Latvia - Any tips?

[pink bunny]

Im going to Riga in Latvia in a couple of months with my boyfriend and wanted to know if anyone could suggest any good sights or hidden gems. Any general tips would be greatly appreciated. Is it really as cheap as the guidebooks suggest?

Also, do we need to know how to say more than hi/bye/please/thanks, as the language looks pretty complicated?

[BEARBOT]

i was in riga last nov with a freind..just for a few nights..we just walked around the city.you see many beautiful woman in fur and all the dogs look like wolves :D there are some nice old wooden buildings too and an art deco district(shame the old buildings museum is shut in winter) .. resturant meals are cheap, im told booze is cheap but i didnt go for that much cos my freind doesnt drink at all.. loads of passed out/pissed up finns in our hostel seemed to be there for cheap vodka alone, also there is a BIG prostition scene in riga with many glitzy cheesy nightclubs full of hookers but it is easy to avoid i guess, but we didnt find any "indie music/alternative" type places sadly...alll and all it is an attractive city, esp the old town.i wouldnt say there are any big major sites but it is something different to see and its not dodgey, didnt see much of any "bad element" but we didnt go to the nightclubs :eek: ..

walk around the market area... its really "soviet" makes you feel lucky you dont have to stand in the snow and ice selling hideous jumpers...my freind loved the trams and she took loads of piccies of them they are pretty cool.thing is it is VERY VERY cold there..wool coat and jumper and tights under jeans isnt enough.
you need a goose feather jacket from a camping shop or fur(if you beleive in wearing it)otherwise you will be too cold.we didnt know russian or latvian but were fine..(about half the people are russian speakers)

[Fidel]

check out; http://www.rigathisweek.lv/

and

http://www.inyourpocket.com/latvia/riga/en/

According my friend who lives there it is not as cheap as it used to be,winter not much to do, summer and autumn are good to get out of the city and go hiking in the countryside. Autumn will be cold and wet though. Full of sex tourists and stag weekenders!!

You will get bored, go and travel the whole baltics. Is the summary of his message!

[Fidel]

on more up note he has just told me the clubbing is good! :)

[pink bunny]

Thanks for the advice, especially about the cold. I was just planning on using my normal winter coat but obviously will have to get properly kitted out!