Hen Party Activities in Riga

Did you know?

• Riga is the capital city of Latvia.
• Riga’s Central Market is one of Europe’s biggest markets.
• Over one third of the population in Latvia live in Riga.
• Riga has over 800 Art Nouveau buildings. Visit Alberta iela, a street almost entirely created by Art Nouveau genius Mikhail Eisenstein.
• It has the world’s fourth fastest internet connections with free connection points all over Riga – you won’t even need to pay for it!
• Denim jeans came from Riga... sort of. Jacob W. Davis (born Jākobs Jufess) emigrated to the US where, with help from Levi Strauss, he patented the product.
• Aleksandrs Laime, born in Riga, was the first recorded human to reach Venezuela's Angel Falls by foot in 1949.
• Riga is one of 14 capital cities in the world that consists of only four letters.
• Riga has a Beer Spa, where you can hop in a warm beer bath whilst sipping on a cold beer at the same time. Sign us up!
• Mikhail Tal, born in Riga, is a grandmaster at chess who holds the record for the longest un-beaten run.
• Riga hosts the Latvian Song and Dance festival with more than 50,000 attendees performing over three days. On the final day around 20,000 singers all take to the stage and sing in unison. A spectacle not to be missed!
• Popstar Olly Murs has Latvian blood. His great grandparents were Latvian circus performers. See if you can find an Olly lookalike on your hen do in Riga!
• The 1st petrol pump in Riga was installed at Bergs Bazaar shopping arcade in the 1930s.
• Riga holds the Guinness World Record for the biggest helping of potato salad. It weighed over 7,000lbs!
• Another Guinness World Record: The city’s Dino Zoo served up the biggest ever cake for dogs, weighing over 310lbs.

Riga in numbers

• Riga covers a built-up urban land area measuring 100 square miles.
• The estimated population was over 650,000 residents in 2015.
• Riga is located 29ft above sea level.
• Riga’s coordinates are 56.9496° N, 24.1052° E.
• Riga attracts over 3.5 million tourists.
• Latvia has the highest percentage of females to males in the world.
• Riga is roughly three times the size of Bristol.
• The city has around 6,000 residents per square mile.
• It can get a bit chilly here with an average annual temperature of average annual temperature of just 6.1°C so you better wrap up warm on your hen do in Riga!
• Vermanes Garden is a 12 acre park that’s well worth a visit if you want to relax and soothe a hungover head.

Local Food to Try on Your Hen Do in Riga

Whilst in the city, you’ve got to try the traditional Riga-style rye bread. A typical dessert to try to finish off your meal is rye bread pudding, also known as Maizes Zupa. When you’re out, you might also want to try the infamous Black Balsam, a traditional Latvian herbal liqueur that’s an enormous 90% proof. It’s a bit Marmite so you’ll either love it or hate it, but it’s always fun to try local drinks. Lightweights be warned, this stuff is strong!

Activities for Foodie Hen Parties in Riga

If you’re looking for a quirky dining experience during your hen do in Riga, why not try a medieval dinner? Get all the girls together over some great food with a menu dating back to over 500 years ago, complete with the waiting staff in medieval dress! You’ll have an English-speaking guide with you to ensure there are no translation issues. Take a look at our listings for restaurants in Riga for more mouth-watering options.

Cocktail Making - Once your full of delicious food, it’s time to ramp up the fun factor and get your drink on! Why not shake up your Riga hen party with a cocktail making class? A professional bartender will take you under their wing and teach you how to make the most delicious drinks in town. What’s more, you’ll get to drink everything you make. What better way to kick start a big night out?

Black Monks - Jāņa sēta 1, Centra rajons, Rīga

Also known as Melnie Muki, this restaurant in Old Town is said to be one of the best in the city. You’ll dine in elegant surroundings as you tuck into dishes including steak and vegetarian options with a live jazz soundtrack making sure everyone can sit back and relax. That said, it’s still easy on the purse strings with three-course meals costing as little as €20 per person.

A hen do in Riga guarantees a memorable last night of freedom! The city is jam-packed with buzzing bars, pubs and clubs with drinks at very purse-friendly prices. If you want to make a plan of action but aren’t sure where to start, let us help you with some night-time highlights:

Bar Crawl - There’s no better way to discover the city on the first night of your hen do in Riga than with a guided bar crawl. An English-speaking guide will show you around at least three of the best pubs and bars in the city. Do this early on during your trip so that you can re-visit the watering holes you like best.

Nightclub Entry - For a totally hassle-free night out, there’s only one thing for it and that’s to book nightclub entry for you and your group ahead of time. This ensures you won’t be traipsing around the street trying to find somewhere good to go in, or which club as the shortest queue so you can get in quicker.

Book nightclub entry ahead of time with Fizzbox and save yourself the trouble! An English-speaking guide will meet you at your accommodation before taking you to the club, and even taking you back again at the end of the night, so you don’t have to worry about getting lost! Simple.

One One - Šarlotes iela 18A, Centra Rajons, Rīga

- One One is a fab club in a one of the hippest neighbourhoods. You’ll find only the coolest of the cool people hitting up this place for its carefully curated music, laid-back atmosphere and great level of service. Situated on a UNESCO site inside an old factory building, One One is an ideal place to end your hen night in Riga.

Kaļķu Vārti - Jauniela 20, Centra Rajons, Rīga

Kaļķu Vārti is one of the locals’ favourites with mainstream and crowd-pleasing music so everyone in your group can have a boogie. You can even have a slap-up meal beforehand at their top restaurant. There’s also a rooftop terrace so you can gaze out over the city with a drink in your hand in the warmer months. What better backdrop to your selfies and group photos?

Hardcore Hangover Club - Peldu iela 21, 1050 Riga

- Head here to enjoy some of the most affordable happy hour drink prices in town along with rock and hip-hop tunes blasting all night. With quirky décor and a feel-good atmosphere, this is a great place to start your last night of freedom.

January and February

The coldest months are January and February where it's not uncommon for temperatures to go below zero degrees, so make sure to bring a warm coat, scarf, hat and gloves if you’re out and about exploring the city! It might be better hopping on a tram or bus during these months as walking around isn’t such an appealing option. Expect some snow and be prepared to bring those snow boots if it gets really bad! Check the weather before you go and make sure you pack appropriately. January is host to Riga Music Festival. This popular festival celebrates traditional local, Latvian and foreign music with symphonic concerts and recitals that feature showcases from music stars as well as emerging talent.

June - August

June, July and August are the busiest times to visit the city but if you want to avoid the colder months then heading there this time of year is your best bet. Just make sure to book ahead of time to ensure you get the accommodation you want and get yourself booked onto some great activities as well! Riga Salsa Festival takes place in August. It’s one of the most popular salsa events in the Baltics, welcoming loads of fun loving people to the city for dance workshops, shows and more.

September - November

If you want to avoid the crowds on your hen do in Riga, the best time to go would be in Autumn. You can walk around with a jacket on and enjoy the city without it being too cold or too busy. Perfection! Between November and December is Winterfest, a celebration of all things wintery with workshops, live entertainment, music and more. The city really comes to life around Christmas with markets and seasonal events that are sure to add some sparkle to your Riga hen do.

Getting to Your Riga Hen Do

Flights from the UK to Riga International Airport take around two hours and 45 minutes. It takes between 20 and 30 minutes to get from the airport to the city centre with buses and taxis waiting to pick you up 24 hours a day. Once you’ve checked into your accommodation, your Riga hen party fun can start right away as getting around the city is easy with most of the main attractions are all within walking distance of one another.

Getting Around Riga During Your Hen Do

Lots of the city is walkable but you might want to hop on a tram or bus to get yourself around, especially if it’s a chilly day. With this city being well connected, you’ll have no problem getting where you need to go. Of course, if you’re walking just make sure to cross at a designated crossing point as jay-walking is an offendable crime here that’s punishable with a fine on the spot! Don’t get caught out! After a night out and you don’t fancy the walk back to your accommodation you can hail down a taxi and get home with ease.