Our Anniversary Trip to Riga, Latvia
Every Christmas Eve, me and Seb plan a holiday for February to celebrate our anniversary. Seb is German and celebrates Christmas on the 24th, while I celebrate on the 25th. To bridge that little cultural gap, we’ve turned Christmas Eve into our “adventure planning day.” Last year, we chose Riga, Latvia—a place neither of us had ever been.
We were drawn to Riga’s mix of history, charm, and the promise of a cosy winter escape. Plus, Seb’s pretty damn cheap (I’m the one more inclined to splash out), and he was excited at how affordable the hotels were—even the nice ones.
Upon arriving, we checked into the IBIS Riga Central. Our stay started with a minor hiccup: the toilet wouldn’t flush! Luckily, the wonderful staff upgraded us to a massive room as an apology, and that really set a brilliant first impression. Even without the upgrade, I’d stay here again in a heartbeat.
After settling in, we strolled around the cobbled streets to soak up the city’s vibe. Riga has this fantastic blend of medieval charm and art nouveau architecture, making it feel both historic and lively. We weren’t in a rush to tick off landmarks—just wanted to wander. I snapped photos of quiet squares and interesting details on old buildings, and by the time we’d finished exploring, we felt like we had a good sense of the city’s personality. It was a brilliant start to our trip.
A standout moment was St. Peter’s Church, where we went for a panoramic view of Riga. Gazing at the colourful rooftops and the blend of old and new architecture was genuinely breathtaking. It sure beats climbing the Cologne cathedral—this time, just a few steps and a quick lift ride, with a friendly attendant to boot.
The strangest part of our holiday happened at Tiki Bar (little did we know how weird it was about to get). We popped in for midday cocktails before heading to Hesburger (picture a retro McDonald’s). We were the only customers there, and the bartender acted oddly when Seb asked for a piña colada—pushing him to try something more “Latvian.” We went with the suggestion, but ended up with some random mai tai. Strange, but we laughed it off.
Unfortunately, soon after we went to Hesburger, I felt suddenly faint. We grabbed our food and took an Uber back to the hotel, where I basically passed out for a couple of hours. We suspect our drinks were tampered with, which was unsettling, but once we woke up, we finally tucked into our burgers. That moment—sitting in the hotel room with a fast-food meal—was one of those small, grounding experiences that reminded us to appreciate the simpler things.
The next day we took a slower approach after the Tiki Bar incident, spending the following morning at a more relaxed pace. We found a cosy café for coffee and pastries, then wandered around Riga’s Central Market for a glimpse of local life. We tried some local pastries (they were delicious!), but smoked fish wasn’t really our taste. It wasn’t a jam-packed itinerary—just a gentle day to keep exploring without overdoing it. By evening, we were ready to enjoy our final day in style.
We wrapped up our trip by visiting the Wellton Riverside Spa Hotel, where you can book a private spa area for two people for just 50 euros for an hour and a half. It was absolutely perfect after days of braving the cold—an indulgent dash of luxury and romance to end our holiday on a high.
As a gay couple, we’re conscious of how open we are in certain places. I’m not ashamed one bit, but you never know how some folks might react. Luckily, we didn’t run into any negativity in Latvia. The awareness was there, but it didn’t overshadow our time together—we had a fantastic anniversary celebration.
All in all, we spent five days in Riga. Honestly, that felt like more than enough. If I were advising someone else, I’d probably say a long weekend would do the job. You’d see all the highlights, soak up the city’s atmosphere, and still head home feeling refreshed. One day, I’d love to return in the summer to see more of Latvia’s natural beauty—plus, a bit more sun wouldn’t hurt!
Riga gave us lovely views, a rejuvenating spa experience, and a few quirky stories to share later. It wasn’t a flawless trip, but I left feeling grateful for the time Seb and I spent together—and that’s the best part of any holiday in my book.
