Interesting Things To Do on Vacation in Riga, Latvia

Last updated on November 22nd, 2022 at 01:56 pm

If you are planning a trip to Riga, Latvia, you will not be at a loss for things to do. The Old Town is pretty small, but that does not mean that it is lacking exciting things to do. In fact, I would consider that to be one of the greatest advantages because that means less time transiting between sites. In turn, that allows you to see more things in a shorter amount of time. Below, you will find some of my favorite things that I did on my recent trip to Riga, Latvia as well as links to help you better plan your own visit.

***Disclaimer: Be sure to check any COVID related restrictions for Latvia as well as any places you would like to visit before booking any part of your trip!

Some Thoughts on Visiting Latvia

I often wonder what inspires people to go to certain destinations. For me, I’ve been wanting to go to Latvia for quite a while now. I met a woman from Latvia quite a few years back now. She made a huge impression on me, and I still remember how highly she spoke of her country and its beauty. Did you know that just about half of Latvia is covered in forests? That makes it one of the most green countries in Europe! (But, since I visited in the fall, does that makes it one of the most colorful countries in Europe?)

All jokes and kidding aside, Latvia is a wonderful and resilient country. After centuries of occupation by various nations, including a short lived independence in the early 1900s, Latvia finally got its independence restored in 1991. Its capital, Riga, is full of fantastic buildings, history, and places to explore. After a visit, it’s not hard to understand why it was once labeled “the Paris of the Baltics”. I hope that this post will inspire you to want to experience the splendor of Latvia for yourself. <3

Walking Tour of Riga’s Old Town

A walking tour is a great way to get oriented in any new city that you visit. And, I would say that it’s one of the first things you should do after arriving in Riga, Latvia. The Old Town area is pretty small and compact and you can really see a lot in a relatively short amount of time.

There are always a number of options for every kind of budget. There are paid guided walking tours, free guided walking tours (but it’s usually proper to tip the guide), and free self-guided walking tours that you can find online. All you have to do is print it out at home before you leave or pull up on your phone. Riga’s Old Town is particularly packed with fantastic things to do and places to see, so whichever you choose, you won’t want to miss out!

Find Your Walking Tour

For a paid guided walking tour, I recommend checking popular sites such as: www.getyourguide.com, www.viator.com, and www.airbnb.com. If you click on any of those links, it will take you straight to the tours available in Riga.

For a free guided walking tour of Riga, you can check out these locations.

For a free self-guided walking tour, I recommend this one (which is the one I used on my trip). It’s great because it includes a map with pins as well as some information about each site on the list.

Special Note

Self guided walking tours are my personal favorite. If you’re like me and you love photography, a self guided tour is great because there is less immediate competition for the prime location. Also, there is less pressure to “hurry up so we can get to the next location”. In addition, a self guided tour allows for more flexibility since you are not limited by any particular time slot. You can do it whenever you want or even split it up between days if necessary.

The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia

Entrance to Riga Open Air Ethnographic Museum

Windmill at Open Air Ethnographic Museum Riga

The Open Air Ethnographic Museum of Latvia is wonderful place to learn more about how people once lived in the four historical regions of Latvia. Those regions are: Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Zemgale and Latgale.

This museum was established in 1924 and covers a sprawling 87 hectares. Buildings and regalia from each of the regions have been relocated to the museum over the course of nearly 100 years. With 118 buildings as well as thousands of collected items, it is possible to spend anywhere from a half day to a full day here. To help you find your way, you will be given a map when you first enter the museum. Each of the buildings is given a number and they are all color coded based on which region they are from.

There is also a little cafe inside where you can try traditional Latvian dishes. I personally tried the lielie pelēkie zirņi (grey peas cooked with onions and bacon). It is considered one of the most traditional Latvian dishes and is usually served in the winter. I must say, on a cold October day, it was the perfect comfort food. With a side of the garlic bread, you have a tasty and satisfying meal. (I will be honest, it is not much to look at which is why I didn’t take any photos can see an example of what this dish looks like here.)

Horse at the Open-Air Ethnographic Museum Riga

Other museums you can visit in and near Riga, Latvia:

1. The Latvia Motor Museum

The Latvia Motor Museum contains over 100 unique cars, motorcycles, and bicycles. It is the largest and most diverse collection of vehicles in the Baltics. With many interactive features, this museum has been designed to tell the story of unique motor vehicles. It is located about 20 minutes by car or 50 minutes by public transport away from Riga Old Town.

2. The House of the Blackheads

The House of the Blackheads is a stunning and incredibly memorable building located right in the middle of Riga’s Old Town. The original building, built in 1334, was bombed out by the Germans in 1941 and the remains were destroyed by the Russians only a few years later. Not long after gaining their independence from Russia, reconstruction commenced and the new building was completed in 1999. You can visit the cellar (the only part that remains from the original building), the historic cabinets, and and the grand ballrooms upstairs.

Church at Riga Open Air Ethnographic Museum

Steam Engine at Open Air Ethnographic Museum Riga

3. Jurmala Open Air Museum

The Jurmala Open Air Museum focuses on the lives of fishermen and contains old wooden homes as well as a collection of anchors, fishing boats, and other fishing paraphernalia. It is located 30 minutes by car or 1 hour by public transport away from Riga Old Town.

4. Laima Chocolate Museum

The Laima Chocolate Museum was such a fun little museum to visit in Riga, Latvia. Here you can try their delicious and sweet chocolate drink as well as many of their other varieties of chocolate. You can also learn how chocolate is made as well as the history of Laima chocolate, the famous Laima clock, and take some fun photos.

Get the View From the Top

View From St Peter's Church Riga — View of Riga, Latvia from the St. Peter’s Church Tower

The St. Peter’s Church was initially built in 1209, but not much remains from the original. As a result of a series wars, fires, and storms, the church has had various degrees of damage inflicted upon it. The rebuilding process as well as a series of renovations has seen the church transform in styles based on the latest trends. In 1997 the St Peter’s Church was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list.

The tower of St. Peter’s towers over the city at 123.25 meters high and it is easily recognizable. For a fee, visitors are allowed to go as high as the second gallery which is 72 meters high. Don’t worry, there is an elevator, so you won’t need to walk all that way! From here, you have an incredible 360 degree view looking out over Riga and the Daugava River that you won’t want to miss.

For current opening times and prices, you can visit the official St. Peter’s Church website. You can also learn more about special events such as art exhibitions and concerts at this site as well.

Stop by the Holy Trinity Church

One look at this beautiful, Russian Catholic style church and you will know that you want to see it for yourself during your visit to Riga. With its bright colors and candy-like appearance, the Holy Trinity Church looks like something straight out of a fairy tale.

Tucked away in Pārdaugava, the church itself is fairly easy to get to. But, it is important to note that it is a bit of a distance from the Old Town: 15-20 minutes by public transit or 30 minutes walking. You can visit their official website to find out more about opening hours.

Drink Some Black Balsam

Created by a pharmacist named Kunze, Riga Black Balsam has been produced in Latvia since 1752. It is a bittersweet liqueur with 45% abv that contains 24 natural ingredients, including 17 botanicals. Originally it was used for medicinal purposes and was believed to cure colds and digestive problems. While some still use it for these purposes, it is now a beverage which is enjoyed by locals and visitors in a variety of ways. You can drink it cold, hot, in a mixed drink, in coffee, or mixed with black currant juice.

For myself, I would say that I find the flavor is quite strong and herbal. While I am a big fan of herbs, I personally think it tastes better with a mixer of some kind to cut down the overpowering flavor.

In Conclusion

I hope this post has inspired your upcoming travel plans. I’d love to know what you think of a visit to Latvia in the comments below. 🙂

Happy Travels,
<3 Christine