Riga is a charming capital of Latvia – a small European country on the picturesque Baltic seaside. Beautiful unspoiled nature, rich architectural heritage, white sandy beaches and gourmet local food is what makes this city a perfect destination for a European city break or even a long term holiday. But if you come to Riga for the first time, you might get a bit frustrated – there are so many sightseeing opportunities and so many activities that it turns out really hard to choose only few. This list is aimed to help you to make the right choice and get the best out of your Latvian holidays! So, here comes the Top 10 site seeing sites in Riga Latvia:
Step One
Get lost in the labyrinth of narrow cobbled streets of the Old Town.Just let yourself get lost in this beautiful corner of the city: narrow streets, charming houses dating back to the 16th-18th centuries. Visit beautiful squares of the Old Town: Dome square with impressive Dome cathedral and Livu square with wide range of open air restaurants.
Step Two
Visit Riga’s Central Market.This buzzing overcrowded place will give you an opportunity to taste some of the best local food and buy some tasty souvenirs to bring back home. My personal must-taste top 5 includes Latvian rye bread, birch tree juice (unfortunately available only in March-April), Latvian eel, sauerkraut made by local farmers, local dairy products which are known for being the best in the whole region.During the tour you can see the legendary Riga Central Market 5 pavilions. Fish pavilion, Vegetable pavilion, pavilion Bread, Milk and Meat pavilion.
Step Three
Visit the biggest gallery of Art Nouveau architecture by Russian architect Mikhail Eisenstein, father of the illustrious filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein who was born in Riga. Most of the buildings have now been renovated and of particular interest is the house at Strēlnieku 4a. Built in 1905 it has since undergone a complete facelift and is now home to the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga. Don't miss the Riga Art Nouveau Museum at the end of Alberta iela, a must see.
Step Four
Travel to the nearby seaside resort Jurmala.Jurmala lies only half an hour drive from the city center and offer wide long sandy beaches, gourmet restaurants and lively atmosphere of a seaside resort. It is called Latvian Summer Capital and is known by its beautiful historic wooden architecture.
Step Five
Take a ride on the boat on the city canals.The center of Riga is situated in the ring of city canals and the river Daugava. Enjoy a relaxing ride on the tourist boat that will take you around the Old Town or hire a little pedal boat to explore city canals by your own.
Step Six
Enjoy Latvian style feast at the Lido recreation center.This recreation center feature a huge self-service restaurant with delicious food and lots of open air attractions for kids and adults. A very popular place among locals and tourists.These are only the most important things that Riga has to offer to a traveler, but there are so much more. Come and check yourself!