The 8 Best Tours in Riga, Latvia - She is Lost Around the World

Riga is a great base for exploring more of Latvia, and there are plenty of tours if you want to see more than just the Old Town. You can take day trips into the countryside, visit castles and national parks, or keep things closer to the city with a boat tour, food tour, or walking tour.

I’ve picked 8 of the best tours in Riga, including day trips from the city, boat tours, and a couple of easy options if you want to explore Riga itself with a guide.

Tours in Riga: Quick Picks

	My Pick
Best day trip	Sigulda & Turaida Day Tour
Best for nature	Ķemeri National Park Sunset Trip
Best boat tour	Canal & Daugava River Sunset Boat Cruise
Best boat + walking tour	Riga Boat Tour & Old Riga Walking Tour
Best for something different	Hill of Crosses & Jelgava Tour
Best easy sightseeing option	Canal & River Electric Boat Tour
Best food experience	Central Market & Traditional Food Tour
Best walking tour	Guided Old Town Walking Tour

The 8 Best Tours in Riga

From Riga: Sigulda & Turaida Day Tour, Castles & Nature

If you want to get out of Riga for a full day, this is one of the tours I would look at first. The trip takes you to the Sigulda and Turaida area, where you can see castles and enjoy the surrounding nature.

It’s a good option if you want something completely different from Riga’s Old Town and don’t want to organise the transportation yourself.

Best for: Castles, nature, history, and a full-day trip from Riga

Book the tour: Sigulda & Turaida Day Tour

Jurmala: Ķemeri National Park Sunset Trip

This is a good choice if you want to combine a trip outside Riga with some nature. The tour heads towards Ķemeri National Park and is timed around sunset, making it a very different experience from the usual city sightseeing tours.

If you’ve already spent plenty of time exploring Riga itself, I’d choose something like this to see another side of the area.

Best for: Nature, sunsets, and getting out of the city

Book the tour: Ķemeri National Park Sunset Trip

Riga: Canal and Daugava River Sunset Boat Cruise

For an easy evening activity, a sunset boat cruise is hard to beat. You’ll see Riga from the water while travelling along the canal and Daugava River, with the changing light making the city look completely different.

This is the one I’d choose if you don’t want a full-day commitment but still want to do something memorable.

Best for: Sunset, relaxing evenings, and seeing Riga from the water

Book the tour: Riga Canal and Daugava River Sunset Boat Cruise

Riga Boat Tour with Audio Guide & Old Riga Walking Tour

This option combines two of the easiest ways to see Riga: a boat tour and a walking tour through the Old Town.

I actually like the combination because you’re not spending your entire sightseeing time doing the same thing. You get to see the city from the water and then explore it on foot.

Best for: First-time visitors, combining two experiences, and seeing Riga from different perspectives

Book the tour: Riga Boat Tour & Old Riga Walking Tour

From Riga: Hill of Crosses and Jelgava Gems Tour

If you want to go further afield, this tour gives you the chance to explore beyond the typical Riga day trips. It combines the Hill of Crosses with Jelgava, making it a good choice for travellers who want to see more of the region while based in Riga.

This is more of a full sightseeing day than a quick excursion, so I’d choose it if you’re happy spending most of the day outside the city.

Best for: History, unusual sights, and exploring beyond Riga

Book the tour: Hill of Crosses and Jelgava Gems Tour

Riga: Canal & River Electric Boat Tour with Audio Guide

If you want something simple and easy, this electric boat tour is a good option. You can see Riga from the canal and river while listening to an audio guide, without committing to a longer organised excursion.

I’d consider this one if you want to add a boat ride to your Riga itinerary without taking up too much of your day.

Best for: Easy sightseeing, first-time visitors, and a relaxed boat tour

Book the tour: Riga Canal & River Electric Boat Tour

Riga Central Market & Traditional Food Tasting Tour

Riga Central Market is one of the places I would definitely include in a Riga itinerary, and doing it with a food tour gives you more of a reason to actually explore it rather than simply walking through.

You’ll get to try traditional Latvian food while learning more about the market and local cuisine.

Best for: Food lovers, Central Market, and trying traditional Latvian dishes

Book the tour: Riga Central Market & Traditional Food Tasting Tour

Riga: Guided Old Town Walking Tour

If it’s your first time in Riga, a walking tour of the Old Town is probably the easiest way to get your bearings. You’ll see the main historic sights while having a guide explain what you’re actually looking at.

I’d do this near the beginning of a Riga trip, especially if you want some context before exploring the city on your own.

Best for: First-time visitors, history, and exploring Riga’s Old Town

Book the tour: Riga Guided Old Town Walking Tour

How to Choose Tours in Riga

The best tour really depends on how much time you have and whether you want to stay in Riga or explore beyond the city.

If you’re visiting Riga for the first time, I’d start with an Old Town walking tour and then add either a boat tour or food tour. These are easy to fit into a normal city itinerary without giving up an entire day.

If you have more time, I’d definitely consider one of the day trips from Riga. Sigulda and Turaida would be my first choice for castles and nature, while Ķemeri is a better option if you want a more relaxed nature experience.

And if you’ve already explored Riga before, I’d skip the basic sightseeing and choose something like the Central Market food tour, sunset boat cruise, or a day trip outside the city.

Tours in Riga: Final Thoughts

There are plenty of ways to explore Riga, but you don’t need to book a tour for every part of your trip. I’d mix one organised experience with plenty of time to explore independently.

For a first visit, the Old Town walking tour is the easiest starting point, while the Sigulda & Turaida tour would be my pick if you want to get out of Riga for the day. For something shorter, the sunset boat cruise is a great option, and the Central Market food tour is the one I’d choose if you want to eat your way through the city.