Ok but wouldn't return

I have just returned from a stag weekend in Riga and have to say it was ok, but there are better and cheaper places to go in eastern europe. We all stayed in franks hostel which was excellent and safe, with a fun 24 hour bar. I personally avoided the nightclubs and am glad i did as they are extortionate, and have many bouncers ready to spray pepper spray and punch random clubbers, which my friends witnessed. Avoid the strip clubs they will just strip you of cash and probably all of it. People on here have commented on the architecture of the place, i found that a few buildings were noteworthy, but generally underwhelming with plenty of grim soviet buildings to contrast any nice ones. If you do go then try the AK 47 shooting trip, as it is very good. Personally i'd rather go to Krakow.

Great for: Nightlife

Last Visit: May 2009

7 May 2009 | daniel.page

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really good stag do no trouble.

just got back after spending 4 days on a stag do. i must admit after reading previous reviews i was frightened for my life however it was the best stag do ive been on. there was not one sign of any trouble locals were friendly and helpful. 36 lads went and we all got dressed up. only thing i have 2 complain about is how expensive it was average beer £2.50 a pint but there are plenty of happy hours. plus all the girls are gorgeous.

Great for: Nightlife

Last Visit: April 2009

1 May 2009 | A Yahoo! User

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A mixed bag

I have just got back from Riga after three days on a stag weekend. The first thing to note if you are in a big group is organise a guide who can take you to all the decent nightspots. Dont be shocked if the locals are rude, thats their way. We basically stayed away from them. If you are looking for lap dancers and more Riga is the place to go, but beware where you end up as up to 1/3 of these clubs will try to rip you off. So basically if your careful and plan things well you will have no problem, if you dont and just walk into any place you are likely to find problems. I heard some horror stories but that was from people who did not respect Riga in any way. PS Its not cheap!!!

Great for: Nightlife

30 March 2009 | A Yahoo! User

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Dont go there

After my experience with Riga i would very strongly advise no-one to go there. They hate foreigners and will try and rip you off given any chance, my friend was held there against his will and made to pay £5000 for his safe return on one night, i am not lying why would you bother going to a place where your not safe

Last Visit: June 2008

24 March 2009 | A Yahoo! User

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Not too Bad

I second the below opinion.We went to Riga for a stag party in March 09.There were 13 of us so we did not blend in too well but we had no trouble.We were out till 3 or 4 every night and although we were drunk we behaved ourselves and were respectful to the locals.The Skybar is a must as is Club Essential.We stayed clear of the Old Town and the strip clubs and still had a great time.Some great sights to see during the day and if you are sensible no trouble at night time.

Great for: History/Culture

Last Visit: March 2009

12 March 2009 | YSI_UNKNOWN_ID

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Riga don't be scared by these reviews!

Well i just got back from Riga after almost canceling our trip due to these reviews, and i'm so glad we didn't! don't be worried, it's no way as bad as they say. sure there is trouble to be found in Riga as in alot of eastern european city, but they are easily avoided. me and a group of British guys went, and i was really expecting a bad reception, but the people were nice. we have just made a bad rep for ourselves there by making it a destination for stag do's and this has resulted in most Lats thinking we are all a bunch of drunk, loud, and disrespectful blokes looking for sex, well who can blame them! if a bunch of drunk loud germans started coming to hull for stag do's how long would they last? Having said that there is a system of ripping of tourists in the old town in some bars and almost all strip joints. Lord Pub and any of the bars and clubs near it are to be avoided like the plague (inc club roxy!) but apart from that it's all fine. just try to act like gentleman and show the lats that were not all louts. so don't worry and have fun, there's some great bars (try the sky bar in hotel Latvia it's great! .....and my god it's true the woman are so hot!!

Great for: History/Culture, Theatre/Music, Nightlife

Last Visit: January 2009

4 January 2009 | A Yahoo! User

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Reading your reviews on Riga

Well people, I have been to Riga many times since 2004, think about 15 times. I like it very much, but I am afraid it has gone down the pan! It is getting dirty, very expensive now ( just got back August 2008) l lat - 75p! The people were lovely and very friendly - now they seem all on edge and hate anyone from the UK! including other countries like Denmark Norway Sweden. The women are all for trying it on like Prostitutes and the men are in for knife fighting any foreigner. All in all - I will never go back again its lost it for me! Yet in the UK we treat them with the most respect! I now feel they are shallow low lifes! Shame really! They have got too much money too quickly and the girls all walk around thinking they are film stars! pathetic really! No one is being themselves like they use to be on independence! maybe Russia should take it back! Jurmala beach - thats is now a serious rip off! and taxi drivers are just the biggest arseholes you could meet! Well thats Latvija for you! shame really - but you would be cheaper going now to Paris as some one just mentioned! and you are much safer!! Avoid this place at all costs its getting quite unsettled! which is a shame for the good folk of Latvija! Only people who seem welcome are desperate old Yanks that like throwing money around, and boy do they get take to the cleaners! Sorry Latvia, you have lost it, Your are unfriendly, you are unsafe, you rip good people off, and your are becoming a City of brothels! where has your good culture gone in the last 5 years? Russia?

Last Visit: August 2008

22 September 2008 | A Yahoo! User

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would never go back even if you paid me

i have travelled extensively and i would strongly advise anybody to avoid riga.they simply do not want the english there,or any other nationality for that matter.i admit you get the rowdy stag do's etc but we were far from that and still got glared at just walking down the street.give your room a total inspection right down to the tiniest detail as they will try and fine you for damage already there.we even asked for the details of the previous occupents to see if they had the same thing done but they wouldn't give us any names.you will get charged for drinks you never had etc etc.people will follow you on the streets begging for money.in other words you basically pay a bribe or they will clean out your credit card once you return home as a card details are the only form of deposit they would accept.it feels as if the place exists only to rip off the tourists that are stupid enough to go there.do not believe anybody who tells you riga is cheap.it is by far the most miserable and unwelcoming city i have ever visited.anybody who has written a positive review of this place must have been far too drunk to see the reality of riga.

Last Visit: August 2008

1 September 2008 | A Yahoo! User

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Riga, A dark city by night!

I have just returned from a trip to Riga, I read these reviews before I left and was determined to put one of my own on here upon my return. Having travelled around Europe quite a lot its often the case that reviews are bad as good visits don't persuade people to write in and I wanted to post a posive one. Unfortunatly I found Riga to be a city that is geared to ripping off tourists, As you enter the city you are greeted by local woman pretending to be hen partys asking for money, doormen either dont let you on or let you in and empty your pockets (this happened twice) on the way out. The locals have a look of disgust on there faces if you dare to laugh or smile. Truly the most beautiful woman in the world reside in Riga, I can only determine that not cracking a smile keeps their looks in order!! Riga doesnt deserve the money it earns/takes from tourists as they dont make any effort to make you welcome. in three days we were robbed, threatened with broken legs, told on numerous occasions to go home (this happens during the daytime too). Not one person on the trip would go back. I can recoomend Prague or any major German city.

Great for: History/Culture

Last Visit: August 2008

6 August 2008 | A Yahoo! User

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Hugely expensive, rude and unwelcoming

The only things that are cheap in Latvia are booze and cigarettes, and it shows. The museums are overpriced and full of copies and casts (in the Foreign Art Museum, everything seems to have a label saying 'Original in ...') yet they charge as though it were the Louvre. People are small-minded and stare at foreigners. If you smile at someone, the most you get in return is a grimace. There were, however, two places I loved. One was the Rundale Palace, built by the architect of the Winter Palace in St Petersburg; the other was the Mentzendorf House. Rundale is definitely worth a visit. All in all, it's probably cheaper to go to Paris!

Last Visit: May 2008

9 May 2008 | porcelainloon

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