Riga Central Market
Description
2 hour guided private tour around one of the largest marketplaces in Europe with tasting of many different local goods. Located in the heart of Riga, in just a few minute walk distance from Old Town, Riga Central market is one the largest marketplaces in Europe. It was built in the 1920s, inside several large hangars from World War I originally used for military airships, now serving as food pavilions. During the tour you will have degustation at five different sections: Fish: rye bread with sprats, lightly salted herring, local beer or soft drink. Vegetables: different kinds of salted cucumber (1 day, 1 week, 1 month), marinated cabbage (with beets, cranberry, curry), sauerkraut, marinated wild garlic, spicy carrot. Hemp: rye bread with hemp butter. Cheese: different kinds of Latvian cheese - smoked, with cumin, with cranberries. Meat: ham, different kinds of sausages (smoked, with berries, from turkey, pork, chicken), smoked chicken.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Pavilions There are five different food pavilions at Riga Central Market dividing meat, vegetable, dairy, fish and gastronomy products. The merchants will offer typical products locally used for a long time as well as some new and fresh flavors of Latvia. Having the widest assortment of Latvian food, all products are fresh and natural from Latvian farms for competitive prices with the possibility to bargain. There you will find some unique foods and spice to be found nowhere else in the world! We recommend to try the taste of: Hemp butter Rye bread Fried lampreys Sauerkraut Kvass Honey Salted and dried mushrooms Outdoor area In the outdoor area you will find stalls and stands with a variety of fruit, vegetables, garden plants and flours as wells as small kiosks selling a wide range of souvenirs, clothes, perfume, knitwear, amber jewelry and many other goods. In few minutes walk from the Central Market you can also find historical warehouses - Spikeri from which only 13 are survived to the present days. Central Gastro Market There is a new section of the market featuring over 20 different caterers and 2 bars with a wide choice of street food, starting from some local Latvian dishes to burgers, pizza, ramen, thai food and other foods. It is guaranteed to find something for everyone's taste. The atmosphere in this section is a bit different and more modern than the distracting hustle and bustle of the traditional vendor stands.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Reviews(37)
For the price, this was not a good value. The tour lasted only about 90 minutes. The samples were few and very small and we left hungry.
Counters and counters as far as the eye could see of interesting Latvian food. Dace provided terrific explanations to accompany each food dish and drink. A wonderful food tour that I'd highly recommend.
Three large hangars where everything retails, a bit touristy but worth visiting. Possibility to have lunch inside.
Big central market, great architecture, fish or and meat department is not for everyone, but delicious food, honey, atm inside
Learned more About the challenges of living through Latvia winters and how people manage to preserve food. Also heard about the various traditions for holidays. Very interesting. Lots of samples too.
Food market and not only that is located just outside the city center. It is housed in three large hangars where Zeppelins were built. It is the largest Covered Market in Europe. Very authentic, few tourists and many locals doing the daily shopping. Low prices and products, especially food, very special, never seen in Italy. Outside, some stalls selling mainly clothes and bags. It's worth a ride.
This was a fabulous food tasting , Dace was so informative she gave us traditional food we would never have tried had we not booked this trip.
Lively market to visit when visiting Riga Sometimes you still feel the whiff of socialism but in many places you have arrived in modern times with friendly people
We spent about 90 minutes strolling through the locals market with vendors selling meats, chicken, pork, housewares, pet food , toys, and more. The fresh produce is abundant with tomatoes , cucumbers, peppers, fresh herbs, watermelon, fruits and the bigggest melons I have ever seen. We found two vendors selling Uzbekistan products including Samsas aka samosas. We found a small drug store with beauty products. Vendors had raincoats, coats, clothing and housewares for sale. I tried to buy some lotion and the vendor does not gave a card machine and takes only Euros. My favorite vendor is a man I cal Me Honey who sells honey in various flavors and sizes and honeycomb. He wears a honey outfit, so awesome Market is accessible and close to tram.
Riga's Central Market is within walking distance from Riga's Old Town. He should definitely be on the list of places to visit in Riga. The market halls are located in halls consisting of half-arches. This can be seen very well from the viewing platform of the church of St. Peter from a height of 72 m. These halls were in the 1. World War II in Germany the hangars for zeppelins, which were used as weapons of war. After 1. In World War II, they were sold to Riga in a “swords to ploughshares” campaign to serve as market halls. Outside there are stalls with fresh fruit and vegetables. Impressive are the stalls with fish inside the market halls, especially smoked fish, which can also be bought cheaply here.
