Riga Holidays

The Latvian capital on the Baltic coast is best known for its beautiful old town, its naval history and - with icy winds beating in from the Baltic Sea - its saunas. As a port town, Riga is culturally diverse, and this is reflected in its local handicrafts, textiles and art, captured perfectly in its open-air ethnographic museum. Riga also has a fascinating history and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia provides an excellent grounding on what the people of Latvia went through under Nazi and Soviet oppression. Since independence, Riga has become a popular tourist destination and seen the arrival of international restaurants and store chains. These have diluted the Latvian experience somewhat, but the city's garlic restaurant and a shot of Riga Black Balsam (a fiery herb liqueur) quickly redress the balance.

At Leisure to Taste, we specialise in giving you a unique experience of Riga, from traditional cuisine you won't find on the average menu to historical insights on the sights, architecture and artifacts around you. As locals living in Riga all year round (yes, it is extremely cold in winter), we can introduce you to all the local customs and crafts from fishing to distilling vodka, and give you an experience you won't find among the throngs of tourists overdosing on inexpensive vodka.

Outside the town, the seaside resort of Jūrmala, stretching for 32 kilometres along the coast, is a popular spot for weekend breaks from Riga and makes an ideal day trip. Thrill-seekers will love exploring the beach on dune buggies, and the parties are long and loud in the summer months. It is worth coming for winter just to see the mighty Baltic Sea freeze, and watch the locals survive the extreme conditions - mostly thanks to vodka, black balsam and those saunas.