Riga.
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Overview

Riga is the financial, creative, and cultural centre of Latvia. It is the capital and the largest city in Latvia, it is also the second largest city in the Baltic States after the Lithuanian capital Vilnius. The city lies on the Gulf of Riga, at the mouth of Daugava, Riga has a population of approximately 640,000 inhabitants, or 1/3 of the population of Latvia. The city was part of many empires throughout history, each of which has left its mark on the city. It is famous for Art Nouveau and wooden architecture. Riga's historical centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Districts

There are many administrative districts in Riga. However, almost all tourist attractions, historic buildings and hotels are contained within the borders of the relatively small and walkable Centra rajons district, which is made up of Vecrīga (the old town) and Centrs (the modern-day business district). However if you have already seen the more famous attractions in the city centre, the outer districts do have their own draws too.

On both sides of the mouth of Daugava river, the Gulf of Riga offers extensive sandy seaside beaches, which can be reached by city bus or train. A nude beach can be found a 15-minute walk out of Vecāķi.

Understand

Riga is famous for its world heritage-listed old town (Vecrīga) and city centre (Centrs), in which over 800 buildings — a third of all buildings — are of the Art Nouveau (aka Jugendstil) style of architecture and thus Riga is one of the best destinations to see this architectural style. Chiefly built in the first years of the 20th century, many of Riga's Art Nouveau buildings were created by ethnic Latvian architects unlike earlier buildings in the city . The Art Nouveau style involves intricate building facades, with carvings of flowers and mythological creatures, and ornate doorways and windows.

A considerable part of the old town was either destroyed by fire or destroyed by the Germans in World War II but many old buildings were also spared. The old town was a draw of the city during the Soviet times and it received protected status in 1967. The damaged parts, most notably the House of the Blackheads, were restored in the late 1990s, mainly to make Riga more attractive as a tourist destination. Another thing that attracts visitors, especially young adults, is the lively nightlife and discount airlines that offer cheap flights to/from much of Europe.

Riga is bisected by the river Daugava. Old (medieval) town is in the centre of the city on the east side of the river. It is surrounded by a ring of 19th– to early 20th-century architecture including the Art Nouveau buildings described above, followed by a mix of private 2-floor house districts (many also pre-World War II) and Soviet-era 5-18 floor apartment districts. Especially near railway lines, they are interspersed with industrial plants from different eras, including some from the Imperial Russian era.

History Riga was founded in 1201 by Albert of Bremen as a port city and a base to conquer and convert the native Livonians to Christianity, a goal that was achieved in 1206 after a battle in Turaida during the Northern Crusades. Riga developed as the major trade hub of the area during the peak of the Hanseatic League in the 13th to the 15th centuries and was ruled by the Archbishop of Riga. The Reformation reached Riga in 1522, which ended the Archbishops' power. In 1621, Riga became part of the Kingdom of Sweden, although it maintained a great deal of autonomy. In 1710, an invasion by Peter the Great of Russia ended Swedish rule and cemented Russian influence on the city.

Latvia declared its independence on November 18, 1918. It was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940. Riga served as the capital of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Germans have inhabited the city since its establishment by Albert, and throughout most of its history, Germans were the elite while Latvians remained a lower class. The Germans' position as the elite continued through the Imperial period of Riga, visible in some of the architecture of the city. The Germans were forcibly evicted after the Nazi occupation of 1941-44.

Talk The official language of Latvia is Latvian; however, in Riga, the majority of the population speaks both Latvian and Russian, and ethnic Russians form slightly more than a third of the city's population. English is widely spoken by younger people and by people in the tourism industry. German is also commonly spoken by tour guides. Visitor information Official website

Get in

Many flights to/from Riga are operated by Air Baltic, Ryanair, and Wizz Air.

There are designated areas in the airport where smoking is allowed.

Bus route 22 runs between the airport and the old town, with a stop near the central bus and railway stations as well as old town. These buses operate as any other public transport in Riga; see Riga#Get_around for more information on riding the buses. The journey to the old town takes 30-40 minutes. The buses operate whole day, after midnight it goes by number N22 until 4:45am. The bus stop at the airport is easy to reach - it is located at the arrivals hall entrance. There is a ticket machine in the arrivals hall; tickets can also be bought in ticket machines, at the Narvesen shops on the departure and arrivals levels in the airport or in the mobile applications, such as an official applicationor Mobilly. Bus will get crowded if there are many incoming flights. The ride to the centre by taxi takes 15 minutes. Some taxis will illegally try to charge even more. Service to the old town takes 15 minutes. Red Cab Taxi offers metered taxi services from the airport. Wheelchair accessible mini-vans are available but must be pre-ordered. It is common to use carsharing apps, which are cheaper than a taxi. Some cars are usually available near airport for taking. Download and register in Bolt or Citybee apps before you arrive.

By bus There are international bus connections to anywhere in Europe, including frequent service to Tallinn and Tartu in Estonia, and Vilnius and Kaunas in Lithuania. is just outside the old town. As of October 2023 there is substantial road and tramway construction underway around the bus station. Expect traffic snarls throughout most of the day. Pedestrian access is limited and may require stairs or negotiating un-even terrain. Ecolines - operates service between Riga and most major cities in Europe. Eurolines Lux Express - Comfortable & free coffee. Flybus - Service between Riga and the airports of Kaunas and Vilnius. Traveller Tours - Minibus sightseeing tours from Tallinn to Riga, stopping off at different sights along the way.

By train AS Pasazieru vilciens (meaning "Passenger Trains Company") operates service to many cities in Latvia, including the suburbs of Riga. You can book tickets online via the Latvian Railways site up to 45 days in advance, but tickets must be collected from a station in Latvia.

A daily train runs from Lithuania, reservations compulsory. It leaves Vilnius at 07:00, stops at Siauliai, Joniškis and Jelgava, and reaches Riga at 11:04.

You can reach Riga from Estonia by transferring to a southbound Lithuanian train at Valga. The Estonian train departs Tallinn at 10:25 and Tartu at 12:54, arriving at Valga at 13:54. The Lithuanian train departs Valga at 14:11 and reaches Riga at 16:37. The Lithuanian train then continues south from Riga to Vilnius.

By car Riga has good road connections with Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus. Riga is on the Via Baltica and ~300 km from Tallinn and Vilnius. In the city centre, you have to pay a fee for public parking which varies depending from distance to the centre.

Get around

On foot Vecrīga mainly comprises rounded cobblestone streets that may be hard to walk on if you are not wearing proper shoes. Outside of Vecrīga, most streets are paved with asphalt, although some smaller streets may be unpaved. Sidewalks are predominantly concrete everywhere. Vecrīga is best explored on foot. Due to the neglected drainage system, the streets may be flooded during heavy downpours.

The city-owned Rigas Satiksme company operates the trams (street-cars), buses, and trolleybuses. They all use the same e-ticket system called e-talons. For routes, timetables and live traffic see Rigas Satiksme's official route planner.

Do not forget to activate the ticket by scanning the vehicle QR code. Otherwise, an e-talons card can be purchased from a ticket office, vending machine, select shops, app or other location listed on the Rigas Satiksme website. These electronic tickets are for one time charge only, without deposit. You pay the number of rides that you want on them (even if it is just one ride), and discard after using up all rides. The cards all are activated by using the yellow device in the vehicles. You must activate all cards every time that you enter a vehicle. On some Latvian public holidays (January 1st, May 4th, June 23rd and 24th, November 18th, December 31st) Riga public transport is free.

Tram lines are numbered 1 to 14; bus lines are numbered 1 to 63; trolleybus lines are numbered 1 to 35. Night buses are numbered N1, N2, N3, N4, N6, N7, N10 and they only operate on Friday and Saturday nights. Night bus N22 operates every night. While the numbers are similar, the routes are completely different - i.e. bus #13 is totally different from trolleybus #13. Tram numbers on stops are identified by "Tr", buses (not trolleybuses) by "A". Stops are marked by a blue rectangular sign with a stylized white image of the vehicle and lists the numbers that stop there. Timetables and stops of the route are also usually posted at stops and are fairly accurate. On timetables yellow-orange background is for bus routes, red for trams and blue for trolleybusses. The vehicles include screens with next stop information, which may occasionally malfunction, and audible stop announcements

Trams are generally the fastest public transportation apart from trains. Although they are on the street level and the rails are not physically separated from the rest of the traffic, in all but the busiest rush hours they have the right of way.

By bicycle SIXT Latvia operates self-service bicycle rentals at bicycle stands across the city. The service is available to both residents and guests of Riga. The bikes have 3 speeds and lights, but no helmets.

Alternatively, ask your hotel if they provide bicycle rental.

Downtown Rīga has a lot of cobblestone streets, so be prepared for a bumpy ride. Bike lanes and paths exist but are not always marked clearly. On main roads, you may occasionally end up finding yourself on the wrong side of a guardrail.

By electric scooter From April to September a good way to go short distances is by electric scooter, which are abundant on city streets. Download Bolt, Citybee or Ride apps to use them. As with bicycles, be careful when driving cobblestone streets. If you are 17 years of age or under, you need protective gear. It is illegal for two or more people to ride electric scooter.

By car It is not advisable to get around Riga by car unless you need to move things around. The street infrastructure has the same capacity as when it was planned, and traffic jams are the norm during working hours, which is most of the day. Traffic can be extremely slow, especially on the bridges.

It can be difficult to find a parking spot in Riga during working hours. In the very centre and the old town of Riga and on the Ķīpsala island parking services require a fee in certain streets.

There are several car rental offices at the Riga airport and in other parts of the town. You can even rent a cheap Soviet-style car.

Drunk driving Driving under influence is considered a serious law violation. Besides high fines and a seized driving license you can easily end up serving 10-15 days in an administrative arrest. Maximum alcohol contents in the blood must not exceed 0.05 g/dL. There are plenty of police patrols and it is very common to be stopped for an alcohol test.

By carsharing It is common in Riga to use carsharing apps. There are almost always some cars available near the center. Hourly / daily and even monthly packages are available. Download and register on Bolt, Citybee, Fiqsy apps before you arrive (driving license must be uploaded and approved). There is even a Tesla carsharing app available - check OX Drive app.

By boat Boat service is available from May to September from/to Jūrmala. The boats stop in Riga stop near the Stone Bridge (Akmens Tilts), which is right next to the House of Blackheads/Riga Tourist Information Centre, in the old town.

See

For tourists, the most interesting districts are Vecrīga (the UNESCO-listed Old Town) and the area around the nearby Freedom Monument, which do double duty as the setting of Riga's foremost historic sites and the centre of its burgeoning nightlife. In Vecrīga, the two main clusters of historic sites lie just a few blocks from each other: Town Hall Square, which contains the striking 13th-century House of Blackheads, the Town Hall (built in 2003 as a down-to-the-last-detail copy of the 17th-century original), and Riga Cathedral and the square surrounding it. There you'll also find important museums such as the National History Museum of Latvia (in Riga Castle) and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, as well as remnants of the Medieval-era city fortifications popping up here and there.

Further out from Vecrīga is Riga's modern-day downtown (Centrs). Aside from the aforementioned Freedom Monument, architecture buffs flock here to admire the beautifully preserved Art Nouveau row houses on Alberta iela and other nearby streets — one of the densest clusters of architecture of that style in the world — as well as still more museums, such as Latvia's National Museum of Art.

However, there are places worth visiting outside the city centre. Some other old and well-preserved urban districts that are relatively unvisited by tourists include Agenskalns and Tornakalns, just over the Stone bridge. Further out, the residential areas on the periphery of town are largely made up of gray apartment blocks built in the typically Soviet style. These areas are nearly identical to those all over Eastern Europe. However, they do give an idea of how the vast majority of the people in Riga live and of the history of the area.

Organised tours The tourist office, inside the House of Blackheads, offers guided tours and free pamphlets, complete with detailed descriptions of many buildings, for independent walks. These walks cover the old town, the nearby city centre sights, and the Art Nouveau district. It's easy to do each of these in around an hour, or linger and read every detail in the booklet. In the absence of any signs or plaques around the city, the booklet gives you an insight to what you are seeing.

Many private companies offer organized tours of Riga. Options include bike tours, Segway tours, pub crawls, hop-on-hop-off bus tours, walking tours, free tours, and tours focused on a certain aspect of Riga - away from the touristy old town.

Do

If you're interested in classical culture, head to the National Opera in the Old Town to enjoy opera or ballet or to the Koncertzāle Ave Sol a little further north. The city has several pleasant parks, notably around the city canal and further north into Centrs. Another interesting park is Mežaparks in the north of the city with beautiful old villas and Riga's zoo.

It's also possible to do a boat ride on the canal, making a tour around the old town on the Daugava river. Start point is near the Freedom Monument.

Also, check out the nearby sights of the Riga region, some of which allow for a good day trip from Riga due to the frequent and comprehensive travel options of the region.

Football: the men's national soccer team play at Daugava Stadium, 3 km east of city centre. City clubs playing soccer in Virslīga, the top tier, are Riga FC and RFS. Metta play in Future League the second tier. FK Auda play in Virslīga at Kekava 15 km south. The playing season is April-Nov.

Adrenaline sports Riga and its surroundings are popular destinations for adrenaline sports, which can be booked online, from most hostels and hotels, or from any local travel agent. The activities generally include transfers to/from your accommodation and all necessary supplies.

Count of May. Medieval festival. Takes place annually in mid-May.

Latviabeerfest. Takes place annually at the end of May. The largest international beer festival in the Baltics.

Jāņi. On June 24, Latvians celebrate the summer solstice with the midsummer festival called Jāņi. Before the celebration, flea markets are held in many places.

Latvian Song and Dance Festival. One of the key cultural events in Latvia, which started in 1873 as a singing festival. This festival has become an important facet of Latvian culture and has been held 25 times since then. There are smaller Song and Dance Festivals between 5-year time spans. About 30,000 people from every corner of the country participate, with choirs and dance groups at the heart of the celebrations. Brass bands, folk ensembles, players of the zither-like kokle, amateur theatrical troupes, and foreign guests also perform at the festival. The traditional procession through the street of Riga is not to be missed, as the participants invoke plenty of enthusiastic audience participation.

Rīga City Day. Traditional weekend of celebrating a city. Many cultural events take place all around the city.

International Baltic Ballet Festival.

Lattelecom Marathon. The biggest sport marathon held since 2007 in Latvia.

Playground. Youth sport festival that encourages and enables every visitor to try to explore inspiring sports and culture on water, land and air (e.g. longboarding, SUP, wakeboarding, hydro-cycles, mountain bikes, slack line).

Jewish legacy Riga had a significant Jewish population during the Russian Empire period and therefore has a significant Jewish legacy. Great Choral Synagogue ruins Jews in Latvia museum Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust museum

Soviet legacy Usually remembered as a period of pity and shame (depends on who you ask though), Latvia was part of USSR for almost 50 years and was twice occupied by Soviets (in 1940 and 1944). This period is characterized by mass building of cheap and brutalist residential "sleeper" districts (to accommodate large influx of immigrants from "brotherly" Soviet republics), as well as some remarkable Stalinist style architecture. Some places worth attention are: Latvian Academy of Sciences - in the city centre, it is an example of Stalinist "Birthday cake" architecture (sometimes referred to as Socialist Classicism). The spire was built with a wreath and a five pointed star, which was removed after Latvia regained independence in 1991. The building is a cousin to similar Stalin-era skyscrapers and resembles many others built in the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc at the time, most notably the main building of Moscow State University and Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science. Spilve Airport - a half-abandoned terminal building, which was completed in 1954, remains as a notable example of Stalin's neoclassical architecture. There is a hammer and sickle on top of the building in all its glory - one of the few places where this symbol of USSR was not torn down and remains openly seen (it is illegal to display it in Latvia except in historical context). A large technical school existed here until the 1990s for major Soviet aircraft types, including Ilyushin Il-18, Ilyushin Il-62 and Tupolev Tu-134. On the other side (through the gate) is a cafe/bar with a nice view of the airfield and for watching young pilots training (open in summertime), and it is also possible to see the original airport inner façade, with signs both in Latvian and Russian language. There are also tours available inside the building from time to time, but you'll need to ask around or contact Spilve airport directly. The tour is definitely worth it - interior is lavish, well kept, with intricate details. Interestingly, the airport building was a scene of many rave parties in the 90s. Socialist realism wall paintings are the best - each one of them has a story! Bolderaja district - a tour there is recommended for the adventurous types and ones who wish to really know what was living in Soviet Latvia possibly like. Most of the Soviet-built brutalist houses there, both from Stalin's and Khrushchev's era, still stand there with little or no renovation. Silikatu iela is a good place to start exploring. A former semi-military zone (due to its closeness to strategically important mouth of river Daugava), very different from modern Riga, eerily empty and atmospheric, it seems frozen in time. Some folks living there have not ventured outside it for decades. Check out the local bathhouses ("pirts" in Latvian) and authentic eatery / restaurant (Rozā pērle). There is also an interesting fortress nearby - Daugavgrivas cietoksnis - a closed military zone on weekdays, but available for visitors on weekend. The oldest, pre-Soviet part, still hosting a number of original fishermans' houses and local river "beach" frequented by locals, is located around Liela iela, Miglas iela and Kodola iela. You might also try to reach the nearby sea beach and have a swim while watching ships entering / departing Riga port. Bolderaja district area is not frequently visited by tourists, so try not to disturb locals and attract too much attention to yourself. Reachable by bus #3 from city center in about 30 minutes. Cafe Veronika - if you haven't had enough of Soviet "aesthetics", you might try to visit this eatery and have a Soviet-style meal. It is close to the center, but a bit difficult to find, this is another place which seems frozen in time. As with Bolderaja district, keep in mind, this is not a tourist attraction but an actual eatery for working class, so keep your profile low and be polite with the staff and locals. Address: Ganibu dambis 18c, search Google Maps for location and photos.

Buy

Buy items like amber and wool mittens and socks in the central market or throughout Vecrīga in little stands. You might haggle and get good prices for souvenirs.

Like in other cities around the world, you can find shopping malls in the suburbs along most major thoroughfares. While not attractions in themselves, they may come in handy especially if you get around by car; you can buy things you need on your trip, some Latvian specialties to bring home or have a quick meal there.

Eat

Riga, as the most vibrant and cosmopolitan city of the Baltics, offers countless opportunities to sample both local cuisine and international favorites. Latvian food can be hearty, using a lot of potato, cabbage, beef, pork and fish. A diversity of foreign cuisines is also available — sushi restaurants in particular are in vogue.

The most central districts Vecriga and Centrs are the places to go for the widest selection of restaurants, though there are certainly also places to eat elsewhere in the city. There are a couple of local restaurant chains that have eateries in many different parts of Riga:

Lido. A network of 8 restaurants offering decent hearty Latvian food, including desserts, at good prices. The restaurants are either cafeteria-style or feature English menus.

The Vecriga district has seen a rise in tourist trap restaurants.

Drink

Cafes Black coffee in Latvia is traditionally served unfiltered and quite strong in small cups. If you are used to filtered coffee, you may want to have a "white coffee" (with either milk, whipped milk or cream), or you want to have a glass of water on the side. Coffee "to go" has become increasingly popular, and many of the coffee chains offer coffee served in paper cups with lids.

Bars Riga is a major nightlife destination for tourists and bars here are often open later than those in other European cities. A specialty liquor is Riga Balsam, which is an acquired taste.

Clubs Riga is known for a sparkling nightlife. There is a difference in style between 'Russian' clubs and 'Latvian' clubs.

Sleep

Hotels and hostels in general offer free WiFi and many have computer terminals. Almost all accept credit cards.

Unsurprisingly the largest concentration of hotels are in and around Vecrīga. For budget accommodation, head to the eastern half of the old town and the surroundings of the railway station. Upscale hotels are to be found in the core of Vecrīga and around the Esplanade Park in Centrs.