Riga city break: a guide to the city
Whole streets of Art Nouveau façades, a market in old Zeppelin hangars and a white sand beach half an hour away. Riga is the largest city in the Baltics and an underrated weekend away.
Riga
Photo: Darya Tryfanava / Unsplash
Riga: the Baltic big city
Riga is the capital of Latvia and the largest city in the Baltic states. It was founded more than 800 years ago and grew as a Hanseatic port on the River Daugava. The old town and centre are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, not least for one of the world's largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings.
Riga is compact, easy to walk and has a lively food and café scene. The currency is the euro, and there are direct flights from the UK. Read more about the rest of the country in our Latvia guide.
Riga neighbourhoods
Vecrīga: the old town
Cobbled streets, squares and churches inside the old ramparts. See the House of the Blackheads on Town Hall Square, the cathedral with its great organ and St Peter's Church, where a lift takes you up the tower for views over the city.
The Art Nouveau district
Just north of the centre, the streets around Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela have astonishing façades full of faces, lions and ornament. The Art Nouveau Museum shows an apartment as it looked around 1900.
The Central Market and Spīķeri
The Central Market fills huge hangars originally built for Zeppelins. Buy smoked fish, rye bread, cheese and berries. The warehouses of Spīķeri next door have cafés and culture.
Kalnciems Quarter
Across the river is an area of restored wooden houses with a popular weekend market.
Riga from above
Photo: Martti Salmi / Unsplash
Three days in Riga
Day 1: The old town. Town Hall Square, the cathedral, St Peter's tower, the Freedom Monument and dinner in the old town.
Day 2: Art Nouveau and the market. The streets around Alberta iela in the morning, lunch at the Central Market and the art museum in the afternoon.
Day 3: Jūrmala. Take the train to the Baltic seaside resort, with a long sandy beach, wooden villas and spas.
What to taste in Riga
Dark rye bread and smoked fish from the market.
Grey peas with bacon, a classic Latvian dish.
Riga Black Balsam, a dark herbal liqueur.
Cake and coffee in one of the cafés in the Art Nouveau district.
The hotels we would book in Riga
The links to the hotels are partner links. If you book through them, Picolo may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Neiburgs Hotel, old town
Photo: Hotels.com (Expedia Group)
Neiburgs: Art Nouveau in the old town
A hotel in an Art Nouveau building in the old town, with a restaurant and gym. Guests rave about the breakfast.
Book your stay: See rooms at Neiburgs Hotel
Grand Palace Hotel: classic luxury by the castle
A small luxury hotel in the old town, a few minutes from Riga Castle, and a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Guests rave about the breakfast.
Book your stay: See rooms at Grand Palace Hotel
Evening in Riga
Photo: Jānis Beitiņš / Unsplash
When is the best time to visit Riga?
May to September brings long, light evenings, outdoor terraces and beach days in Jūrmala. Around midsummer Latvians celebrate Jāņi, their big summer solstice festival. December has a Christmas market in the old town, while the rest of winter is cold and dark. Check the current entry requirements before you travel.
See also shopping in Gdańsk, Riga and Tallinn.
Riga: frequently asked questions
How many days do you need in Riga?
Three days gives time for the old town, the Art Nouveau district, the market and a trip to Jūrmala.
Does Latvia use the euro?
Yes, the currency in Latvia is the euro.
Where is the best place to stay in Riga?
The old town for easy access to everything, or the centre near the Art Nouveau district for quieter streets.
How do you get to Jūrmala from Riga?
By train from the central station. The journey takes about half an hour.
When is the best time to visit Riga?
May to September for light evenings and the beach, and December for the Christmas market.