They are designed to give you a taste of the city so that you can then explore some of the areas that interest you further. While in Tallinn, we climbed so many towers to get views over the city. It gives you the best view of the city, although it costs 9 Euros which is quite steep.
I personally would have preferred to climb the steep stairs! Possibly the most photographed sight in Riga, the House of Blackheads is situated just at the border of the Old Town and right across from the Town Hall. This breathtaking building was built in and was used as a venue for meetings and banquets.
Unfortunately, like many other buildings in Riga, it was destroyed during the Second World War. Restored to its former glory in , it is now one of the prettiest buildings in the city. As mentioned above, Riga is home to the best preserved and largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings in the world. This kind of architecture became extremely popular from the end of the 19th century until the early 20th century.
There were four main reasons for its popularity, the economic boom, the industrial revolution, the ample space the city had and the availability of cheap manual labour. You can also take the free Art Nouveau walking tour to discover some of the less popular buildings and to learn a lot more about Art Nouveau in Riga.
It is one of the largest markets in Eastern Europe and attracts more than eighty thousands of shoppers every day! Nowadays, you will find hundreds of stalls selling fresh vegetables, smoked meat, cheeses, cheap clothes, and everything in between. Be sure to check out the park in front of the monument. You can see the staircase for free but if you want to visit the rest of the museum it will cost you 5 Euros.
Right off the coast, you will find the island of Kipsala which is worth a few hours of your time. In particular, there are two attractions worth visiting, its beautifully restored wooden houses and the museum of Janis Lipke.
Janis Lipke was an amazing Latvian who put himself and his own family at risk to save at least 60 Jews during the Nazi occupation of the Second World War. On the other side of the river, we also recommend visiting the National Library of Latvia. You can admire its modern architecture and head up to the 12th floor for a gorgeous view across the water. If you are visiting in the summer and need to escape the heat, head to Jurmala, the nearest seaside town.
A little over half an hour away by train, this popular beach resort town is also known as Riga Beach. This little wine bar is fantastic. The Dom Cathedral is another famous church located in the Old Town which was built in It is famous for its organ which contains 6, pipes! Other points of interest in the Old Town include The Three Brothers which are the oldest residential houses in Riga, the Swedish Gate which is the last remaining part of the Old City Walls and the Powder Tower which used to be an important defensive post for Riga.
Their Old Riga Tour starts at 10 am which does mean an early start but gives you the advantage of getting there before many other tour groups arrive! After a few hours walking around the Old Town, you will undoubtedly be due for a break! Bastejkalna Park which is located just on the outskirts of the Old Town is the perfect escape if you want to get away from the Old Town as it becomes more crowded throughout the day. There is a lovely canal that runs through the park and a number of inviting benches to rest your sore legs.
If you want to get another vantage point of the Old Town then you can take a short one-hour boat ride along the canal. The cruise will take you along the canal and then onto Daugava River. Located right next to the canal, is the Freedom Monument is considered an important symbol of Latvian independence and commemorates Latvian lives who were lost during the Latvian War of Independence.
Whilst nowhere near as elaborate as what you might see at Buckingham Palace in London, there is a changing of the guard that occurs on the hour during the day. This area is filled with beautiful buildings and one could easily spend hours marvelling at the Art Nouveau architecture. Whilst this area might lack the large number of tourist sites found in the Old Town, you will definitely be less likely to bump into tour groups and can see a side of Riga that many locals call home today.
One monument that is worth detouring to during your walk around central Riga is the Nativity of Christ Cathedral. Located in the Esplanade Park, it is the largest orthodox church in the Baltics and has a fascinating history. It was originally built in the 19th century but was closed during the Soviet era and used as a planetarium.
The market was originally opened in , is open daily and considered one of the largest markets in Europe. Walk down the aisles and explore the many vendors selling fresh fruit and vegetables, dairy products, fish, meat and much more! There also a number of vendors selling freshly baked pastries, making this a great place to pick up some breakfast or lunch! Its permanent site is close to the House of the Blackheads but as its currently being renovated the museum has been temporarily relocated to close to the canal.
Entrance to the museum is by donation. This museum provides a glimpse into Latvia of days past as well as a welcome escape from the relatively busy central area of Riga. Located a short tram ride from the city, the open-air museum allows you to explore and learn more about life in rural Latvia.
There are a collection of traditional houses and workstations for different types of occupations. You are given a map on arrival that allows you to explore at your own leisure as well as enjoy the surrounding nature. There are also a number of nature trails in the area for walking or biking if you feel like being more active. Please note that there is no train station named Jurmala and there are a number of possible stations you can exit when visiting Jurmala.
Majori is the most popular area for visitors while Dubulti is a good option if you want a slightly less busy beach but still have access to facilities such as a beach bar and changing areas.
There are a number of fantastic places to eat in Riga ranging from traditional Latvian fare to trendy and hip cuisine drawing on both local and international influences. Here are some of the best restaurants to try during your 3 days in Riga.
Lido — Lido restaurants are extremely popular with locals and offer a changing menu of traditional Latvian cuisine including meat dishes, potatoes, salads, desserts and much more. The tallest church in the city, this large Gothic church dates all the way back to , although little of the original church is actually left. This sculpture of animals stacked on top each other gets a lot of love from tourists and is a gift from the city of Bremen based on a fairytale by the Brothers Grimm.
Throughout the city of Riga there are a lot of exceptionally well-preserved buildings, but the Three Brothers are quite unique in that they are the oldest residential buildings in the city.
These three adjoined buildings date from between the 15th to 17th centuries and are home to local craftsmen. One of the remnants though is the Swedish Gate, a small gateway through what looks like a row of traditional residences. Beyond admiring its beautiful facades, you can also tour through the museum exhibits and recreated grandeur of the Conference Hall. A great way to start the day, and to get a sense of what local life is like in Riga, is with a visit out to the Riga Central Market.
This big, bustling indoor and outdoor market focuses on several large s pavilions and the area around them. Unless you have business at the academy, the best way to visit this tower is to take the elevator up to its observation deck.
Compared to the more restrained look of the Lutheran churches in the Old Town, the Riga Nativity of Christ Cathedral really stands out. This Russian Orthodox church in the Esplanade park gleams thanks to its gilded facade, and is striking inside as well.
While the cathedral has been under restoration since , you can still go inside and admire the painted icons which it is best known for. Riga has been going through a restoration phase of late, revitalizing many of its faded art nouveau buildings into pristine gems. While they can be found all through the central downtown area, the best place to see them is in a neighborhood of streets centered around Alberta Street.
Really, going out in search of these architectural beauties is a great way to get out on your own and uncover everything else that Riga has to offer. Now you should have a much better idea of what 2 days in Riga can involve and how special of a place it is. Have more time in Riga? Check out our article on the best day trips from Riga.
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