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Riga best for Art Nouveau
Riga has been dubbed the Bangkok of the Baltic for its lurid mix of cheap lager, strip clubs and stag party visitors.
But outside the noisy city centre is a different story where its beautiful buildings not beautiful girls that are the big attraction. Riga has some of the best Art Nouveau buildings in Europe, if not the world, many now restored although some have been sadly neglected since the Soviet era.
The best can be found in Alberta iela, a cobbled street lined with buildings put up in the heyday of Riga's Art Nouveau period at the turn of the century, when Latvia was still part of the pre-Soviet Russian empire.
The city is sprinkled with great examples of Art Nouveau and it now claims to be the leading city in Europe for enthusiasts of the style. On Alberta iela, some buildings have been renovated, others are thick the grime despite the area having Riga's highest property prices.
It is the architectural detail that makes the most impact as facades are covered in masks, lions, monsters, flowers and the famous decorative wrought iron balconies. The attractions of the Art Nouveau buildings now compete with Riga's hectic nightlife and for many is a bigger reason to visit for a city break.
This article was written for TravelSavvy Europe by Rad Djork. For more information see: Riga - Tourist trail. If you know of an interesting European travel related news story, please get in contact.
