The Latvian capital was the second major city I visited on my roadtrip through the Baltics and my favourite of the 3 capitals (Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn). Riga is a small city (although the most populous of the 3 Baltic capitals), but very welcoming. Its streets are very cute and photogenic, so I think you can’t help but love the city. So, I invite you to keep reading to find out what to visit in Riga.
What is the best time of the year to visit Riga?
Riga is a city known for its harsh winters and mild summers. I visited in early June and it was warm, even though I still needed to wear something warmer at night. Therefore, the best time of year to visit Riga is in late spring and summer (May to September).
Summer will obviously mean a higher volume of tourists, but the good news is that tourism has not yet reached Riga on a massive scale. Moreover, for those who like a good Christmas market, Riga usually has a cute one.
How many days do you need to visit Riga?
It is a relatively small city so I suggest just one day to visit Riga. You can get a good first impression and explore the city without rushing 😊Also, all places are close to each other. Therefore, it is very easy to visit Riga on foot without using public transport.
How do you get to Riga?
There are quite some European cities with direct flights to Riga. Here are some of them:
- Austria (Vienna, Salzburg)
- United Kingdom (Edinburgh, London, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, …)
- Germany (Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, …)
- Belgium (Brussels)
- Italy (Venice, Rome, …)
- France (Paris)
How do you get from Riga’s airport to the city centre?
Riga’s airport is located about 20 minutes drive from the city centre, so a first option to reach the centre is by taxi. A trip costs on average 20€-25€.
Alternatively, there is also a bus service that departs from the airport’s arrivals terminal. A ticket for a single journey costs 1.5€ (2€ if purchased directly from the driver). In addition to the vending machines, tickets can be purchased via the Rīgas satiksme app.
Accommodation in Riga
As I was travelling by car, I chose to stay outside Riga’s Old Town, as parking prices there are absolutely insane near the city’s center.
I stayed at the Augustine Hotel, still a bit away from the central area. The hotel was basic, with relatively small rooms, but it was just fine (16€ per person per night). We opted to park the car halfway to the city center in a cheaper car park than the ones near the Old Town.
However, this hotel seems to have already closed so I leave here other alternatives:
What to visit in Riga?
So, here are some tips on what to visit in Riga, Latvia.
» Central Market of Riga
A few streets away from the Old Town of the Latvian capital, Riga’s Central Market sells all kinds of products, with a special emphasis on fresh produce.
This is one of the largest markets of its kind in Eastern Europe. It consists of 5 pavilions (formerly used as military aircraft hangars), but there are also some stalls outside.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Each pavilion is dedicated to selling a certain type of product and has different opening hours. You can check out more detailed information on opening hours here.
» Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums)
Since it was totally destroyed during World War II, the whole square and the buildings there have been rebuilt more recently.
This square is one of the most important places in the city and houses two of the most relevant buildings in the city’s history: the Town Hall and the House of Blackheads.
The House of BlackHeads is clearly one of the best-known monuments in Riga, given the beauty of the building. Built in 1334, the building was part of the town hall and was used for events that invited many renowned guests.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: Currently, the House of Blackheads can be visited from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm. The visit costs 7€ per adult and I couldn’t recommend it more since the interior of the building is as (or even more) beautiful than its exterior. You can check out all the detailed information here.
It is also in the Town Hall Square that we can find the Roland statue, facing the Town Hall building.
» St Peter’s Church
St. Peter’s Church is the highest church in the city and, for this reason, ascending to the top of its tower should be a must on any itinerary through this city.
From there we have privileged views of the city… from the Riga Bay, to the City Market and the Daugava river.
Like almost all the city’s monuments, the church was destroyed during World War II and was rebuilt in the 1960s.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The price to visit the tower is 9€ and the opening hours depend on the day of the week and time of year. All the most up-to-date information is availabe here.
» Swedish Gate
The Swedish Gate is one of the gates of the old city wall and was built during the Swedish occupation of Latvia.
» Jauniela Street and Old Town Streets
Located in the Old Town, Jauniela Street is a very cute street, which may be recognizable by Sherlock Holmes fans, as some scenes from the Soviet series about the famous detective – The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson – were filmed here.
But it is not only Jauniela Street that is worth a visit! One of the things that makes Riga such a special city is its streets. So, let yourself get lost in the city’s colourful streets and alleys and you won’t regret it.
» Riga Cathedral/St. Mary’s Cathedral Church
Riga’s Cathedral dates back to the 13th century and is the largest medieval church in the Baltic countries. At the top of the Cathedral is visible a rooster – one of the symbols of Riga which also serves as a weather vane.
📝 USEFUL INFORMATION: The price to visit Riga’s Cathedral is 3€ and its opening hours vary throughout the year. You can check out the most up-to-date information here.
» Bastejkalns Park
Bastejkalns Park is one of the largest green areas in Riga and divides the city’s Old Town from the Central District.
Entrance to the park is free and this is the perfect stop right in the middle of a sightseeing day. The park is separated by a water channel, where it is also possible to enjoy some boat trips.
It is also next to Bastejkalns Park that we find the Freedom Monument. A very tall statue to honour Latvians who died in the Latvian War of Independence between 1918 and 1920. This is a strong symbol of independence for Latvians and it even survived the Soviet occupation of the country.
» The Three Brothers
It is at numbers 17, 19 and 21 of Mazā Pils street that we can find the three oldest houses in Riga, the oldest dating back to the 15th century. In one of the houses, you can also find the Museum of Latvian Architecture.
» Nativity Cathedral
Built during the 19th century while Latvia was still part of the Russian Empire, this is the largest Orthodox Cathedral in the Baltic countries. The Cathedral was even converted into a Lutheran Church during World War I, and became Orthodox again in 1921. Of course, in the 1960s the Cathedral suffered again, this time under Soviet occupation, and was converted into a Planetarium.
The church might not be that beautiful from the outside, but I absolutely recommend that you visit it inside due to the truly awe-inspiring paintings that exist there.
» Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
Visiting the Baltic countries means becoming aware that these countries have suffered several occupations over the years and that they have been independent for not so long.
So, to learn a bit more about the history of the occupation of this country, we can visit the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia. There is a permanent exhibition (free) and it is also possible to visit a building that belonged to the KGB (10€ per adult). You can check all the details or even buy a ticket here.
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Restaurants in Riga
As I was only in Riga for 1 day, I couldn’t try many restaurants. Even so, I’ll give you my opinion of one I tried and really liked. The restaurant was Rozengrāls (€€) and had a medieval decor and good value for money. I tried a kind of stroganoff with mash and it was very tasty.
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