Riga is the densely populated capital of Latvia, which is located on two banks of the Daugava River, which flows directly into the Baltic Sea in this place. This city is famous for its unique architecture, monuments, museums and theaters, which made it the cultural center of the Baltic states. Therefore, it is better to decide in advance what to see in Riga, so that later at home you will not regret the missed opportunity.
Significant places of Riga
The main symbolic place of Riga is its Old Town, which contains the bulk of the capital's attractions. Therefore, thinking about what to see in Riga, where to go in this capital and how to feel the spirit of the Baltic states, this amazing place should be put on the first place in your list of âmast sâ. Moreover, the Old Town is not so big - it will take a maximum of 5 hours to explore all its sights.
First you can look at the Town Hall Square, which is considered the most beautiful in the capital and looks exactly like 8 centuries ago, when it was the center of medieval Riga. Although its historical appearance returned to it less than 20 years ago. On this square, you will definitely need to visit the exquisite House of the Blackheads, which is considered an architectural monument of the 14th century, the statue of Roland, which is a copy of the statue in St. Peter's Church, as well as the very Town Hall built in 1334, after which the square is named.
There is no need to think for a long time what to see in Riga after visiting the above-mentioned object. You can just continue the walk and go to the center of the Old Town - Dome Square. It is decorated with the magnificent building of the Dome Cathedral, in which a huge musical organ 25 meters high is located. And then you can turn onto Jauniela Street, notable for the fact that it is here that the famous door from 221-b Baker Street is located, behind which Sherlock Holmesâs apartment is hidden in the film.
Then you can look into the St. Peter's Church, the spire of which is visible from anywhere in Riga. Be sure to visit the courtyard of the Convention of Set, closed to car traffic, which is the most atmospheric place in the city. You can not miss the inspection of the architectural ensemble "Three Brothers", consisting of three stone houses, standing wall to wall. And in the end, you just have to go to Livu Square, which is the busiest place in the capital, which is not surprising, given the number of restaurants on it, as well as the restored Riga Russian Theater, which attracts theatergoers from all over the CIS.
Vacation in Riga with a child
However, if you come to the capital of Latvia with a child, then he may not want to spend hours walking around the Old Town - he will just get bored there. Therefore, thinking about what to see in Riga with children, one should focus on their tastes, especially since the capital offers them a whole bunch of entertainment.
First of all, you can go to the Riga Zoo, which occupies a huge area of ââ20 hectares. Here you can see 430 species of a wide variety of animals, birds, insects and mammals that do not just sit in cages and look miserable and exhausted, but live in their own environment. Of course, dangerous predators there are behind the fence, but not in a cramped cage, as in a mobile zoo, so looking at them is a pleasure.
If you want to give a festive child a sense of celebration, do not hesitate to think about what to see in Riga in 1 day. Go with him to Go Planet, the country's largest amusement park. For kids there are a lot of different trampolines, carousels and small slides. And older children and adults can get a lot of pleasure from riding extreme rides, trips on a closed go-kart track and shooting games in the laser maze. And when the strength of such active entertainment runs out, you can eat in one of the cafes located right in the park.
If there is a lot of time to relax, then with children you can relax in the Livu water park, where there are a lot of slides with different levels of difficulty, several pools, including for the youngest children, as well as a play area for children where they can relax Separate from parents, having fun with water toys.
And of course, you should not lose sight of a visit to the Gallery of the authorâs doll "Vladlena", which was opened in 2015, but in such a short time it has already managed to fall in love with residents and visitors of the city thanks to its charming exhibits. You can complete the journey with the children near the monument to the Bremen Town Musicians, in which the heroes of this wonderful cartoon are captured.
Tour of Riga museums and temples
After relaxing with children, you donât need to think for a long time what to see in Riga on your own, because the answer to this question suggests itself. Since this city is the cultural center of the Baltic States, where a huge number of museums and temples are located, then it is worth going to your feet there. True, to visit them all, it will take a whole month, if not more, so it is better to choose the most famous and interesting of them.
If you are a car enthusiast, you should definitely look into the Car Museum, which is notable for the largest collection of cars in Europe. There are cars with armored glass, which drove Stalin and Brezhnev, exclusive Rolls-Royce and Mercedes models, unusual motorcycles, fire engines and many other exhibits, from which visitors simply light up their eyes with delight. You canât miss a trip to the Ethnographic Museum, located directly under the open sky, where the visitor will be able to see old Latvia with a real mill, a rural school, huts and a tavern. You can also look at the Riga Porcelain Museum, which contains more than six thousand exquisite porcelain.
You do not know what to see in Riga in winter when it is cold outside? A compulsory point of the program is to make a visit to the temples, in which you will not freeze, as you walk around the city, and enjoy their greatness. You definitely need to see the Domo Cathedral, which is not only remarkable for the largest organ in the world (by the way, Ferenc Liszt himself created his greatest works), but also for unusual architecture, in which such architectural styles as Baroque, Renaissance, Gothic, Romance and classicism. You can also look into the church of Maria Magdalena, built in the 13th century, which captivates with its cozy atmosphere. You need to visit the Church of St. Jacob, unique in that its bell is not inside the structure, but outside - right on the balcony. And of course, itâs worthwhile to appreciate the beauty and unusualness of the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, which film experts can immediately recognize, because in the film â17 Moments of Springâ Pleischner passed near her when he was heading to a safe house.
Traveling around Riga's secret places
It doesnât matter how long you arrive in Latvia ... When planning what to see in Riga in 3 months, a month or a week, you should not focus only on the most famous sights of the city. After all, besides them there are still so many iconic, interesting and unusual places that few people know about.
Whenever you get to Riga, you should not miss the chance to visit the Kalnciema quarter, which resembles a cozy country courtyard, where you can ride a swing hung on an apple tree and taste traditional dishes in cozy national restaurants. Art lovers should look into the Andrejsala area, where there are many art workshops - you can sometimes find real masterpieces of visual art in them. And the miniature Miera street will be very interesting for lovers of beauty, because there you can also go to art workshops, look at the original vintage shops, and then eat in stylish restaurants or vegetarian cafes.
You have very little time and you donât know what to see in Riga in 2 hours? Then do not miss the chance to see the whole city. Just go up to the eighth floor of the Galleria Riga shopping mall, which is an excellent observation deck, open from morning until midnight. Moreover, there you can not only enjoy the beautiful view, but also have a drink in the bar, so you can come there with your loved one and have a real romantic date.
Walks in Riga parks
Nature lovers also do not need to think for a long time what to see in Riga, as the capital of Latvia is full of beautiful green parks that will please lovers of wonderful landscapes.
The Bastion Hill is considered the most famous city park, which will delight lovers of leisurely walking with picturesque paths, a water cascade, an unusual rock garden and shady alleys that give pleasant coolness and freshness even on the hottest day. It is worth a glimpse into the Esplanade Park, which will delight not only with beautiful landscapes, but also allow you to join the cultural life of the city: here you can visit the monuments to the artist Rosenthal and the poet Rainis, as well as the Riga Nativity Cathedral and the National Art Museum. You can not go past the Kronvalda Park, which is located on the canal and impresses with a variety of flora. And of course, you will definitely need to go to Vermansky Park - the most beautiful and oldest in the city. It will captivate visitors not only with its beautiful nature, but also with a lot of entertainment, since it is here that various concerts and fairs are often held.
What to see in Riga on New Year's holidays
Have you decided to come to the capital of Latvia on New Year's Eve to celebrate it in a new place with a special chic? You certainly will not be bored. The main thing is to take warm clothes with you, because the Riga winter is very extreme due to the high humidity and the terrible wind constantly blowing from the Gulf of Riga.
Be sure to get a New Yearâs mood charge you should go to Dome Square, where a Christmas market is held every year, where you can taste a lot of delicious treats from around the world, drink hot mulled wine, buy a lot of souvenirs for yourself and your friends and relatives, as well as see interesting representation. But the most important thing is that it will be possible to be there not only as a spectator, but also as a participant in the New Year festivities, to sing and dance at a concert, to make Christmas decorations or beautiful greeting cards with your own hands, as well as to make a wish to Grandfather Frost (he was located in a small house right in front of the Dome Cathedral )
And of course, thinking about what to see in Riga on New Year's Eve, you should not miss the entertainment program and the festive concert, which usually take place either on the Town Hall Square or on the Daugava embankment on December 31. Here you can freely dance to fiery rhythms, sing your favorite songs, and then enjoy the wonderful fireworks that will mark the onset of the new year.
Winter cultural events in Riga
If it so happened that on New Year's you did not get to the capital of Latvia, then you can safely get out there in any other winter month. You donât even have to think for a long time what to see in Riga in winter, as itâs enough to look at the schedule of annual city cultural events in order to understand that there is always a place for fun and pleasure.
So, in mid-January on Kalku Street, an outstanding Street Food Festival takes place, where you can taste the national dishes prepared by the best chefs of the country and drink them with delicious alcoholic beverages, which, however, are sold only until 22:00. This festival always collects a lot of gourmets who are in a hurry to please their tummy, especially since every year the dishes only become tastier, because the cooks always try to improve their skills and always take into account the wishes of customers. And if you visit the city in February, you can visit the Eros Festival in Kipsalu. Here you can watch striptease and lesbian shows, as well as participate in various contests, of which "Wet Shorts and Wet T-shirt" have remained the most popular for many years now.
Riga outdoor activities
If you are thinking about what to see in Riga for 2 weeks or more, you should definitely include visits to places for outdoor activities in your schedule to stretch your muscles and get a powerful boost of energy.
You should definitely look into the unique Sports Complex 333 and get an adrenaline rush from karting, jet skis, motocross, sports driving and a wake park, without worrying about your safety. You can then head to ÄśeizarmeĹžs and play squash or basketball, do aerobics or just go for a swim in the indoor pool. Well, if the street is warm, then you can just go to the beach in Ziemelsky district and go windsurfing, parasailing or wakeboard under the watchful supervision of trainers.
Sights of Riga not to be missed
It doesnât matter if you think about what to see in Riga in 3 days, a couple of days or a few weeks - in any case, you should definitely visit several places without having visited them, then you canât say that you were in the capital of Latvia.
An obligatory point of the program will be a trip to the Riga TV Tower, which is considered the highest in the EU, since its height exceeds 300 meters. It is not only a symbol of the city, which from afar so much resembles the Paris Eiffel Tower, but also allows tourists to enjoy a bird's-eye view of the city, for which they will just need to go to the observation deck.
Also, it will be impossible to miss a trip to the Freedom Monument, erected in 1935 in honor of the fighters who died the death of the brave in the name of independence of Latvia. And of course, you can not miss the inspection of the House with black cats, built in 1910 by an architect who did not want to be admitted to the Guild, which is why the cats turned back to this building, which led to a serious scandal. After that, the animals had to be diplomatically deployed - for the peace and tranquility of the owner of the house.
What to see in Riga in 1 day
If it so happened that you have only one day to travel around the city, you will have to immediately accept the fact that you canât see all the sights of the capital. But still, you can spend this time so that the walk will be remembered for a long time. The main thing that this is necessary is to get enough sleep, because you have to spend all day on your feet.
First, you can look at the oldest apartment complex "Three Brothers". Then walk along the narrow streets of the Old Town, enjoying their comfort and unusual atmosphere. Be sure to go to the monument to the Bremen Town Musicians and scratch the noses of the little animals so that they fulfill your desire. Then we look at the house of the Blackheads, then at the temporary residence of the president of the country, and after that we go to the main market of Riga, where you can spend several hours in a row buying up goodies and souvenirs. Having strengthened, it is worth going to the observation deck of St. Peter's Church, and in the evening - we just enjoy nature in the Bastion Hill, sailing on a pleasure boat.
Well, if you have one more day in reserve, and you think that you should see in Riga in 2 days, then just the next day, go to any other place from the above, focusing on your tastes and desires. And remember, wherever you go, the main thing is to arm yourself with a good mood, and then the trip will be just wonderful!