Quick Overview:
The capital of Latvia is having a renaissance and your stag party is invited! Riga is becoming a growing tourist draw as people flock to the city for its history, German Art Noveau architecture and nightlife that ranks among the very best in Europe. Large-scale restorations of Riga’s older buildings have transformed the city into one of the most beautiful in Europe. There is much to see and do here especially when on a stag do in Riga.

Getting Around:
Riga’s Old Town is closed to cars and therefore a great place for walking exploration. An exception is that vehicles making deliveries are allowed in Old Town. That means you can take a taxi into Old Town but not park a rental car there. Taxi drivers are generally honest and very helpful but some can take advantage so be careful. Riga has great public transportation - trams, trolleys and buses - that is easy to use on a stag party. Riga is split into several districts; the ones of most interest to visitors are Old Town and the area around the nearby Freedom Monument.

Must See/Must Do:
• St. Peter's Church - Riga’s oldest church dates to 1209. Take in the stunning architecture and take the elevator to the tower from where you can see all of Riga.
• Art Noveau Buildings - Alberta and Elizabetes streets are the best place to see the architectural styles that made Riga famous. Other Art Nouveau buildings can be seen in the area around the Freedom Monument, Raina Bulvaris and Strelnieku iela.
• Extreme Fun - Riga is a hotbed for adrenaline pumping good times - especially while on a stag party Weekend. Everything from AK-47 shooting and bungee jumping to paintball, go karting, bobsledding and canoeing down the River Gauja is easily available.
• Sun Museum - Definitely a little different, this museum covers the history of sun mythology and its role in Latvian culture.

History:
Founded in 1201, Riga was a base for the Northern Crusades. It then developed into a major trading center in the eastern Baltics. Riga eventually became part of the Swedish and then Russian Empires before gaining independence in 1918. Riga remained a capital city during the Soviet occupation following the end of World War II and after the fall of communism in the 1990s, Riga re-emerged as the capital of free Latvia. Germany has had a close relationship with Riga since the city’s inception and for much of its history Germans were considered elite to Latvians. After World War II, German residents of Riga were forcibly removed. The independent Latvia’s government realized the potential of the city and launched a vigorous revitalization campaign to erase the heavy bombing scars of World War II and the result is that Riga has one of the most complete Old Towns in Europe – a must-visit on a stag do.

Nightlife:
Bars in Riga are open longer than most European cities - great news for your stag party! Riga’s nightlife is legendary and guaranteed to produce a (mostly) memorable time. But beware, Latvians are no slouches when it comes to drinking - you may have trouble pacing yourself if you get in with the locals. Check out the Russian and Latvian bars and notice the cultural differences. There are many high-quality clubs around town. Try Pulkvedis and Leningrad. The Cuba Cafe has a nightly DJ who mimes.

Eating:
Riga is the most cosmopolitan cities in the Balkan states. As such, it has a vibrant culinary scene and a stag party in Riga can sample local favorites and international cuisine with like ease. Latvian food tends toward the hearty with a lot of potato, cabbage, beef, pork and fish. A wide range of foreign cuisines are also available. Currently, sushi restaurants are highly popular.