24 Hours in Riga
If you’ve been to Riga, Latvia’s capital and one of the Baltic beauties, you’re probably already a fan. It takes much more than 24 hours to see everything this city has to offer you, but if that’s all you have, no worries. We’ve planned a great day trip for you and all you need to do is enjoy it as much as possible and see the most of this 800-year-old cultural capital of the Baltics!
09:00 – Start your day with a visit to the city’s Central Market, located in one of Riga’s most iconic buildings. It first opened in 1930 and at the time was regarded as Europe’s largest and most progressive marketplace. The place is set in five massive pavilions before used as military airship hangars and there’s plenty to explore while there and during the morning time it is filled with products from all over the country. So, the market is the perfect place to grab some fresh pastries, a cup of coffee and enjoy breakfast.
10:00 – After fuelling up your tummies, it’s time to see some of the historic neighborhoods of the city, where many of the architectural masterpieces the city is famous for are situated. The most important district of those is Riga’s very own center, referred to as the Art Nouveau District, to which the city owes its title of the Northern Europe’s cultural capital. Continue your walk to the nearby Old Town, and stroll along the cobblestone streets and see the part included on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1997. While walking, you’ll come across St. Peter’s Church, the tallest one in Riga. For a fee of €9, you can climb up to the tower observation deck and enjoy beautiful views over the city.
12:00 – Take a history lesson and visit the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, which tells the story of the country between 1940 and 1991, during the periods of Nazi and Soviet occupation. You’ll be shocked by the harsh reality of Latvian life at the time. There are no entrance fees, but you are welcome to provide some voluntary donations, and the museum is open daily 11:00 – 18:00.
13:30 – For lunch, you should try some local cuisine. Restaurants like Milda, Riits, Melna Bite, Kolonade, Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs and many others offer great prices for lunch menus and, apart from Latvian delicacies, you can try different European cuisines as well. If you’re up for something vegan, head to Fat Pumpkin, the best vegan place in town, or COD Robata Grill Bar, which also serves amazing fish dishes.
15:00 – Let’s continue to see more of our cultural capital. The Dome Church is the main cathedral of Riga. If you decide to go there, make sure to walk around the courtyard monasteries. The church’s foundations were laid back in 1211, so it’s definitely worthy of your time. It is open on daily basis from 09:00 to 17:00 (sometimes 18:00).
16:00 – You can’t visit Riga without seeing the imposing Riga Castle. Situated on the bank of the River Daugava in Old City, it is one of the largest medieval castles in Latvia with a long and exciting history. Nowadays, it’s the official residence of the president of Latvia. This national architectural monument has been reconstructed many times, losing old and gaining new artistic and architectural features in the course of time. Riga Castle is currently closed to the public for renovations following a fire. The reopening is scheduled for 2018.
17:00 – We cannot forget a building that is absolutely a must while on a visit to Riga, the Academy of Sciences. The towering building is made in classic Stalinist architecture and it was built in the 1950s. Also, if there’s enough time, head to the opposite side of the Old Town and you’ll find the former area of Riga Ghetto, created by the Nazis after the German invasion during World War II. There is also a museum, the Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust Museum, to check out, it is open daily until 18:00 and the admission fee is €5 (€3 for children).
18:30 – Now it’s time you saw one of Latvia’s most beautiful sacred buildings, the Nativity of Christ Cathedral. This Neo-Byzantine cathedral was built in the 1880s when the country belonged to the Russian Empire. It’s the largest Orthodox cathedral in the Baltics, but for the short period of time, in the early 1960s, the Soviets closed and turned the building into planetarium. Ever since Latvia regained independence, the cathedral has been serving its main purpose.
19:00 – Since you’re already on the banks of the Daugava River, it would be a shame not to have a canal and river ride. Adults need to pay €15, while older kids pay €9 (kids under 6 go for free). The one-hour tour starts on the canal and ends on Daugava, which gives you the opportunity to see the city from a totally different perspective.
20:00 – Dinner time! A great choice for authentic Latvian food is is Taverna Pie Sena Dzintara Cela, situated right next to the Powder Tower. It’s a perfect place to enjoy Latvian meat dishes. And for a dessert, stop by at the Crazy Donuts café, where you can choose among dozens of homemade donuts. The Lido restaurant is favorite among tourists in Riga, for decently priced and super-delicious food, so if you don’t know where else to go, this is your stop.
21:30 – Choose for yourselves if you want to spend your night dancing until dawn or have a drink in a bar and call it a day. But what we recommend is doing a Riga Pub Crawl to feel the right atmosphere of the city. Other popular hotspots are Black Magic Bar, Armoury Bar, Studio 69, La Rocca, Cartel Bar Riga and GameStation Bar.
