Authentic Riga

LOCALS

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Perfect place where to spend Saturdays as local and meet with local producers.

Kalnciema iela
Āgenskalna tirgus

Sestdien Kalnciema kvartālā īpašs notikums – Neatkarīgais tirgus 🇱🇻 Pie zemniekiem un mājražotājiem vietēji, pašu audzēti un loloti produkti, pie amatniekim pašu rokām radīti un šūti darinājumi. Galerijā plkst. 10.30-13.00 biedrība LeLat aicinās kopā apgūt tautas mākslu, no dabas materiāliem gatavojot puzurus, ar ko rotāt telpas. Savukārt kafejnīcā plkst. 11.00-12.30 pieredzējusī bērnu grāmatu ilustratore Signe Ērmane jaunākos apmeklētājus iepazīstinās ar latvju rakstiem. Nodarbībā bērni pētīs un zīmēs latviešu tautastērpu ornamentus. Radošās mākslas nodarbības bērniem notiek ik sestdienu. Lai pieteiktos vienā vai vairākās nodarbībās, lūgums iepriekš aizpildīt formu – https://ej.uz/367v

TRADITIONS and ART
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Join light festival in Latvijas Etnogrāfiskais brīvdabas muzejs during dark season in Latvia.

Ziemas Gaismas dārzs

Sniedziņš ir atgriezies un vēl tikai šovakar + 4 dienas iespējams paspēt uz Latvijas gaismu mākslinieku saulgriežu stāstiem. Nenokavējiet!

WELLNESS
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Winter in Latvia also brings with it a sense of adventure and outdoor activities. Ice skating on frozen lakes and rivers, cross-country skiing through snowy forests, and the thrill of sledding down steep hills are popular pastimes.
In addition to winter sports and outdoor adventures, you can experience Latvia like a local by indulging in the country's cherished sauna rituals. Latvian sauna traditions are a deeply rooted cultural practice that involves a series of therapeutic procedures. These rituals typically begin with a session in the sauna, where you'll enjoy the intense heat and steam. Afterward, you can opt for a traditional "pirtis" or sauna whisk, which is a bundle of aromatic birch branches used for gentle exfoliation, boosting circulation, and relaxation. The experience is often followed by a refreshing plunge into cold water or rolling in the snow, adding an invigorating touch to the rejuvenating process. It's a perfect way to unwind, detoxify, and connect with Latvian traditions during the winter season.

Ziedlejas

Repost

Serenity, restart and offline mode.

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Miers, restarts un ‘offline’ režīms.

WELLNESS
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Winter in Latvia also brings with it a sense of adventure and outdoor activities. Ice skating on frozen lakes and rivers, cross-country skiing through snowy forests, and the thrill of sledding down steep hills are popular pastimes.

In addition to winter sports and outdoor adventures, you can experience Latvia like a local by indulging in the country's cherished sauna rituals. Latvian sauna traditions are a deeply rooted cultural practice that involves a series of therapeutic procedures. These rituals typically begin with a session in the sauna, where you'll enjoy the intense heat and steam. Afterward, you can opt for a traditional "pirtis" or sauna whisk, which is a bundle of aromatic birch branches used for gentle exfoliation, boosting circulation, and relaxation. The experience is often followed by a refreshing plunge into cold water or rolling in the snow, adding an invigorating touch to the rejuvenating process. It's a perfect way to unwind, detoxify, and connect with Latvian traditions during the winter season.

https://www.facebook.com/Ziedlejas.lv

Ziedlejas

Repost

Ziedlejas Dabas tūrisms, rituālā pirts, nakšņošana stikla istabās, aktīvā atpūta

ART
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Winter Season at the Latvian National Opera

Indulge in the captivating world of opera and ballet during Latvia's Winter Season at the Latvian National Opera, where from classical masterpieces to contemporary productions, a mesmerizing repertoire awaits, enchanting audiences with spellbinding performances.

https://www.opera.lv/en/

Foto:Krišjanis Kazaks

NATURE
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Lonely Planet honors Baltic Trails!

Baltic Trails in Latvia, along with Estonia and Lithuania Receives “Best in Travel 2024” Sustainability Award.

Latvia, along with its Baltic neighbors Estonia and Lithuania has achieved a remarkable milestone, being named as one of the winners in the "Best in Travel 2024" sustainability category by Lonely Planet. The awarded Baltic Trails showcases a strong commitment to sustainable tourism, heralding a new era of eco-conscious travel and nature preservation in the Baltic region.

How to hike the Baltic Trails Explore the wooded national parks, beaches and historic towns of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

GOURMAND

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First restaurants in Latvia receive MICHELIN stars!

Max Cekot Kitchen in Riga, we applaud you for entering the starry Michelin family! Magnificent!

Today is a milestone moment for Latvia's gastronomy scene - our brilliant restaurants have received the ultimate appraisal. The MICHELIN Guide Latvia is launched today with 22 restaurants in total in the list, one Michelin Star and one Green Star for Pavāru māja Līgatnē in Līgatne!

Look for the complete restaurant list at https://bit.ly/40RCsRO

GOURMAND
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Latvia joins the famous MICHELIN Guide featuring

1 MICHELIN Star restaurant Max Cekot Kitchen,
3 Bib Gourmands - Sn**ch Rīga, Shōyu, MILDA
1 MICHELIN Green Star restaurant Pavāru māja Līgatnē.

Another good reason to visit and taste Latvia.

https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/michelin-guide-ceremony/the-first-michelin-guide-latvia-is-out?fbclid=IwAR2WT_MMw8BudL8Lomn0nYe_hen2xPSRFYmM5nVLT1WWPjpUHEtaxSk78to

The First MICHELIN Guide Latvia Is Out! Discover the new selection – the second for the Baltic region – which features 1 MICHELIN Star, 3 Bib Gourmands and 1 MICHELIN Green Star

Authentic Riga
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Piektdiena 🎇

ALTERNATIVE ART

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A space where to experience street art.

BEYOND RIGA

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Visit beautiful town of Visit Kuldiga.

https://www.euronews.com/travel/2023/09/24/kuldiga-heres-why-latvias-new-unesco-world-heritage-town-should-be-on-your-travel-radar?fbclid=IwAR3lO_b91-CXbE1ckQEK-4uiXpN_4qmkfWm2DZORB7fjaJ9hq0biujGoo1A_aem_ASDgXrE9ISIUhgfeH7GsWFEgKGimmO40tVrUe0Pmn2YRnbvfb8gk_LvwxCH2UREwUgM

5. ‘Venice of Latvia’: This ancient town just got global recognition A quiet town in Latvia has just been awarded UNESCO status, drawing attention to all that Latvia has to offer tourists.

ART

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Riga Last Thursdays XXIV - 2 gadu jubileja: Next Thursday you have a great opportunity to see several art spaces in Riga for free and until late in the evening.

Read more about the galleries on our website, and look out for EO (exhibition opening), MA (meet the artist), W (workshop), P (performance), CT (curatorial tour) in the Special Events section.

https://www.rigalastthursdays.com/september-2023

TRADITIONS

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Traditions - Latvia The Latvian Song and Dance Festival is one of the world’s largest amateur choral and dancing events and is recognized by UNESCO as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

MUSIC

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The amazing Latvian ethno-pop band Tautumeitas will perform at the prestigious Glastonbury Festivals in the UK! We're so excited to see our artists on the world stage!

💃The amazing Latvian ethno-pop band Tautumeitas will perform at the prestigious Glastonbury Festivals in the UK! We're so excited to see our artists on the world stage!🎙

ART

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Biennale Architettura 2023, riflessioni e perplessità - Cosa pensiamo di questa edizione appena iniziata? Dopo esserci presi qualche giorno di riflessione - necessario a far sedimentare i pensieri - siamo pronti a condividere alcune considerazioni critiche su quanto visto durante i giorni di opening.

Tas, ko paveica Latvijas hokeja izlase, mūs visus pacēla gaisā, lai ar smaidu sejā un lepnumu sirdī varam skaļi teikt, ka esam no Latvijas un kopā varam sasniegt jebko! 🇱🇻♥️ Mazais zelts šodien, lielais zelts rīt! 🥉

Latvijas Hokeja federācija

LATVIA AUTHENTIC

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LATVIA wins bronze and their first medal ever in the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships🇱🇻🎉🥉🔥

LATVIA wins bronze and their first medal ever in the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships🇱🇻🎉🥉🔥

NATURE

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"Though it’s mostly water, it’s also mildly sweet, complex with something you won’t taste in plain water. I asked myself what it tasted like. I answered myself: It tastes like light."

With the onset of spring, bottles containing sap tapped from birch juice become available at shops and stalls throughout the Baltics, as Barbara Chepaitis explains.

Tapping Trees, Drinking Light: Baltic Birch Juice For Lithuanians, forests were and are sacred places, with some venerable groves being even more sacred than others.

RIGA
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Vogue names Riga 🇱🇻 among the world’s most beautiful places to spend the holiday season!

📸 Daniels Joffe on Unsplash
Read 👉🏼 https://www.vogue.com.au/travel/destinations/the-worlds-most-beautiful-places-to-spend-christmas/image-gallery/642c9994e991b5f8c3fe40b69fb0a389?utm_campaign=VLOrganic&utm_medium=postOrganic&utm_source=Instagram&utm_content=www.instagram.com/p/CmkRKIrp-7Q/

ART
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Latvia amongst the best Pavillions at @ La Biennale di Venezia

Here Are the 9 Best Pavilions at the 2022 Venice Biennale | Artnet News From Poland's first presentation by a Romani artist to a high-tech creature at the Korea Pavilion, here is our pick of the festival's best.

Merry Christmas!
Priecīgu Ziemassvētkus!

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A reminder that the most famous Christmas tradition began in Latvia🎄

RIGA
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Time to get home, to become better and to see the hidden beauty of the city.

Pilsētā iemirdzēsies svētku egles! 🎄✨
Pirmajā adventē, 28. novembrī, Rīgā iemirdzēsies galvenās Ziemassvētku egles Doma laukumā un Rātslaukumā. Pirmo adventi pavadīs un svētku noskaņu uzburs koncerti kultūras centros un dievnamos, kurus ikviens varēs apmeklēt “zaļajā režīmā”.
👉 Vairāk: https://bit.ly/3l7V5O5

NATURE
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How to spend a weekend in Latvia's wild and windswept west.
National Geographic Travel

Latvia’s breathtaking geography and colourful cultural patchwork are enough to tempt any traveller seeking unknown adventures. In the cosmopolitan capital, Riga, Baltic and Nordic sensibilities meld with the village-like atmosphere of the Old Town, while grand monuments stud the Soviet-built boulevards. But head west out of the city and the hinterland hits you almost immediately. Forests of oak, birch and linden come right up to the road, the sound of folk songs drifts over wildflower meadows, and white storks soar overhead en route to nests in the highest branches of native pine and spruce trees.

You’ll get the landscape largely to yourself here — little wonder, in a country with only two million citizens. When driving through this western corner of the country, the coast is never far away, and summer days are long and bright, giving you even more time to enjoy the unspoilt, golden-sand beaches that look out across the Baltic Sea towards Estonia and Sweden. It’s easy to cover a good swathe of it in a weekend, and — even better — it won’t cost the world.

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel/2021/10/how-to-spend-a-weekend-in-latvias-wild-and-windswept-west?fbclid=IwAR0XMoBVFXNjissmpsV8pCFYO3XEubetXsK9T_SbCx0Td6OY1WO1b7lYXxg

How to spend a weekend in Latvia's wild and windswept west Pair a city break to Riga with a trip through western Latvia, home to unspoilt Baltic beaches, wartime history and wooded waterways.

NATURE
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To see the morning rise upon the bog feels both a little bit haunting, and yet peaceful and magical.

📍 Latvia
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RIGA
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Romantic evenings in the parks, the hustle and bustle of the city, the warm twilight shades, and the sun-filled flowerbeds.

📍 Riga
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ARCHITECTURE
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Local building materials for a harmonious co-existence with nature We are interested in examples of built structures that blend in and respect their surrounding environments.

ART
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TRADITIONS
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Latvians are celebrating Midsummer or Jāņi and migrating from the cities to the countryside to eat, drink and be merry - so let's all gather in the meadows, forests and gardens for some dancing and singing in unison with nature!

📍: Latvija
📷:

AUTHENTIC
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If during these days you're unable to reach Latvians via phone or e-mail, it's highly likely that they're elbow-deep in the meadows and making flower crowns - because it's finally Midsummer! Līgo, līgo! 🌸

📍: Dzērbene
📷:

VISIT RIGA
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Travel restrictions to Latvia relaxed starting June 16

For vaccinated persons and persons who have had and overcome Covid-19:

👉 Non-essential travel to the EU, EEA countries, Switzerland, UK and low risk third countries will be allowed. The test before the flight and when entering Latvia will not have to be carried out, nor will it be necessary to comply with self-isolation.

👉 Non-essential travel to high-risk third countries will be allowed. The test will not have to be performed before the trip and when entering Latvia. Self-isolation will not have to be observed either.

👉 Non-essential travel to countries with a particularly high risk to public health will not be allowed. In the case of travel, a test will have to be carried out before the trip and when entering Latvia. Self-isolation will also have to be respected.

For those who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 or overcome it:

👉 Non-essential travel to the EU, EEA countries, Switzerland, Britain and low-risk third countries will be allowed. The test will not have to be carried out before the trip and upon returning to Latvia. Self-isolation will not have to be observed.

👉 Non-essential travel to high-risk third countries will not be allowed. A test will have to be carried out before the trip and when entering Latvia. Self-isolation will have to be observed.

Read more: https://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/transport/travel-restrictions-to-be-relaxed-in-latvia.a409110/

Travel restrictions to be relaxed in Latvia On Tuesday, June 15, the government supported amendments to the law drafted by the Ministry of Transport, which provides for lifting several travel restrictions for people vaccinated against Covid-19 or those who have overcome it.

RESTAURANT
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Stay tuned for a re-opening of Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga Stage 22 Restaurant.

Perfect place for being rooted with elegance of Riga!

The countdown has begun. We are thrilled to share that we will be re-opening our stunning terrace at Stage 22 Restaurant and Bar this Friday. Discover our new menu and try out our latest cocktail creations, all lovingly prepared and served by our proud and passionate team. Book your table now! 67671111

ESCAPE AROUND RIGA
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Explore the forests of the Baltics on a new cross-border hiking trail.

A new 2141km hiking route links the forests and national parks of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia, giving travelers a new opportunity to explore the wilderness of the region.

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/forest-trail-hiking-baltics?fbclid=IwAR3EOiTQ4FzvpMmS49HGi-BmFXp07MaR4eDsF5sempmUyq4AG2tNU6SEGSs

Explore the Baltics on a new cross-border hiking trail The 2141km Forest Trail hiking route links the forests and national parks of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia.

It is spring in Riga!
It is time for birch sap. Birch sap is wonderful not only for drinking, but also for skin care.

Read more Mádara Organic Skincare.

The nature’s DNA – birch water 🧬 🔬 🧪

Do you drink birch sap or have you even heard of this practice? Let us know in the comments!

With the outbreak of spring, birch trees are flooding with nutrients to prepare for blossom. Nordic people have been drinking this magic potion for centuries believing in its health benefits and for a good reason. Modern research shows that birch water is one of the richest sources of bio-available nutrients including vitamins, proteins, amino acids and enzymes, known to help remove toxins from the body and nourish cells with organic acids. Similar to its rejuvenating activity on the tree, birch water speeds up the dermal cell division as well, and packed with wonderful healing properties, this revolutionary beauty fluid also protects the skin against free radicals, preventing and reversing ageing.
We are beyond excited for birch sap season and capturing all its blessings within our skin-restoring Time Miracle range – the world’s 1st birch water-based anti-ageing skincare.