All posts by Lelde Benke
Weekend Trip From Riga: Cēsis (Updated in 2023)
Life in Rīga wouldn’t be complete without the occasional weekend trip from Riga to one of Latvia’s charming small towns. One of them – Cēsis – is a particular favourite. If I were a singer-songwriter, I’d write a serenade to Cēsis in a heartbeat. It’s the kind of town where the local newspaper (Druva) still […]
Buying Property In Latvia: Lelde’s Story
Buying property in Latvia. Or things that I’ve learned while trying to find my ideal property in Riga and buying it. No one property purchase is ever quite the same and purchase agreements vary greatly, so be advised this is not a foolproof guide! However, I do believe this information will come in handy to […]
Neighbourhoods in Riga: Ziepniekkalns, Pļavnieki, Avoti
Three Riga locals share their insights on what life’s like in the neighbourhoods of Ziepniekkalns, Pļavnieki and Avoti. Excellent for anyone planning to move to Riga or a new place in the city. If you’re ready to take the leap and “test drive” one of these areas, AirBnb is a brilliant option. Get 30 EUR […]
Seeing A Doctor In Riga
There are many excellent Latvian doctors, but sadly the low pay and archaic health care system seems to fail them, so our young talent is increasingly being poached by Germany, Norway and other countries that can offer better working conditions. No doubt affected by this trend, as well as other factors like inadequate pensions, the […]
Clothes Shopping In Riga
Just like any European capital city, Riga has its fair share of generic high street stores including the likes of Zara, Oasis and Bershka. To the delight of many, 2019 saw the arrival of &Other Stories. FYI, Riga doesn’t have any Primark stores. Any bags you see have been imported. To spend your evening or […]
How To Survive Winter In Latvia
When I was growing up, we spent countless New Year’s Eves mucking about in the knee-deep snow in the countryside. These days, we’re lucky to get a few days of such beautiful winter weather each year. Undeniably, winters are getting milder and kicking in later, with snow becoming a rare delight. But, come November, temperatures […]
Vegetarian In Latvia: Heaven Or Hell?
Latvia has long been a meat-loving nation and many menus reflect this love of meat. I’ve had many disappointing experiences of being stuck with bland risotto, soggy eggplant and undercooked chunks of cheese. However, the last few years have brought positive change! Being vegetarian in Latvia is actually now a joy. And we’re not just […]
Schools In Riga: A General Overview
If you’re moving to Riga with your kids in tow, you’ll want to know a bit about the local school scene before deciding on “the right one”. Schools in Riga are very different so you might not want to just settle for the one closest to your new home. The first consideration should be whether […]
16 Amusing Uses of English in Latvia
No blog aimed at expats would be complete without a bit of tongue-in-cheek humour about the host country’s nationals and their grasp of foreign languages. So, here goes! We present a small collection of Baltic English pearls which we sure found amusing (plus a bonus gem from Alex’s recent trip to Poland). “Lens soup” – […]
Where Do Rigans Go At The Weekend?
Shopping centres would be a valid answer but we’re going to take a look at a very different place to escape to: lauki, the idyllic Latvian countryside. Come Friday afternoon from 3pm until about 7pm any road leading out of Riga sees heavy traffic as city dwellers pack into their cars to relocate to their […]