The Old Town (Vecrīga)
Start where Riga began. The UNESCO-listed Old Town is a compact maze of cobbled streets, guild houses and church spires, small enough to explore in an afternoon but rewarding enough to return to again and again. The centrepiece is Town Hall Square with the ornate House of the Blackheads, a 14th-century merchants' guild rebuilt after the war. A few steps away stand Riga Cathedral, the largest medieval church in the Baltics, and St. Peter's Church, whose tower has a lift to a viewing gallery with the best rooftop panorama in the city. Look out for the Three Brothers, the oldest dwelling houses in Riga, the Swedish Gate and the Powder Tower, remnants of the old city walls.
Art Nouveau, a whole district
Riga has the largest concentration of Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) architecture of any city in the world, and it is one of the main reasons the centre is UNESCO-listed. The showpiece streets are Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela, where facades erupt with masks, mythological figures, flowers and sphinxes, many designed by Mikhail Eisenstein. Step inside the Art Nouveau Museum, a fully restored period apartment, to see how people actually lived among all that ornament. It is a ten-minute walk from the Old Town and completely free to admire from the street.
The Freedom Monument and the boulevards
The Freedom Monument, topped by the figure of Liberty holding three stars, is Latvia's most important national landmark and a moving place to understand the country's history. It sits on the green ring of parks and the city canal that separates the Old Town from the newer centre, a lovely route for a walk or a run between classes. Nearby are the National Opera, the Bastejkalns park and Bastion Hill.
The Central Market and the river
Housed in five former Zeppelin hangars, the Central Market is one of the largest markets in Europe and a sight in itself, as well as the best place to eat cheaply and try Latvian specialties. From here it is a short walk to the promenade along the River Daugava. For the classic skyline view, cross to Ķīpsala island or go up to the observation deck of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, the city's Stalinist-era 'wedding cake' tower.
Museums and culture
When the weather turns, Riga's museums are excellent value. The Latvian National Museum of Art holds the country's finest collection; the Museum of the Occupation tells the 20th-century story; and quirkier options include the Video Game Museum and the Latvian Museum of Photography. Students often get reduced entry, so bring your card.
Beyond the centre
With a little more time, ride the tram to the vast Riga Central Cemetery and the Forest Cemetery, or take the train 25 minutes to Jūrmala, the seaside resort with a long sandy beach and wooden villas. In summer it is the easiest and best day trip from the city.
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.
- House of the Blackheads — Riga's iconic guild house on Town Hall Square
- St. Peter's Church tower — Lift to the best rooftop view of the Old Town
- Riga Cathedral — The largest medieval church in the Baltics
- Three Brothers — The oldest dwelling houses in the city
- Alberta iela — The showpiece Art Nouveau street
- Freedom Monument — Latvia's national landmark and the canal park
- Central Market — One of Europe's largest markets, in old Zeppelin hangars
- Academy of Sciences viewing deck — Panoramic view over the whole city
- Latvian National Museum of Art — The country's finest art collection
- Jūrmala beach — Seaside day trip, 25 min by train