Riga is not only one of the largest Baltic capitals, but also one of the most interesting cities in the area that are worth visiting. What the city tempts with is, above all, a rich but difficult history and a unique Art Nouveau architecture and charming old town, but first things first.
Riga is the largest and most inhabited city in the Republic of Latvia, located in the Gulf of Riga, at the mouth of the Daugava River.
Riga map
Interestingly, less than half of inhibitans are native Latvians, more or less the same percentage are Russians, and maybe that’s why the most-heard language on the streets is Russian.
The capital of Latvia boasts numerous monuments and tourist attractions, located in a relatively small area. A trip to Riga for the weekend allows you to visit virtually most of the attractions provided for tourists.
You can explore the city by simply walking or taking river cruises or bus-tours.
Tourist attractions of Riga
The biggest attraction and also a tourist magnet in Riga is undoubtedly the old town. Due to its unique charm, the Old Town has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Rebuilt after World War II, it delights with its historic squares, churches and tenement houses.
Riga Cathedral
One of the most interesting monuments in the old town is the Riga Cathedral, which is one of the largest medieval temples. Its construction dates back to around 1211. Located on the Cathedral Square, it boasts a 90-meter church tower and the largest organs in Europe. Entry is paid.
See on the map where the Riga cathedral is located:
St. Peter’s Church
Another sacred building worth seeing is the church of St. Peter, originally intended for Catholics, now serves as a Lutheran temple. Its history, or rather the church tower, is as colorful as the number of times it had to be rebuilt. Today, this tower serves as a vantage point for the panorama of Riga. Interestingly, it is at the church of St. Peter was placed the first clock that served the people of the city.
Church of Saint Johns’
A little less known and apparently the oldest church in Riga is the church of John the Evangelist and John the Baptist. A chapel stood there at the beginning of the 13th century. Church of St. Johns’ has been rebuilt several times and has lost its original shape. However, it is eagerly visited by tourists because of a nearby tourist attraction – sculpture of Bremen Musicians. They are characters from the Grimm brothers’ fairy tales, where four animals: a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster stand one on top of the other with surprised faces and look out through the “window”, which is an obvious reference to the iron curtain. The largest of them – the donkey has a worn nose, because its rubbing is supposed to fulfill a dream.
St. Jacob’s Cathedral and Cathedral of Nativity
The next temple in Riga is the Catholic cathedral of St. Jacob,which during Napoleon’s time served as a granary for food. Outside the old town, it is also worth seeing the Cathedral of Nativity, which is an Orthodox church. In its history, it was converted into a planetarium by the communist authorities, again began to perform its function in 1991. Inside, you can’t take photos and you have to dress properly to be allowed entry.
What else is worth seeing while spending your vacation in Riga?
Town Hall Square and House of the Blackheads
Another interesting point on the map of Riga is the Town Hall Square, on which there is one of the characteristic and most photographed buildings in the capital of Latvia – House of the Blackheads.
This guild was an association of merchants of German origin who were not only rich but also unmarried. The building itself is characteristic for its rich decoration with numerous sculptures, including Mercury, Neptune, allegory of Peace and Concord, and red brick. It was in the House of Blackheads that Riga Treaty was signed in 1921 (Polish-Bolshevik war). In front of it is also the famous Roland monument – figures from the knightly epic.
See on the map where the House of Blackheads is located:
Cat House in Riga
As for the other tenements in the Old Town of Riga, one of the more famous is the Cat House. It is an Art Nouveau building with two towers, on which statues of cats were placed. And it is with them is the legend that a certain buyer did not get into the merchants’ association, built a tenement house opposite the guild and expressed his disapproval by placing cats with their butts out towards them. Currently, there is a restaurant in this building.
Three Brothers of Riga
Other characteristic tenements are the so-called Three Brothers – three buildings located very close to each other. Although their construction took place over various years and they are representatives of different architectural styles, what connects them is a unique ornamentation. The oldest of them (white) dates back to the 15th century and presents a late Gothic style.
Riga Freedom Monument
One of Riga’s major tourist attractions is also the Freedom Monument – a soaring statue of a woman holding three stars. They symbolize three historical regions of Latvia. The monument itself survived the invasion of the Russians during World War II and, above all, plans to blow it up. Currently, the woman (allegory of freedom) is facing the West, while the sculptures at the base of the monument with sad faces, connected by chains are looking to the East. Which is obviously symbolic.
Noteworthy are both the buildings of the Great Guild and Little Guild, the Swedish Gate and Riga Castle, which is now the seat of the President of Latvia. Once it was the residence of the knights of the Order of the Sword Knights, now in some rooms state museums have been organized.
Let’s follow our tourist guide.
What is worth visiting in Riga?
There are also many museums in Riga that are worth visiting, one of them will definitely be the Latvian Ethnographic Museum, an open-air museum located on a large area, where you can see examples of ancient wooden folk architecture. In addition, you can admire everyday exhibits.
Another reccommendation is the War Museum, showing the residents’ struggle for independence. It also belongs to another tourist attraction of Riga – Gunpowder Tower, which in the original version was part of the city fortifications, then served as gunpowder and weapon warehouse. It is now part of the War Museum and can be visited.
Another interesting place is the Automotive Museum, where you can admire many historic vehicles, including limousine produced during the Soviet era, as well as motorbikes and bicycles. It’s a good place for families with children.
For art lovers, the National Art Museum will definitely be a must see. You can see here mainly the works of Latvian artists, but also Russian and other from neighboring Baltic countries.
In Riga, there is also the Railway History Museum, the Nature Museum, the Occupation Museum, the Aviation Museum, the Art Nouveau Museum, the Chocolate Museum, the Porcelain Museum and the Ghetto and Holocaust Museum, and many more.
That’s it when it comes to museums but that’s not all when it comes to attractions and sightseeing in Riga.
It is also worth visiting the characteristic and distinctive point on the map of the capital of Latvia, i.e. the radio and television tower with a height of almost 370 meters. It is said to have been built to be able to survive an 7.5 magnitude earthquake. Currently, you can climb to a height of 97 meters, where there is a viewing terrace with a panoramic view of the entire city. There are plans to raise the tower and increase its usable area.
What to see in Riga?
There is also a lot of well-kept city parks in Riga. A moment of silence among the greenery will be a nice break during sightseeing. One of the prettiest is definitely the Bastejkalns park at the foot of the Bastion Hill, with benches, bridges and alleys where you can relax. Worth seeing is also the nearby Vermanes Garden with a stage for outdoor performances and Kronvald Park, where in addition to the fountains there are fragments of the Berlin Wall and monuments to the heroes of Latvia.
An interesting place is also the Mezaparks (Forest Park), once inhabited by wealthy residents of Riga. Today it is a more recreational urban area with catering, sports and leisure facilities. There is also an amusement park and a zoo.
In Riga, it’s definitely worth taking a look at the Central Market, created from relocated German air hangars. At one time they were to serve as a shelter for airships, which were to help in the bombing of Russia. Now five of them have been adapted as market halls, in which we can buy everything from bread, through dairy products, to fruit and vegetables, as well as clothes and souvenirs.
For those interested, there is also a Jewish quarter, in the place where once there was a Jewish ghetto. In addition to the monument to the victims of the Holocaust and the aforementioned museum, you can see wooden buildings and a lot of other, unfortunately neglected buildings.
Also noteworthy is the building of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, where you can enter the observation deck for a fee and admire the panorama of Riga.
Another attraction is the permanent circus building, inscribed on the list of national monuments, which is reportedly the only such sensation in the Baltic States. The clock tower, 43 meters high, is another frequently visited place. At the top there is a local restaurant, which, in addition to excellent dishes, also serves unforgettable views of the Latvian capital.
An interesting place is also the Kipsala Island on the River Daugava, which is famous for its wooden houses and unique atmosphere. It is from this island that the national hero comes – Žanis Lipke, who himself saved almost 60 Jews from certain death. For which he was posthumously awarded the title of Righteous Among the Nations. For this reason, an interactive museum dedicated to him was created on the island.
See on the map where the Kipsala island is located:
Let us know in the comments what are your favorite places, restaurants, monuments and tourist attractions that are worth visiting while in Riga. See also the official tourist website of Latvia, which describes Riga in its own way.
Finally, another video showing the attractions of Riga:
We hope you enjoyed our tourist guide to Riga.