Top 20 interesting places to see in Riga

Riga is a real find for tourists. A compact old city, numerous cozy bars, Art Nouveau architecture, proximity to the Baltic Sea – these are just a few reasons to visit Riga for the weekend.

It’s best to start exploring Riga with little-known corners that have best preserved the spirit of traditions. For example, why not go to Kalnciema Street in Zadvina? A whole quarter of unique 19th-century wooden houses has been restored here, and now it hosts Christmas markets, exhibitions, and tastings of national cuisine with many shops of local artisans.

1. Kalnciema Quarter Market

Be sure to visit the craft fair held every Saturday. All sorts of handmade items, national treats, and farmer's products – the variety will make your head spin! Entry to the fairs is free.

• Address: Kalnciema iela 35.
• How to get there:
  The fastest way to get here is from Riga Central Railway Station by bus No. 22 (heading towards Lidosta). Get on at Centrala stacija and get off at Irlavas iela, and a five-minute walk will bring you to the cherished street.

Learn more about planned events in the quarter on their website.

2. Jauniela (New Street)

In magical Riga, anything is possible. For example, you can travel back in time and find yourself in the past. How? Just head to Jauniela, hidden between Dome Square and Town Hall Square.

This is truly a piece of living history! The colorful houses on both sides of the street will captivate you with their unique and beautiful facades adorned with stucco decorations, sculptures, and even paintings (like the house at No. 1221 above the entrance). It was here, on Jauniela, that the famous "Sherlock Holmes" was filmed.

After a leisurely walk, you can visit one of the local restaurants with a cozy floral terrace (there are many flowers here), to sample local cuisine.

• How to get there?
  You can get to Jauniela from the Central Station by bus No. 22, heading towards Lidosta. You need to get off at Grecinieku iela and walk a bit.

3. Convent Yard

This ancient courtyard is famous for serving as the "model" for one of Nicholas Roerich's paintings. But even if you're not interested in painting, we definitely recommend visiting – this place is so picturesque and the atmosphere of antiquity and living history is so vibrant. Convent Yard is located next to St. Peter's Church, under the shadow of its elegant bell tower. You can leisurely stroll among the old houses, visit antique shops, or the porcelain museum.

• How to get there?
  From the Central Station, take bus No. 15 towards Latvijas Universitate. Get on at Centrala stacija, get off at Latvijas Universitate, and after a 10-minute walk, you will be there.

4. Jewelry Museum

Want to know what jewelry was fashionable among the residents of Riga a few hundred years ago? Then be sure to visit the Jewelry Museum. Its owners, the jeweler family Inita and Vitauts Straupe, have been studying the history of Baltic jewelry for 20 years and also create replicas of ancient jewelry pieces.

In the museum, you can see both original antique jewelry and their replicas made by masters, as well as modern pieces with national motifs and ornaments. Entry to the museum is free.

• Address: Grecinieku iela 11/2.
• Opening hours:
  • Mon-Fri — 11:00–19:00,
  • Sat — 10:00–18:00.

5. Museum of Decorative Arts

The Museum of Decorative Arts and Design is an exhibit in itself. The museum building is the former St. George's Church, the oldest surviving wooden structure in Riga. But the interest lies not only in the facade but also in the "contents." Here you will find collections of textile art, ceramics, porcelain, leather, and wooden products, as well as the largest collection of works by the founders of Latvian modernism.

• Address: Skarnu iela 10/20.
• Opening hours: open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11:00 to 17:00 (on Tuesdays until 19:00).
• Ticket price: for the permanent exhibition
  • €2.13 (adult)
  • and €0.71 (students, pensioners).
  • Every last Sunday of the month and on May 18, entry is free.

Find out more about prices here.

6. Art Nouveau Museum

Jugendstil (also known as Art Nouveau) was so popular in Riga that it is considered the European capital of this architectural style. Nearly every second building in the city is designed in Art Nouveau style, with more than 800 in total. Even those far from architecture can easily recognize them by the abundance of decorations on the facade. In this sense, Riga's Art Nouveau has outdone itself: statues, masks, chimeras and dragons, plant ornaments, and bas-reliefs give each house a unique unforgettable look.

So it is worth visiting the museum dedicated to this architectural style. The Art Nouveau Museum is located on Alberta Street (Alberta iela 12) in the former apartment of Riga architect Konstantins Peksens. Here you can feel like you're in Riga of the 20th century, walking through the rooms, admiring the interiors and decor, or trying on costumes of that era for a photo souvenir.

• Opening hours: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• Ticket price:
  • from May 1 to September 30 — €6 (full);
  • €7.50 (family: 2 adults, 2 children); €4 (students).
  • From October 1 to April 31 — €3.50, €7.50, and €2.50.

7. Town Hall Square

The ancient heart of Riga and the center of life – Town Hall Square – remains a lively place today, loved by both locals and tourists. The Town Hall and House of the Blackheads attract with their lace-like facades and evening illumination, and the several museums here will keep any traveler entertained.

• How to get there?
  The fastest way to get here from Riga Central Railway Station is by bus No. 22, heading towards Lidosta. Get on at Centrala stacija and get off at Grecinieku iela, and in a few minutes, you will reach the square.

You can book a hotel with a discount of up to 65% on the website.

8. Art gallery «Trap»

To find out what modern creative Riga is all about, pay attention to the local art galleries. One such gallery is Slazds. Here you will find familiar landscapes and many original artistic experiments in painting, photography, graphics, and sculpture.

• Address: Aldaru iela 12/14.
• Opening hours: daily from 12:00 to 20:00.

9. Ethnographic Museum

There is a very interesting place in Riga where the history of the country literally comes to life before your eyes. At the Latvian Ethnographic Museum, you can learn about the everyday life and traditions of Latvians from the 17th to the 20th centuries and watch how craftsmen worked centuries ago.

This open-air museum has 118 historical buildings from all over the country, making it look more like an old settlement: there are peasant farmsteads, fishermen's houses, churches, and an authentic Latvian homestead. You can enter each house and see how representatives of different social classes lived. You can also immerse yourself in the past and try your hand at being a craftsman, for example, by weaving a basket or making something out of clay.

• Opening hours: the ethnographic museum operates
  • October 1 – April 30 from 10:00 to 17:00
  • and May 1 – September 30 from 10:00 to 20:00.
• Ticket price: €1.40-4
• Museum address: Brivibas gatve 440, Riga.
• How to get there?
  • You can get here from the Central Station by bus No. 1 (towards Berguciems). Board the bus at Merkela iela and get off at Rozu iela.
  • It will take another 10 minutes to walk to the museum. Buses No. 19, 28, and 29 also go here (to the Brivdabas muzejs stop).

• Opening hours: the garden is open
  • from April to September from 09:00 to 19:00
  • and from October to March from 10:00 to 16:30.
• Ticket price:
  • €3 (adult),
  • €2 (students and pensioners),
  • €1 (schoolchildren and pensioners on Mondays).
  • Free for preschoolers and large families on Mondays.
    You can find the full price list here.
• Address: Kandavas iela 2.
• How to get there?
  • Buses No. 4, 21, 37, 38, 39, 41, 46, and 54 go from the center of Riga to the stops Dzirciema iela or Botaniskais darzs.
  • You can also get there by tram (No. 4, 5),
  • trolleybus (No. 9 and 25)
  • or minibus (No. 237, 238, 241, 244, 263, 270).

12. Livu Square

This small but wonderfully beautiful and cozy square is nestled between Zirgu, Meistaru, and Kalku streets. Surrounded by colorful houses with red tiled roofs, spires, and turrets, it looks like a living illustration from a fairy tale. Here you can sit in a summer cafe, enjoying the leisurely passage of time, and those who want to feel like noble residents of Riga's past can ride in an open horse-drawn carriage.

• How to get there?
  • You can walk to Livu Square from the Central Station in 15 minutes.
  • Or take bus No. 2, 3, 11, 19, 24, 57 from Centrala stacija to Inzenieru iela (you will need to walk another 5-7 minutes to the square).

13. Riga Old Town

Old Riga is the oldest part of the city and a favorite place for both locals and tourists. Riga's Old Town encompasses the area surrounded by Zigfrida Annas Meierovica bulvaris, Aspazijas bulvaris, 13.janvara iela, and Krasta iela.

This is where you will find Riga Castle, Dome Cathedral and its square, St. Peter's Church, St. James's Cathedral, and many other popular attractions. Old Riga is the perfect place for those who love to explore the city on foot, taking their time to discover its most hidden corners.

14. Bremen Town Musicians Monument

The Riga monument to the Bremen Town Musicians depicts the well-known cat, donkey, dog, and rooster from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Created by Bremen sculptor Krista Baumgartel in 1990, the monument has a deep meaning: it symbolizes the end of the Cold War and the fall of the Iron Curtain (hinted at by the "window" through which the characters look). Important information for all lovers of urban legends: it is said that if you rub the noses of the four-legged musicians, any wish will come true.

• Location: the monument is located near Skarnu Street, between St. Peter's Church and the Konventa Seta complex.

15. Cat House

We hasten to inform you that this is not the house from the fairy tale of the same name, although cats are indeed present in the form of decorative figures on the spires of the towers. The story is actually quite amusing: the former owner of this house, a wealthy merchant, decided to take revenge on the Merchant Guild, which refused to accept him, by decorating his house with black cats, turning their backs to the unfortunate building where the Riga merchants met. The prankster was reprimanded, and the cats were turned the other way, where they still flaunt today.

• Address of the "Cat House": Meistaru iela 10.

16. House of the Blackheads

This strangely named house on Town Hall Square has nothing to do with any horrors, but don’t be afraid: there are no scary stories associated with it. In the 17th century, it housed an association of foreign merchants whose symbol was a black head (in honor of their patron Saint Maurice). Since then, the house has retained this name.

Unfortunately, it is no longer possible to get inside: since 2012, the office of the President of Latvia has been moved here. However, the building still attracts with its unusual architecture and decorations, and seeing it illuminated at night is simply magical.

17. Riga Porcelain Museum

Porcelain is often associated with tableware decorated with pastoral scenes. However, the variety of items made from this material can be astonishing. You can experience the delicate charm of porcelain and learn about its history at the Riga Porcelain Museum.

The collection here (which includes 8,000 items!) features tableware, dishes, vases, decorative ornaments (figurines and sculptures), and much more. The collection showcases products from famous porcelain factories as well as works by individual craftsmen. In the museum workshop, you can even try your hand at porcelain painting under the guidance of an experienced artist.

• Address: Kaleju iela 9/11.
• Opening hours: Tue-Sun from 11:00 to 18:00.
• Ticket price: EUR 2.50,
  • EUR 1.00 - (schoolchildren, students, pensioners).
  • Free entry for preschool children; disabled persons of groups I and II.
  • Holders of the Riga Card have free entry to the museum.

18. St. Peter's Church

This grand Gothic-style structure is not only a kind of symbol of Riga but is also listed as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site. In the church, you can learn about its history, see restored stone and wooden epitaphs and church utensils, and attend concerts and art exhibitions held here every month.

After you have explored the church from the inside, climb to the observation deck of its tower: at a height of 72 meters, you will be presented with a magnificent panorama of Riga, a view of the Daugava River, the port, and the Gulf of Riga.

• Opening hours: the church and museum are open to visitors
  • September-April:
    • Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00,
    • Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00;
  • May-August:
    • Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 19:00,
    • Sunday from 12:00 to 19:00.
• Ticket price for the church:
  • €9 (adult),
  • €7 (students),
  • €3 (schoolchildren).
  • Free for children under 7 years old. The price includes a tour of the church and access to the observation deck.
• Ticket price for exhibitions:
  • €3 (adult),
  • €2 (students),
  • €1 (schoolchildren),
  • Free for children under 7 years old.

Note: holders of the Riga Card get a 50% discount.

19. The Cathedral Church of Saint Mary

One of Riga's main symbols, the Dome Cathedral, is located on the square of the same name. It is renowned for its remarkable blend of architectural styles that have been layered over the past 800 years, as well as its 25-meter organ with incredible sound.

Locals and visitors to Riga come here especially for organ concerts.

• Ticket price: entry costs about €7, and a concert ticket costs the same.

20. Vērmane Garden

Another paradise corner in Riga for nature lovers and those seeking good relaxation. By the way, this is where the Raymond Pauls Music Center is located. Even if you don't plan to visit the famous composer, take a walk along the garden's green paths, stop by the babbling fountain, or visit the tea house. For those who cannot imagine their lives without entertainment, nightclubs operate in the park. Now you know where to go in Riga in the evening.

• How to get there?
  You can easily get to Vermanes Garden by bus. Routes No. 2, 3, 11, 19, 24, and 57 go from the Central Station to Inzenieru iela. Just get on at Centrala stacija and get off at Inzenieru iela.