Jurmala
Jurmala is a legendary city, warm, sincere, magnificent and well-groomed. Jurmala was adored by the Soviet elite in its time, because it is an ideal place for a quiet, relaxing holiday, away from the noisy proletarian Black Sea.
-Jurmala travel guide
Jurmala is attractive by the combination of three recreation areas - marine, forest and cultural. Here rest those who are attracted by the mild climate, the healing sea air, the combination of ample opportunities for restoring health with a lot of entertainment.
Jurmala is located in one of the best places on the Baltic Sea coast - beautiful white quartz sand, mild climate and magnificent nature. The climate is temperate, without southern heat, life flows measuredly and quietly, without fuss and crowds.
Jurmala is located very close to Riga, some 25 kilometers away and it is possible to get to the many-kilometer-long beaches from the capital of Latvia in about half an hour. Jurmala is a city of luxury and wealth: roads, villas, apartment buildings, cars. That Lexus, then Bentley flashes in the rearview mirror, then Aston Martin snarls, hurrying somewhere in the direction of the beach.
Jurmala stretched along the shore of the Baltic Sea over a distance of 32 kilometers. White flour-like beaches stretch along the entire city, where the most fashionable villas, private hotels and pensions are located, and scattered mansions a little further, second, third and nth lines, and all the same small hotels. Culture at a high level, the Balts everywhere you observe well-groomed and almost perfect cleanliness.
Hundreds of small private hotels are scattered along the multi-kilometer beach - from 8 rooms to several dozen. In total, Bucking offers almost 300 places in Jurmala. For the 50 thousandth city a lot.
-Dzintari
The famous concert hall "Dzintari" , in which since Soviet times music and humor festivals were held, focused mainly on the Russian-speaking audience.
Such concerts were held with the participation of Petrosyan, Zadornov and other celebrities. First, the All-Union competition of young performers, after the collapse of the USSR moved to Yalta. In 2002, he was replaced by the “New Wave” competition under the patronage of Igor Krutoy. In the 2000s, the Comedy Club “High Humor Week” festival, KVN music festival, “Anshlag” performances, etc. were held here.
Since 2014, the holding of most Russian-speaking festivals in Jurmala has been suspended. Now the concert hall "Dzintari" is almost empty.
Near a huge number of small cafes and cozy restaurants, a shopping street with souvenir shops and boutiques, as well as the beginning of the promenade.
-What to see in Jurmala
The whole city is immersed in a pine forest. The air is clean and fresh. What to see in Jurmala? The whole city get-together is located in the city center (Dzintari or Majori stop). Here is Jomas Street, reminds Moscow Arbat. Cafes and restaurants with summer verandahs are located along the entire street. Pricing policy is very diverse - from expensive institutions to the bistro. There is a restaurant with Uzbek cuisine.
To calculate your budget in advance, you can go to the sites of restaurants and see the menu, all sites are duplicated in Russian. On this street are small wooden houses, tents, which sell souvenirs, many of which can be bought in large supermarkets, but at a much higher price than on the street.
If you turn left off Jomas street, orient yourself from the globe, then the road will lead you to the Dzintari concert hall and the embankment. On the way there is a small amusement park.
On the beach there is a complex Havana lounge club. This is a fenced area under the white tents, with sun loungers, a swimming pool, a concert venue, a bar and a luxury restaurant. Club card for all summer is 1250 euros. This is a public place for party lovers, as most of them come in suits and evening dresses. From the side the place looks very beautiful. Next to volleyball courts, a restaurant where they cook well, Havana lounge club. You can sit and listen to concerts.
Walking straight from the embankment to the road, you find yourself in a stunning park. The park is located in the middle of the forest. Here everything is thought out to the smallest detail for a comfortable leisure of tourists. Playground with swings, hammocks, slides, climbing, swinging bridges, bungee, with a variety of simulators and cobwebs. Playground for cyclists and skateboarders. Wooden walkways pass along blueberry bushes. There are bike paths, they are laid separately from the pedestrian.
In the center of the park cafe. In the same park there is a viewing platform 33 meters high. Back in Jurmala, you can ride on the ship "New Way", which departs from the pier Majori and sails to Riga.
The trip lasts about 3 hours. In the Lielupe area there is Ragakapa. This is a natural park with trails. According to the description from the guidebook in the park you can see rare species of birds and plants, as well as three hundred year old pines and large dunes.
If the weather is not for walking, then not far from Jurmala, if you go in the direction of Riga, there is the Spice shopping center. There is a famous entertainment center Lido.
There is a very tasty self-service restaurant with amazing cuisine, something like a buffet. There is no comparison with local restaurants, food in many none. The number of purchased dishes is not limited. The center of Lido itself is an ancient city in miniature. Numerous city parks, cafes, restaurants and entertainment centers will meet you with complacency and hospitality. All this represents a source of income for local residents.
-sights
Jurmala City Museum.
Constantly in the museum various exhibitions are organized. Entry for visitors - completely free!
The city museum contains unusual archaeological finds, a collection of amber, paintings by local artists, documents, photographs, old postcards and posters, from which you can trace the history of the resort. The highlight of the tourist attraction is the nearly 30,000th collection of swimwear, rich in beautifully preserved specimens from the late 19th century. The museum has a cozy cafe, there is a souvenir shop.
Closed State cottage number 2
On the territory of Jurmala sanatorium "Amber Coast", built in 1972, famous for its hydrogen sulfide baths and Kemerovo mud. Today, the Amber Coast Sanatorium is owned by the Office of the President of the Russian Federation.
Within the framework of the “Soviet Party” project (“Journey to the Land of the Soviets”), everyone who wishes can now see the dacha.
Rainis (Latvian. Rainis - pseudonym; real name and surname - Janis Pliekshans (Latvian. Jānis Pliekšāns), also known as Jan Rainis, according to documents from the Russian Empire period - Plekshan Ivan Khristoforovich - Latvian poet, playwright, translator, politician, public figure, national poet of the Latvian SSR (the title was awarded posthumously in 1940).
-The building of the holiday complex Kristap and Augusta Morberg
Built in the early 19th century. For Jurmala, such buildings are typical city buildings. Wooden buildings in the Neo-Gothic, Art Nouveau and Romantic style towering around every corner. But the neo-gothic castle, and even a pleasant blue color, is a novelty for Jurmala. Interestingly, the holiday complex Kristap and Augusta Morberg was not left in the form in which it was built, but expanded until 1914. Here not only excursions are welcome, but also guests who would like to have a wedding.
The beauty of the building is amazing: it is decorated with amazing stained glass windows, there are open-air gazebos in the garden, which can be used to marry newlyweds. As they say, combine business with pleasure.
-Kitchen.
It is worth noting that Latvians tend to experiment. How to explain the existence of such national dishes as beer soup with dried fruits or bread yogurt and bread ice cream. In Latvia, various kissels are very popular, they are boiled on the basis of fruits, berries, rhubarb. A separate type of jelly is puttel, it is sour pea or oat jelly with the addition of lingonberry juice or yogurt. Latvian national cuisine is simple and satisfying. In everyday dishes used cabbage, potatoes, beans and gray peas. The latter, cooked with smoked meat, is served at Christmas.
In Latvian restaurants in Jurmala, this dish can be tasted at any time of the year. Pork is the most popular meat - it is cooked aspic, baked, added to vegetable dishes and soups. Not the last place in the national cuisine is occupied by fish, and due to its location on the Baltic coast, the choice of fish delicacies is very large here. You should definitely try "Silkyu Pudins" - herring casserole with potatoes. Of the desserts, the most famous is the “Buberte” with semolina, whipped cream and cranberry sauce.
The country has a well-developed brewing industry. No holiday is complete without beer. Connoisseurs should pay attention to such varieties as Tervetes alus, Uzavas Alus, Bauskas alus, Piebalga (Piebalgas alus), Aldaris Porteris and Cesis beer (Cesu alus). Many Latvians brew homemade beer, which can be tasted at city fairs.
-Weather.
Jurmala is a resort city and the best time to visit it is summer. The swimming season begins in June, when the water warms up to +18 +20 ° C and ends in mid-September. You can usually sunbathe in May, but do not neglect sunscreen, even in spite of the cool breeze.
In general, the weather in Jurmala is not very different from the weather in Riga, the cities are located very close. The water temperature reaches its maximum in July-August, the sun heats, but does not burn. The average daytime temperature is +22 +24 ° C.
-Currency.
In 2014, Latvia fully switched to the euro (€). This means that the former national currency lats (Ls) is out of circulation. Only euro can be paid in the country.
-Transport
Traveling around the city is convenient and cheap using public transport. His working time is from 05:00 to 23:00.
You can call a taxi for free. Its tariffs depend on the time of day: night cost is 20% more expensive. Buses run in Jurmala: No. 4 “Sloka-Bulduri”, No. 6 “Sloka-ериemeri” and city minibuses.
-Security.
It is strictly forbidden to drink alcohol on the streets of the city - a fine is imposed for this. Smoking only in a designated place. Follow the rules of the road. Keep your belongings and documents in a safe place.