1st visit to Riga and seeking local help to get the best out of my holiday

I am planning to come to Riga for a 7 to 10 days in July. I hope to go to the opera and visit visit as many of the historical sites as I can I would like to make it a 2 centre holiday and spend some time at the beach and some doing the normal sightseeing. I would like some advice on whether it is better to book hotels in advance or just arrive and find a good hotel as I will be looking for a 4 star.Also if someone could assist me in the names of some good restaurants that would be useful also. This is going to be a treat for me as have been working in Sudan for past three months and this will be my 1st break. I have visited Russia and Ukraine and alot of other countries around the world so am an experienced traveller.
But advice is always welcome when visiting somewhere for the 1st time. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Mike

I have also lookd at many of the hotels on websites so any reccomendations. I would like a hotel with a pool, a good restaurant 3 to 4 stars is perfect with good size rooms in the old>Pictures on websites arent always as accurate as one would wish Thanks

Most probably you won't find a hotel better than Reval. As for good restaurants, on our forums some people mentioned Palete. If you would like to enjoy a really natural domestic food, go to one of the Lido restaurants, one of them is near Reval.

Despite we are in economical troubles now, I guess it's better to book a hotel in advance, specially if it's 4 stars. We don't have too many stuff like this.

The beach is really a nice place to go Not sure the weather will be good though. So far it's quite cold for the summer here.

Thanks for this info I really appreciate it. Shame about the weather though. However in Sudan where I have been working our average temperature is 45 - 50 degrees C everyday, however as we are in the middle of the desert we dont get to see much sea and to be able to go swimming would be such a luxury so I guess I will have to make do with a swimming pool. I notice your comment regarding the economic situation, unfortunately that seems to be affecting everyone, I do hope that this has not affected the opera and that there will be some performances that I will be able to visit. One other quick question do you have a dess code for the opera ? As I have been living in Africa for past three months I do not have an Evening suit if they are available to hire I can do that or would trousers jacket and shirt be suitable. Hope you dont mind me bombarding you with these questions LOL

Do you mean a "dress code"? If so, I guess it should be just modest... the Opera is in the center of the city, just walk some day and see how other people are dressed

yes I did mean dress code but for the opera rather than everyday in England it has changed we used to be very formal and have to wear evening suits with bow ties when attending the opera and so was wondering if was the same in riga or more relaxed

Mikenewell
If you will come like In England, nobody will say against! But if you come relaxed like many other foreigners, it means drunk and drugged in a unique dress style, people won't applause you

ermine
that is good but as I will not be bringing an evening suit is there anywhere that is possible to hire one from in Riga

I think hiring a suit could be a problem in Riga. I personally don't know such a place.

Most probably just follow my advice and choose the modest style which you could take with you on road. Nobody will say against

Thanks that will probably be the best option, interesting reading some of the forums I would like to agree with many of the comments that were made about the general behaviour of English people As an english person I frequently am emabarassed by the behaviour of the younger generation. As an older person I try to respect the people of the country of whom I am a guest. I usually meet and make alot of friends in the countries I visit some of whom I keep in touch with for many many years. I hope this will be the same in Riga and am very much looking forward to enjoing ur culture and meting new people