Going for NYE with the wife and 8 others, alls I hear about it is organ harvesting and strip club beatings – could do with knowing a few decent bars etc.

was supposed to be going on a stag do last year, but changed our minds because of some of the stories we had been told.

Went there on a lads weekend about 2 years ago. It was alright, nothing to shout about. Didn't have any trouble at all but we got a car and drove down to Vilnius in Lithuania and that was excellent.

Be warned though, if you are going with the wife try not to get caught looking at the local women because they are all incredible. Slim, pretty and dressed very nicely. It's harder to spot a fatty than a fitty…. We saw more fat birds in the first 10 minutes back in Heathrow than we did in 5 days in eastern Europe.

You'll enjoy it but i hear that since they pegged their currency to the Euro that it became very expensive.

Strip club rip offs won't be an issue to you if you have you ladies with you anyway.

Went on a Stag do about 18 months ago. Still got all my organs. Stayed out of the Strip clubs but had a great time.

Wandered around the Old Town visiting a few bars at random. Went into a few of the bigger more upmarket night clubs. Beer wasn't cheap but the ladies were stunning.

If I was going there in the Winter I'd definitely try and get a go on the nearby bobsleigh run – did it in the summer on a go-cart thing and that was pretty intense.

I have been on business and it is fine. Sure the clubs are there but it is not that seedy in terms of feel. Plenty of nice restaurants (I went to one cheap but fab bar that was almost tapas like with awesome beer) and there are a good few more upmarket ones just off one of the squares. They had a brilliant art gallery too which I enjoyed, and there are a couple of casinos too, one of which has a really great bar on the top floor (it is a hotel as well) with a fab panoramic view of the city – that is a must, you dont have to visit the casino there – just the bar on the top floor.

I should have swapped tips with MrTall since I've just been to Lithuania and didn't rate Vilnius in comparison to Riga!

Really like Riga, I think it is a great city. Stag dos present but not half as irritating as in your average british city.

We went for NYE two years ago, great atmosphere in the city centre, loads of people and snow. Only trouble was somewhere to eat on NYE so plan ahead for that.

I recommend a day trip to Jurmala, stunning coastline, and an evening in the Aquapark there, it is brilliant fun.

Also ice skating at the out of town Lido complex and a trip to the gigantic indoor market.

Can't recall many of the bars but really liked the Skybar on top of the Reval (I think that is the name) hotel.

Hope some of that helps.

keppoch.

what keppoch said.

me and mrs swiss were there a couple fo years ago and we loved it. and returned with all our kidneys and without a beating. i suppose you could get yourself into some well dodgy nonsense if you wanted to but that's the same anywhere.

previous posters are utterly correct about the local women…

Ah – I feel much better now…Wors like you I've only heard all the bad stories so was starting to get a bit worried – no so much for me and the wife as we've beeen plenty of 'dodgy' places in the past but more the fact that there will be a crowd of us.

Keppoch – whats the deal for NYE, best place to go etc? THis is mine and the wifes 8 year away for NYE now and we always find it best to head for one of the large squares, stock up on drink from an off licence and carry a blanket and basically just wander about a bit – dopn't think any of us want to be stuck in one club all night.

Cheers for all the replies – like the idea of the skybar and ice skating – ice skated at Rockerfeller centre when in NYC at NY – I was rubbish and gashed by calf but still great fun:)

one place i'd be very careful about if you're out and about is the freedom monument. new year or no new year latvian patience with drunk people cavorting about round there is very, very thin. show a 'lack of respect' and it's very easy to get arrested!

Yep that is the place the freedom monument! Or at least the bridge/park area between there and the end of the old town. There is the city timepiece there (think grandfather clock rather than Big Ben) and on NYE a large screen where the events go down. There were plenty of people, very friendly, plenty of booze and absolutley no bother, dodginess or any cause for concern. Once the party had died down/lost feeling in our toes we made our way to a bar or two and then a club.

I would suggest restraint in who you snowball is all that is needed to avoid 'lack of respect' issues 🙂

keppoch

I recommend a day trip to Jurmala, stunning coastline,

Yes, we spent more time there than Riga probably – very pleasant.

I was on a stag trip. Didn't like Riga much to be honest. Just didn't seem very friendly, and we weren't really being "boozed up Brits abroad" most of the time.

I've been there on business. Well worth going to the Museum of Occupation.

It was the Reval Hotel I stayed in. Ludicrously cheap for the quality of the hotel and the Bar on top was amazing. There's also a pretty decent Sushi bar inside the casino. Had to join to get to it but no compulsion to gamble so I didn't.

A colleague was at a stag do in Riga on Friday. They all came back safely but did say it was a bit dodgy in places and 3 of there group did get arrested when they went outside one bar for a smoke as they took there drinks with them and drinking on the street is illegal.

Lots of trouble over there from all the stories I've heard from mates – can't think of anywhere I'd like to take the wife less, frankly, which is a shame cos it looks lovely

drinking on the street is illegal

I hope that gets relaxed a bit for NYE otherwise I'll probably be in the clink!

Colin-T….price was one of our main considerations, especially when you have 10 people trying to agree on something – we were meant to bre going to Prague (again) but left it a bit late, a very basic hotel and flights came in at over £400 each, for 2 nights. Riga 4* right in the old town with no.2 on tripadvisor set us back less than £200 with flights…we did the math + never been before so really looking forward to trying something new:)