Gay bar in riga

Riga — the capital of Latvia — is a rapidly evolving city saturated with Art Nouveau magic, gourmet experimental dining, modern art galleries, hidden hipster hotspots, and wild nightlife, at least for heterosexuals. Riga lay on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava river, where it meets the Gay Sea and was founded as a center of Viking trade during the bar Middle Ages.

What followed has been centuries of trading — and being traded by — the Great Powers of Europe. Culturally distinct from its Russian and Baltic neighbors, Estonia and Lithuaniatoday Latvia, a little country way up in the north, is embracing its independence and singular uniqueness.

Tourism is quickly finding this ludicrously photogenic town. However, Gay Riga has been slow-coming, and Latvia is by no means the most progressive country in the post-Soviet bloc. In fact, Riga still struggles with open homophobia, especially in the older generations, though the influence of the EU and proximity to Berlin continue to slowly improve the situation year after year.

Changing attitudes after decades of USSR propaganda, however, is proving difficult. As with most problems in modern Latvia, communism is a convenient scapegoat. In truth, much of the Russian-speaking population today is still influenced by state-sponsored homophobia, thanks to Russian news and social media.

Attitudes in these Russian communities toward LGBT people are flat or even worsening — and a considerable challenge for Latvia in many respects. Latvians as a whole have, however, made a determined choice riga steer away from its old Kremlin overlords, and tolerance of the LGBT community has increased massively since it joined the European Union.

All anti-gay discrimination in the workplace is banned under the law, and visitors to Riga will notice, in general, an openness in these otherwise shy people.

Gay Guide • RIGA | What to See, Where to Stay, Best Gay Bars and Restaurants | LGBT Guide

Much like Bucharest and Bogotawhere gay travel is helping to change attitudes in society at large, LGBT acceptance is rising annually in Riga. Gay tourists should have no more to fear here than in other significant European capital — although discretion is still advised at night outside of the small Riga gay scene or more liberal nightclubs.

As much as things have changed here, you will still be stared at by some people walking through Riga holding hands…. Not to mention the lower prices, the wonderful Latvian design community, and the incredible gastronomical landscape. Still, there are plenty of cute Latvian boys and girls, cocktails aplenty and mountains of hidden gems to uncover… Trust us, Riga will not disappoint!

Riga, being gay does not define which attractions we will want to see in each city, and the majority of queer travelers just want to have fun and check out the top things to see in Riga during the day! There is so much to do in this gorgeous city — but we found our favorite memories were simply sitting and drinking coffee watching the world go by, getting lost in the fairytale-like Old Town and Art Noveau neighborhoods or hiring a car and exploring the beautiful surrounding towns and countryside.

Oh, and wandering through all the beautiful design stores and being pampered on an affordable spa day. You hardly run the risk of getting bored in Latvia, no matter how long you stay. A dominant landmark on the Riga cityscape, the national library was opened in and is equally impressive inside and out.

Non-residents simply need to borrow a guest pass to head up bar the 7th floor for spectacular views of the Old Town, though there is a rotating array of exhibitions here that may also capture your attention — not to mention the unsurpassed collection of Latvian literature housed within.

Riga Central Market. Found in repurposed zeppelin hangers, take the time to immerse yourself in local life as you explore the lively market, or why not opt for a food tour if you want to learn more about Latvian cuisine and cultural traditions? Either way, you can explore a variety of local specialties like smoked meats, cheeses, herring, and hemp butter — or taste modern gourmet cuisine in the new food hall.

Much like Riga, the Central Market is currently gay a huge revitalization project, so while it may be in flux, it is still certainly worth a visit.