What to see in Riga

Historic building, Square, Museum

The centre of Riga and the place from where most photos are taken can be found at the historic building of the House of the Blackheads (Latvian: Melngalvju nams). The landmark of the Old Town can be found at the Town Hall Square - Rātslaukums. The building was built as early as 1334 and was originally intended as a meeting place and banquet hall for Riga merchants. Today it is the venue for various exhibitions and large-scale displays,…

Historic building

The oldest preserved residential complex in its original form in Riga is the trio of houses "Three Brothers" in Mazā Pils iela. Each house was built for a different purpose and at a different time. While the oldest house (No. 17) has been in place since 1490, the other two were built in the 17th century. The middle one in 1646 and the last one (No. 21) towards the end of the century. [btn "Find a hotel on Booking" https://www.booking.com/city…

Market, Historic building

There is no more iconic place than the Central Market, located in what were originally military hangars designed for German Zeppelin airships. In the five hangars you will find literally everything from fresh fish and seafood, to meats, cheeses, herbs, spices, teas, confectionery and the freshest fruits and vegetables. This mix of scents and colours is complemented by the sale of a wide variety of household goods and clothing. There are…

Lookout, Historic building

The most striking example of Soviet architecture in Riga is undoubtedly the building of the Latvian Academy of Sciences, rising 108 metres high. It is built in the style of Moscow's Lomonosov University, along with Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Prague's Hotel International. The building was built between 1951 and 1961 and is nicknamed "Stalin's Birthday Cake". Step inside the building and you will be transported back to the last century. Not…

Castle

For more than 700 years, on the right bank of the Daugava River has stood the magnificent Riga Castle, built in the classical style. The foundation stone was laid on June 15, 1330 and over the years it has been reconstructed and added to several times due to war damage. It is the largest medieval castle in Latvia and is also listed as a national architectural monument. [btn "The best hotels in the centre of Riga" https://www.booking.com/city…

Monument

The Freedom Monument has stood erected on its site since 18 November 1935. The granite column and the copper statue at its tip are 42.7 metres high and can be found on the north-western border of the Old Town, behind the Riga Canal, in a small square between the parks. [btn "The best and cheapest hotels in Riga" https://www.booking.com/city/lv/riga.en.html?aid=2380460&no_rooms=1&group_adults=2&label=p-riga-pomniksvobody] During the occupation…

Water Canal, Park

The artificially built water canal encircles the entire historic centre and the Old Town. The canal runs through the city parks of Kronvald and Bastejkalna. Along the entire watercourse you will find plenty of benches and landscaped paths to walk along. During the summer, you'll see plenty of boats that you can also rent, and one of the boat sightseeing routes, which we write about in the chapter on transport and travel in Riga, also runs along…

Cathedral, Temple

The Church of the Nativity (Latvian: Christ's Nativity Orthodox Cathedral) can be found in the park just a short walk from the Freedom Monument. The imposing structure is the main cathedral church of the Orthodox Church in Riga and was completed in 1883. This cathedral is a typical example of the style of Orthodox sanctuaries and especially the interior impresses with its rich decoration with dozens of icons - images of saints. [btn "Find a…

Street, Historic building

The Art Nouveau artistic style is so typical of Riga that the city is rightly called the mecca of Art Nouveau. The main development of this artistic style arrived in Riga in the late 19th and early 20th century, when Riga became a strategic seaport. The economic growth brought with it the construction of new houses, and in just one year five hundred new buildings were built in Riga. [btn "Already have accommodation in Riga?" https://www…

Library

On the left bank of the Daugava River, the National Library of Latvia is the dominant building. The unmistakable and controversial shape of the library was completed in August 2014. You can freely visit the library even as a tourist. We recommend a visit to everyone, even if books don't mean much to you. The huge shelves full of books just have their own unique atmosphere. [btn "The best and cheapest hotels in Riga" https://www.booking.com…

Museum

The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia focuses on the dark history of Latvia from 1940 to 1991, when the country was occupied by the German Nazis and the Soviet Union. The exhibition includes documents of intergovernmental agreements, photographs and museum objects telling the story of the tragedy of the Latvian nation caused by foreign powers. [btn "Find a hotel in Riga and save" https://www.booking.com/city/lv/riga.en.html?aid=2380460&no…

Lookout, Tower

The interesting construction of the radio-television tower is a visible landmark of Riga from afar. The base is a "tripod" gracefully rising to a single thin spire. Few people are likely to know that the Riga TV tower, at 368 metres, is the tallest building in the European Union and the third tallest in Europe. It is also the 15th television or broadcasting tower in the world. The view from the tower At a height of 97 metres, you will find…