Stand on Town Hall Square in Vecrīga and the House of Blackheads faces you across the cobbles, its rebuilt facade bright against the older stone of Riga Cathedral a few blocks away. The Old Town is compact enough that the two main clusters of historic sites sit within a short walk of each other, and the streets between them carry the city's medieval fortifications in fragments.
Riga suits travellers who want architecture, museums and history within walking distance, and who are willing to look beyond the Old Town for the Art Nouveau streets of Centrs and the quieter districts across the river. It also suits anyone who prefers to build a day around guided walks and a few well-chosen stops rather than a long checklist.
This guide covers the sights and experiences worth your time, drawn from the city's central districts, and closes with a one-day plan that strings the strongest of them together.
Top things to do in Riga
1. Vecrīga (the Old Town)
Vecrīga is the UNESCO-listed Old Town and the setting of Riga's foremost historic sites. Its two main clusters of historic sites lie just a few blocks from each other, so you can cover a great deal on foot in a single wander.
Start at the tourist office inside the House of Blackheads, which offers guided tours and free pamphlets with detailed descriptions of many buildings for independent walks. In the absence of signs or plaques around the city, the booklet gives you an insight into what you are seeing.
2. Town Hall Square
Town Hall Square contains the striking 13th-century House of Blackheads and the Town Hall, built in 2003 as a down-to-the-last-detail copy of the 17th-century original. It is the natural first stop in the Old Town and the base for the tourist office.
Combine it with the Riga Cathedral cluster a few blocks away, and pick up a walking booklet here before you set off.
3. Riga Cathedral and its square
The cathedral and the square surrounding it form the second of the Old Town's two main clusters of historic sites. It is one of the anchors of a walk through Vecrīga.
Pair it with Town Hall Square in the same outing, since the two lie just a few blocks apart.
4. The Freedom Monument and the area around it
The area around the Freedom Monument does double duty as a setting of Riga's foremost historic sites and the centre of its burgeoning nightlife. It also marks the start point for a boat ride on the canal.
Use it as the hinge between the Old Town and Centrs, and return in the evening if you want the nightlife side of it.
5. Alberta iela and the Art Nouveau district
Architecture buffs flock to the beautifully preserved Art Nouveau row houses on Alberta iela and other nearby streets, one of the densest clusters of architecture of that style in the world. It sits in Centrs, Riga's modern-day downtown, further out from Vecrīga.
The tourist office's independent walks cover the Art Nouveau district as well as the Old Town and the nearby city centre sights, and each is easy to do in around an hour.
6. National History Museum of Latvia
The National History Museum of Latvia is housed in Riga Castle in Vecrīga, among the important museums in the Old Town.
It sits close to the Town Hall Square and cathedral clusters, so slot it into a walking day rather than making a separate trip.
7. Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia is another of the important museums in Vecrīga, alongside the National History Museum of Latvia.
Combine the two in one visit, since both are in the Old Town and both deal with the country's past.
8. Latvia's National Museum of Art
Latvia's National Museum of Art is in Centrs, part of the cluster of museums in the modern-day downtown.
Pair it with the Art Nouveau walk on Alberta iela and the nearby streets, which are in the same part of the city.
9. National Opera
If you are interested in classical culture, head to the National Opera in the Old Town to enjoy opera or ballet. Koncertzāle Ave Sol, a little further north, is the other option for classical programming.
Build an evening around it after a day of walking the Old Town.
10. Boat ride on the canal
It is possible to do a boat ride on the canal, making a tour around the old town on the Daugava river. The start point is near the Freedom Monument.
Combine it with time around the Freedom Monument itself, since that is where you board.
11. Riga's parks
The city has several pleasant parks, notably around the city canal and further north into Centrs. Another interesting park is Mežaparks in the north of the city, with beautiful old villas and Riga's zoo.
The canal-side parks fit easily into a walk between the Old Town and Centrs; Mežaparks is a separate trip to the north.
12. Agenskalns and Tornakalns
These old and well-preserved urban districts, just over the Stone bridge, are relatively unvisited by tourists. They offer a contrast to the busy centre.
Cross the Stone bridge from the centre and walk them on foot, ideally as a quieter half-day rather than squeezed between central sights.
13. Latvian Academy of Sciences
In the city centre, the Latvian Academy of Sciences is an example of Stalinist "Birthday cake" architecture, sometimes referred to as Socialist Classicism. There is an observation dock on the top, with a price of €6 to visit.
Go up for the view, and note the spire's wreath and five-pointed star, which was removed after Latvia regained independence in 1991.
14. Spilve Airport
Spilve Airport is a half-abandoned terminal building, completed in 1954, and remains a notable example of Stalin's neoclassical architecture. A hammer and sickle sits on top of the building, one of the few places where this symbol was not torn down and remains openly seen.
On the other side, through the gate, is a cafe and bar with a view of the airfield and of young pilots training, open in summertime. Tours inside the building are available from time to time.
15. Jewish legacy sites
Riga had a significant Jewish population during the Russian Empire period and therefore has a significant Jewish legacy. The sites to visit are the Great Choral Synagogue ruins, the Jews in Latvia museum, and the Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust museum.
Treat these as a single, unhurried sequence rather than tagging one onto a general sightseeing walk.
If you only have one day
Morning: Begin in Vecrīga at Town Hall Square, taking in the House of Blackheads and the Town Hall, then walk the few blocks to Riga Cathedral and its square. Pick up a walking booklet at the tourist office inside the House of Blackheads and use it as you go. If time allows, step into the National History Museum of Latvia in Riga Castle or the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia.
Afternoon: Walk to the Freedom Monument and start a boat ride on the canal from there, touring around the old town on the Daugava river. Afterwards, head into Centrs to see the Art Nouveau row houses on Alberta iela and the nearby streets, and add Latvia's National Museum of Art if you have the time.
Evening: Return towards the Old Town for opera or ballet at the National Opera, or stay around the Freedom Monument, which is the centre of the city's nightlife.
Frequently asked questions
Which parts of Riga are most interesting for a visitor?
For tourists, the most interesting districts are Vecrīga, the UNESCO-listed Old Town, and the area around the nearby Freedom Monument. Vecrīga holds the foremost historic sites, while the Freedom Monument area is also the centre of the city's nightlife.
How do I see the main sights without a guide?
The tourist office, inside the House of Blackheads, offers free pamphlets with detailed descriptions of many buildings for independent walks. These walks cover the old town, the nearby city centre sights, and the Art Nouveau district, and each is easy to do in around an hour.
Is there a discount pass for museums and attractions?
Yes. The Riga Pass costs €16-26 and has discounts for museums and some tourist attractions.
What is there to see outside the city centre?
Some other old and well-preserved urban districts that are relatively unvisited by tourists include Agenskalns and Tornakalns, just over the Stone bridge. Further out, the residential areas on the periphery are largely made up of gray apartment blocks built in the typically Soviet style, which give an idea of how the vast majority of people in Riga live.
Decide which of these fits your days, check the tourist office walks first, and start laying out your route through Vecrīga and Centrs.