Hotel Rates

Generally speaking, hotel rates are quite reasonable in Riga. Most of the hotels we checked out charged less than €90 a night for a double—and those were for hotels located in the Old Town. If you don't mind sleeping a little further afield, rates will drop dramatically.

Riga's "off season" includes the late fall, winter, and early spring, during which time hotel rates will be quite a bit lower than standard "high season" (late spring and summer) rates.

We should note, however, that as Latvia's economy is currently (summer 2009) in a shaky spot, we noted that some hotels are lowering rates to keep their rooms full. Thus, be aware that "real rates" (rates that you see after doing a search for your dates) may be quite a bit lower than the regular "rack rates" given to us by the hotel.

Meal Prices

You can definitely splurge on meals in Riga, where swanky sushi restaurants and gourmet four-star, five-course Latvian restaurants exist. For Cheapos on a budget, less costly eats can be had too—and in bountiful portions. Expect to pay about 5-7 LVL for a standard meal, a bit more if you opt for extras like dessert or alcohol.

For lunch, we recommend a café or snack bar. Pelmeni XL, a well-known fast-food chain in Riga, offers filling pelmeni (ravioli) chock full of meat or cheese. The experience is fun--you grab a tray and point to the ravioli that seems most tempting. When we tested it out (at the Pelmeni restaurant at the Galleria shopping center in Old Town), the man working behind the counter explained which was veggie, chicken, and beef. You then are free to add your own sauces, sour cream, and chives. A quick bite here shouldn’t go over 2 LVL.

We were also big fans of the Lido cafeteria chain, also with an oaky, wood-beamed outlet in Old Town. Again, grab a tray, and point away. All manner of saucy, meaty goodness awaits. And again, everyone we encountered at Lido spoke English.

Museum Prices

Thankfully, many museums and sights in Riga charge less than 2 LVL (just under €3) for admission. Here are some don’t-miss attractions:

Popular attraction and museum prices:

Riga Cathedral (dome): 1.50 LVL

Latvian History Museum: 1 LVL

St. Peter’s Church: 2 LVL to climb the tower.

The Latvian Museum of Art: 1 LVL (adults, just permanent collection); 2.50 LVL (adults, special exhibits), 3 LVL (combined adult ticket for permanent collection plus special exhibits), .50-1.50 LVL (children, reduced admission depending on exhibit).

House of the Blackheads: 1.40 LVL

Concert, opera, and ballet tickets

Tickets to the Latvian National Opera are reasonably priced. Whether you plan to check out the ballet, a concert, or a full-scale opera (or maybe just take in some puppet theater!), inquire at the box office for the best price. You can email them at: boxoffice@opera.lv or walk in during open hours (Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 7 PM, on Sundays from 11 AM to 7 PM) at Aspazijas bulvaris, #3.

ISIC cardholders always receive a 20 percent discount on tickets as do groups of 15 or more.

For more information about the Opera, visit their website.