Why visit in winter
Winter is Riga at its most atmospheric and its best value. The summer crowds are gone, hotels and flights are cheap, and the Old Town looks magical under snow and lights. Two seasonal highlights bookend it: the Riga Christmas market through December, and New Year's Eve with fireworks over the river. Around them, the city just carries on, cosy and affordable.
Things to do when it is cold
Most of the best winter things to do are warm and indoors:
- The Central Market, the huge market halls are heated and great for cheap eats.
- Museums, the Latvian National Museum of Art and the Corner House (the former KGB building) for a grey afternoon.
- Art Nouveau, the facades on Alberta iela are even quieter and more striking in the frost; see our things to do guide.
- A game or a show, ice hockey, basketball or the opera; see our sports and live events guide.
- A Latvian sauna (pirts) and cosy cafés with specialty coffee, especially around Miera iela.
- Ice skating and a lights walk through the Old Town and Bastejkalns park.
The weather and short days
Expect cold: December to February usually sits around minus 5 to minus 10, and can drop lower, with snow from December into March. The days are short, in December the sun is up only from about 9:00 to 16:00, so plan the outdoor bits for the middle of the day. Bring real layers, a warm coat, a hat and gloves, and waterproof boots for the slush.
Winter food and drink
Winter is the season for hearty Latvian food: grey peas with bacon, warming soups, and the classic karstvīns (mulled wine) or a non-alcoholic hot cydonia to warm your hands. Riga's restaurants are cosy and cheap by European standards; see our food and drinks guide for where to go.
Getting around and staying central
The centre is compact and walkable even in the cold, with trams and buses for longer hops; see our getting around guide. Staying central means less time in the cold: all of our residences are a short walk from the Old Town, the Central Market and Miera iela, so you can duck back to warm up between stops.
Our picks on the map
These are some of our favourite spots in Riga. Open our full curated Google Maps list to see every pin on the map and navigate straight there from your phone.
- Rīgas Centrāltirgus — the Central Market, warm and indoors
- Alberta iela — Art Nouveau, striking in the frost
- Bastejkalns — canal park, skating and winter lights
Your base in central Riga
All of our residences are a short walk from the Old Town, the Central Market and Miera iela. Furnished rooms, all bills included, for your semester or a few nights.
See available rooms →