Riga: Cheap Flights & Best Hotels

Riga Travel Guide

Latvia's capital is the largest city in the Baltic states and one of Europe's most rewarding short-break destinations. Its medieval Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a tangle of cobbled lanes, merchant houses and church spires, while just beyond it lies one of the world's richest collections of Art Nouveau architecture. Add a huge market in former Zeppelin hangars, a lively café scene and sandy Baltic beaches half an hour away, and Riga easily fills three or four days.

Seasons at a Glance

What to See

Old Town (Vecrīga)

Start at Town Hall Square, dominated by the ornate House of the Blackheads, a rebuilt guild house for unmarried merchants. Climb the tower of St Peter's Church for views over red rooftops and the Daugava River. Riga Cathedral houses a famous pipe organ, and the Three Brothers, three adjoining houses from different centuries, show how Riga's architecture evolved. Walk through the Swedish Gate, past the Powder Tower and along the Livu Square cafés.

Art Nouveau District

Around Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela, facades are decorated with faces, dragons, peacocks and flowing ornament, several designed by Mikhail Eisenstein. The Riga Art Nouveau Museum occupies a restored apartment with an extraordinary spiral staircase.

Central Market

Housed in former Zeppelin hangars, Riga Central Market is one of the largest markets in Europe, with halls for fish, meat, dairy and vegetables and outdoor stalls selling berries and flowers.

Memorials and Museums

The Freedom Monument is a symbol of Latvian independence. The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia and the Corner House, the former KGB headquarters, explain the country's twentieth-century history. The Latvian National Museum of Art has a strong collection of Latvian painting.

Beyond the Centre

The wooden houses of Ķīpsala and the Miera iela neighbourhood show a different side of the city. Jūrmala, a long beach resort lined with pine forest and wooden villas, is a short train ride away. Further afield, Sigulda and the Gauja National Park offer castles and forest hikes, and Rundāle Palace is a Baroque gem in the south.

Latvian Food

Expect hearty, seasonal cooking: grey peas with bacon, rye bread (often dark and slightly sweet), smoked fish, potato dishes, and summer wild berries and mushrooms. Rupjmaizes kārtojums, a layered dessert of rye-bread crumbs, cream and berries, is a local favourite. Try Riga Black Balsam, a herbal liqueur, carefully. Lido, a local chain of buffet-style restaurants, is an easy way to sample traditional dishes. Vegetarian and vegan options are increasingly common in the centre.

Arriving and Getting Around

Riga International Airport (RIX) is the largest airport in the Baltics and the hub of airBaltic, with connections across Europe and beyond. Bus 22 runs between the airport and the centre, and taxis and Bolt rides are widely used. Long-distance buses connect Riga with Tallinn, Vilnius and other cities, and ferries sail to Stockholm.

The Old Town is compact and best explored on foot; cobbles can be uneven, so wear comfortable shoes. Trams, trolleybuses and buses, run by Rīgas Satiksme, cover the wider city with e-tickets. Suburban trains go to Jūrmala and Sigulda.

Where to Stay

• Old Town: Atmospheric and central, though some streets can be noisy at weekends.
• Quiet Centre (Art Nouveau district): Elegant streets, cafés and good-value apartments.
• Near the Central Market and station: Practical for transport.
• Ķīpsala and Pārdaugava: Across the river, calmer and often cheaper.

Budget Tips

• Much of Riga's appeal, from Art Nouveau facades to Old Town lanes, costs nothing.
• Lunch menus (business lunches) on weekdays are good value.
• Buy picnic food at the Central Market.
• Use Bolt or public transport rather than street taxis.
• Low-cost carriers serve Riga from many European cities; voyagiro.com compares 27+ booking sites for free so you can compare them with full-service airlines.

Practical Information

• Visa: Latvia is in the EU and the Schengen Area; requirements depend on your nationality. Check the official Latvian Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs or Schengen guidance.
• Currency: Euro (EUR); cards are accepted almost everywhere.
• Language: Latvian; English is widely spoken by younger people, and Russian is also common.
• Plugs: Types C and F.