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Riga, Latvia Left Me With an Opinion I Probably Shouldn’t Say Out Loud

Hubbards Journey

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What is it really like exploring Riga, Latvia from a cruise ship? We walked straight from Sapphire Princess into Riga Old Town for a DIY cruise-port day that became much more eventful than we expected.

We continued through Riga, visiting Riga Cathedral / Dome Cathedral, Riga Art Museum in Dome Square, St. James Cathedral, The Three Brothers, Swedish Gate, The Cat House, Līvu Square, Freedom Monument, St. Peter’s Church, House of the Blackheads, Roland Statue, Riga Central Market and the old Zeppelin hangars. One of the most interesting walking days of our Baltic cruise. But this wasn’t just another beautiful European Old Town.
While exploring near the Freedom Monument, a fellow cruise passenger tripped on the cobblestones and badly injured his face. What happened while we were trying to get him help left an impression on us — and it wasn’t the only interaction during our day that did.

And because this is Hubbard’s Journey, we somehow managed to leave the market without the beer Michael had waited for, race back toward Sapphire Princess wondering if we were cutting it too close, and then sail away through hail, thunder and lightning.
At the end of the day, Michael and Andrea compare their experiences in Poland, Lithuania and Latvia — and Michael shares a very candid opinion about the vibe he experienced in Riga.
It is only our experience from one day in Riga, and yours may have been completely different. If you’ve visited Latvia or sailed into Riga on a Baltic cruise, we’d genuinely like to hear what your experience was like.
If you're planning a Riga, Latvia cruise port day, this video also shows just how much of Old Town can be explored independently from the ship and what you can realistically see on foot.
#Riga #Latvia #BalticCruise
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Chapters
00:00 Something Happened in Riga
01:01 Riga Cathedral — Would You Pay €15?
01:56 This Was Once Riga’s Stock Exchange
03:03 A Church Bell Used for Executions
03:36 Riga’s “Three Brothers” Have a Story
05:02 The Last Swedish Gate in Riga
06:14 Are These Really Bullet Holes?
06:48 The Cat House Story Gets Even Better
08:45 Then Everything Suddenly Changed
10:38 Latvia’s Freedom Monument Survived Soviet Rule
12:04 Lightning Hit This Church SIX Times
12:54 This Riga Landmark Was Wiped Off the Map
13:44 The Soviets Tore This Statue Down
14:45 Now We’re Running Out of Time
15:12 These Aren’t Ordinary Market Buildings
16:02 Riga Central Market — Then We Had a Problem
17:04 We May Have Pushed This Too Far
17:29 Poland vs Lithuania vs Latvia
18:56 We Made It Back… Then THIS Happened
19:34 Hail Starts Hammering Sapphire Princess
20:49 We Actually Caught the Lightning
21:39 Our Real Take on Riga

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16 Comments

@HubbardsJourney Creator 2 weeks ago Pinned

Now we really want to hear from you. 🇱🇻
What was YOUR experience with the people in Riga or Latvia?
What Michael shares at the end is based only on what we experienced during our day there — and he even says we may have simply caught everyone on a bad Tuesday. 😂
So were we way off? Did you have the same impression? Or was your experience completely different?
And if you've visited Poland, Lithuania AND Latvia, which one felt the most welcoming to you?
👇 We read and respond to all of our comments.

@Latvian-nt2tg 9 days ago

1. How Reservedness Impacts Foreign Integration in Latvia
Latvian reservedness creates a specific environment for foreigners trying to settle down. In the integration process, this manifests in several ways:
• The "Wall" Effect Initially: Foreigners often report feeling isolated or unwelcome during their first months in Latvia. A Latvian's reluctance to strike up a conversation on public transport, in shops, or even at work can be misinterpreted as dislike or xenophobia, when in reality, it is simply a desire not to disturb the other person.
• Difficulty Building a Social Circle: While it is relatively easy for newcomers to handle paperwork or find work in international companies, finding local friends is a significant challenge. Since Latvian social circles are often formed early in childhood or school years, letting new people (especially foreigners) into them happens very slowly.
• The Weight of the Language Barrier: Because preserving the language is a sensitive topic for Latvians, foreign integration is directly linked to learning Latvian. Even minimal efforts to speak Latvian dramatically change the local attitude and "open doors," whereas prolonged reliance solely on English or Russian can create an invisible distance from the local community.
2. Tips on Building Trust and Better Relationships with Latvians
To overcome the initial reservedness and build a genuine relationship with a Latvian, a few simple golden rules can help:
• Do Not Push for Small Talk: Avoid overly personal questions during first meetings (about salary, relationships, politics). Instead, focus on neutral topics—the weather, nature, hobbies, or work matters.
• Respect Personal Space: Do not stand too close during a conversation and avoid excessive physical contact (such as hugging) unless you are already close friends. A firm handshake and eye contact when greeting are perfectly sufficient.
• Be Authentic and Direct: Latvians highly value honesty and distrust exaggerated, artificial positivism. It is better to be calm, slightly reserved, but genuine, rather than faking overenthusiasm.
• Shared Activities Over Talking: The best way to bond with a Latvian is to do something together—go hiking, do sports, gather mushrooms, or work on a joint project. Silence is not awkward in Latvian culture; it is a natural part of being together.
• Show Interest in the Culture and Nature: If you compliment Latvian nature, the Song and Dance Festival, or local food (like rye bread), you will instantly win sympathy.
3. Comparison with Neighbors: Baltics and Nordic Countries
The Latvian cultural code sits at an interesting crossroads between its neighbors. The communication style can be categorized along this spectrum:
Country / Region Communication Style and Social Closeness
Estonia and the Nordic Countries (Finland, Sweden) Extreme privacy. Estonians and Finns are even more introverted than Latvians. They require even more personal space, and moments of silence in a conversation are completely normal. The boundaries of privacy there are almost sacred.
Latvia Nordic calm with emotional depth. We are closer to the Nordics—quiet, reserved, and cautious. However, once the barrier is broken down, Latvians can be emotionally warmer and more expressive than Scandinavians.
Lithuania The most southern temperament in the Baltics. Due to historical and religious (Catholicism) reasons, Lithuanians are noticeably more open, louder, and more social. They establish contact with strangers more quickly and are ready for more active communication

@wellardsmith3629 2 weeks ago

What a great city. I visited just 6 months after it opened after the collapse of the Soviet Union. You brought back many memoirs.

@riproar11 9 days ago

OK, the Swedish Gate comment had me bursting out loud with laughs! Instant subscribe. "Swedish Gate. Woo hoo! Are we talking tall blondes here?" LOL!!!

@MichaelAnderson-s1w 2 weeks ago

Another wonderful video you two. Really appreciate all the info you give us. Probably not a place to put on my must visit list but love seeing Riga through your video. I hope the injured visitor was ok. I was hoping to see you use the ice to make a good adult beverage. LOL

@Latvian-nt2tg 9 days ago

Latvian reservedness towards foreigners has been shaped by historical, cultural, and social factors. It is not necessarily directed at specific nationalities, but rather reflects a general cultural trait—caution and a high respect for privacy.
Here are the main reasons why Latvians tend to be reserved:
• Historical experience: Centuries of subjugation under various foreign powers, and particularly the Soviet occupation—which involved mass deportations and colonization—have created a historical trauma. This has fostered a natural defense mechanism and a distrust of the unfamiliar to protect themselves and their culture.
• Cultural and character traits: Latvian culture is closely aligned with the Nordic countries, where personal space and privacy are highly valued. Latvians are generally more introverted, do not rush to trust or open up to strangers (even among themselves), and express their emotions reservedly.
• Protection of language and identity: The Latvian language is one of the smallest official languages of the European Union. The centuries-long risk of assimilation has created a strong desire to preserve national identity, which can sometimes appear as closing off from the influences of other cultures.
• Communication style: Latvians prefer meaningful, deep relationships over superficial conversations (small talk). Once trust is earned, Latvians often become highly reliable, warm, and loyal friends or colleagues.

@ChuckHensley1059 2 weeks ago

Very interesting. I love history and you sparked my interest with the damages to the facade of the building. There was fightinhg in Riga during WWII, but according to a quick AI search the damages visible on the facades of the buildings along Meistaru iela in Old Riga are not bullet holes. Bummer. It says they are natural wearing from weather

@alexwatson5873 2 weeks ago

Hi guys! That hail was crazy!!! ❤

@DianeMarkoff 2 weeks ago

Hello! I noticed the band outside #17 was playing the Canadian national anthem 🇨🇦

@sheldonshepherd1546 2 weeks ago

Really interesting commentary on the people. I'll bet it's a bit of an echo of the hardships people faced. We enjoyed the video very much. But it doesn't really seem like a place high on our priority list to visit if people have such attitudes. Alecia says howdy.

@abrahamclott5604 2 weeks ago

Were you on the 8/7 cruise? I was on the same trip and I think we met briefly. I was walking by with someone who knew you; I think. Anyway, I've been really enjoying re-living my port visits through your videos. So far, with the first 3, we overlapped substantially but also made some different choices. I agree with you about the vibes from the locals at the first three stops. I can't explain it, but felt the same way. (My experience at the next port, Talinn, was totally different: When I got lost and needed public transit directions, people were really nice and went out of their way to help.)

@claudiabeckercb3 2 weeks ago

Hi Andrea and Michael! You two are the perfect tour guides 😃
I agree, a church shouldn't charge an entry fee.

I am sorry you had such a bad experience with the people in Riga. Do you know how the injured guy is doing?

@drznx 3 days ago

Thank for the video. However, to discover the true spirit of Riga, you have to stay and walk for at least 2 days. You nearly scratched just the surface of Riga. That is why I never choose the cruise ships. You kind of see the town, country, but mostly it does not count as a visit. Maybe a different story is when we talk about tropical islands.

@vzanne5835 2 weeks ago (edited)

Loved it we went on a GYG guided walk, loved it. The guide was saying so many Latvians moved to Australia and Canada. The history in these countries is so horrific. We saw buildings with bullet holes where people were executed.