We must admit, we knew very little about Latvia’s capital of Riga before our visit, but that didn’t bother us in the slightest. In fact, exploring places that we know little to nothing about is one of our favourite parts about travelling. Many of our recent travels have included seeking out destinations that are a little ‘off the tourist path’, as these often are accompanied by less crowds, and we know less about them before our visit. Riga fit this category, and it was a delightful surprise. Read on for some memories, tips and more from a wonderful 2 day stay in Riga.
We have to say, some of our favourite memories from Riga are not necessarily specific places that we visited, but rather wandering around without an agenda and soaking up the vibe of the city. We were impressed by the number of green spaces, the splashed of colour from flowers throughout the city, the hum of activity at dusk in its squares, and we thoroughly enjoyed sipping an aperitivo in the evenings during golden hour. If you’re after a cute spot to sit and sip an Aperol we would recommend stopping by Cartel Bar for happy hour.
With only 2 days to get a ‘taste’ of the city we set out to tick off some the more popular tourist spot as soon as we arrived. Thankfully most of these are located in the centre of the old town which is very walkable.
A few things we loved & you should check out in Riga
The three brothers
First up is the three brothers. These three buildings located next to each other are thought to be the oldest remaining medieval dwellings in the old town. It’s believed that they were all built by three men in the once family – hence its name. Now a museum, we didn’t have time to venture inside but were still able to admire their beauty from the outside.
Riga Central market
If you visit Riga you can’t miss the Riga Central Market. The structure itself is made from old German Zeppelin Hangars which house different market stalls from fresh fruit and vegetable, meats, cheese, bread and clothing. We stopped by around midday stock up for a picnic in Bastejalna park. We were pleasantly surprised to find plenty of locals still shopping there and found the produce to be of good quality and reasonably priced.
The squares in Riga
Sitting in a European square in an old town definitely hits different, and is one of our favourite things to do in a new city. Riga had a few charming squares which are easily found as you wander around the old town. Spend at least a few moments sitting, people watching, being present and enjoying the moment.
Art nouveau buildings
There are many ‘art nouveau’ style houses in Riga however the highest concentration of them can be found along Alberta Street just outside of the old town. While not necessarily a huge tourist attraction in itself, if you happen to be wandering along the fridges of of the town we like were on the lookout for great coffee (see our list of recommendations below) Alberta street is definitely worth walking along to take in it’s grandeur.
House of the Black Heads
One of Riga’s more intricate facades, this building was initially erected in the 1300’s and re- built in the 1990’s after being destroyed during World War II. It sits on the edge of a lovely square in the old town. Definitely one to walk past.
Enjoy the parks and green spaces
We thoroughly enjoyed our picnic in the Bastejalna park, located along the river. In summer, these parks and green spaces are humming with locals. It’s great for picnics, sunbaking or just a few moments of people watching. The old town is also brimming with flowers and colour.
Check out the churches & cathedrals
The Riga Nativity of Christ Orthodox Cathedral is located just above the old town, and is an impressive golden domed building. Worth checking out, even if you just walk past.
Riga Cathedral is located in the heart of the town, and is definitely impressive. You can climb up to the viewing area for a small fee (however check the closing times.. we missed it by 30 minutes).
The best coffee in Riga
If you’re a coffee snob like us, there are plenty of ‘3rd wave’ quality coffee shops in Riga to get your fix. You’ll need to venture a little outside the old town to get the good stuff, but that didn’t bother us too much. If you’re not feeling up to walking, order a Bolt (Eastern Europe’s Uber) which we found super easy to use and very cheap! See a list of some of our favourites coffee shops that we tried below.
- Parunasim kafe-teeka – This café is situated right near the 3 brothers, making it somewhat more touristy than some of our other favourites, but the atmosphere inside was still quaint and welcoming. We would recommend visiting either early in the morning or in the evening once the cruise ships have left for the day to avoid the crowds.
- Kalve Espresso – One we ventured out of the old town for, but it was right up our alley. Good coffee and ‘local vibes’.
- Zvaignze CAFE – Located near the the Art Nouveau buildings, this was another cafe that delivered excellent coffee.
- Others.. MiiT Coffee, Rocket Bean, STRADA, and more
A unique budget eating experience to try in Riga:
Lido: Lido is essentially a big canteen style restaurant with a tonne food options to suit most tastes. We were skeptical at first soon realised we were going to get the most bang for our buck here compared to the more touristy restaurants lining the main streets.
Other restaurants that we didn’t get a chance to try but heard good things:
- Mikla
- Valmierduiza
A few other things to know about Riga:
- How long should you stay in Riga? We stayed for 2 nights, and this felt about right. A 1 night stay might be too quick as it isn’t the easiest place to get to. 2-3 nights would likely be the perfect amount.
- Should I visit anywhere nearby? Yes! Tying Riga into a trip with Tallinn is a must! The Baltics are definitely underrated, and Tallinn is one of our favourite spots. See our Tallinn guide here.
- Is Riga safe? Generally, we felt very safe in Riga, and had no unsafe encounters. However, as always, we urge you to take all normal safety precautions.
- Is Riga budget friendly? In short, yes! We found Riga to be extremely affordable, costing around 30-50% less than many other European cities.
- Is Riga busy with tourist crowds? Not at all! Riga is the perfect city break to escape the crowds and step off the tourist path.
- Is Riga a party city? When looking online prior to our visit, we saw a fair bit about the ‘Riga party reputation’. When we arrived, you could definitely see there were a few streets designed for partying, however the city had more substance than just party vibes. Due to the budget friendly nature, it is a decent party destination, but there’s a lot more than just that.
- How to get around Riga: Riga as a city is extremely walkable, however they also have ‘Bolt’, a rideshare app that has very affordable fares for short durations.
- How to get to Riga? The easiest way to reach Riga is either through their international airport, located around 25 minute drive from the old town. Alternatively, if visiting from a nearby city like Tallinn, a bus ride is affordable and doesn’t take that long (around 4 hours from Tallinn).
Where should you stay in Riga?
If you’re planning a short stay in Riga, we recommend you stay nearby the old town. Accommodation is pretty affordable, and there’s often great options available, even last minute. We have included some excellent Riga accommodation options below.
- Konventa Sēta Hotel Keystone Collection
- Art Design King Bed Studio Apartment In Old Town
- Greystone Suites & Apartments
- ATF Apartments
- See more options in Riga here.
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