in Riga? Where is good to go?

The peak of the night life in Riga starts mostly on Friday evening. The Old Town is full of night clubs with music of various styles. One of the best night clubs for my taste is Coyote Fly.

What advice would you give future students heading to Riga?

Riga is definitely a good place to visit - small and cozy place with lots of sightseeing places to see that are situated not far from each other.

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