Judged purely on tourism, Riga is an absolute gem. Beautiful churches and Jugendstil architecture strewn throughout the old town, along with a lovely park divided by road and stream alike. Large squares bustle with activity, while just steps away lie quiet alleys with impressive buildings to enjoy. Of Dome Square in Riga course, the cornerstone of the 2001 reconstruction project is the rededication of Town Hall Square, with its statue of Roland and the beautifully rebuilt House of the Blackheads. Despite some overbearing texts inscribed on its facade and some modern alternatives, the new House of the Blackheads in Riga is the most spectacular building, from the exterior, in all the Baltic states.
Surprising lapses occur in otherwise excellent service.
Finding an honest taxi driver in Riga is about as easy as in Prague. The water is not for consumption, and red lights are violated, often to the detriment of even street-wise local pedestrians. With attention fully on Riga in anticipation of the 2001 events, the lag in tourism development for the rest of Latvia becomes more visible. Though Jurmala remains a popular coastal summer resort, even the number of Russian tourists has fallen. Ventspils is a dynamic town boosted by the transit sector, but does not have much of a tourism pull for non- biznesmen types.