About Riga
Riga was founded in 1201 by Bishop Albert of Buxhoeveden at the mouth of the Daugava River on the Gulf of Riga, and it quickly became a prosperous member of the Hanseatic League. Over the centuries it was ruled by the Livonian Order, Poland-Lithuania, Sweden and the Russian Empire before becoming the capital of independent Latvia in 1918. After five decades of Soviet occupation, Latvia regained independence in 1991, and Riga has since become the largest and liveliest city in the Baltic states.
The historic centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, combines the medieval lanes of Vecrīga (Old Riga) with an extraordinary district of Art Nouveau buildings: roughly a third of the buildings in central Riga are in this style, one of the highest concentrations in the world. Mikhail Eisenstein, father of the film director Sergei Eisenstein, designed some of the most flamboyant facades on Alberta iela. Add the vast Central Market housed in former Zeppelin hangars, a rich choral tradition that peaks during the Song and Dance Festival, and the white-sand beaches of Jūrmala half an hour away, and Riga makes a rewarding and affordable city break.
Our three guides cover where to stay, things to do, and practical tips on getting around, weather and money.
Riga city guides
- Where to stay in Riga
Riga's centre is compact and walkable: from the Old Town to the Art Nouveau district is a 15-minute walk across the parks that follow the line of the old city moat. Accommodation is affordable by Western European standards, and there is a wide choice from boutique hotels in medieval buildings to modern apartments. The medieval Old Town is where most visitors stay, among cobbled streets, guild halls, the House of the Blackheads and the spires of St Peter's Church and Riga Cathedral. Everything is within a few minutes' walk, and there are many restaurants and bars. The downside is that it is busy with tour groups and stag parties at weekends, some bars are noisy, and cars are restricted, so arriving by taxi with luggage may require a short walk over cobblestones. North-east of the Old Town beyond the Bastejkalns park and the Freedom Monument lies the nineteenth-century centre, a grid of wide boulevards with grand buildings. Alberta iela, Elizabetes iela and Strēlnieku iela have the most spectacular Art Nouveau facades. Hotels here tend to be larger and quieter, close to the Latvian National Museum of Art and the Esplanāde park. It is a good compromise between convenience and calm.
- Things to do in Riga
Riga rewards curious visitors with medieval history, remarkable architecture and a lively food and music scene. Start at the Town Hall Square with the House of the Blackheads, built in 1334 for a guild of unmarried merchants, destroyed during the Second World War, demolished by the Soviets and rebuilt in 1999. Walk past the Three Brothers, the oldest group of residential houses in Riga, the Swedish Gate, the Powder Tower and the Cat House, whose rooftop cats were said to point their backsides at the Great Guild that refused the owner membership. St Peter's Church has a 123-metre spire with a lift to a viewing platform 72 metres up, offering the best view of the Old Town's rooftops. Riga Cathedral (Doms), founded in 1211, is the largest medieval church in the Baltic states and houses one of the world's largest pipe organs, built in 1884. Attend an organ concert if you can.
- Practical tips for visiting Riga
Riga International Airport (RIX) is about 10 kilometres from the centre and is the largest airport in the Baltics, the hub of airBaltic. Bus 22 runs to the centre in about 30 minutes; tickets cost a few euros. Taxis and ride-hailing apps like Bolt cost around €15 to €20. A rail link (Rail Baltica) is under construction. Rīgas satiksme operates trams, buses and trolleybuses. Buy e-tickets at Narvesen kiosks, ticket machines or via apps, and validate them on boarding; contactless payments are increasingly available. The Old Town is pedestrian-friendly, and most sights can be reached on foot. Bolt and other taxi apps are inexpensive and reliable. Trains to Jūrmala and Sigulda depart from the Central Station. Late May to early September offers long days, with the sun setting close to 22:30 around Midsummer, and temperatures of 20 to 25°C. Winters are cold and dark, often below zero with snow, which can be beautiful but requires warm clothing. Autumn is colourful but rainy. December brings Christmas markets.
Destination overview · Riga
Stays via Hotellook
Flights via Aviasales
Partner 718768
This site contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you book through our partners — at no extra cost to you.
See our Affiliate Disclaimer.
What to see in Riga
Famous attractions and neighbourhoods — pair them with stays near the action.
What to do
Experiences that make a short break feel complete — with links to stay nearby.
Places to stay in Riga
Compare hotels and apartments via Hotellook (Travelpayouts). Deep links include partner marker
718768. Optional dashboard widgets can be pasted in config.
Get there · Flights to Riga
Aviasales search with affiliate marker. Enter origin IATA (e.g. RIX, LHR) and destination IATA.