Fly from Nice to Riga

Riga is like a huge open-air museum. Its buildings are its canvas. They tell its history, from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance, the “Belle Epoque” to the Great Wars. They bring smiles to the faces of couples on getaways, walking hand in hand through the streets as if they were in the Louvre or the Met. They stroll along, chins up, admiring the scenery and sometimes stopping to take in more detail, or to simply make the moment last.
Riga is also a city of water. The Daugava River flows through it before emptying into the icy waters of the Baltic Sea. On a nice day, Riga’s canals are dotted with little wooden boats, kayaks, and pedalos, and their cool green banks play host to those out for a Sunday stroll. And of course there’s the beach. The king of seaside resorts being Jurmala, where you can lounge on the sand sunbathing and swim in the Baltic Sea, which gets up to 16° C at the height of summer!
All that to say that Riga is a vivacious city! With fewer than 700,000 residents, it never feels too big. You can do just about everything on foot. The people you’ll find there are warm and welcoming. Night and day, there’s always something to do, and something special in the air. Take another walk, this time around the main market to sample smoked fish and rye bread, spend an evening in a bustling bar for a glass of Black Balsam, stay out all night in the clubs of Kaļķu iela - your weekend in Riga will be far from dull!

• Stroll along Alberta and Elizabetes streets and their neighbours to see the most enthralling concentration of Art Nouveau (ir Jūgendstils) in the world. The mouldings, sculptures, and statues inspired by mythology and nature you’ll find there are the best kind of eye candy.
• Finish off your discovery tour of Jūgendstils by taking in the wonders of the Art Nouveau Museum. You may find yourself less enthralled with its collection than the setting: a phenomenal building that reflects the intricacy of its sublime spiral staircase.
• Wander around the cobblestone streets of Vecrīga, the historical centre of Riga, where the oldest walls date back over 800 years. Admire the wooden and brick houses, tapering steeples, the St. James's Cathedral with its monumental spire...
• Climb aboard one of the many wooden (and often electric-powered) boats that sail the Daugava and canals of Riga to get a different view of the city and some of its historical sites (such at the Freedom Monument).
• Get your dose of fresh air and chlorophyll in Riga’s parks and gardens. 20% of the city is dedicated to green spaces. The must-sees: Esplanāde Park, at the edge of the old town; Vērmane Garden, Riga’s oldest; and Arcadia Park.
• Discover the chequered past of Latvia by visiting some of its memorials: the Freedom Monument, an immense column honouring those killed during the Latvian War of Independence; The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia (Nazi and Soviet), or the Corner House, which tells the dark but moving story of the KGB.
• Check out some amazing machines at the Riga Motor and Riga Aviation museums. Inside the first you’ll find, among other treasures, Stalin’s armoured 1949 ZIS 115. In the second you’ll see Mig and Sukhoi fighter jets as well as colossal Mil helicopters.
• Take the train out to the Baltic beaches and Jurmala, which locals consider to be their Saint-Tropez. Beautiful houses, sun-bathed terraces, long walks next to the sea, and wide, beautiful sandy beaches.
• Have a walk around the Central Market - it’s an institution here! Underneath the large hangars built to house Zeppelins in the early 20th century you’ll find stalls offering charcuterie, cheeses, smoked fish, even honey. Try them all there or buy some for later.
• Sample Riga’s famous Black Balsam, an excellent bitter made with vodka and 24 different plants. Best tasted with sparkling water, brandy, blackcurrant juice, or in a cocktail.