One day in Riga

Day by day

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

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

   1. Morning

      Old Riga walk

      Walk early in the morning or in the evening, and follow Jēkaba iela and Mazā Pils iela for quieter lanes. Allow Half a day.

   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. Allow 30–60 minutes.

   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

      Check that the tower platform is open before you go, and choose a clear day. Allow 45 minutes.

   5. Late afternoon

      Riga Cathedral

      Time your visit for an organ concert; the instrument is the reason to go inside. Allow 45 minutes, longer with a concert.

   6. Evening

      Old Riga

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

Before you go

If it rains

• Swap in Riga Central Market (Moscow Suburb): Visit in the morning, try the smoked fish in the fish pavilion and keep valuables zipped away in the crowds.
• 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.

Where to stay for this itinerary

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 5–7 hours of visiting over one day, 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.

Getting between stops: Walking. Walking is the best way to see Old Riga and the Art Nouveau streets; the Central Market is about 10 minutes from Town Hall Square.

More or fewer days

• 2 days in Riga
• 3 days in Riga

Questions travellers ask