Discover Riga! 3 Epic Days of Unforgettable Adventure and Culture
**Day 1: Touchdown in Riga!** ✈️
Landed Friday afternoon and grabbed a **budget-friendly rental car** (€47 for 3 days – steal alert! 🚗💨). Headed straight to the **Central Market** 🥨🍎 – a sensory overload of local flavors and crafts!
**Check-in and Relax:** Checked into Bellevue Park Hotel Riga, a fantastic deal via Trip.com at €120 for 2, breakfast and free parking included. Checked into the hotel, hit the **spa** (small surcharge, totally worth it 💆♀️✨), then rallied with fellow travelers who we met on our flight. Nightlife mode activated: two bars + clubs 🍸🕺 – perfect for shaking off jet lag!
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**Day 2: Sigulda Thrills & Chills!** 🌲❄️
Started with a **morning run** through the park near the hotel 🏃♂️🌳, you could also go for a morning walk… for epic views on bridges, through museums, and the National Library! Then back to the hotel for breakfast 😋 to refuel us for the **50-minute drive to Sigulda**; known for its breathtaking landscapes and outdoor activities.
**Highlights:**
✅ **Sigulda Adventure Park**: Zip lines, treetop trails – nature’s playground! 🌿
✅ **Gauja Cable Car**: Soared over lush valleys (cost a few euros, but great views! 💚).
✅ **Reina Trase Ski Resort** 🎿: Just 10 mins from Sigulda! Rented **full gear + instructor** for **€80** – learned to ski like a pro in ~2 hours (joking 🤭) (add extra time for €5-10? Worth it!).
Back in Riga, adrenaline wasn’t done: **Shooting range session** 🔫💥 – handled everything from pistols to rifles (€30 for the ultimate “pew pew” experience!).
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**Day 3: Culture, Shopping & Farewell!** 🏛️🛍️
**Morning:** Hotel gym session 💪 + hearty breakfast. Checked out early and left bags in the car.
**City Exploration:**
📍 **Riga Nativity Cathedral** ⛪ – stunning architecture!
📍 **Freedom Monument** 🗽 – caught the **changing of the guards** (so majestic!).
📍 **National War Museum** + other free museums – history buff heaven! 🎫
**Final Stop:** **Spice Shopping Mall** 🌶️🛒 – just 6 mins from the airport! Last-minute shopping (brands galore! 👗👟) + **food hall feast** 🍴 for €30 – *the best meal* of the trip!
Dropped off the rental car, breezed through check-in, and flew back to London with memories (and maybe sore legs from skiing 😂).
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**💰 Budget Breakdown:**
- Hotel: €120 for 2 nights (€60pp)
- Car rental: €47
- Ski gear + instructor: €80 (€40pp)
- Shooting range: €30
- Food hall feast: €30
*Plus small costs for souvenirs, spas, cable cars, lunch, dinner club nights!*
**Pro Tips:**
1️⃣ Rent a car – super affordable, great flexibility and for exploring beyond Riga!
2️⃣ Sigulda’s ski resort is beginner-friendly – don’t skip it!
3️⃣ Spice Mall’s food hall = hidden gem. Trust me.
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