Riga Latvia: 10 Amazing Things to See and Do
Latvia’s capital is the largest city in the Baltics and is known for its medieval old town, art nouveau buildings, gorgeous parks, top-notch restaurants, and vibrant nightlife. We had such a great time in Riga and want to share with you our favorite things we did on a short trip to this beautiful city where we celebrated our 10-year anniversary.
1. Explore Old Town
Riga’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage with super cool medieval buildings, cobblestone streets, and lots of great cafes, restaurants, and bars. Be sure to check out the House of the Blackheads and St. Peter’s Church.
2. Sample Food at Riga Central Market
Riga Central Market – which is one of Europe’s largest markets – is housed in converted German Zeppelin hangars. We enjoyed exploring all the fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and local fare like smoked fish and rye bread. We tried some novel soups in bread cones – the perfect street food you didn’t know you needed! I could not get enough of the cold beet soup in the Baltics.
3. Try More Latvian Cuisine
We had salmon pops, herring, more cold beet soup and a few other dishes at OGLE, which had a great outdoor seating area in the heart of town. The food was good but not great. Next time we’ll go to Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs because we heard so much about it. Apparently, you can get authentic Latvian dishes and drinks in this quirky basement tavern with live music and a fun atmosphere. We already want to go back and spend more time in Riga!
4. Relax with a Massage at ESPA Riga
Why not treat yourself to a little luxury with a massage? We had top-notch treatments at ESPA, which is located in the Radisson Blu Latvija Conference & Spa Hotel. There are lots of Radissons, so make sure you find the right one. We actually stayed at this hotel for the spa, location, views, and sky bar (more on that below).
5. Enjoy Some Cocktails at Skyline Bar
This bar is located on the 26th floor of the Radisson Blu and offers sweeping views of Riga’s skyline. It’s a nice, swanky spot for a cocktail and was surprisingly affordable. We had a cocktail included with our spa package and then ordered a glass of bubbly for 9 euro.
6. Visit the Latvian National Museum of Art
We were so impressed with the local art in this museum, which walked you through Latvia’s complex history – an important stop for history buffs, art lovers, and those who want to take a moment to reflect on the challenges and resilience of humankind. Also, the building itself is a work of art.
7. Check Out the Art Nouveau Architecture
Riga is famous for its art nouveau buildings, particularly on Alberta Street. If we had time, we would’ve popped into the Riga Art Nouveau Museum, too.
8. Stroll Through Bastejkalna Park
This serene and beautiful park is located between our hotel and the old town, and it was such a treat to walk through it each time we ventured out. The canals, hills, little waterfalls, bridges, and paths through the trees will make you feel so relaxed even though you’re in the heart of the city.
9. Check Out 3 Chefs Restaurant (3 Pavaru Restorans)
This place is officially one of our favorite restaurants of all time – not just on this trip. Three Chefs provides a creative and modern twist on traditional Latvian cuisine with locally sourced ingredients. We absolutely loved the ambiance, especially sitting at the bar. It was both upscale and casual, elegant and not pretentious at all. We tried the tasting menu, which was absolutely worth it. Thanks to one of our favorite YouTube channels, Top Jaw, for the recommendation!
10. Take a Day Trip to Rundale Palace
This baroque palace is about an hour’s drive from Riga and is often compared to France’s Versailles for good reason. While we got there too late to check out the interior, the gardens alone were worth the trip. Although we rented a car for two days to explore Latvia and Lithuania, you can also get to Rundale Palace by bus or arranging a day trip.
Have you been to Riga? What were your favorite things to see and do? Let us know in the comments.
Want to read more about our trip to Northern Europe?
SO helpful thanks! Where did you book a car? At airport? Thanks!
Thank you! Yes, we went to the rental counters at the airport.
Put it on my list
You’ll love Tallinn, Estonia, too!
Top 3 restaurants of all time! Wow that says a lot 🥰
Outstanding! It’s up there with L’Epuisette in Marseille but way more casual and less expensive!