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20+ Best Things to do in Riga, Latvia

August 4, 2019 by Claire Filed Under: Europe, Latvia Leave a Comment

Riga Guide: The Best Things to do in Riga, Latvia

After my first visit to Riga it quickly become one of my favourite cities in Europe to visit. With its history and charm it’s hard not to fall in love with Riga. Thinking of planning a trip to this amazing city? Here are some of the best things to do in Riga.

 

- Contents

  • 1 Fun Things to do in Riga
    • 1.1 1. Explore Riga’s Old Town
    • 1.2 2. Swedish Gate
    • 1.3 3. Art Nouveau
    • 1.4 4. Central Market
    • 1.5 5. Nativity of Christ Cathedral
    • 1.6 6. House of Blackheads
    • 1.7 7. Freedom Monument
    • 1.8 8. Museum of Occupation
    • 1.9 9. KGB Corner House
    • 1.10 10. Three Brothers
    • 1.11 11. St Peter’s Church
    • 1.12 12. Take A Stroll Through the Park
    • 1.13 13. Take in the Views at Sky Bar
    • 1.14 14. Riga Cathedral
    • 1.15 15. Visit a Spa
    • 1.16 16. Riga’s Cat House
    • 1.17 17. Latvian National Opera and Ballet
    • 1.18 18. National Library of Latvia
    • 1.19 19. Riga Castle
    • 1.20 20. Try Riga Black Balsam
    • 1.21 21. Riga Quest Room

Fun Things to do in Riga

 

1. Explore Riga’s Old Town

Like many cities in Eastern Europe Riga has an impressive old town that visitors love to explore. Riga Old Town is a UNESCO protected area that has many cute cafes and restaurants to visit as well as plenty of architectural gems to discover. There are also plenty of guided tours around Riga Old Town if you want to make sure you don’t miss anything.

 

2. Swedish Gate

During Medieval times Riga was protected by a city wall. While most of the wall has now been knocked down over time, some has survived and can be found in the Old Town. While the wall once had eight gates, only one has stood the rest of time. The Swedish Gate was built in 1698 after the Swedish took over the city. Above the gate is an old apartment that once belong to the city executioner. It is believed he would place a red rose in the window the night before an execution.

 

3. Art Nouveau

If you love beautiful architecture Riga has lots of examples of stunning Art Nouveau architecture for you to enjoy. The downtown area of Riga has even been included in the UNESCO World Heritage list thanks to its Medieval dwellings and prime examples of Art Nouveau architecture. There are guided tours available if you’re not sure where to find these magnificent buildings. 

 

4. Central Market

Also included in the UNESCO World Heritage list is the Riga Central Market which is one of the largest and most visited markets in Eastern Europe. There are plenty of goodies for sale here or can simply be a great place to people watch. 

 

5. Nativity of Christ Cathedral

The Nativity of Christ Cathedral is the largest Orthodox church in Riga. While temporary serving as a planetarium and restaurant during the Soviet Era, in present times it is still regularly used to perform Orthodox services. You are allowed to enter but please be mindful of the dress code. Visitors must not wear shorts and women are asked to cover their heads. 

 

6. House of Blackheads

Built in 1334 as a venue for meetings and banquets, the House of Blackheads is a magnificent gothic building with a Dutch Renaissance facade. The building was bombed in the Second World War but thankfully was fully restored in 1999.

 

7. Freedom Monument

In the centre of Riga stands the Freedom Monument which symbolises Latvian statehood, national unity, independence and freedom. Unveiled in 1935 and proudly standing 42 metres high, the Freedom Monument was funded completely by donations from residents as a memorial to those who lost their lives during Latvia’s struggle for independence.

 

8. Museum of Occupation

Established in 1993 to exhibit artefacts and documents from 1940-1991 when Latvia was occupied by the USSR, by Nazi Germany and then the USSR again.

 

9. KGB Corner House

The KGB Museum, known as The Corner House, is the sister attraction to the Museum of Occupation. The museum, devoted to the history of the KGB operations in Latvia, opened in a formerly owned KGB building. The museum houses exhibitions about the KGB activities in Latvia during the Soviet occupation and visitors can visit the basement prison cells. 

 

10. Three Brothers

These 3 historical houses are the oldest medieval dwelling houses in Riga. What makes them special is that according to legends each of the three buildings were built by three men of the same family at different times. Because they were built at different times you can see the architectural development of Riga. The house built by the youngest brother is now the Latvian Museum of Architecture.

 

11. St Peter’s Church

Situated in the heart of the Old Town, St Peter’s Church is the tallest church in Riga. The Gothic tower stands over 130 metres tall, making it’s viewing platform one of the best ways to get breathtaking views of the city.

 

12. Take A Stroll Through the Park

Looking to escape the crowds of the city? While Riga may not be as busy as London or Paris it can still be nice to get away from the crowds and take a stroll through the park. Right by the Freedom Monument is a beautiful park you can go for a walk, a jog, or even a boat ride.

 

13. Take in the Views at Sky Bar

One of my favourite places to get a cocktail in Riga is at the Sky Bar on top of the Radisson Blu hotel. While it might not be the cheapest place to get a drink in the city, you can’t beat the views from up on the 26th floor.

 

14. Riga Cathedral

Riga Cathedral, also referred to as the Dome Cathedral, is one of the oldest sacred buildings of the medieval period in Latvia. Nowadays Riga Cathedral is the seat of the Archbishop of the Latvian Lutheran Church and one of the main venues of music events in Riga.

 

15. Visit a Spa

If you’re looking for some relaxation Riga has plenty of spas on offer. Compared to a lot of other spas in European cities, spas in Riga are quite cheap. The perfect way to end a busy few days of sightseeing is to unwind in a spa and get a massage.

Read Also: Relaxing at the Spa in Riga

 

16. Riga’s Cat House

Designed in1909 by Friedrich Schefel, a pioneer of the Riga Art Nouveau architecture, the Cat House was built in the style of a Medieval castle and completed in colours of the Art Nouveau palette. The building got the name “Cat House” due to the story of the rich Latvian trader who once owned the building. In a bitter resentment of being denied admittance to the Great Guild, situated across the road from his house, he repositioned the cats on the roof so that their rear ends faced the Great Guild Building.

 

17. Latvian National Opera and Ballet

Catching a performance at the Latvian National Opera and Ballet fans can expect to be treated to top class classical opera, modern opera and ballet performances. Many world famous Latvian opera stars regularly perform here.

 

18. National Library of Latvia

Situated not far outside of the Old Town next to the river Daugava, the National Library of Latvia is one not to miss when visiting Riga. The impressive building which opened in 2014 was designed by world famous Latvian-American architect Gunars Birkerts. Tours are available so visitors can explore this incredible 12 level building which offers beautiful views of Riga’s Old Town.

 

19. Riga Castle

Riga Castle has stood along the bank of the river Daugava for over 700 years. The castle has survived through severe destruction, wars and numerous rulers. The last major reconstruction took place in 1915 and today houses the residence of the President of Latvia.

 

20. Try Riga Black Balsam

Riga Black Balsam is an award winning traditional Latvian liqueur made from 24 natural ingredients. You’ll find Riga Black Balsam can be enjoyed in cocktails, added to coffee or simply as a shot on its own. It’s something that should be tried during your visit. You’ll even see signs all over the city claiming “If you have not tasted it, you have not been in Riga”.

 

21. Riga Quest Room

Escape rooms have boomed in popularity in recent years with many opening up all over the world and Riga is no exception. With different themed rooms available, visitors have 60 minutes to solve puzzles and mysteries to escape the room before the time runs out. 

 

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Riga Guide: 20+ of the best things to do in Riga, Latvia

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About Me

Hi and welcome to my travel blog!

I’m an easy going girl who loves to find adventures around the world. I can often be found hiking or diving in destinations, or running around towns tasting local foods and beers/wines.

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@curious.claire

Instagram post 2177040385395028807_1216030229 I can't believe my Las Vegas adventure is over already. I knew Vegas was going to be on of those love it or hate it destinations and I definitely loved it!

Vegas has so much more to offer than just gambling (although I did walk away winning a whole $40 😉😅) For adventure lovers like me there's a whole playground of amazing things to do. I was so happy to finally be able to do the zip line down Fremont Street

Also if you like zip lines don't forget to check out my latest post showing 30 of the best zip lines you can do around the world (link in bio)

Sadly I didn't get to try everything out while I was there which is why I'm planning on revisiting next year with fellow thrill seeker @thesweetwanderlust

Have you been to Vegas? What was the best part of your trip?
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#travelblogger #lasvegas #bellagiofountains #vegas
Instagram post 2167581947447380528_1216030229 Life is what you make it. If there's something in your life making you miserable it's time to change it. That's what I did 1 year ago today and now I couldn't be happier

Last year I noticed how unhappy I was becoming. I was losing motivation to blog, to see friends, and just with life in general. Worst of all, I was losing my confidence.

I took this picture earlier this year on a much needed trip to relax and recharge. It's been sat in my drafts since then because when I looked at it I only saw the bad. I only saw the extra weight that had constantly been criticized by the one who person who was supposed to look past my appearance.

Now when I look at it though I see an awesome woman making the most out of life. I see someone making their dreams a reality. I see me. The good, the bad and the fabulous.

I am Curious Claire and I'm f***ing awesome! Don't think so? Well, you know where the door is

What positive life changes have you made recently?
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#toocoolforyou #betteroffwithoutyou #singleandfabulous
Instagram post 2151590188732998571_1216030229 AD | Did you know Sheffield is 61% green? It's amazing how within 5 minutes of paddling down the canal we were met by gorgeous greenery that made us forget we were so close to the city centre.

With @eastmidsrailway, Sheffield is only 2 hours away from London by train. Perfect for those who are looking for adventure around their 9-5 lives. And of course perfect for shift workers like me who very often don't get 2 days off in a row (like what is a weekend?) 😆 It just proves that you don't have to quit your job to experience an awesome #MicroGap experience.

Many thanks to @visitsheffield for hosting us and @dancrawfordoutdoors for so much fun on the water. I hope my fall gave you as much enjoyment 😉 and thanks to @the_dorothy_pax for the most delicious vegan lunch 🥰 and of course many thanks to @visitengland for organising this and @traverseevents for letting me be apart of it

#MyMicroGap #visitengland🇬🇧 #visitsheffield
Instagram post 2149431645787565632_1216030229 AD | Early this year I found out that I would be coming to Manchester for work and I decided to embrace this chance to explore the northern part of my home country.

Sadly with work being busier than I expected I haven't had a chance to do much exploring ☹️ So when @visitengland invited me on a Microgap adventure day to Sheffield I couldn't say no!

A group of us headed to Sheffield for a day of canoeing and stand up paddle boarding. 61% of Sheffield is green and a third of the city lies within the Peak District making it the perfect location for those who love nature activities.

Thanks to @eastmidsrailway Sheffield is only 2 hours away from London by train. Perfect for those who are looking for adventure around their 9-5 lives. And of course perfect for shift workers like me who very often don't get 2 days off in a row (like what is a weekend?) 😆 It just proves that you don't have to quit your job to experience an awesome #MicroGap experience.

Many thanks to @visitsheffield for hosting us and @dancrawfordoutdoors for so much fun on the water. I hope my fall gave you as much enjoyment 😉 and thanks to @the_dorothy_pax for the most delicious vegan lunch 🥰 and of course many thanks to @visitengland for organising this and @traverseevents for letting me be apart of it

Also thanks @talesofabackpacker for taking this awesome shot. You were the perfect canoe buddy!

#MyMicroGap #visitengland🇬🇧 #visitsheffield
Instagram post 2146653783145694317_1216030229 Can you believe it's almost been 2 months since I moved up to Manchester? Sometimes life goes by faster than we could possibly imagine.

Sometimes you need to slow down and appreciate where life has taken you. A year ago I never would have imagined I'd leave London to spend a few months in Manchester. It's funny how life turns out sometimes. While work has been harder than I anticipated I'm absolutely loving my time here exploring the city and making great new friends. Now a little part of me wants to make this my permanent home.

Has your life taken an unexpected turn recently? 📷 Manchester's Northern Quarter is definitely one of my favourite parts of the city. There's so much going on and great little gems to find such as this awesome street art.

#manchester #streetart #getcurious #nqmanchester
Instagram post 2141513507490141532_1216030229 Current mood: dreaming of warm sun, beautiful clear blue waters and delicious fruit cocktails

It's getting to that time of year when we get lots of rain in England. It's been over a month since I moved to Manchester and this city certainly has lots of rain!

To help visitors of London make the most out of their trip to London when the weather isn't perfect I created a guide for all the things you can do in London if you want to do some sightseeing but still avoid the rain (link in bio)

As for me, this rain has me thinking about where I want to go next year and I definitely want to head back to beautiful Bali 😍 hoping this time to be able to stay longer than 2 weeks. Have you started making travel plans for next year?

#bali #nusalembongan #cocktails🍹 #travelblogger
Instagram post 2111809075321974251_1216030229 Happy Afternoon Tea Week!

Have you been to any afternoon teas this week? I moved to Manchester this week so haven't been able to but last week I went to the Peter Rabbit Afternoon Tea at Le Meridien Hotel in Piccadilly

I've done so many afternoon teas in London but this was definitely one of my favourites! The theme was very well done and the food tasted as amazing as it looked

Plus the Roof Terrace is so charming and just the perfect place for a Peter Rabbit themed afternoon tea

This is my favourite picture from that day. The tea definitely took me back to my childhood

#afternoonteaweek #london #PeterRabbitAtLeMeridien #lemeridienhotels
Instagram post 2094415090318493839_1216030229 It's a beautiful sunny day here in London and it's reminding me of being in Italy.

One of the highlights of my recent trip to Italy was visiting a family run winery in the gorgeous Valpolicella area, just outside of Verona.

What I loved about these guys is how they use traditional methods of wine making to create high quality wines.

The best part about it was getting to enjoy their delicious wines while enjoying the most stunning views. Seriously this area of Italy is gorgeous!

Want to know more? Check out my post (link in bio)

What's been a stand out area for wine for you?
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#travel #valpolicella #italy #winetasting
Instagram post 2059426848850790197_1216030229 It's definitely the travel mishaps that make the best travel stories. While the mishaps and mistakes may ruin your mood at the time I'm a firm believer that laughing at the situation is the best way to get through it.

So what's happened to me? Well as you may already know I was coming to Trento in Italy for a @traverseevents conference. I love these conferences as it's a chance to learn from my peers, explore a normally new area and I get to catch up with blogger friends. But the journey here wasn't as smooth sailing as I had hoped... The day started with my flight from London to Verona being delayed. Not big deal, happens all the time! When I got to Verona airport I easily found the bus to the train station so all was going well.

But when I tried to use the ticket machine it was saying the only train to Trento wasn't until 7:30pm and I needed to be in Trento for 5pm for drinks organised with the tourism board.

I checked Google for any bus routes and saw I could get the EC to Trento. I went running around the bus station trying to find this bus. Then I looked down at my phone & saw the symbol was for a train not a bus. Doh!

So I went back inside to talk to a real person and she confirmed that the machine was lying to me and there was an earlier train I could take. Happy I paid for my ticket and went to the platform.

At the time my train was due a train arrived so I got in thinking nothing of it and sat back enjoying my book for the hour journey. When we arrived I was horrified to see I was in Bologna (the complete opposite direction!) I have no idea how it happened but I explained my situation but unfortunately I was now not able to arrive in Trento until 7pm. Which unfortunately meant I missed the wine of a view event I had signed up for.

I have an hour's wait for my train so I decided to get a Peroni with a view of Bologna train station. Close enough right? 😂 Thankfully I did finally make it to Trento.

Obviously at the time it sucked but now I'm just laughing about how bad my day was. I believe travel mishaps are just apart of life and you should just embrace them and make the best out of the situation.

What's been your biggest or funniest mistake?
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Hi, I’m Curious Claire

I'm just a girl who loves finding adventure around the world. I can usually be found sampling local beers and wines, tasting delicious local food or hunting for something quirky to do. Read More…

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