Things to do in Rīga
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Essential
Rīga's hottest club is a spectacle of beautiful bodies boogieing to some of Europe's top DJ talent in three dance chambers. Overzealous security aside, there's no safer bet if partying till dawn is your mission. Sorry, no local beer - just Coronas. Drink cocktails.
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National Museum of Art
Across the Esplanāde park is the National Museum of Art, where pre-WWII Russian and Latvian art is on display among the Soviet grandeur of ruched net curtains, marble columns and red carpets.
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St Peter's
Rīga's skyline centrepiece is gothic St Peter's, thought to be about 800 years old. Don't miss the view from its famed spire, which has been rebuilt three times in the same baroque form. Legend has it that in 1667 builders threw glass from the top - the number of pieces it broke into was the number of years it would stand. It landed on straw and didn't break, and a year later it burned down. The spire's current incarnation dates to 1973.
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War Museum
The violent history of this tiny nation is depicted in photos and war relics at the War Museum.
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Wagner Hall
Chamber and solo concerts.
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Dome Cathedral
Organ concerts at least weekly at 19:00.
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Rimi
The biggest and best-located supermarket in Old Town.
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Staburags
For the Lido experience, head to Staburags in New Town.
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Paul Mandelstamm's Apartment
For a fix of Art Nouveau, check out Paul Mandelstamm's apartment.
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Četri Balti Krekli
This is the place to see live Latvian rock bands any night of the week.
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Globuss
International mag titles downstairs and a few English-language novels upstairs.
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Three Brothers
Near the Dome Cathedral are the Three Brothers, Rīga's oldest stone houses.
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Dzirnavas
A New Town Lido experience, where you'll be lucky to walk out your original weight.
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el Čarlito
This bustling Mexican eatery features margaritas and decent fajitas and quesadillas.
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Mentzendorff's House
You can see how wealthy Rīgans once lived at 17th-century Mentzendorff's House.
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A&E Gallery
The place to shop for amber and art, it's a favourite with visiting dignitaries and celebs.
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War Museum
The violent history of this tiny nation is depicted in photos and war relics at the War Museum.
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Jāņa sēta
The place to find every map under the sun, reference books on Latvia, and Lonely Planet guides.
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Synagogue
Wander the area south of St Peter's square and you'll find the only Old Town Synagogue to survive the war.
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Great Guild
This lovely 14th-century building is the concert hall of the renowned Latvian National Symphony Orchestra.
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Rīga Castle
In Old Town's northeast corner, medieval Rīga Castle now houses the president and a couple of museums.
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Cuba Café
This lively spot pulls no punches with its mojitos and draws a hip, energetic crowd that clearly appreciates that.
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House of Blackheads
The House of Blackheads was originally built in 1344 to house the Blackheads' guild of unmarried foreign merchants.
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Russian Orthodox Cathedral
Just north of the Freedom Monument is Esplanāde park and the fabulous 19th-century Russian Orthodox Cathedral.
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