Free things to do · Riga · Latvia
10 free things to do in Riga
Riga without the ticket prices: sights, walks and views that cost nothing.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
You can fill at least 3 days in Riga without paying an entry fee: Old Riga walk, Alberta iela and the Art Nouveau district, Riga Central Market and Freedom Monument are all free. Eat your main meal at lunchtime, when business lunches cost far less than dinner.
Key facts
- Free sights in this guide
- 10
- Low-cost extras
- 5
- Cost level
- Affordable
- Lowest hotel prices
- January–April and October–November
Free sights and experiences
Neighbourhood · Old Riga
1.Old Riga walk
Walk early in the morning or in the evening, and follow Jēkaba iela and Mazā Pils iela for quieter lanes.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Street · Quiet Centre
2.Alberta iela and the Art Nouveau district
Bring binoculars or zoom in with your phone; the best details are high on the upper storeys.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- Architecture
- Art
- Photo spot
Market · Moscow Suburb
3.Riga Central Market
Visit in the morning, try the smoked fish in the fish pavilion and keep valuables zipped away in the crowds.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Landmark · City Centre
4.Freedom Monument
Combine it with a stroll through the Bastejkalns park and along the city canal beside it.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
Architecture · Old Riga
5.Three Brothers
Continue along Mazā Pils iela to Riga Castle, the President's residence, and the riverside.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Park · City Centre
6.City canal and Bastejkalns park
Take a one-hour canal cruise in summer for a different angle on the Old Town and the Daugava.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Couples
- Kids
Religious site · City Centre
7.Nativity of Christ Cathedral
Dress modestly; women often cover their heads, and photography is generally not allowed inside.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Architecture · Pārdaugava
8.National Library of Latvia
Walk across the Akmens Bridge from Old Riga and back for skyline photos in the late afternoon.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
Neighbourhood · Moscow Suburb
9.Spīķeri quarter
Combine it with the Central Market and the Academy of Sciences viewpoint, all within a few minutes' walk.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- History
- Food
- Art
Market · Pārdaugava
10.Kalnciema Quarter
Go on Saturday morning and take the tram across the Daugava from the Old Town.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Free sights by area
| Area | Free sights | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Riga | Old Riga walk and Three Brothers | Half a day + 20–30 minutes |
| Quiet Centre | Alberta iela and the Art Nouveau district | 2 hours |
| Moscow Suburb | Riga Central Market and Spīķeri quarter | 1–1.5 hours + 1–2 hours |
| City Centre | Freedom Monument, City canal and Bastejkalns park and Nativity of Christ Cathedral | 20 minutes + 1 hour + 20–30 minutes |
| Pārdaugava | National Library of Latvia and Kalnciema Quarter | 1 hour + 1–2 hours |
Worth a small ticket
Architecture · Old Riga
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.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Old Riga
St Peter's Church
Check that the tower platform is open before you go, and choose a clear day.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
Religious site · Old Riga
Riga Cathedral
Time your visit for an organ concert; the instrument is the reason to go inside.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes, longer with a concert
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Viewpoint · Moscow Suburb
Latvian Academy of Sciences viewpoint
The terrace usually operates in the warmer months; look for the side entrance and lift.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Architecture
- Off the beaten path
Museum · Jugla
Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum
Go on the first weekend of June for the crafts fair, or around Midsummer for traditional celebrations.
- Time needed
- 3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
- Architecture
More ways to save
- Eat your main meal at lunchtime, when business lunches cost far less than dinner.
- Lido buffets and the Central Market's street-food stalls are the most affordable ways to eat Latvian food.
- Many top sights are free to see from outside: the Art Nouveau facades, Old Riga's lanes, the Freedom Monument and the Central Market.
- Buy public-transport tickets in advance rather than from the driver.
- Look at prices before ordering in Old Riga bars, and avoid venues where strangers invite you in.
- Organ concerts at the cathedral are an inexpensive way to hear the famous instrument.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Riga expensive to visit?
Riga is affordable for most visitors, but 10 of its best-known sights are free, which makes a tight budget workable.
+What is the best free thing to do in Riga?
Old Riga walk: Walk early in the morning or in the evening, and follow Jēkaba iela and Mazā Pils iela for quieter lanes.