Riga Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Riga tours, the UNESCO old town and its House of the Blackheads, the world’s finest Art Nouveau architecture, the huge Central Market, and day trips to the seaside resort of Jūrmala, Rundāle Palace and the Hill of Crosses. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Riga itinerary.
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Explore Riga by interest
Whatever brings you to Riga — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Old Town
The House of the Blackheads.
ExploreArt Nouveau
The world’s richest Jugendstil.
ExploreMarket & food
Europe’s great market.
ExploreRundāle Palace
Latvia’s baroque masterpiece.
ExploreHill of Crosses
A moving pilgrimage site.
ExploreJūrmala
The Baltic seaside resort.
ExploreCanal cruises
The city canal and river.
ExploreDay trips
Sigulda, Rundāle and more.
ExploreTop attractions in Riga
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
House of the Blackheads
Riga’s ornate icon.
Art Nouveau
The world’s richest Jugendstil.
Central Market
Europe’s great market.
Rundāle Palace
Latvia’s baroque masterpiece.
St Peter’s Church
Old-town spire and views.
Sigulda & Gauja
The “Latvian Switzerland”.
Town Hall Square
The heart of the old town.
Three Brothers
Medieval houses.
Riga in 1 day
- 1House of the Blackheads
- 2St Peter’s & Three Brothers
- 3Art Nouveau district
- 4Central Market
Riga in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & Art Nouveau
- 2Day 2: Rundāle or Sigulda
- 3Palace or castles
- 4Black Balsam evenings
Riga in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Old town & Art Nouveau
- 2Day 2: Rundāle & Hill of Crosses
- 3Day 3: Sigulda or Jūrmala
- 4Latvia & beyond
Riga with kids
- 1St Peter’s tower views
- 2Central Market treats
- 3Sigulda cable car
- 4Jūrmala beach
1.5 hrs awayRundāle Palace
Latvia’s baroque masterpiece.
1 hr awaySigulda & Gauja
Castles and the “Latvian Switzerland”.
2 hrs awayHill of Crosses
A moving Lithuanian pilgrimage site.
30 min awayJūrmala
The Baltic seaside resort.
1.5 hrs awayCēsis
A medieval castle town.
1 hr awayKemeri National Park
Bogs, boardwalks and nature.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Riga visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
Late spring and summer (May–September) bring the mildest, longest days, lively outdoor life and the beach at Jūrmala at its best — the prime time to visit.
Spring (Apr–Jun)
Fresh, greening days ideal for the old town, parks and Art Nouveau, with long daylight by June.
Summer (Jul–Aug)
Mild and lively, perfect for the old town terraces, the Central Market, Jūrmala beach and festivals.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Crisp, golden days with fewer crowds — a lovely, atmospheric time for the city and museums.
Winter (Nov–Feb)
Cold and snowy, but magical with Christmas markets and cosy cafés; warming Black Balsam helps.
Midsummer (Jāņi)
The Latvian Midsummer festival of Jāņi in late June fills the country with bonfires, flower crowns and celebration.
One day
Enough for the old town, Art Nouveau and the market.
Two days
Add a Rundāle Palace or Sigulda day trip.
Three days
The sweet spot: the city, Rundāle and the Hill of Crosses, and Sigulda or Jūrmala.
Four to five days
Add more of Latvia, the coast and the Baltic capitals.
A week or more
Use Riga as a base to explore Latvia and the Baltics.
Travelling with kids
Mix St Peter’s tower, the market and Sigulda or Jūrmala at a gentle pace.
On foot
Riga’s old town, Art Nouveau district and Central Market are compact and best explored on foot.
Trams & buses
Riga’s trams, trolleybuses and buses cover the wider city cheaply.
Trains
Cheap trains run from Riga to Jūrmala in about 30 minutes and to Sigulda, ideal for day trips.
Canal cruises
Canal and river boats offer a scenic way to see the old town and Daugava from the water.
Day-trip transport
Tours bundle transport for Rundāle, the Hill of Crosses and Sigulda; trains reach Jūrmala and Sigulda.
From the airport
Riga Airport links to the centre by bus (route 22) in about 30 minutes.
Book day trips ahead
Popular Rundāle, Hill of Crosses and Sigulda day trips and small-group tours fill up — book ahead in summer and around cruise calls.
Currency
Latvia uses the euro; Riga is excellent value, with cards accepted almost everywhere.
Try Black Balsam
Sample Riga Black Balsam, a dark herbal liqueur, and Latvian rye bread, smoked fish and berries at the Central Market.
Look up at Art Nouveau
Stroll Alberta and Elizabetes streets and look up at the spectacular decorated Art Nouveau facades — and visit the museum.
Climb St Peter’s
Take the lift up St Peter’s Church tower for the best panoramic views over the old town and the Daugava.
Train to Jūrmala
A cheap 30-minute train reaches the beach at Jūrmala; buy a ticket before boarding.
Rundāle Palace
Popular Rundāle Palace day trips fill up — book ahead.
Hill of Crosses
Two-country Hill of Crosses tours have limited places — reserve early.
Sigulda tours
Sigulda and Gauja valley day trips fill up — book ahead.
Art Nouveau tours
Small-group Art Nouveau tours have limited places — reserve early.
Food & market tours
Central Market food tours fill up — book ahead.
Summer & Midsummer
Summer and the Jāņi festival are busy — plan ahead.
Walking tours
Around €12–40 for a guided old-town or Art Nouveau tour.
Food & market tours
About €30–60 for a Central Market or food tour.
Rundāle Palace
Roughly €50–90 for a Rundāle Palace day trip.
Hill of Crosses
Around €60–100 for a two-country Hill of Crosses day trip.
Sigulda tours
About €50–90 for a Sigulda and Gauja valley day trip.
How to save
Walk the compact old town, take cheap trains to Jūrmala and Sigulda, and enjoy great-value Latvian food at the market.
Riga through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Fresh days for the old town and Art Nouveau.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Long daylight returns by late spring.
- Best for
- Mild days, terraces and Jūrmala beach.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak season; book day trips ahead.
- Best for
- Golden days with fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- A lovely, atmospheric time to visit.
- Best for
- Christmas markets and cosy cafés.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cold and snowy; pack warm.