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Vecrīga: Walking Around the Old Town of Riga, Latvia
Vecrīga:
The Old Town of Riga, Latvia
What do you do if you have to wait for hours
and hours the night before, only to find out that the next day is (ACTUALLY)
your full day Do It Yourself (DIY) walking tour around the Riga Old Town? Well, you consume
cups of coffee and shake your sleepy state out of existence. It’s time to roam
around and visit places like the Three Brothers or the Dome Square in Riga’s Old Town, and what better way
to do so than to do it with an energetic no-sleep state. Yes, true story, and
yes, I was really looking forward to this the most, since I haven’t had the
chance to read a lot of articles about the Latvia’s Old Town
in Riga. To me, this only means that it’s not too touristy yet, so
there’s room for raw appreciation and exploring. Time to join me, yes?
Vecrīga, which is the Latvian term that means “Old
Riga” is in fact the historical center of Riga, Latvia,
located on the east side of Daugava River. Famous for its old places of
worship, such as Riga Cathedral and St. Peter's church, the Old Town is full of historical
sites and folklores. This makes the Vecrīga an integral part of Latvia,
and a part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site listed as "Historic Centre of
Riga". I am a big believer of historic landmarks, because it gives me a healthier
understanding as to why the city has evolved into what it is now, and it being
a UNESCO World Heritage Site is proof that there’s more to it than meets the
eye.
After doing a quick trip to the LMT Olimpia
Shopping Mall, which is rightfully just reachable by foot, it is rather
easy to visit the Old Riga area. It’s flocking with restaurants, casinos,
museums, and churches. Sometimes, there are Christmas markets being setup in
this area too, which is nice because experiencing the night life in such
renowned area is not just for tourists, but for locals to enjoy. Some places to
take note of here are the Latvian War Museum (Latvijas
Kara muzejs), the historical landmark known as the Three Wall Street, the House
of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams), and certainly not to be forgotten, the
Riga Cathedral (Rīgas Doms).
Likewise, you might be interested to try out
the Old Riga Free Walking Tour, if
you aren’t much of a self-guided walking tour person like me. Interesting
enough, Riga offers that kind of Free Walking Tour, which is in English and
recommended by none other than the Trip Advisor itself. There’s a slot at 3:00
P.M. and another one at 12:00 noon. You can choose either thru: Riga
Free Tour, which is located near the St. Peter’s Church, or you can
also go for that gastronomical experience via: Riga
Tours SIA 'Eat Latvia', located near the Pharmacy Museum (Farmācijas muzejs).
So yes, before you do your own tour or participate in a free walking tour around
the Vecrīga, maybe you can do a bit of shopping first, or maybe some drinks
in any of the abundant bars and cafes available around the area. Perhaps try
the Riga
Black Magic? Or maybe some Asian food, Wok
to Walk? Cos we all love Asian food, right? Hahaha.
[LATVIA TRAVEL] Read the rest of Explore Latvia
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