History · Riga · Latvia
8 historic sites to see in Riga
The places that tell the story of how the city came to be.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Start with Old Riga walk, House of the Blackheads and St Peter's Church. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 7–9 hours across 3 areas; 5 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 5
- Time to see them all
- 7–9 hours
- Areas
- Old Riga, Moscow Suburb and City Centre
Historic sites in Riga
Neighbourhood · Old Riga
1.Old Riga walk
A loop from Town Hall Square takes in Līvu laukums with the Great and Small Guild halls, the Cat House with its arched-back cats on the turrets, the Swedish Gate of 1698 and the long yellow Jacob's Barracks on Torņa iela, ending at the Powder Tower.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Free
- History
- Architecture
- Photo spot
Architecture · Old Riga
2.House of the Blackheads
Bombed in 1941 and cleared under Soviet rule, it was rebuilt in its Dutch Renaissance form by 1999 and is again the showpiece of Town Hall Square, beside a statue of Roland.
- Time needed
- 30–60 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · Old Riga
3.St Peter's Church
A lift climbs the tower to a viewing platform at about 72 metres, giving the best panorama over the Old Town roofs, the Daugava and the Art Nouveau district.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes
- Cost
- Low cost
- Views
- History
- Architecture
- Iconic
Religious site · Old Riga
4.Riga Cathedral
Its organ, built by E. F. Walcker in 1884 with 6,718 pipes, was once the largest in the world, and short organ concerts are held regularly.
- Time needed
- 45 minutes, longer with a concert
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Architecture
- Rainy day
- Iconic
Market · Moscow Suburb
5.Riga Central Market
It is one of the largest markets in Europe and a good place to taste smoked fish and rye bread.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Landmark · City Centre
6.Freedom Monument
It survived the Soviet era and became a rallying point for the independence movement; an honour guard stands at its base.
- Time needed
- 20 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Iconic
- History
Architecture · Old Riga
7.Three Brothers
Together they house the Latvian Museum of Architecture.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Photo spot
Religious site · City Centre
8.Nativity of Christ Cathedral
Under Soviet rule it was turned into a planetarium; it has since been restored with icons and painted interiors. Entry is free.
- Time needed
- 20–30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Old Riga | Old Riga walk, House of the Blackheads, St Peter's Church, Riga Cathedral and Three Brothers | Half a day + 30–60 minutes + 45 minutes + 45 minutes, longer with a concert + 20–30 minutes |
| Moscow Suburb | Riga Central Market | 1–1.5 hours |
| City Centre | Freedom Monument and Nativity of Christ Cathedral | 20 minutes + 20–30 minutes |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 5 free, 3 low cost. None needs booking far in advance. The longest visit is Old Riga walk; group the rest by area to save travel time.
How to fit them into 2 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Old Riga): Old Riga walk → House of the Blackheads, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Old Riga, Moscow Suburb and City Centre): St Peter's Church → Riga Cathedral → Three Brothers → Riga Central Market → Freedom Monument → Nativity of Christ Cathedral, at least 4 hours.
The quietest months for queues
- February: highs of 0°C (32°F), about 8 rainy days, very quiet crowds. Usually the coldest, quietest month; frozen river edges and crisp, bright days between grey spells.
- April: highs of 11°C (52°F), about 7 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cool spring days and the first café terraces; parks turn green late in the month.
- March: highs of 4°C (39°F), about 8 rainy days, quiet crowds. Thaw begins and days lengthen, but it still feels wintry and slushy.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Old Riga — Medieval lanes, church spires and guild houses on the right bank of the Daugava
- City Centre — Boulevards, parks and shopping streets between the Freedom Monument and Vērmanes Garden
- Moscow Suburb and Spīķeri — Wooden houses, warehouses and Soviet landmarks behind the Central Market
More of Riga
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Riga?
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.
+Which of these are free in Riga?
Old Riga walk, Riga Central Market, Freedom Monument, Three Brothers and Nativity of Christ Cathedral.