Things to do in Riga: the Old Town, Art Nouveau and the Central Market
Riga is Latvia's capital, with a medieval Old Town, one of Europe's largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings and a market in old Zeppelin hangars. Three days cover it, two if you skip the open-air museum. The one thing to know is that the Old Town is lively late on weekend nights, so choose your street with care.
The short answer
- First trip
- Walk the Old Town early, climb St Peter's tower, then spend an afternoon on the Art Nouveau streets and in the Central Market.
- Where to stay
- The Old Town for sights, the Centre for Art Nouveau and calmer nights, Čaka and Miera for cafes and a local feel.
- How many days
- Two to three days. Add a day at the sea in Jūrmala in summer.
- Best time to go
- June to August for long light and the beach, December for the Christmas markets, May and September for fewer crowds.
- Book ahead
- Dinner on a weekend night, and a table at the better known Old Town restaurants in summer.
- From the airport
- Bus 22 runs from Riga Airport to the Old Town in about 40 minutes. A ticket costs €1.50 in advance or €1.81 from the driver.
Where to stay in Riga, in brief
Old Town (Vecrīga)
sights and first-timers
The medieval center, with cobbled lanes, churches and most of the sights at the door. It is busy in the day and loud on Friday and Saturday nights, so ask for a courtyard room.
The Centre and the Art Nouveau streets
architecture and calmer nights
The grid of streets north of the Old Town, around Alberta and Elizabetes streets. Wide, handsome and quieter, with a walk of ten to fifteen minutes to the Old Town.
Čaka and Miera streets
cafes and a local feel
The district beyond the station tracks, with independent cafes, bars and bakeries. Further from the sights, so you will use trams or walk twenty minutes or more.
Central Market and Spīķeri
markets, trains and value
The area south of the Old Town, with the Central Market, the station and the Spīķeri warehouse quarter. Good for arrivals by train or bus, with some plain blocks around it.
Things to do in Riga
Old Town and the House of the Blackheads
The medieval center is built around Town Hall Square and Dome Square. Walk the lanes behind them in the morning, before the groups arrive.
St Peter's Church tower
A lift runs to the viewing platform high above the Old Town, with the river and the city in view. Go on a clear day, early or near sunset.
Riga Cathedral
The Baltic's largest medieval church, on Dome Square, with a cloister and a large organ. Concerts are held here, so check the program.
a few days ahead for concerts
The Art Nouveau district
Alberta and Elizabetes streets hold dozens of decorated facades from the early 1900s, many by Mikhail Eisenstein. Look up, and allow an hour or two on foot.
Riga Art Nouveau Museum
A restored apartment on Alberta street, furnished as it was when it was built. A useful stop for seeing the inside of one of these buildings.
Riga Central Market
A market in five former Zeppelin hangars, one of the largest in Europe. Go for the food stalls and the outdoor trading, and read the opening notes on the market's own site first.
Freedom Monument and the Bastion Hill park
The monument stands at the edge of the Old Town, beside the canal and its parks. A simple walk, with benches and a good view of the city's green belt.
Latvian National Museum of Art
A large building in the park on the edge of the center, with Latvian painting from the 18th century on. Good in rain.
Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum
Farmhouses, windmills and churches moved from across Latvia to a forest by Lake Jugla, east of the center. Allow half a day, and expect a bus or taxi ride.
Kalnciema Quarter and Āgenskalns
Across the river, a quarter of old wooden houses, with a Saturday market in a courtyard and cafes in the streets nearby.
What to book before you go
These sell out. Most of the rest of Riga can be decided on the day.
Every tour and ticket in Riga, and which to pick- Dinner at weekendsa week ahead in summer
The Old Town's best known restaurants fill on Friday and Saturday evenings, and in the Christmas season.
- Organ concerts and cathedral eventsa few days ahead
Seats are limited, and summer and December dates sell first.
- Jūrmala day trip transport in high summerno booking, but go early
Trains are frequent, though weekends in July and August run full. Leave before ten to get a seat.
What to skip in Riga
- Cheap bars with touts in the Old Town at night
Some places on the lanes push drinks hard and add charges. Check the menu prices before you sit, and walk on if nobody will show you them.
- The Old Town terraces on Town Hall Square
The setting is good and the prices are high. Walk a few streets in any direction, or go to the Centre or Čaka street for a better meal.
- Amber and 'Soviet' souvenirs from street stalls
Check what you buy, because some amber is plastic or pressed. For something local, look for knitwear, linen, ceramics, rye bread and Black Balsam in the shops of the Old Town and the Central Market.
Best time to visit Riga
June to August has long days, with light until late in the evening, open terraces and the sea at Jūrmala. It is also the busiest time in the Old Town. May and September are quieter and often pleasant.
December brings the Christmas markets, with cold and dark afternoons. January and February are cold, can be snowy and can freeze the river. Dress warmly, and you will find the museums, cafes and cellars uncrowded.
- From Riga AirportBus 22 runs to the Old Town in about 40 minutes, with stops at Grēcinieku iela and the bus station. A ticket costs €1.50 bought in advance or €1.81 from the driver. A taxi or ride-hailing app takes 15 to 25 minutes and costs about €10 to €25.
- Trams, buses and trolleybusesThe city network covers the center and the suburbs. Buy tickets in advance at kiosks or in the Rīgas Satiksme app, because tickets from the driver cost more.
- TrainsTrains to Jūrmala leave from the Central Station, on the edge of the Old Town. Tickets are cheap and can be bought at the station or in an app.
- On footThe Old Town and the Art Nouveau center are flat and walkable. Cobbles are rough on wheeled luggage and thin soles.
Riga in three days
- Day 1
The Old Town early, St Peter's tower, the cathedral and the House of the Blackheads, then lunch in the Central Market and the Freedom Monument.
- Day 2
The Art Nouveau streets and the museum in the morning, the National Museum of Art in the afternoon, and dinner in the Centre.
- Day 3
A day at the sea in Jūrmala in summer, or the Open-Air Museum and Kalnciema Quarter in cooler months.
Day trips from Riga
- JūrmalaA long strip of sandy beach and wooden villas about 30 minutes by train from the Central Station. Majori is the main stop, and a single ticket costs around €1.40. Best from June to September.
- Sigulda and Gauja National ParkCastles, caves and forest walks about an hour from Riga by train or bus. Allow a full day.
- Rundāle PalaceA baroque palace and formal gardens about an hour and a half south of Riga. Easiest by car or on a tour.
Riga: questions people ask
How many days do you need in Riga?
Two to three days cover the Old Town, the Art Nouveau streets, the Central Market and a museum. Add a day for Jūrmala in summer.
Is Riga worth visiting?
Yes, for a short break. The Old Town is lively and well kept, the Art Nouveau quarter is unusual, and the food is good value. It suits people who like walking and architecture.
Is Riga expensive?
Less than the Nordic capitals and Western Europe. Restaurant prices inside the Old Town run higher than a few streets away.
What is the best time to visit Riga?
June to August for long days and the beach, December for Christmas markets. May and September have fewer crowds.
Is Riga safe for tourists?
Generally yes. Watch your bags in crowded places and at night in the Old Town's bar streets, check your bill, and use licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps.
Is Riga easy to get around?
Yes. The center is flat and walkable, and trams, buses and trolleybuses cover the rest. The airport has a direct bus to the Old Town.
Does Riga charge a tourist tax?
Yes. It is €1 per person per night in 2026 (0.89 euros plus VAT), and the city has agreed to raise it to €2 from 1 January 2027. Hotels usually add it to the bill.
What currency does Latvia use?
The euro. Cards and contactless payments are accepted almost everywhere.