Month guide · Riga · Latvia
Riga in January
What January is really like in Riga: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of -1°C (30°F), lows of -6°C (21°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 7.4 hours of daylight. Cold and dark, often with snow; quiet after the New Year, with low hotel prices and concerts in the cathedral and opera.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- -1°C (30°F) / -6°C (21°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 7.4 hours
- Sea temperature
- 2°C (36°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the coolest month in Riga: days average -1°C (30°F) against a yearly average high of 11°C (52°F), and nights fall to about -6°C (21°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with December (1°C (34°F)), January is cooler; by February highs stay near 0°C (32°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 08:50
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 16:15
- Daylight
- About 7.4 hours
- Sea
- 2°C (36°F)
Winter (December–February). Snow, Christmas markets and concerts in December; very cold and quiet after New Year, with the lowest prices.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is July at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
January has no major recurring festival in Riga, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in January
With cold days, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
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
Market · Moscow Suburb
Riga Central Market
Opened in 1930, Riga's Central Market occupies five enormous pavilions built from German zeppelin hangars of the First World War, each devoted to meat, fish, dairy, vegetables or gastronomy, with outdoor stalls of flowers, berries and mushrooms around them.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Iconic
- Food
- Free
- History
- Rainy day
Gallery · City Centre
Latvian National Museum of Art
Go up to the rooftop terrace for a view over the Esplanāde and the Nativity of Christ Cathedral.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Art
- Rainy day
- Architecture
Architecture · Pārdaugava
National Library of Latvia
The 'Castle of Light', designed by Latvian-American architect Gunnar Birkerts and opened in 2014, rises in a glass-topped peak on the left bank of the Daugava.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- Views
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near -1°C, lows near -6°C and 10 wet days: a warm coat, hat, gloves and thermal layers; shoes with good grip for icy pavements; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Riga?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, May–September are better overall. Compare every month.
Riga in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Riga?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Cold and dark, often with snow; quiet after the New Year, with low hotel prices and concerts in the cathedral and opera.
+How warm is Riga in January?
Average highs are around -1°C (30°F) and lows around -6°C (21°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Riga in January?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.