Out of all my travels through the Baltic states, the city that captured my heart the most was Riga, Latvia. This time, I enjoyed a 4-day, 3-night stay exploring entirely on foot 🚶♀️🌸 · -- 🏡 1. The Luxury of Staying in the Heart of the City I booked a place right by the Old Town square. I'd wake up, wander the streets, and head back to my room for a break whenever I felt tired. In the evening, I'd step out into the square again for a stroll. It was such a freeing, laid-back way to spend my time. · -- 🎻 2. Everyday City Life That Fills Your Soul At night, pleasant music drifts from the restaurants, and I loved listening to the street musicians play. Instead of rushing from one tourist spot to the next, simply being there in the moment brought me so much joy 🎶 · -- 🛒 3. An Authentic, Non-Touristy Lifestyle Take a peek into the local markets and supermarkets, and you'll get a real glimpse into the everyday lives of the locals. Prices are quite reasonable, so there's no pressure to rush around thinking, "I have to see it all." The city has a peaceful vibe, making it safe and relaxing for a solo female traveler to stroll around. It is completely safe in terms of security ✨ · -- [Summary] The famous tourist attractions are wonderful, of course, but what I loved most was the tranquil atmosphere of Riga as a whole. I highly recommend this city to anyone looking for an "unhurried trip" or wanting to "travel like a local." Whenever I visit the Baltics next, I'm absolutely coming back to Riga! 🇱🇻

Latvia, in particular, is a Baltic state where the culture of handcrafts thrives. While walking through Riga's Old Town, you'll often see beautiful knitted mittens, but did you know that they have a rich history beyond mere warmth? This time, we'll reveal the secret behind why Latvian mittens are special and introduce two wonderful specialty shops where you can find authentic, traditional mittens that are a cut above the typical souvenir shops that fill the city. ✍️ · -- 🧙♀️ Why are Latvian mittens so famous? In Latvia, mittens have long served as "amulets" and "talismans for happiness." Each of the unique and beautiful geometric patterns woven into them has meaning. For example, there are motifs representing nature gods such as the "Sun God," the "God of Fate," and the "God of Wealth," and they were believed to protect the wearer and bring happiness. Mittens are a sacred item indispensable to life's milestones; there was once a tradition where the bride would hand-knit dozens of pairs of mittens to distribute at her wedding. Mittens, knitted with fine wool yarn and woven as tightly as possible, are characterized by their windproof, surprisingly durable, and warm feel ❄️❤️ · -- 📍 1. Hobbywool ~A cozy secret hideaway. Their cuteness will make your heart flutter just by trying them on~ Hobbywool (Photos 1-8) is easily recognizable by its woody entrance, nestled on a charming cobblestone street in the old town. Stepping inside, you're greeted by a dazzling array of colorful mittens with traditional patterns, displayed almost to the ceiling. When you actually put them on, the gentle warmth of the finely knitted wool spreads slowly, filling you with a feeling of happiness (Photo 1). The shop offers not only mittens, but also a wide variety of handcrafted items, including a light and airy bright yellow summer knit (photo 6) and adorable hand-knitted baby booties neatly arranged in a basket (photo 7)—all filled with the artisans' love! They also have stylishly packaged "mitten knitting kits," making them a great souvenir to knit yourself as a memento of your trip 🧶 · -- 📍 2. SENĀ KLĒTS (National Costume Center) ~Museum-class elegance. A place to experience the essence of Latvian traditional culture~ Another shop you absolutely must visit is 'SENĀ KLĒTS' (photos 9-16). More than just a shop, this place possesses an overwhelming presence, truly deserving of the title "Research Institute for Latvian Folk Costumes and Traditional Culture." Inside the shop, mittens with traditional color schemes varying by region, and more intricate and rigorous geometric patterns, are beautifully and neatly arranged, clearly setting them apart in aura and detail from mass-produced souvenirs. Furthermore, everywhere you look, you'll find exquisite handcrafted items, such as the stunningly displayed shelves of yarns in vibrant gradients (photo 14) and the elegantly adorned, handmade, freestanding coin purses featuring traditional textiles and lace (photo 12). This is a truly exceptional shop that I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone who wants to experience authentic Latvian traditional techniques with all their senses and carefully search for their own special "pair of mittens to last a lifetime" 🏛️✨ · -- The magical mittens that have warmed people through Latvia's harsh winters and been an integral part of their lives. When you visit Riga, be sure to stop by these two beautiful shops and experience authentic handcrafted goods that seem to embody the spirit of the artisans and the prayers of tradition. 🇱🇻 · -- 【Shop Information】 📍 Hobbywool ・Address: Maza Pils iela 6, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050 📍 SENĀ KLĒTS (tautas tērpu centrs) ・Address: Rātslaukums 1, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050 (Very close to City Hall Square)

Exploring Riga feels like turning the pages of a cozy storybook. The aroma of freshly baked pastries mingles with the crisp Baltic sea breeze, while cobblestone streets guide you to hidden courtyards and warm, inviting cafés. Every corner boasts its own distinct personality, from the quiet elegance of Art Nouveau architecture to the refreshing coastal vibes. 💡 Local Seasonal Tip: Summer is hands-down the best time to visit—the city truly comes alive, and you can lounge on outdoor café patios all day, soaking up the long, sun-drenched hours. Autumn is pure magic in Sigulda, where the river valley turns into a vibrant sea of golden and crimson leaves, offering breathtaking views. Late autumn, winter, and early spring are generally less ideal for sightseeing, as the days get short and chilly, often bringing rain, slush, and biting winds. You won't find any rigid schedules or jam-packed itineraries here. Just the absolute best, most authentic spots to check out—from secret coffee hideouts and architectural masterpieces to coastal day trips. Cherry-pick your favorites and piece together your dream trip to Latvia! 🎨 Art, Architecture & Classic Museums Alberta Street (Alberta iela) & The Quiet Centre: It's essentially an open-air gallery and a world-renowned hub for Art Nouveau. Just wander around and look up to take in the expressive facades, sweeping lines, sculptured masks, mascarons, and floral motifs. Riga Nativity of Christ Orthodox Cathedral (Rīgas Kristus Piedzimšanas pareizticīgo katedrāle): Situated right near Esplanāde Park, this stunning Neo-Byzantine cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in the Baltics. Famous for its striking golden domes and intricate iconostasis, it’s a magnificent piece of architectural heritage right in the heart of downtown. Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMM / Mākslas muzejs): A gorgeously restored historic building that now features a sleek, modern extension. It’s home to the finest masterpieces by classic Latvian artists. Art Museum "Rīga Bourse" (Rīgas Birža): Located right on Dome Square inside a 19th-century Venetian Renaissance-style building. Step inside to find a rich collection of international art, ranging from Old European Masters to Oriental porcelain. Pauls Stradiņš Museum of the History of Medicine: One of the largest and most fascinating medical museums in the world. The exhibits cover everything from medieval healing practices and vintage dental offices to a one-of-a-kind collection on space medicine. National Museum of Natural History (Latvijas Nacionālais dabas muzejs): The oldest natural history museum in the Baltics. Located right downtown on Kr. Barona Street, it’s a fun, interactive pit stop—especially if you're traveling with kids. 🎬 🏛️ The Soul of Riga: Film Locations, Walks & Tours Old Town (Vecrīga): The historic heartbeat of Riga, packed with charming cobblestone alleys. Don't miss the House of the Blackheads, Town Hall Square, Convent Yard (Konventa sēta), and the "Three Brothers" complex. Real-Life Movie Sets: Riga’s streets are true cinematic chameleons! The historic downtown is so photogenic that it’s constantly used as a backdrop for movies and TV shows. Strolling down Jauniela or Maza Jauniela, you might spot some iconic scenes (Riga famously doubled as Sherlock Holmes’s Baker Street and WWII Berlin). If you’re lucky, you might even stumble upon a live film crew in action! Electric Bus Tour: Hop aboard a cozy little electric eco-bus for an audio-guided ride through Old Riga's prettiest narrow streets. Canal & River Boat Rides: Catch a boat tour down the city canal and out into the expansive Daugava River for sweeping views of the city skyline and its bridges. 11th November Embankment Walk: The ultimate riverside promenade—especially magical right around sunset. 🍲 Where to Eat, Drink & Enjoy Skyline Views Galleria Riga Rooftop Terraces: Ride the elevator to the top floor of the Galleria Riga shopping mall on Dzirnavu Street. The rooftop is decked out with lush, greenhouse-style concept spots like Herbārijs, serving up panoramic 360° views of Riga’s historic roofscape—the perfect backdrop for sunset drinks or a laid-back lunch. Lido: The ultimate go-to for discovering authentic Latvian comfort food. Be sure to try the savory roasted pork (bužeņina), grey peas with bacon, potato pancakes, and the traditional rye bread dessert topped with whipped cream (maizes zupa). Parunāsim kafejnīca: Tucked away in a quiet Old Riga courtyard, this spot is often dubbed the most romantic café in town. Expect fantastic coffee and heavenly, made-from-scratch desserts. Casa Della Pasta: A cozy, authentic Italian joint for when you need a break from hearty local fare and are craving some delicious fresh pasta. Rozengrāls: An incredibly atmospheric medieval restaurant set in an authentic 13th-century cellar. It's lit entirely by candlelight, complete with waiters in period costumes and dishes crafted from ancient recipes. 🛍️ Shopping: From Concept Stores to Fashion Brands Cozy Old Town Boutiques: Meander down Vāgnera, Jāņa iela, and the surrounding alleys to uncover hidden gem shops selling amber jewelry, artisan linen clothing, and local botanical cosmetics. Galerija Centrs & Galleria Riga: Classic shopping hubs right in the central districts—perfect for fashion finds, gifts, and grabbing a bite on the roof. Stockmann: A premium department store boasting international fashion brands, high-end cosmetics, and a deluxe gourmet food hall. 🌲 🌊 🏰 Day Trips & Road Trips: Nature, Sea, Castles & Towns Jūrmala (Closest Coastal Escape): The most accessible and iconic resort town, just a 30-minute train ride or a quick drive from Riga Central Station. Soak up miles of powdery white-sand Baltic beaches, pine-scented air, wooden villas, and the bustling Jomas Street pedestrian promenade. Road Trip Potential & Car Rentals: Renting a car in Latvia is a breeze, affordable, and hands-down one of the best ways to explore the countryside at your own pace. Just outside the capital, Latvia serves up smooth, scenic highways that cut through pine forests, rolling hills, and coastal cliffs. Having your own set of wheels lets you effortlessly hop between hidden nature trails, quiet beach dunes, and historic estates all in a single day. Sigulda: Often dubbed the "Latvian Switzerland"—a postcard-perfect region in the Gauja River valley featuring the ancient Turaida Castle, a scenic cable car, and historic caves. (An absolute must-see in the fall when the foliage pops!) Tērvete Nature Park (Tērvetes Dabas Parks & Gnome Forest / Rūķu mežs): A fairytale forest wonderland set among towering, ancient pine trees. Located about an hour's drive south of Riga, this park is home to the magical Gnome Village (Rūķu ciems) and the gnome city Čiekure, complete with tiny wooden houses, working water mills, winding trails, and wooden watchtowers. Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk (Ķemeru tīrelis): A mystical, otherworldly nature trail tucked away in Ķemeri National Park (right next door to Jūrmala). Walking the wooden boardwalks over dark bog lakes and stunted pines feels like stepping into an alternate universe—especially at sunrise or sunset when the fog rolls over the water. Rundāle Palace (Rundāles pils): Known as the "Versailles of the Baltics," this lavish Baroque palace showcases breathtaking state rooms and an absolutely stunning rose garden. Kuldīga: A storybook town straight out of a fairytale, boasting red-tile roofs, historic charm, and Ventas Rumba—Europe’s widest natural waterfall! Ventspils: A spotless coastal port town packed with beautifully manicured parks, a Livonian Order Castle, and famous cow sculptures scattered across the city. Liepāja: The coastal city "where the wind is born," famous for its sprawling, powdery white-sand beaches, buzzing creative quarters, and the stark historical contrast of the Karosta military district. 💡 Local Tip for Travel & Getting Around: When exploring Riga, public transit and walking are your best bets. For regional day trips to Jūrmala, hopping on the local Vivi passenger train to Majori or Dzintari station is the fastest, cheapest, and most convenient way to go.

When visiting Riga, the capital of Latvia, you absolutely have to experience "sourcing your own breakfast" locally! Here are some highly recommended items I found at a local supermarket and the "Riga Central Market (Rīgas Centrāltirgus)," one of Europe's largest markets and a UNESCO World Heritage site 🛒🌸 · -- 🎪 1. Recommendations at the Riga Central Market (Rīgas Centrāltirgus) Housed inside massive repurposed Zeppelin hangars, this dome-shaped market is packed with fresh ingredients! 🍓 Fresh Fruits & Vegetables Mountains of berries you rarely see back home! The fresh tartness of the raspberries, in particular, burst in my mouth—the perfect way to wake up in the morning. 🍞 Rye Bread & Incredible Salted Butter Traditional dark bread (Rupjmaize) made from rye. Different from the ones at the supermarket, the handmade bread sold at the market looks so much more flavorful and appetizing 👀 And you absolutely have to try the local salted butter (Sviests)! Latvian dairy products are absolutely delicious across the board. Slathering this butter on the slightly sour rye bread creates a mind-blowing, perfectly balanced flavor 🧈✨ 🍯 Baltic Specialty Honey Beekeeping is a big deal in the Baltic states. The market offers a huge variety of honey, so have fun finding your favorite!! ・DAŽĀDU ZIEDU (Wildflower Honey): Mild with a gentle sweetness. The safest bet for a souvenir! ・LIEPU (Linden Honey): Incredibly popular in the Baltics. Features a refreshing, herbal aroma and an elegant aftertaste. ・MEŽA (Forest Honey): Dark in color, with a rich, deep flavor similar to brown sugar. · -- 🛒 2. Interesting Finds at a Local Supermarket 🥖 A Whole Wall of Bread From savory pastries to packaged loaves, the selection is so massive that just picking one out is exciting! Brands like "Latvijas Maiznieks" and "Fazer" are staples in Latvian supermarkets. Packaged denser breads have lower moisture content and last longer, making them excellent souvenirs ◎ 🌿 Fresh Herbs Sold with Soil I was so surprised to see herbs like basil and mint sold in little pots with soil! In the West, it's common to keep these in the kitchen and pinch off leaves as you cook. Spotting these little lifestyle differences is one of the best parts of exploring local supermarkets 🌱 🫖 A Wide Variety of Herbal Teas Blessed with lush nature, Latvia is a major consumer of herbal teas. I picked up a Linden and Chamomile blend from a brand called "MOŽUMS." The tea aisle at the supermarket is stocked with tons of local herbal teas, offering gentle aromas and fantastic relaxing effects. They're perfect for unwinding during tea time once you get back home ☕️ · -- 【Summary】 Arrange the fresh berries, rye bread, and butter you bought at the market in your room, and you've got the ultimate breakfast ☀️ If you ever visit Riga, be sure to enjoy some shopping and experience life like a local 🇱🇻

Our hotel for the day was located in the Old Town of Riga, so after checking in, we headed out for a stroll to explore the streets. Compared to other cities, the cobblestones in Riga are larger and a bit rougher to walk on, but because of that, many of the old buildings remain intact, making it a truly spectacular city to take in. The place I really wanted to visit here was Bar "Riga Black Magic." It’s a cafe and bar specializing in Riga’s traditional liquor and truffle chocolates, and the exterior is incredibly cool, making you feel as if you've wandered into a medieval fantasy world. Right as you walk in, you're greeted by display cases lined with colorful truffle chocolates. The brick walls add such a great vibe, too. There are a few small tables, and it seemed like most people were enjoying it as a cafe. As you head further to the back, the lighting dims, and the atmosphere instantly transforms into a cozy bar. The walls are stacked with traditional ceramic bottles of Riga's traditional liquor, "Black Balsam," really giving off a sense of history. So, I ordered the blackcurrant-flavored "Black Balsam" (€4.8), while my wife went for a cranberry cocktail called "Fresh Black Cranberry" (€10.6), and we each ordered some truffle chocolates. The Black Balsam is served in a shot glass and sits at 30% ABV. The rich sweetness perfectly balanced with the tartness of the berries makes it absolutely delicious! Apparently, mixing it with orange juice gives it a flavor similar to a Cassis Orange. Historically, Black Balsam has a history of being created as a medicinal liquor about 300 years ago to cure the Queen's illness. Aside from the original herbal recipe, they offer the best-selling blackcurrant flavor, as well as cherry and tropical variations. Since they're popular as souvenirs, I bought a little bit to take home too. For the truffle chocolates, we had white chocolate pistachio, raspberry, and hazelnut. I had the white chocolate one, and it paired beautifully with the liquor—so good! This is the Black Balsam corner. Some of the expensive bottles were priced around €300 (roughly 50,000 yen), and the orange-colored tropical flavor was exclusively sold here. The atmosphere here is insanely good, and since you can enjoy chocolates and coffee even if you don't drink alcohol, I highly recommend checking it out. They open in the morning, so dropping by for an aperitif is a fantastic idea too. Bar "Riga Black Magic" Kaļķu iela 10, Centra rajons, Rīga +371-67-222-877 Business Hours: 11:30 AM - 10:00 PM Closed: None

One of Riga’s most iconic landmarks and one of the most recognizable features of the Old Town skyline. The church dates back to the 13th century, while its present appearance was largely shaped by major reconstruction in the 15th century. Its tower has been damaged several times by fires and lightning, and the tower even collapsed in 1666 before being rebuilt. Today, the viewing platform offers beautiful panoramic views over the red rooftops of the Old Town, the Daugava River and modern Riga. 💡 Tip: If it is your first time in Riga, this is one of the best places to get a panoramic introduction to the city.