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Things to do in Riga

12 places · 12 h 30 min of sightseeing · 3 days

Riga Cathedral, Riga

How many days do you need in Riga?

12 places add up to 12 h 30 min of pure sightseeing. At 6 hours a day, not counting walking and meals, that's 3 days.

The best-known places in order, as long as they fit into 6 hours of sightseeing a day. Sightseeing only, without walking and meals — build the day-by-day plan with opening hours and the route in a RouteMarket notebook.

1 day — 6 h

2 days — 11 h 45 min

3 days — 12 h 30 min

Top sights

Ordered by how well known each place is. Data: OpenStreetMap and Wikipedia.

  1. Riga Cathedral — 1 h 30 min visit. It houses one of the largest pipe organs in Europe, offering a rich concert program.
  2. Freedom Monument — 30 min visit. This 42-meter monument erected in 1935 depicts the woman Milda, holding three golden stars, unlike the 1905 Monument.
  3. Riga Castle — 2 h visit. It is the only building in Riga that serves as the official residence of the incumbent President of Latvia.
  4. St. Peter's Church — 1 h visit. It features a 123-meter tower, offering panoramic views of the city, surpassing other church towers in the area. Hours: Mon–Thu, Sun 10:00–18:00 · Fri, Sat 10:00–22:00.
  5. House of the Blackheads — 1 h visit. Originally built in 1334 and rebuilt after the war, it stands out with its richly decorated facade and astronomical clock. Hours: Sun–Thu 10:00–17:00 · Fri–Sat 10:00–16:00.
  6. Riga Radio and TV Tower — 1 h visit. As the tallest structure in Riga, it offers the most extensive viewing platform with a panorama of the city and its surroundings.
  7. Latvijas Nacionālais Mākslas muzejs — 2 h 30 min visit. It is the largest art gallery in the country, opened in 1905, presenting Latvian professional art from the 19th century, unlike the "Riga Bourse" Museum. Hours: Tue–Thu 10:00–18:00 · Fri 10:00–20:00 · Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00.
  8. Latvian National Opera — 30 min visit. The 1863 Neoclassical building is the home of the National Opera and Ballet, unlike the Mikhail Chekhov Russian Theatre.
  9. St. James's Cathedral — 45 min visit. It is a Roman Catholic cathedral built in the 13th century, serving as the main temple of the Archdiocese of Riga, unlike the Lutheran Riga Dome.
  10. Latvian National Theatre — 30 min visit. In 1918, the independence of the Republic of Latvia was proclaimed within its walls, making it a key site for the country's history.
  11. Three Brothers — 30 min visit. A complex of three townhouses, the oldest element of which dates back to the 15th century, it is the oldest residential building complex in Latvia.
  12. Nativity of Christ Cathedral — 45 min visit. It is the largest Orthodox church in the Baltic countries, and during the Soviet era, it even served as a planetarium.
  13. Centrāltirgus — 2 h visit. It is housed in five unique hangars that served as shelters for military airships before 1930, and is also a UNESCO World Heritage site.
  14. National History Museum of Latvia — 2 h 30 min visit. It is the main institution collecting and researching the historical heritage of all of Latvia from prehistoric times to the present day, unlike the Riga Museum. Hours: Mon–Tue closed · Wed–Thu 10:00–18:00 · Fri 10:00–20:00 · Sat–Sun 10:00–17:00.
  15. St. John's Church — 30 min visit. This Evangelical Lutheran church with a history dating back to the 13th century combines Gothic and Renaissance elements, unlike the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Sorrows.
  16. Cat House — 15 min visit. A famous Art Nouveau townhouse with black cat sculptures on its turret, associated with a legend about a contentious merchant.
  17. Latvijas kara muzejs — 2 h visit. It documents the history of wars in Latvia since the 13th century, housed in the medieval Powder Tower, which is unique. Hours: Wed–Sun 10:00–18:00.
  18. Mihaila Čehova Rīgas Krievu teātris — 20 min visit. Founded in 1883, it is the oldest Russian theater operating outside Russia. Hours: Mon–Sun 11:00–19:00.
  19. Mākslas muzejs "Rīgas Birža" — 2 h visit. In the former stock exchange building from 1855, it presents foreign art from Europe, Asia, and Egypt, unlike the National Museum of Art. Hours: Tue–Thu,Sat–Sun 10:00–18:00 · Fri 10:00–20:00.
  20. St. Alexander Nevsky Church — 45 min visit. As an Orthodox place of worship, it stands out with its richly decorated interior and icon collections, being an important historical testimony.
  21. Zviedru vārti — 15 min visit. It is the only preserved entrance gate to the Old Town, built in 1698, unlike nearby monuments or squares.
  22. Rīgas vēstures un kuģniecības muzejs — 2 h 30 min visit. Founded in 1773, it is one of the oldest museums in Latvia, simultaneously presenting the history of Riga and its maritime navigation. Hours: May–Sep: 10:00–17:00 · Oct–Apr: Wed–Sun 11:00–17:00.
  23. Great Cemetery — 1 h 30 min visit. As a former necropolis, today it offers a unique park space for walks and reflection among historic gravestones. Hours: open 24/7.
  24. Our Lady of Sorrows Church — 30 min visit. Built in 1785 in the Neoclassical style, it is a Roman Catholic church that survived the Soviet era, unlike St. John's Church. Hours: Mon closed · Tue–Sun 10:00–13:00,14:00–19:00.

Where to eat

What to see in Riga in one day?

Riga Cathedral, Freedom Monument, Riga Castle, St. Peter's Church, House of the Blackheads.

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