Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia, on the Daugava river near the Gulf of Riga. Known for its UNESCO-listed Old Town, Europe's greatest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture, the vast Central Market and a growing craft-beer and restaurant scene, it blends Hanseatic, Swedish, Russian and Soviet layers into one of the Baltics' most walkable capitals.
Top attractions
The most popular and significant attractions in Riga.
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1
Riga Old Town (Vecrīga)
UNESCO-listed medieval core of Riga, a pedestrian maze of cobbled lanes, Hanseatic merchant houses, church spires and squares such as Town Hall Square and Dome Square.
Tip: Start before 09:00 to see the lanes without day-tour groups. · Wear sturdy shoes; the cobblestones are uneven and slippery when wet or icy. · Museums and towers charge separately, so choose one or two rather than all. · Walk into courtyards off the main streets for craft shops and quieter cafes. · Terrace prices on Dome Square and Livu Square are higher than on side streets. · Watch for pickpockets in crowded squares in high season.
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2
Riga Cathedral (Doma Cathedral)
The largest medieval church in the Baltic states, founded in 1211, with an 1884 Walcker organ among the biggest in Europe and a cloister museum.
Tip: Check the website before going, as the cathedral closes to sightseers during services and concerts. · Evening organ concerts need a separate ticket; buy ahead in summer. · Visit on a weekday morning to avoid tour groups. · Dress modestly and keep voices low in the nave. · Combine with nearby sites such as the Three Brothers and Riga Castle.
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3
St. Peter's Church
A Gothic church whose 123 m spire has a lift to a viewing platform at about 72 m, giving the best panorama over the Old Town roofs and the Daugava river.
Tip: Choose a clear afternoon for the best visibility. · Avoid midday in July and August, when queues form at the ticket desk. · Dress for wind; the platform is outdoors and cooler than street level. · The tower is closed on Mondays; check the website for seasonal hours. · Visit the nearby Bremen Town Musicians statue on the same walk.
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4
House of the Blackheads
An ornate Dutch Renaissance guildhall of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, destroyed in 1941 and rebuilt in 1999, with a golden facade and a museum of the guild's silver and ceremonial halls.
Tip: Photograph the facade from the middle of Town Hall Square for the full view. · Visit in late morning or early evening to avoid the midday tour-group rush. · Check the website for current opening days; the museum is typically closed on Mondays. · Combine with Riga Cathedral and St Peter's Church, both within a 5-minute walk. · Reduced tickets are usually offered for children and students.
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5
Freedom Monument
The 42 m limestone and copper monument unveiled in 1935, topped by a figure of Liberty holding three gold stars, and a national symbol of Latvian independence.
Tip: Visit early in the morning for the quietest photos without crowds. · Observe the honor guard from a respectful distance and do not climb the base. · Expect large ceremonies on 18 November and in the commemoration days of March and June. · Combine with Bastejkalns park, the National Opera and the Old Town on foot. · Entry is free and the site is accessible at any hour.
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6
Latvian National Museum of Art
Latvia's main art museum in a 1905 neo-baroque building next to the Esplanāde park, with Latvian painting from the 18th century to the present, including Rozentāls and Purvītis.
Tip: Allow about two hours for the permanent collection plus any temporary show. · Visit on a weekday morning for the quietest galleries. · The museum is typically closed on Mondays; check the website for current hours. · Friday evening opening until 20:00 suits those who prefer a late visit. · Ask at the entrance about audio or printed guides and photography rules.
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7
Riga Central Market
Europe's largest market by area, housed in five former Zeppelin hangars from the 1920s, selling smoked fish, rye bread, pickles, berries, honey and dairy.
Tip: Arrive on a weekday before 11:00 for the fullest stalls. · Carry some cash, as not every stall accepts cards. · Try smoked fish and fresh rye bread for an inexpensive picnic. · Keep bags closed in busy aisles. · Combine with a walk to the Old Town, about 10 minutes away.
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8
Riga Art Nouveau Museum
The restored apartment of architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns, furnished in the style of 1903, with period interiors and a decorated staircase.
Tip: Go on a weekday morning to avoid groups in the small rooms. · Check the website for closing on Mondays and shorter winter hours. · Leave large bags in the cloakroom if asked. · Combine with a walk along Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela. · Look for family or combined tickets at the desk.
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9
Alberta iela Art Nouveau Architecture
A street lined with the most ornate Art Nouveau facades in Riga, mainly designed by Mikhail Eisenstein around 1903-1907, with masks, sphinxes and peacock motifs.
Tip: Look upward; the finest sculptural details are on upper floors and around windows. · Visit mid-morning or late afternoon for side light on the relief. · Interiors are private apartments, so visit the Art Nouveau Museum for a look inside. · Add Elizabetes iela and Strēlnieku iela for a longer architecture route. · Respect residents by keeping noise low and staying out of stairwells.
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10
Riga Castle (National History Museum of Latvia)
A fortress founded in 1330 by the Livonian Order and now the residence of the President of Latvia, with the Latvian National Museum of History housed in the restored rooms and exhibition halls.
Tip: Check biletes.lnvm.lv for the current exhibition schedule before going. · Book guided tours in advance online. · Expect security checks, as the building houses presidential offices. · Visit on a weekday morning for fewer visitors. · Walk the river embankment from Dome Square for the best exterior views.
Attractions by category
Explore by your interests.
Landmarks
Riga Old Town (Vecrīga)
UNESCO-listed medieval core of Riga, a pedestrian maze of cobbled lanes, Hanseatic merchant houses, church spires and squares such as Town Hall Square and Dome Square.
Riga Cathedral (Doma Cathedral)
The largest medieval church in the Baltic states, founded in 1211, with an 1884 Walcker organ among the biggest in Europe and a cloister museum.
St. Peter's Church
A Gothic church whose 123 m spire has a lift to a viewing platform at about 72 m, giving the best panorama over the Old Town roofs and the Daugava river.
House of the Blackheads
An ornate Dutch Renaissance guildhall of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, destroyed in 1941 and rebuilt in 1999, with a golden facade and a museum of the guild's silver and ceremonial halls.
Freedom Monument
The 42 m limestone and copper monument unveiled in 1935, topped by a figure of Liberty holding three gold stars, and a national symbol of Latvian independence.
Alberta iela Art Nouveau Architecture
A street lined with the most ornate Art Nouveau facades in Riga, mainly designed by Mikhail Eisenstein around 1903-1907, with masks, sphinxes and peacock motifs.
Latvian Academy of Sciences Observation Deck
A 1950s Stalinist skyscraper known locally as the Wedding Cake, with a 17th-floor observation deck about 65 m above the ground giving a 360-degree view of Riga.
Three Brothers
Riga's oldest group of dwelling houses, built from the 15th to 17th centuries, showing the Gothic, Mannerist and Dutch Renaissance styles side by side.
Cat House
An Art Nouveau-era building with two black cat statues on its turrets, whose raised-tail legend recalls a feud between a wealthy merchant and the Great Guild.
Nativity of Christ Cathedral
A Russian-Byzantine-style Orthodox cathedral completed in 1884, with gilded domes and a richly painted interior; modest dress is expected.
Museums
Latvian National Museum of Art
Latvia's main art museum in a 1905 neo-baroque building next to the Esplanāde park, with Latvian painting from the 18th century to the present, including Rozentāls and Purvītis.
Riga Art Nouveau Museum
The restored apartment of architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns, furnished in the style of 1903, with period interiors and a decorated staircase.
Riga Castle (National History Museum of Latvia)
A fortress founded in 1330 by the Livonian Order and now the residence of the President of Latvia, with the Latvian National Museum of History housed in the restored rooms and exhibition halls.
Powder Tower and Latvian War Museum
The last surviving tower of the medieval city wall, now a military museum with exhibits from Latvian wars and the 1991 barricades, entered free of charge.
Museum of Decorative Arts and Design
A museum in a converted 13th-century St. George's church, showing Latvian and European decorative arts, design, textiles and ceramics.
Occupation Museum of Latvia
A museum on Latvia's occupation by the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany from 1940 to 1991, with documents, personal belongings and a Siberian deportation reconstruction.
Nature
Bastejkalns Park and Riga City Canal
A park on the former bastion of the city wall, with the canal that was the moat, lawns, bridges and the Latvian National Opera nearby; boat tours leave from the canal quay in summer.
Cultural
Riga Central Market
Europe's largest market by area, housed in five former Zeppelin hangars from the 1920s, selling smoked fish, rye bread, pickles, berries, honey and dairy.
Latvian National Opera and Ballet
A neoclassical theatre rebuilt after a fire in 1882, home to the Latvian National Opera and the ballet company, with performances from autumn to early summer.
Practical information
What you need to know before you go.
- Hours
- Most museums are open Tuesday-Sunday about 10:00-18:00 and closed Monday; the Old Town streets, parks and the Freedom Monument are open at all hours
- Fees
- Museum tickets are typically €5-12 (~$5.75-13.80); most churches charge about €10 (~$11.50) for sightseeing; the War Museum, the Occupation Museum and the Old Town streets are free
- Best Times
- May-September for long days and open-air life; December for the Christmas markets; the shoulder months of May and September avoid peak crowds
- Booking
- Museums and castle tours sell tickets on site and online (biletes.lnvm.lv for the castle); the Riga Tourism Information Centre at Rātslaukums 6 (+371 6703 7900, liveriga.com) sells the Riga Pass and tours
- Transport
- The Old Town is pedestrian; trams, buses and trolleybuses (Rīgas satiksme, rigassatiksme.lv) cover the rest, and the Bolt and Uber apps work for taxis
Tips for visiting attractions
Make the most of your sightseeing time.
Buy tickets for trams and buses on the e-talons smart card or the Riga Ticket app at rigassatiksme.lv; paying the driver costs more
Most museums close on Mondays, so plan the Old Town streets and parks for that day
Cathedrals and churches close to sightseers during services, so check the posted hours before arriving
Cobbles in the Old Town are uneven; comfortable shoes matter more than at most capitals
Carry a card plus a little cash; card payments are almost universal but small market stalls sometimes prefer cash
The Riga Pass (liveriga.com) bundles museum entries and public transport and can save money for visitors planning several paid sights
Frequently asked questions
How many days do visitors need in Riga?
Two to three days cover the Old Town, the Art Nouveau district, the Central Market and a museum or two. Add a day for Jūrmala beach or Sigulda and Turaida.