This is why you NEED to visit Riga | Winter Edition (VLOG)

Come along and join me on my VLOG in Riga, the beautiful capital city of Latvia.
It really is a stunning place, with magnificent architecture and colour. Some of the main sights I’ll be showing you are: The Three Brothers, the Freedom Monument, Riga Doms Cathedral, Riga Central Market and House of the Blackheads.
Unfortunately we only had 6/8 hours in Riga, so we didn’t have a great deal of time, but there is so much more to the city. We had to leave to get the coach along to Tallinn, the capital of Estonia.
So make sure you stay tuned for my next adventure to the dreamy, snowy Christmas fairytale city of Estonia.
_______________________
Here are some experiences you may be interested in if you are visiting Riga 🇱🇻:
🚶 Guided Walking Tour of Old Town: gyg.me/OGbehS3u
🏠 House of The Blackheads entry ticket: gyg.me/1KfVmL2s
🌲 National Park Private Tour: gyg.me/1KfVmL2s
🛥️ River + Canal Boat City Tour: gyg.me/he2MPD5Y
🍱 Central Market Latvian Food Tour: gyg.me/gIpZTtZs
🌳 Kemeri National Park: gyg.me/dxeu3E6q
_______________________
If you enjoyed this video, make sure you also check out my video in Riga, and I also have plenty more city vlogs you can watch on my channel:
Riga summer: • This is why you NEED t...
Tallinn: • This is why you NEED t...
Madrid: • This is why you NEED t...
Toledo: • The Ancient City of To...
Gdańsk: • This is why you NEED t...
_______________________________________
As always, a huge thanks to Scott Buckley for his incredible compositions, used in this video:
/ scottbuckley
#rigavlog #riga #rigalatvia

[@BenRobson123]

Here are some experiences you may be interested in if you are visiting Riga 🇱🇻: Guided Walking Tour of Old Town: gyg.me/OGbehS3u House of The Blackheads entry ticket: gyg.me/1KfVmL2s National Park Private Tour: gyg.me/1KfVmL2s River + Canal Boat City Tour: gyg.me/he2MPD5Y Central Market Latvian Food Tour: gyg.me/gIpZTtZs Kemeri National Park: gyg.me/dxeu3E6q

[@dzintrarowe4272]

you need spend more time in Latvia and see countryside and other cities and towns and midlevel castles and manor houses.

[@krzz1]

Thank you for being so enthusiastic about our city. You asked what all those coat of arms where on the wall near the Powder Tower. They're the coats of arms for the major towns, cities and regions of Latvia.

[@anrijsrancaans7896]

On this wall those are simbols of citys.

[@Ledus999]

That wall painting represents coats of arms of the all Latvia`s towns. According to the UN classification, the Baltic states are included in the family of northern European countries and not in eastern Europe.

[@jelenalahtina]

It warms my heart to see this video as a Latvian that lives in Tallinn for a past year, I also lived in Newcastle for a month more than 10 years ago :)

[@BenRobson123]

That’s amazing! It’s a small world 😄

[@RameXRacing]

4:44 That wall has coat of arms of all Latvian cities

[@BenRobson123]

Ahh nice, thank you for letting me know!😊

[@davebeat]

Worth mentioning that most shops only open at 10am in Riga and Museums are genreally closed on Mondays. Also the view from St Peter's spire is equally as impressive as the one from the Academy of science. If you ever come back, there are some mint castles to see outside Riga accessible by bus or train; Sigulda for example. Also Tallinn is really cool too, looking forward to watchign that video next.

[@cerebrumexcrement]

love the drone shots

[@coldnorthadventures5905]

Cool video, Riga looks nice.

[@thegallivanthropologists]

Another good one mate. We are still just about tied for subs. We are excited to be planning an April trip to the Balkans and Riga is 3-4 days of the trip, as a scouting/filming adventure for our World tour.. Thank you for the inspiration. Cheers to 2023 being amazing for both of our channels. Hope to see you out there. - Turtle and Bear

[@Crimson19977]

I absolutely love watching you explore and enjoy Riga and all it has to offer but if you have time you need to go and see other parts of Latvia as well. Some of the cities and towns that I recommend you to visit in the future are - Cēsis (my hometown), sigulda (in autumn) for the nature, caves, castles and multiple tourist attractions, jūrmala - it’s absolutely stunning resort city on the Gulf of Riga - can’t really go wrong with spending some time on the beach and getting some tan right, kuldiga - nice lil cozy and full of history town of Courland - Europe’s widest waterfall is also located there, as well as, one of the Europe’s oldest and still in use brick bridge which was built in 1870’s, Rundāle Palace and Museum in little town called Pilsrundāle - it’s kind of like Baltic version of Palace of Versailles and it was built in 1730’s for one of the Duke’s of Courland I believe and last but not least I also recommend visiting Turaida museum reserve - it’s actually located near sigulda city and it got castles there built as far back as the 11th century so that’s pretty cool - I haven’t been there yet myself but I heard that place is usually packing with tourists. These are just some of the places that comes to top of my mind and which might be worth your time. Last but not least, have you visited the Riga motor museum yet? It got cars from 1910’s, 20’s, 30’s 40’s, 60’s - you name it, they even showcase soviet luxury cars that used to transport soviet leaders there, if you’re into history, cars and antique stuff I recommend checking this particular museum out.

[@BenRobson123]

Thank you so much for the extensive reply and recommendations. Sounds like there’s some cool places to visit in Latvia, will definitely keep these in mind for future travels. Thank you 😇

[@Crimson19977]

@@BenRobson123 my pleasure!

[@starvid1310]

Do you know that there is an Anglican church in Riga as well? St. Saviour's Church is a congregation of the Church of England in Riga. You were very close to it, not far from Riga Castle, you stopped and talked for a while, behind you was a little Anglican(Anglikāņu iela) street leading to the St Saviour`s church looking at the banks of the Daugava river.

[@BenRobson123]

Ahh yes I think I know the Church you mean, there are two very beautiful churches right next to eachother? Thanks for pointing that out 😊

[@sciencegeek.]

Amazing,keep filming

[@BenRobson123]

Thank you!

[@paddyd5985]

Great video mate!

[@BenRobson123]

Thanks Paddy mate, hope you’re well

[@hugleiberparedes4875]

A lovely city, very cold thats for sure. We need some of that in this tropical weather all year long😆Saludos amigo

[@BenRobson123]

Yep, cold indeed. I bet it’ll only get colder too, locals were saying it’s usually a lot colder and snowier! Where is you’re from? Cuídate mi amigo 😇

[@hugleiberparedes4875]

@@BenRobson123 I can only imagine that kind of cold, not sure if It feels so good as it looks😆 I am from Venezuela, this is our colder season too, but it's like 18°C the lower temperature🤣 Hpefully u can make a south american trip soon!

[@BenRobson123]

@@hugleiberparedes4875 it isn’t too bad actually, if you wear thermals, hat, two jumpers, gloves then it it’s not as bad as you’d think. Just cold on your face and hands if you take your gloves off! Ah yes I remember now, one day I’d love to travel to South America, one day for sure! That certainly is a very warm winter too compared to here in the UK!😆

[@hugleiberparedes4875]

@@BenRobson123 well that cold sounds fun for fashionists, thats for sure😆 You'll be more than welcome here my friend, so much fun to do. Brings shorts and no gloves. Waiting for ur new adventure here!

[@bunnylovedanny]

thx for help im heading to riga in 2 days !!!

[@globalfilmpaul]

Great video. I went to Riga last October which was slightly marred by Covid lockdown. My favourite thing to do is the KGB tour (not sure if you covered it in the last video)

[@BenRobson123]

Thanks Paul. Unfortunately I never actually checked it out, I did want to this time but really it was only a quick stopover in Riga. I feel like there’s still quite a lot I haven’t seen yet!

[@AndyBlackSEO]

Hey Ben, I see you're from Newcastle... only 30-40 mins from me. I'm looking to do a lot of travelling this year, and hopefully ongoing, leading to more of a digital nomad lifestyle. I've just been looking into Riga today and your video was helpful. Also seen that you've just been to GDansk. I was there in October. Great place.

[@BenRobson123]

Hey Andy, nice to see you’re from local. Good luck with becoming a digital nomad, would be such a cool lifestyle! Thanks for watching mate 😇

[@robertsumbrasko3591]

Nice video!

[@BenRobson123]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@goldcoastbloke1330]

Riga reminded me of Goteburg so much!

[@BenRobson123]

I’m yet to visit Sweden. I always think back to my flight to Gothenburg which got cancelled at the start of Covid 😰

[@goldcoastbloke1330]

@@BenRobson123 Aww.. sorry to hear! Hey, got plans to visit Sydney?

[@RamblersMedia]

The wall of shields are the sigils of each of the major towns across Latvia. Hope that helps.

[@BenRobson123]

Thank you! Very helpful 😊

[@devitalkies]

Visit Riga last June❤

[@riproar11]

Odd that you referred to them as "Soviet Bunnies" when Latvia just recently leveled the largest former Soviet-era obelisk monument back in August, 2022, and the Russian language will no longer be taught or spoken while the Latvian native language will be the national language.

[@bornwanderer1]

That’s great love from India ❤

[@user-ow1lt7ue8g]

А почему пишите не на латвийском ?

[@iggyblitz8739]

Exactly, soviet era Latvia is dead and buried.

[@DanielMcGarrigle]

Every Latvian I know speaks Russian and a quarter of Latvia are ethnic Russians of course the language will carry on

[@riproar11]

@@DanielMcGarrigle I'm just a messenger stating that Latvia will no longer teach the Russian language in schools. Latvians born from the 1980s and on are fluent in Russian or at least can speak it. Yes, people will continue to speak Russian and I have met a few ethnic Russians who can speak Latvian. It is sad that ethnic Russians didn't even attempt to learn the language and assimilate with their "home" country.

[@ricijs2000]

even i wouldnt visit riga in winter and i live 50km away from it ill just nestle in my room and wait for summer

[@shaman2762]

well,you got there a little too late-a lots of snow gone(melted) and yes even if its minus 10 or so-thats not cold at all 😀😜

[@BenRobson123]

Yes, we spoke to a lovely woman in Tallinn and she too said that winter at that time was ‘pathetic’!😆 How cold does it usually get??

[@shaman2762]

@@BenRobson123 depends on a year, some winters are like this,some not,we already had up to -20( cold enough) but normal winter is when we get like from -10-15. and yes,the AIR is not the same as it is uk. in baltics the air is more dry so you dont feel the cold unless it goes closer to -20 or more.

[@shaman2762]

@@BenRobson123 lets say,if in uk you get -3 you would get the same cold feeling in baltics when we have -10

[@Skubie123]

Great video, I’m off to Latvia in January, where did you get the 22 bus from and is it easy to do etc as I’d like to try that instead of taxi

[@BenRobson123]

It is very easy, you’ll likely pay around €20 if you’re in a taxi, so it’s well worth getting the bus for €1.15. When you get outside of the airport, just turn right and go down the road by about 200m. If you cross the road on your left there is a bus stop where you get the 22. If you have google maps it might be a little easier :)

[@Skubie123]

Thank you so much 😊

[@BenRobson123]

@@Skubie123 no worries, have a great time in Riga!

[@Skubie123]

Me again Ben, sorry for all the questions, is there a machine to buy the bus ticket or do we just tell the bus driver where we want to go and pay on the actual bus

[@BenRobson123]

@@Skubie123 no problems mate. There is a ticket machine at the airport bus stop, so you buy it from the machine, it should cost around €1.15 😇

[@starvid1310]

Actually, it`s Northern, not Eastern Europe (All 3 Baltic states) according to the UN classification.

[@BenRobson123]

Interesting!

[@ryanroyrn]

​And also Denmark is Northern Europe...

[@scottmcmurray3233]

Drone footage from Tallinn looks epic!

[@BenRobson123]

Thanks Scott mate, hope you’re keeping well 😊

[@scottmcmurray3233]

@@BenRobson123 Aye dying of the cold but beyond that all good.

[@BenRobson123]

@@scottmcmurray3233 seems everyone’s got it at the moment, take care!

[@scottmcmurray3233]

@@BenRobson123 You too bud. Have a great Xmas.

[@marcuslee6093]

Top video mate. Off there in 5 days, ready to have me bollocks dipped in nitrogen - what was the scran like?

[@BenRobson123]

Enjoy mate! Tbh I didn’t eat any local food so can’t recommend much there

[@Hestherelaa]

How do you film your blogs mate? Do you have a go pro or just use your phone.

[@BenRobson123]

All on my iPhone 13 mate, does a great job most the time!

[@ceoofthispage]

Welcome to Latvia!)

[@BenRobson123]

Thank you!

[@raivojutans]

2:33 You are passing by the Old Lyceum (School) established by Swedish King Charles XI in 1675 on the right side. There are seen two tablets written in Latin above the gate. The first is placed by the founder CAROLI XI (Charles XI), and the second-in the same style, but two times bigger by Peter the Great (PETRI GRANDI). Riga is full of small details of past. It’s Graffiti of that time and exchange of Ruler’s jokes respectfully.

[@M4na63]

Riga looks very empty, I can't see anybody on streets :D

[@ibanez856]

Are you still there? I’m leaving for Riga tonight from London and dunno whether to pack snow boots or just water resistant leather boots? Help 😅😊

[@oskarsrode2167]

Next days will be above zero, no more snow left or expected, only rain. From next Saturday it will get colder, but no precipitation expected.

[@ibanez856]

@@oskarsrode2167 Thank you, we just got to Riga - lots of rain

[@cuzimaluzer777]

I really want to go and stay for a few months. I wonder how much $ I would need

[@BenRobson123]

Would you work while you were over there?

[@ITeachChinese]

15 pounds flight ! 🤟

[@Dinhodinhodinhodinhodinho]

In Riga as I type this

[@BenRobson123]

Great. How are you finding it?

[@Dinhodinhodinhodinhodinho]

@@BenRobson123 Really good. We’ve been to the museum of Latvian occupation and the holocaust museum, the markets built into the old German zeppelin hangars are very unique and not something you’d ever get to see in England. Staying right around the corner from the Latvian academy of sciences as well which is cool. I’m not sure if this was the case when you’ve been but there doesn’t seem to be many people walking around on the street as there is in England, just something we’ve noticed.

[@BenRobson123]

@@Dinhodinhodinhodinhodinho nice one mate. I should’ve visited the holocaust and latvian occupation museum reslly. And yeah I noticed that too.. not many people around really! Bit strange. Enjoy the rest of your trip mate!

[@Dinhodinhodinhodinhodinho]

@@BenRobson123 yeah next time you go, make sure to visit them. Cheers mate, appreciate it

[@aris1188]

Actually it is not allowed to fly drones in Riga. You need a special permission for that.

[@ryanroyrn]

04:24 did he said soviet look buildings? He know anything about architecture? Buildings are rebuilt at middle of 19th (around 1850) buildings have 4-5 floors, apartments with around 3-3,5 meters high. Yes they are still grey but it doesn't mean that they are soviet and they dont looks like soviet... they were built along before soviet occupations. Seems you dont know how soviet buildings looks like... much worse.

[@nevashgabber8683]

in the USSR, it was the best republic with a high economy. but already under the European Union, the population is only 1.8 million people and continues to decrease.. the economy is lagging behind.. the video shows that there are no people or they are leaving their country .

[@willerdude]

Yeah sure buddy, Latvia would be on pace with the Nordics on economy and living standards, if it weren't for the oppression from Russian empire and USSR. Take for example Daugavpils (Im there right now actually) It is much poorer than western Latvia. And suprise eastern Latvia is the place where russians had the control for longest.

[@nevashgabber8683]

@@willerdude yes, the EU countries have destroyed the Baltic countries and the economy built by the USSR.the European Union has not built anything new. except for military bases

[@julianivanov3058]

@@nevashgabber8683 you're mental

[@lifeimprovementknowhow3822]

@@willerdude Don`t feed the russian troll😉

[@grahamblack1716]

@@nevashgabber8683 You talk utter nonsense. I take it you've never visited Estonia?

[@trololo_zhirnota]

the "drawings" on the wall are all of Latvias "districts" and their coat of arms lv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvijas_pils%C4%93tu_%C4%A3erbo%C5%86i