Hi me and a party 10 men aged 32 up to 47 are coming to Riga for a stag weekend in the beginning of may is it true what we are hearing about the place. All you can read about in this Forum is truth and did happen - every night or day tourists are knocked down or ripped off in Riga! As weel as in all other major party cities.. I love Riga and have been soo drunk out there i the nightlife Yes, unfortunately it's true.
Riga doesn't really like stag doers, actually, no matter how nicely they behave. Let's face it - a group of man looking for a beer and fun, speaking loudly, wandering the streets is not met with any friendliness, because locals already seen that, experienced the worth part of it and doesn't trust it. I think that Eastwood and Eva have covered it nicely but here's my 'two penneth' for what it's worth. If you are going to Riga because of it's unwarranted reputation of being the 'Stag Party Capital of Europe' and you want to visit strip clubs and 'erotic massage parlours' etc.
There is no doubt at all that you would have a miserable time and come home a lot poorer than you'd like. Never allow yourselves to be enticed into ANY club or bar that is offering 'Free Entrance' or 'Free drinks', or any club or bar that has touts out on the streets handing out flyers.
If on the other hand you are going, as you said, to enjoy a good drink and experience a different culture and a beautiful little city you will love Riga. Just behave sensibly. It's a simple enough rule that far too many Brits tend to forget once they go overseas. An American friend of mine lives in Old Town and he says he can't understand the British abroad, "If they can't find someone to fight with they'll fight amongst themselves" is one of his comments. It's pretty embarrassing really!
You won't find Riga to be a cheap city, even in the good bars and clubs. The rate of exchange hasn't helped that of course. Go and enjoy my second home! I've been there some 30 or so times over the past 4 years and I have never been ripped off or threatened in any way. Riga is a great place but has been spoilt by the drunking antics of a LOT of Brits I include all of Britain and they just have got fed up.
