3 days in Riga

Day by day

1. Day 1: Old Riga walk and House of the Blackheads

   Old Riga walk, House of the Blackheads and St Peter's Church, then Old Riga in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Old Riga walk

      The UNESCO-listed medieval core packs guild halls, churches and merchants' houses into narrow lanes between the Daugava and the city canal.

   2. Late morning

      House of the Blackheads

      Look for the plaque in the square marking the spot where Riga claims the first decorated Christmas tree stood in 1510.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Dark rye bread

      Bakeries, the gastronomy pavilion at the Central Market and every restaurant bread basket.

   4. Afternoon

      St Peter's Church

      First mentioned in 1209, St Peter's is a Gothic brick church whose tall wooden spire has been rebuilt several times, most recently after a 1941 fire.

   5. Evening

      Old Riga

      Dense with pubs, cocktail bars, beer halls and clubs around Kaļķu iela and the squares; busiest at weekends.

2. Day 2: Riga Cathedral and Three Brothers

   Riga Cathedral, Three Brothers and Art Museum Riga Bourse, then Miera iela and Tallinas kvartāls in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Riga Cathedral

      Time your visit for an organ concert; the instrument is the reason to go inside.

   2. Late morning

      Three Brothers

      Three adjoining houses on Mazā Pils iela trace Riga's domestic architecture over three centuries, the oldest dating from the 15th century with a stepped Gothic gable and tiny windows.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Grey peas with bacon

      Traditional Latvian restaurants and self-service Lido buffets.

   4. Afternoon

      Art Museum Riga Bourse

      Visit when the Old Town streets are busy; the building's interiors are as much the attraction as the collection.

   5. Evening

      Miera iela and Tallinas kvartāls

      Cafés that turn into bars, craft beer and courtyard events with a local crowd.

3. Day 3: Alberta iela and the Art Nouveau district and Riga Central Market

   Alberta iela and the Art Nouveau district, Riga Central Market and Freedom Monument, then Spīķeri riverside in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Alberta iela and the Art Nouveau district

      Built in a burst of prosperity around 1900, the streets north of the Esplanāde are lined with Art Nouveau apartment blocks.

   2. Late morning

      Riga Central Market

      Visit in the morning, try the smoked fish in the fish pavilion and keep valuables zipped away in the crowds.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Riga Black Balsam

      Every bar and supermarket; Old Riga bars serve it in cocktails and hot drinks.

   4. Afternoon

      Freedom Monument

      Unveiled in 1935, Kārlis Zāle's granite and copper monument rises 42 metres on Brīvības bulvāris, topped by a female figure, Milda, holding up three gold stars for Latvia's historic regions.

   5. Evening

      Spīķeri riverside

      Summer terraces and concerts by the river behind the Central Market.

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Latvian National Museum of Art (City Centre): Go up to the rooftop terrace for a view over the Esplanāde and the Nativity of Christ Cathedral.
• Swap in National Library of Latvia (Pārdaugava): Walk across the Akmens Bridge from Old Riga and back for skyline photos in the late afternoon.
• Swap in Riga Motor Museum (Mežciems): Allow time for the Soviet-era section, which is the most unusual part of the collection.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Old Riga keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Quiet Centre (Klusais centrs) ($$$) suits couples, culture, quiet stays and luxury. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 10–12 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 6.8 hours in December to 17.8 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Riga
• 2 days in Riga

Questions travellers ask