The 14 Best Things to Do in Riga + 2 Things I Would Skip 2026

I’ve been to Riga three times, and I’ve spent more than two months there altogether. My first visit was as a backpacker traveling through the Baltics, while my other two stays were completely different — I was working as a flight attendant and based in Riga for about a month each time.

That gave me a very different experience of the city than simply visiting for a weekend and ticking off the main attractions. I’ve had time to explore Riga properly, come back to places more than once, and see what I actually enjoyed versus what I wouldn’t bother making time for again.

So this isn’t meant to be a list of every single attraction you can find in Riga. I’m focusing on the best things to do in Riga that I think are genuinely worth your time, from the classic sights you shouldn’t miss to some of the experiences and day trips that can make the trip more interesting. And because not everything that gets recommended online is necessarily worth squeezing into your itinerary, I’m also including the things I would skip.

The Best Things to Do in Riga: Quick Answer

If you’re short on time, these are the things to do in Riga I’d prioritize before getting into the full list:

• Best overall thing to do: Explore Riga Old Town
• Best historic attraction: Riga Cathedral
• Best area to explore: Riga Old Town and the surrounding historic center
• Best experience: Take a canal boat tour
• Best food experience: Join a Riga food tour
• Best day trip: Tallinn
• Best thing to do if you only have one day: Explore Old Town, Riga Central Market, and the city’s Art Nouveau district
• Best free thing to do: Walk through Old Town and explore Riga’s historic streets

Explore Riga Old Town

If it’s your first time in Riga, start here. Old Town is where most of the obvious sights are, but I actually like it more for just wandering around than trying to follow some perfect sightseeing route.

Walk through the smaller streets, cut across the squares, stop wherever looks interesting, and let yourself get a little lost. It’s compact enough that you can see a lot without constantly checking a map.

This is also where I’d spend most of my time if I only had one day in Riga.

Visit the House of the Blackheads

The House of the Blackheads is one of those Riga sights you’re going to see anyway because it’s right in the middle of Old Town.

The building itself is beautiful, especially the front facade, and it’s worth stopping to look at rather than just walking past it on your way somewhere else.

I wouldn’t plan half your day around it, though. See it while you’re exploring Old Town and move on.

Go Up St. Peter’s Church

If you want a view over Riga, this is the one I’d do.

Going up St. Peter’s Church gives you a much better idea of what the city actually looks like than walking around at street level all day. You can see the Old Town rooftops, the Daugava, and how quickly the historic center gives way to the rest of Riga.

It’s one of the few paid sights I’d specifically recommend adding to your Riga itinerary.

Visit Riga Cathedral

Riga Cathedral is another one of the main Old Town sights, so it’s easy to combine with everything else in the area.

I wouldn’t make this a huge stop on its own. Go inside, have a look around, and then keep exploring Old Town.

See the Freedom Monument

The Freedom Monument is one of the easiest sights to add to your Riga itinerary because you’ll probably walk past it anyway when moving between Old Town and the city center.

Stop for a few minutes, take a look, take your photo, and continue. You don’t need to turn it into a whole activity.

Explore Riga’s Art Nouveau District

This is one of the parts of Riga I’d make a point of seeing outside Old Town.

The Art Nouveau buildings around Alberta Street are completely different from what you see in the historic center, and walking around the area is enough to appreciate them. You don’t need a complicated plan — just go and wander around the streets.

If you’re staying in Riga for more than a day, I’d definitely make time for this.

Visit Riga Central Market

Riga Central Market is worth doing if you want something that feels less like standard sightseeing and more like seeing another side of the city.

I’d go hungry because the food is part of the reason to come here. Walk through the different market halls, see what’s being sold, and grab something to eat.

It’s also easy to combine with the rest of your day because it’s close to the center.

Walk Through Riga’s Parks and Green Spaces

One of the things I liked about spending longer periods in Riga was that I wasn’t constantly trying to see another attraction.

The parks around the canal are a good place to just walk without having anywhere specific you need to be. They’re right around the central part of the city, so you can easily end up here while walking between Old Town and the rest of Riga.

Walk Along the Daugava River

Go down toward the Daugava and walk along the river for a while.

There isn’t some massive checklist of things you need to see here. I just like getting away from the Old Town streets for a bit and seeing Riga from the river.

It’s particularly nice when you’ve spent several hours sightseeing and want to walk without having another attraction to tick off.

Take a Riga Canal Boat Tour

This is one of the tours I’d actually recommend adding if you want to do something rather than just walk around looking at buildings.

The canal runs through the center of Riga, so you get a completely different perspective of the city from the boat. It’s also an easy activity to fit into a Riga itinerary because it doesn’t take up an entire day.

Book Here: Riga Canal Boat Tour

Take a Riga Food Tour

If you want to try Latvian food but have no idea what you’re actually looking for, a food tour makes a lot more sense than randomly picking restaurants and hoping for the best.

It’s also a good option if you’ve already done the main sightseeing and want something different.

Book Here: Riga Food Tour

Take a Day Trip to Jūrmala

If you’re visiting Riga in the warmer months, Jūrmala is the day trip I’d most recommend adding to your itinerary. It’s the easiest way to get some beach time without having to turn your whole trip into a beach vacation.

I stayed in Jūrmala during one of my longer periods based in Riga, and I liked having the option to get out of the city and spend time by the Baltic Sea. You can easily go for the day, walk around, spend time on the beach, and come back to Riga later.

If you’re visiting in summer and have an extra day, this is much more appealing to me than trying to cram another sightseeing attraction into Riga.

Take a Day Trip to Tallinn

Yes, you can technically visit Tallinn from Riga as a day trip, although I’d only recommend it if you’re trying to fit as much of the Baltics into one trip as possible.

It’s a long day because of the distance between the two cities, so I wouldn’t choose this over spending another day in Riga if you have plenty of time. But if Riga is part of a bigger Baltic trip and you really want to see Tallinn without adding another night, it is possible.

If you’re already planning to travel through Estonia afterward, though, I’d save Tallinn for that part of the trip instead of rushing it into a Riga day.

Visit the Hill of Crosses

The Hill of Crosses is one of the more unusual excursions you can take from Riga and a completely different experience from the usual Baltic city sightseeing.

It’s in Lithuania, so this is another long day rather than a quick trip outside Riga. I’d only add it if you have enough time and specifically want to see something unusual while traveling through the Baltics.

If you’re interested in visiting the Hill of Crosses but don’t want to deal with figuring out the transport yourself, a guided tour from Riga is the easier option.

Book Here: Hill of Crosses Tour from Riga

https://getyourguide.tpx.lv/Yp2E9u2D

2 Things to Do in Riga I Would Skip

The Three Brothers

The Three Brothers are worth seeing if you happen to be walking past them, but I wouldn’t make a special trip just to see them.

They’re three historic buildings next to each other in Old Town, and you can easily stop for a photo as you explore the area. But if you’re only in Riga for a day or two, I’d spend that time on the city’s bigger sights instead.

My take: See them if you’re already nearby, but don’t build your Riga itinerary around them.

Swedish Gate and Powder Tower

The Swedish Gate and Powder Tower are another example of sights I wouldn’t prioritize if you’re short on time.

They’re part of Riga’s old fortifications and are interesting enough to see while walking through the Old Town, but they’re not attractions I’d specifically set aside time for.

If you’re wandering around Old Town, you’ll come across them naturally. Otherwise, I’d keep moving and spend your time on the places that give you more of a feel for Riga.

My take: Walk past them, take a look, and move on.

Practical Tips for Visiting Riga

Where to Stay in Riga

For a first visit, I’d stay in Riga Old Town or the city center. Both make it easy to get around and reach the main attractions without spending much time on transportation.

Backpacker: Blue Bird Boutique Hostel – Riga Old Town

Budget: Ibis Riga Centre

Mid-Range: Wellton Riverside SPA Hotel

Luxury: Grand Palace Hotel – Small Luxury Hotels of the World

Stay Connected

Having mobile data makes getting around Riga much easier, especially when checking directions, public transportation, or opening hours while you’re out exploring.

→ Get an eSIM for Latvia

Travel Insurance

I wouldn’t travel without insurance, even for a short city break. It’s much easier to have it sorted before your trip than deal with unexpected costs if something goes wrong.

→ Get travel insurance for Latvia

FAQs

Is Riga worth visiting?

Yes. Riga is worth visiting if you want a European city that is easy to explore, has a compact historic center, and offers more than just the main Old Town sights. I’ve visited Riga three times and spent more than two months there altogether, and I still think it’s a city worth adding to a Baltic trip.

How many days do you need in Riga?

I’d recommend 2–3 days in Riga for most travelers. Two days gives you enough time to see the main sights and explore the city properly, while three days gives you more time for experiences like a canal boat tour, a food tour, or simply slowing down and enjoying the city.

Is Riga easy to explore on foot?

Yes. Riga is a relatively easy city to explore on foot, especially around Old Town and the central areas. Most of the main sights are close enough together that you can spend much of your time walking rather than relying on public transportation.

What is Riga best known for?

Riga is best known for its historic Old Town, Art Nouveau architecture, Central Market, and the mix of historic and modern areas around the city center. It’s also a popular base for exploring more of Latvia and taking trips outside Riga.

What should you not miss in Riga?

For a first visit, I wouldn’t miss Riga Old Town, the House of the Blackheads, St. Peter’s Church, Riga Cathedral, the Freedom Monument, the Art Nouveau district, and Central Market. If you have more time, I’d also add a canal boat tour or food tour.

Is Riga expensive?

Riga is generally more affordable than many major Western European cities, particularly when it comes to accommodation, food, and getting around. Your budget will obviously depend on how you travel, but it’s possible to visit Riga without spending the kind of money you might expect in other European capitals.

Can you do a day trip to Tallinn from Riga?

Yes. Tallinn is possible as a day trip from Riga, although it makes for a long day because of the distance between the two cities. If you have enough time in the Baltics, I’d rather spend a couple of days in Tallinn, but it can work if you’re specifically trying to see as much of the region as possible.

Is Jūrmala worth visiting from Riga?

Yes, especially in the warmer months. Jūrmala is Latvia’s main beach resort area and is close enough to Riga to visit as a day trip. If you specifically want beach time, though, I’d consider staying in Jūrmala rather than simply visiting for a few hours.

The Best Things to Do in Riga: Final Thoughts

If you’re visiting Riga for the first time, I’d focus on the Old Town and the main sights around the city center, then add a couple of experiences depending on how much time you have.

With two or three days, you can comfortably see the main attractions, explore the Art Nouveau district, visit Central Market, and add something like a canal boat tour or food tour. If you have more time, Jūrmala is an easy addition, while Tallinn and the Hill of Crosses are options if you want to use Riga as a base for longer excursions.

After visiting Riga three times and spending more than two months here, these are the best things to do in Riga that I’d actually prioritize rather than trying to fit every possible attraction into your trip.

Read my other Riga Guides

Is Riga Worth Visiting? I’ve Spent Months Here — Here’s My Take

Is Riga Safe for Solo Female Travelers? My Experience After Spending Months There

The Best Time to Visit Riga (And What Three Stays Taught Me) 2026

How Many Days in Riga Do You Really Need? (2026)

Where to Stay in Riga: My Top Areas and Hotels in 2026

The 6 Best Hotels in Riga Latvia

My Favorite Day Trips from Riga: 6 Best Places to Visit Beyond the City