Events in Riga for the new year. Restaurants in Riga. Let's celebrate the New Year. New Year's fairs and markets in Riga

The New Year is an expectation of a miracle, a time of new impressions and joyful events. You can celebrate it in different ways, but recently they have become increasingly popular interesting travels. An exciting New Year's trip option is to visit the capital of Latvia - ancient city Riga. Local residents say that the very first New Year's tree on our planet was installed on the main square of Riga at the beginning of the 16th century, that is, earlier than in Strasbourg, which Europeans reverence as their homeland new year traditions. Do you want to celebrate the New Year in Riga? We will tell you how and how much it costs: prices for hotels and restaurants in 2019, weather, what to do on vacation, as well as reviews from tourists. The festive atmosphere in winter lasts longer in Latvia than in other European capitals. Here they celebrate the New Year and two Christmases - according to the Catholic and Orthodox calendars. Riga welcomes its guests with bright illuminations and Christmas markets, and even bridges and buildings glow in a special, solemn and slightly mysterious way.

New Year's events in Riga in 2019

The main Christmas trees in Riga in 2019 will be located in several places:

on Town Hall Square (near the House of Blackheads);
at the Esplanade;
on Station Square;
on Dome Square;
on Brivibas Boulevard.

Despite the fact that the capital of Latvia is quite big city and the Christmas trees are located at a decent distance from each other, we still recommend that you visit them all. The concept of decorating Christmas trees in Riga is such that the forest beauties turn out to be different from each other. As usual, a small rabbit town will be set up on the Esplanade, where animals of several dozen breeds are presented annually; admission will be free throughout the New Year holidays.

New Year 2019 in Riga - where to go?

Be sure to visit all the Christmas markets that will be located near the main Christmas trees in Riga. They will operate from mid-December to mid-January. You can buy a lot here various gifts for your loved ones, try the famous Riga desserts, dress up in national clothes, take part in competitions, etc. At such fairs, a special place is always given to beer stalls, because there are always a lot of people who want to try the world-famous Latvian beer. If you decide to visit Riga in January 2107 with children, then go to the Freedom Monument or to the embankment of the Dugava River. Large screens will be installed here, where cartoons, lyrics of various New Year's songs and performances by local artists will be simultaneously broadcast. On the embankment, on the main night of the year, you can watch the launch of fireworks; children will be able to have fun in the company of characters from various cartoons and on installed attractions. It is curious that the night from December 31 to January 1 is the only day of the year when the authorities officially allow their citizens to drink alcohol on the street.

How to celebrate New Year 2019 in Latvia?

Riga offers tourists many options for accommodation and a fun celebration. It is better to find a hotel located within the old town - this way you can not only spend a festive night in a festive atmosphere, but also stroll among a crowd of merry Riga residents. An interesting fact is that in Riga the holidays begin with Catholic Christmas and last until Orthodox, so you are guaranteed to be immersed in a whole series of events that last much longer than in other European capitals. Walking through the streets of the city, you will see that decorated festive fir trees are usually installed everywhere here - the main forest beauty is traditionally placed on the square near the City Hall, and the second of the main fir trees will be installed near the house of the Blackheads. Here you will see a memorial plaque unveiled in honor of the world's first New Year tree. In addition, the festive illumination of the bridges and streets of Riga is amazingly beautiful. Christmas markets begin to operate in all parts of the city, the largest and most elegant of which are located within Livu and Dom squares, on Bastion Hill and on the Esplanade. The fairs feature amber jewelry, felt brooches, sugar or salted nuts, handmade cards, leather accessories and national clothing. Traditionally, with the onset of the New Year, the city is illuminated with fireworks, and main square turns into a giant dance floor.

Romance of the old city on New Year's Eve 2019

Old Riga- most visited tourist place in Latvia. Here are ancient castles, houses and cathedrals. You'll spend a day or two exploring the sights, stopping periodically at tiny local cafes to warm up. Must visit observation deck St. Peter's Cathedral. From there you can see a wonderful panorama of the city. On Catholic and Orthodox Christmas, as well as on New Year's Eve, organ music concerts are traditionally held in the Dome Cathedral. Those interested in the history of the Baltic states can visit the ethnographic museum. Its halls host exhibitions of applied art. And the Academy of Art presents works that can be purchased. The Christmas mood is especially strong in Old Riga. It’s so great to stroll along the snow-covered streets and go into a secluded coffee shop, where candles flicker in the dusk and the aroma of coffee with Riga balsam wafts in the air! And the bells of the Riga Town Hall, beating festive melodies, will take you to a New Year's fairy tale.

Accommodation in Riga for New Year holidays 2019

Getting to Riga is easy and inexpensive. There are also many options for accommodation - these include hotels located in ancient buildings a five-minute walk from the historical part of the city, and modern hotels that are located a little further from the center. All establishments offer a good level of service, comfortable rooms and a delicious breakfast. You can join the gala dinner for an additional fee. Take advantage of the opportunity to taste in Latvia national cuisine. As a rule, the banquet is accompanied by an entertaining show program, lottery and competitions. In any case, New Year's Riga will definitely amaze you with its medieval charm, rich selection of entertainment and hospitality local residents!

New Year 2019 in Riga restaurants

You can spend a bright New Year's Eve at the Rozengrals establishment. The restaurant is in the basement wine cellars on Rosena Street, not far from Dome Square, and is stylized as the Middle Ages. The menu includes dishes from the 13th century, and the musicians play ancient instruments. The elite restaurant “Le Dome” on Mnesnieku will appeal to connoisseurs of fine cuisine. Guests of the establishment are offered lobster tails in a special sauce, duck leg confit, foie gras with Savoy cabbage. And for dessert, gourmets can enjoy pineapple with coconut ice cream, as well as mint panna cotta and alcoholic rum jelly. Not all restaurants in Riga are open on New Year's Eve. Therefore, it is better to book a table in one of them in advance.

Prices in Riga for New Year 2019 - how much to cook?

As a rule, on new year holidays There is a tourism boom in Riga, so prices rise by at least 20-30%. However, during the winter holidays, the cost of accommodation and services here is quite affordable compared to other European capitals. To save money on celebrating the New Year 2019 in Riga, look for a hotel in advance, so you can make reservations in time low prices and discounts. We recommend searching for hotels on the Roomguru service - it finds the best deals and promotions. Yes, on this moment price double rooms in hotels on New Year's Eve in the city center the following (current at the time of publication of the article): 2 and 3* - from 30 euros (Hotel Westa and Hotel Irina), 4* - from 55 euros (Europa Royale Riga), 5* - from 130 euros (Royal Square Hotel & Suites), bed in a hostel - from 10 euros per person. Housing costs are lower away from the center of the capital. You can eat on a budget in those establishments where locals come. So, breakfast can cost 2-3.5 euros, lunch - 3-6 euros, dinner - 5-9 euros. Pay attention to business lunches and daily specials - this way you can save a lot. You can have lunch in a cafe in the Old Town for 20-30 euros with drinks. A business lunch in the hotel restaurant will cost 8-10 euros. Cheap set lunches for about 3 euros in a cafe shopping centers Origo, in Lido chain establishments and kebab shops. Thus, in Riga you can eat on a budget - even in the Old Town!

I couldn’t even think that Riga would turn out like this magnificent city. For some reason it seemed to me that the capital of Latvia was quite ordinary and did not represent anything special, so when we were planning our New Year's trip, for a long time we couldn’t decide what to choose as our destination: Tallinn or Riga. Even though we’ve already been to Tallinn five times. Ultimately, the choice fell on Riga, and I am very, very glad that we came here.

Latvia - northern country, so the weather is New Year in Riga is not much different from Moscow. , on the approaches to Riga we found ourselves in a real snow storm, which only intensified upon arrival. The snow fell for about six hours straight: sometimes more quietly, sometimes with furious force, flying into the eyes and behind the collar. Brrr! It was unpleasant. But the impressions of Old Riga negated the feeling of discomfort from the bad weather. Old Riga inspired, surprised and amazed - so much so that I wanted to walk around it all night long. The city turned out to be perfectly decorated for the holidays, and its houses were like the scenery of old London. Snowdrifts and flakes falling from the sky enhanced the festive atmosphere, and all together created the impression that we found ourselves in a work of art, on the pages of books with classic Christmas stories, where old houses and narrow streets, sloping roofs, constant magic and romance.

Riga is a great travel destination New Year holidays, moreover, one of the closest residences of the real Christmas, which we are just trying to recreate, to Russia.

1. We settled in Radisson Blu on the street Elizabeth, named after Empress Elizabeth, who greatly favored Riga during her reign.

2. I’ll tell you about the hotel separately. Today we will go from him through winter's tale directly to the old town.

Old Riga is the name given to the historical center of the city, located on an island separated from other areas by a narrow canal on one side and the wide Daugava (in Russia this river is called Western Dvina) with another. So the old city here is much larger - outside the center there are dozens, or even hundreds of blocks of stunning ancient buildings, churches and cathedrals, mansions, and estates. Probably, the name of the historical center was assigned quite a long time ago, when all this splendor seemed new. And over time, Riga residents did not begin to revise city toponyms.

From the hotel to Old Riga - just a stone's throw. You need to go through the park, then past the university, another park, then cross the canal along pedestrian bridge, and that's it - you're in place.

4. Park fence from the university side and an old stand for posters. There are incredibly many such authentic, classic details in Riga, and they all create the overall cinematic atmosphere of the city. I had never been to Riga before, but reading books about some beautiful city twenties or thirties, I always imagined him that way.

5. Riga very often resembled Prague: in the architecture of the buildings, the amount of Russian on the streets and something so inexplicable in the air. Nevertheless, with all this, the city is individual and cannot be confused with any other.

6. This is not Old Riga yet - almost the entire city looks like this, with the exception of residential areas.

7. There is no metro in Riga. But there are trolleybuses and trams.

8. An incredibly beautiful ancient building of the University of Latvia. The windows from the bottom up are illuminated by incredibly popular electric lamps in the Baltic countries in the form of seven candles located on an isosceles triangle - a stand. The same fashion - putting such a Christmas candlestick on the windowsill - has long been in Russia: in St. Petersburg and, in general, in the North-West of the country.

9. Behind the University of Latvia there is another park, in the middle of which runs the same canal, on the other side of which is the historical center. In the distance in the photo is the silhouette of the National Opera.

10. Most bridges over the canal are pedestrian.

11. View across the park to the building of the University of Latvia.

12. I have never been to such a truly Christmas city before. There is some incredible magic in the Riga air!

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15. The snow does not stop and only gets stronger. However, this is not a problem. In Riga there are a lot of cozy coffee shops where you can drop in, shake off the avalanche of snow from your coat, scarf and hat and sit by the window to catch your breath, so that after a couple of tens of minutes you can run out into the street again and continue a fascinating walk through one of the most Christmas-themed cities in the world.

Old Riga has very narrow streets, but, nevertheless, traffic is not blocked here - you can stop by and admire it yourself by car. You can even park here - however, the parking will be golden. By analogy with Moscow, you need to pay for parking here, the tariff varies depending on the area, in addition, it is progressive: the first hour is cheaper - the second is more expensive (in the Old Town, the first hour of curbside parking will cost 4.27 euros, from the second hour - 7.11 euros for each 60 minutes, horror!). Local residents are given season tickets.

16. Successful new architecture coexists with old architecture in the historical center. In general, Old Riga successfully combines buildings from different eras: both from the Middle Ages and times Russian Empire, and the First Republic, and the Soviet period, and modern times. It's interesting to look around.

17. Old Riga, it seemed to me, is not at all comparable to Tallinn. These are two completely different Baltic capitals. I would equally recommend visiting both.

18. The historical center is wonderfully decorated for Christmas. It is quite spacious, there is a lot of air and open spaces, which were occupied by numerous Christmas markets on the eve of the winter holidays.

19. Most of them are still working in early January. It is immediately clear that Riga loves tourists from Russia. And he is happy to extend the celebration of Christmas and New Year for the Russian holidays. The residents of Riga themselves go to work immediately after the New Year - like the whole of Europe. True, unlike most European countries, where Christmas trees begin to accumulate in landfills from the second of January, here the holiday does not even think of stopping at this time.

20. A restaurant dedicated to the American forties, fifties and sixties. Something like - only with real iconic cars displayed right in the restaurant hall.

21. The snow is getting heavier and heavier. The Christmas spirit is getting higher.

22. There are a lot of people in the Old City, but there are no crowds. In addition, there are simply dozens, if not hundreds of alleys, where you can turn off the main streets and immediately find yourself face to face with beautiful Riga.

23. The city is decorated with love and very generously.

24. One of the central streets. A lot of coffee shops! Almost like in New York, Starbucks, coffee shops in Riga - on every corner.

25. Snow removal equipment cannot cope with the intensity of precipitation, so on the first evening there are no thoughts of driving around the city by car. Even on studded tires, which, by the way, are allowed into Latvia in the cold season (you can check the time period for which this permit applies on national government websites), the car easily goes out of control: it slips when accelerating, and turns on ABS when braking. As a result, you have to drive with maximum concentration and at a snail's pace. Accelerating to 30 and above is dangerous.

26. Old city very spacious and in brilliant condition. For some reason, before my trip to Riga, I often came across reviews where they blamed the devastation reigning in the capital of Latvia and the general depression of the region (the main argument is the dramatically decreasing population of the country, which has decreased by almost three times since independence). In fact, in the center I did not encounter devastation, and in general, after Portugal, Latvia and, directly, Riga look very solid. And even more so when compared with provincial Russia.

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28. That evening, walking around Riga, I couldn’t get rid of the memories of my very first trip abroad. , and the weather on my first day there was exactly the same: snowfall, frost and Christmas mood.

29. By the way, not only the weather, but also the architecture and general mood reminded me of Prague. Riga is the twin of the Czech capital. I have never met a single city so similar to Prague.

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32. What comfort in these streets, wrapped in snowdrifts!

33. Main Riga fair.

34. She's the most beautiful!

35. There are enough people, but there is no feeling of a crowd. Just right for the holiday. Almost everyone is Russian-speaking: both strollers and sellers. At the same time, no “tagil” around.

36. The main Christmas tree is real! Looks and decorates great.

37. Right next to it is a very beautiful decorative house with a manger in which the newborn Jesus lies.

38. Mulled wine is sold everywhere (without disguising its name as a “Christmas drink”) and other goodies. Mulled wine at the main Christmas market costs 2.50 euros. I will definitely tell you in detail about prices in the next article about Riga. But, in anticipation of your questions, I will say: Riga is a very economical city. Often bills come out significantly cheaper than in Moscow. Yes, even with the current exchange rate.

39. There are many different vats in which all sorts of snacks and drinks are prepared right on the fires.

40. Very beautiful decor of the tents and gazebos installed in the square. Real Christmas!

41. How beautiful!

42. The fair is quite big.

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44. Everyone, cold, tired - it’s time to go to our warm and cozy hotel :)

Riga - perfect place in order to celebrate New Year and Christmas. The reality here turned out to be much higher than expectations, which were quite restrained. I don’t know if it was just me who was so “lucky” - previously I had the impression that the capital of Latvia was a rather boring place. In fact, everything turned out to be exactly the opposite. Riga has definitely become not only one of the main discoveries of 2016, which has just begun, but also of all recent years. The fact that we will definitely come here at least once a year is now a fact.

A little later I’ll tell you about what a cool hotel we stayed in and what Riga is like outside historical center- everything is very cool there too.

Happy holidays to all of you, friends! And don't even think about stopping celebrating! We still have at least one full evening, night and day ahead! Don't slow down! :)

I always try to go somewhere for the New Year. Yes, on these dates the most high prices, but you can’t just take advantage of the week off and stay at home. And I finally decided to visit Latvia and, in fact, celebrate the New Year in Riga. There wasn’t a lot of money and the closest foreign countries were from St. Petersburg, and even with your own car, they were Finland, Estonia and Latvia. I’ve already been to the first two more than once, so the choice was obvious.

Of course, I took the dog with me, because if I go somewhere by car, the dog is always with me. If we are flying by plane, there are options.

I have already talked about that winter trip to Latvia, namely about Cesis Castle and where you can eat cheaply in Riga, and today I will continue and tell you what we did in the remaining days and what happens in Riga on New Year’s Eve.

The easiest way to travel is by your own car, but in my route all places are accessible by car. public transport. Therefore, if you are going to come to Riga by bus or train, then you can safely go to the point “Riga in winter”. For those driving their own transport, you should start from the “Passing the border” point.

If we choose to travel to Latvia by our own car, and this is a very good option for winter travel, then first of all we need to decide through which border point we will pass the border. There are several options and they depend, firstly, on what kind of visa you have, multi-Schengen or one-time Latvian, and secondly, on what day you will go. The closer the New Year comes, the more traffic jams there are at the border.

I advise you to register in advance green card so as not to waste time on this along the way. Having passed follow this link and call the code “sisters” you will receive a special offer that you cannot refuse and will save not only time.

I also advise you to buy, perhaps, the cheapest insurance in Schengen from Alfa insurance. Cheap, but with good conditions and assistance. You can buy it online or at the company office.

We chose for ourselves the option through Pskov and the border with Estonia in the Shumilkino area and we were right. This is the shortest route, and on the Estonian side the checkpoint has been expanded and repaired, so the throughput is high.

If you do not want to put an Estonia stamp on your Latvian visa, so as not to spoil future relations with Latvians, then you need a road through the checkpoint near the village of Pytalovo. However, remember that there is still a large flow of traffic from Moscow through Pytalovo.

Well, for Muscovites the option is also available through Pytalovo, the fastest, or through Zasitino. But they say it is often busy.

Here is a travel map from Moscow and St. Petersburg to Riga across the Latvian or Estonian borders.

On the way back, if you choose to return home across the border with Estonia, do not forget, the queue at the Estonian border must be booked in advance!! How to do it and about the electronic queue at the Estonian border I wrote in this article.

Route, how many days you need, where to go from Riga

We were in Latvia for the New Year from December 31 to January 4. Moreover, we spent the last day in Tartu waiting in line at the border. I believe that 4-5 days is optimal for such a trip in light of the current exchange rate of the ruble against the euro.

1st and 2nd days Riga.

3rd day trip to Cesis (city, park, castle)

Day 4 Sigulda (castle, park, bobsleigh track)

Day 5 trip to Jurmala

Day 6, way home

Or, as we did:

Days 1-2 Riga, day 3 Cesis and Sigulda (only castles and park), day 4 Jurmala morning and evening arrival in Tartu. Day 5: Half day walk around Tartu and home at 3 pm.

Tartu is located close to the border. We drove back the same way through Shumilkino, because going through Narva was closer and 3 hours faster, but there was no free time at the border at all!! Book in advance!! Moreover, during our stay there was terrible snowfall and the roads were not cleared. We were driving very slowly and there were a lot of accidents. From Riga to St. Petersburg in one day, only if you don’t go to Jurmala, but go home straight away in the morning.

Riga on New Year's Day

My opinion about Riga during the New Year holidays may differ radically from the opinion of the majority, but I will say right away that I didn’t really like it. New Year in Europe in general is such a story, it’s not for everybody. No matter how much I went anywhere for the New Year holidays, the same thought was everywhere - the holiday should be inside you. But if the central streets of large Russian cities are still at least decorated and New Year's illumination creates a certain atmosphere, this is not the case in Riga.

Yes, the Christmas market on Town Hall Square is open, but not like in early December, when it first opens. They sell mulled wine, souvenirs and everything. And then, without any fun.

What's in Riga for the New Year itself?

Yes, actually the same thing as before - we walk, drink. This is for those who are simply planning to walk around the city on New Year's Eve.

Around midnight, people gather on the embankment, there is a fenced off area with a stage inside. Dogs are not allowed there, but of course I took mine with me. I didn’t go back to the hotel to leave him there. But it was still forbidden to bring your own booze inside, so many remained outside with bottles of champagne.

By the way, in Riga you also can’t buy alcohol after 10 p.m.. Therefore, take care of champagne in advance. The street kiosks that will be placed in city squares will only sell mulled wine.

At midnight, fireworks thunder and the entire crowd begins to shout and congratulate, but not those who are nearby, but every third person at the monitor screen. All voices carry congratulations around the world from this small spot on the embankment. That's all. Afterwards, everyone wanders around the city, eating hot dogs and drinking, drinking, drinking.

There is an option to book a table and spend a festive 12 hours until midnight in a restaurant with animation, but this is also not for everyone. I must say that in Tallinn on New Year there is the same “joy”.

Actually, I don't have any photos New Year's city. There was no desire and there was nothing special to photograph.

About the weather in Riga on New Year's Eve

Take heart, it will be as “warm” as in St. Petersburg and, perhaps, colder than in Moscow. More precisely, I was terribly chilled there from the wind and dampness. Yes, in St. Petersburg it’s also always damp and windy, but at home I don’t spend all my time along rivers and canals, but here, walking around the center, one way or another you will come across the wind.

Dress warmly, that's what I can advise. And in the morning, on the first, snow fell and continued to fall until our departure from Latvia. The city fell asleep and walking around it became even sadder and colder.

This is what Riga is like in winter.

The capital of Latvia was covered in snow during the New Year holidays.

We lived near the center, opposite central market, and ran to warm up, either to the hotel or to the cafe.

If you have never been to Riga before, then probably spend a couple of days walking around winter city and sightseeing is enough for you. There is nothing else to do here in winter, unless you are lucky with the weather. But in any case it will not be Africa.

And after you have looked at the capital, walked around the center, celebrated the New Year and bought warm knitted souvenirs, you can go further around the country. Daylight hours are short, so leave early.

Cesis

One of these days, visit Cesis. I really liked it, especially the park next to the castle, which looked like it came out of Bregel’s paintings.

And just walking around the town itself is very pleasant.

Sigulda

If you want to look at the castle in Sigulda, go here after Cesis on the way back. However, if you have some time, you can visit this city on a separate day. There is a very big one here national park Gauja, as well as a bobsleigh track, from which you can slide down on a professional car or skeleton, accompanied by an instructor.

But even just walking around Sigulda Castle is still some kind of variety from walking along the same streets of Riga.

Jurmala

I’m unlikely to go here a second time for the New Year, but for a change in celebrating the annual change of the calendar, why not? By the way, you can discard the option of traveling to Riga by car and buy an inexpensive plane ticket (the money may also be cheaper than a car). You can get around Latvia using public transport. The articles describe how and what to get where.

How to always be online when traveling?

Buy a euro card for internet and calls. I personally have an Orange card choose a card and tariff

How do I save on hotels?

It’s very simple - look not only on booking. I prefer the search engine RoomGuru. He searches for discounts simultaneously on Booking and on 70 other booking sites.

Hello everybody! The first New Year's trees have already been installed in Riga. They'll start decorating this weekend! New Year is coming! But readers still have questions.

I tried to get away from the topic: Cafes and restaurants in Riga for the New Year (no personal experience). Nothing worked out for me!!! The people demand!!! :))) Due to numerous requests from workers, I am opening a page for your comments, suggestions, advice and reviews on the topic:

Christmas market on Dome Square. December 3, 2012. Dome Cathedral before the New Year 2013. Dinner is prepared right on the street, on Dome Square.

Cafes and restaurants in Riga for the New Year.

— Where to celebrate the New Year in RIGA (cafes, restaurants) with reasonable prices? (up to 50 euros/person). Thank you.

- Good afternoon! My friends and I are also planning to celebrate the New Year in Riga! Please recommend a restaurant where you can have a great meal and spend 50 euros per person!

Almost an answer, reader comment:

— A general observation from numerous travels is that it is useless to ask local residents about restaurants and hotels - they eat and live at HOME! Well, at best they will indicate the local equivalent of LIDO, if there is one. Sometimes information can be obtained at the hotel, from the owners of the apartments. But here they can send you not to where it is better and cheaper, but to a biased place. In Kuldiga, for example, at 10-00 pm the reception said that everything was already closed and the only place, where they are open until 23 - some bar with American fast food on a pedestrian street not far from the hotel. Where we had to dine on extremely healthy deep-fried dishes. And in the morning we discovered a wonderful antique basement restaurant with a Latvian-Russian menu, open until 12-00, right under the information center building. Konstantin.

Answer: Yulianna and Natalia! Welcome to the blog!
From personal experience, I’m not at all an adviser on this issue. I have never had to book a table for New Year in a cafe or restaurant. We first celebrate at home, with our family. And at night we go to Old Riga. Transport this night is free. Last year everyone celebrated on the Embankment! On New Year's Eve there is a general folk festival in the center of Riga! Christmas trees, fireworks, disco, food and drink stalls! We meet friends there. We take with us approximately: pies, sweets, “baskets”, tangerines, champagne and plastic glasses. Meeting the fireworks on the Embankment, then Dome Square, Livu Square, Bastion Hill, etc. to the Esplanade. Funny! There are a lot of people. Noisy. You can wear masks, noses, ears, costumes, New Year decorations!

A few personal observations on the topic Cafes and restaurants in Riga for the New Year.

* On New Year's Eve, many cafes and restaurants have SPECIAL SERVICE. For visitors from the street - CLOSED. Firms, companies, organizations rent entire restaurants to celebrate the New Year. The cafe is open, but they will NOT let you in.
* Of course, it is better to book in advance.
* Prices. New Year's!!! At least double the price. The markup will be decent!
* Anyway, everyone goes outside to celebrate the New Year, instead of sitting at tables.

Personally, I don’t know any cafes and restaurants on New Year’s Eve for 50 Euros... maybe there are... we don’t use them.
I will try to put it on the agenda for general discussion. Can anyone give us some advice? So, take a look!

Not even a week has passed...
Ladies and Gentlemen! Feedback on the blog works well! This time Konstantin kindly shared the information.

Cafes and restaurants in Riga for the New Year.

- Good afternoon!

A report on how I looked for a “catering establishment” for a meeting in 2014 and what ended up happening.

The task was not to sit all evening trying to “eat the elephant”, but to have dinner at 9 pm and go meet NG on the streets of Riga. If we freeze, we have a hotel in the very center.

1. Restaurant at the hotel - http://www.ambiente.lv/

The very center, the Convention Courtyard. The restaurant did not answer, but the hotel unexpectedly responded:
» Good afternoon, Mr. *****
Thanks for your letter!
Attached is information about our New Year's offer at the Ambiente restaurant.
Free cancellation or payment before 12/01/2013. After this date the money will not be refunded.
Please contact us if you decide to make a reservation or have any questions!
We will be glad to welcome you at the Konventa Seta Hotel!”
Attached is a standard program with musicians, presidential anthems and all sorts of food without alcohol (1 glass of wine) for 65Lv/93EU per person from 21 to 2 am
That is almost 400 euros for a meal! Rejected with indignation! Not our format!

2. Medieval restaurant in an ancient cellar. Famous place.

I will be glad if it is useful to someone.

Konstantin.

For which many thanks to Konstantin and gratitude from me personally!

By the way, Konstantin took the very right path. I set a specific task! I composed a text with numbers and wishes. I sent letters to several addresses. Got answers. Compare. Chose. Booked the best option! Great job! :)))
Everyone noticed that the proposals are enormously different! 🙁
Take action if you haven’t already booked a table at a Restaurant for the New Year in Old Riga. Search! Choose! Write to them! Compare answers! If it’s not difficult, send your results too! Let's put together our list: Cafes and restaurants in Riga for the New Year.
Now I’ll see where these “Melnie muki” are. This is in Yanya Seta. A small medieval courtyard on the site of a former Dominican monastery. Very close to St. Peter's Church. Perhaps other blog readers will decide to celebrate the New Year there too

Do you want to celebrate the New Year in Riga? We will tell you how and how much it costs: prices for hotels and restaurants in 2019, weather, what to do on vacation, as well as reviews from tourists.

The festive atmosphere in winter lasts longer in Latvia than in other European capitals. Here they celebrate the New Year and two Christmases - according to the Catholic and Orthodox calendars. Riga welcomes its guests with bright illuminations and Christmas markets, and even bridges and buildings glow in a special, solemn and slightly mysterious way.

How is New Year celebrated in Riga?

In Riga, Christmas trees of the most unusual and bizarre shapes can be found throughout the city; the capital surprises tourists with unusual creations: wooden, mirror, LED fir trees and even labyrinth trees. Forest beauties decorate Domskaya and Station Squares.

If you are going to celebrate the New Year 2019 in Riga, we recommend arriving on December 23-24 to take part in the celebration of Catholic Christmas too. From mid-December, Christmas markets open, the largest of which are on Dome Square, in Egle Park on Kalku Street, on the esplanade and Livu Square. Here you can try confectionery, famous Riga bread, local beer and mulled wine, buy leather and amber souvenirs, and handicrafts.

Most citizens and tourists gather on December 31 at the Freedom Monument and on the November 11 Embankment near the Daugava River. A stage with screens is set up here and people are entertained with songs and dances. On this day it is officially allowed to drink on the street alcoholic drinks, which you can bring with you or buy right there in the tents. At exactly midnight, fireworks thunder over the river. Young people go to have fun night club, Essential, Faraons, Saxophone, Big Point, Casablanca are very popular.

Weather in December

The weather in the capital during the New Year holidays is unpredictable: snowfall can easily give way to rain and temperatures up to +5°C. But most often there is snow and slight frost -1... -4°C or around zero, but high humidity and piercing wind increase the feeling of cold. You need to dress warmly; it is advisable to have waterproof and windproof clothing.

Where to go and what to do during the winter holidays

The most interesting place for tourists in the capital of Latvia - Old Riga, city center. There are ancient castles, buildings and churches here, everything is quite compact, so you can easily see the main attractions in 1-2 days, periodically warming up in cozy cafes. Co observation deck St. Peter's Cathedral offers a magnificent panorama of the Old Town.

If the weather is not very conducive to walking, you can use the services tourist buses. Excursion bus red color departs from the National Opera building. Sightseeing tour usually lasts about 1.5-2 hours.

The Dome Cathedral traditionally hosts Christmas concerts on Catholic and Orthodox Christmas and New Year's Eve with the participation of local and foreign performers. On any day you can come in and listen to a small 20-minute concert of organ music, which is given here at noon.

History buffs will be able to visit the local Ethnographic Museum; the exhibition tells about the way of life of Latvians in the Middle Ages; there are also exhibitions of applied art.

What else to do in Riga after the New Year 2019? If the weather and time permit, you can go to breathe the healing sea air in Jurmala, admire the castles in Rundāle or Cesis. At the entrance to Jurmala there is the Livu water park, which operates holidays. The water park has a swimming pool, a tower, slides, a Finnish and Turkish sauna, a jacuzzi, so you can safely go there for the whole day.

According to reviews, prices for brand name clothing and shoes here are lower than in Moscow, even without sales, so you can shop successfully. True, on January 1, all major shopping centers, as well as museums, are closed, only grocery stores are open from 10-11 am. Cafes and restaurants open in the afternoon.

Restaurants in Riga for New Year 2019

Not all establishments in Riga are open on New Year’s Eve, so it’s better to worry about a place in advance, since many serve group orders and you won’t be able to get there “from the street.” It is easier for tourists to find a hotel with a restaurant; most hotels organize festive banquets.

You can eat on a budget in those establishments where locals come. So, breakfast can cost 2-3.5 euros, lunch - 3-6 euros, dinner - 5-9 euros. Pay attention to business lunches and daily specials - this way you can save a lot.

You can have lunch in a cafe in the Old Town for 20-30 euros with drinks. A business lunch in the hotel restaurant will cost 8-10 euros. Cheap set lunches for about 3 euros in cafes in shopping centers Origo, in chain establishments Lido and kebabs.

Thus, in Riga you can eat on a budget - even in the Old Town! The article contains inexpensive establishments in the city.