In the age of information we live in, one can hear the name of Andrejsala from time to time; in most cases, it occurs in connection with the development of the city of Riga or is related to culture. However, both in the virtual and real world, one may ask oneself: “Where on earth is that Andrejsala?”, and also: “How can we get there?” Here we are providing answers to these questions, while basic information on the events that has taken place on Andrejsala or that are only going to take place in this harbour of ideas is to be found in other sections of our website.
Taxi drivers will certainly know where they should take you to, if you explain them that your destination is Andrejsala. However, the easiest method of getting there is to walk or go a couple of stops by tram (if you are going by tram, you should not miss the stop Vašingtona laukums (Washington Square); get off the tram there).
The main landmark for those whose destination is Andrejsala is the Riga passenger port, separated from the island’s South End by the water basin (it is called Andrejosta), or else – this one being closer to the destination – the pedestrian crossing and the traffic lights at the intersection of Elizabetes Street and Eksporta Street. If you are going from the city downtown and get off the tram at the stop Vašingtona laukums, just walk some 100 meters back in the direction of the Old Riga, and you will find yourself at the traffic lights, and if you face the River Daugava, on the fence on the opposite side of Eksporta Street, you will see a large blue sign, on which the name Andrejsala is written in white. (The combination of blue and white is worth keeping in memory as those are the brand colours of Andrejsala, and for the convenience of guests, they are also used in all other signs and pointers on the island).
Cross Eksporta Street at the traffic lights, cross the railway track, if necessary wait until the locomotive pulls or pushes away railway cars with coal or something else, and you will find yourself at the fence. Then continue your way in the north direction as seen on the sign. In a short while, on the left, you will see the gate with a symbolic concrete block painted in the colors of Andrejsala – blue and white. This gate is one of the entrances to the South End of Andrejsala. Behind the gate, there is the Machine Shop on the right, and at the same place, at the façade of this building, there is fixed a scheme or map with the layout of buildings in the southern part of the island. To the left of the gate, there is a barn with a newsstand. Having studied the layout scheme, proceed to the venue, where something is to take place (it might be the case that events are taking place simultaneously in several buildings, so in order to get the right direction, please use your sense organs such as ears).
If you are heading for Andrejsala by car, the route as far as the concrete block is the same as for pedestrians. As soon as you are there, continue going down Andrejostas Street, along the wall of the Machine Shop, in the north direction till you see the anchor being the symbol of Andrejsala and the entrance doors to the Machine Shop opposite to it, above which there is the blue-and-white sign Andrejsala. Behind the anchor, just opposite the entrance, there is a parking lot for your car. To get into the South End, you do not need to walk back to the concrete block as you can do so by crossing the Hull Shop, or else through the other small gate located behind the parking lot on the left side of the street.
Welcome to Andrejsala!
Read more about the recent opening of the formerly closed part of Andrejostas Street here!
