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Gone are the days when the likes of Prague or Budapest are considered offbeat destinations - now you have to go even further east in Europe to escape the crowds. Enter Riga, a jewel in the Baltic crown. Join us on this Riga tour that takes you on a whistle-stop journey through the Latvian capital to the coolest spots and local favourites.
We start your Riga city tour with a walk into the Art Nouveau district, admiring the architecture as you stroll along Elizabete and Alberta Streets back to Bastion Hill. Located in one of the city’s parks, this elevated manmade hill offers seriously impressive views across Riga to give you the lay of the land for your further exploration of this gorgeous city.
As we continue to tour Riga and head towards the market, we pass through the Old Town, stopping to visit the Riga Powder Tower. Around here you'll also find other unmissable sights dotted around the Old Town, including St Peter’s Church, the Riga Dome Square, Riga Cathedral, and Town Hall Square, where a little added insight from your local guide will help with you to beter understand it all. Take a step back in time on Skarnu Street, calling into Convent’s Yard, where the Castle of Sword-Beaers Order stood in the 13th-century. If you like, there is also plenty of time to see even more nearby Riga icons, such as the National Opera, Livu Square, Cats’ House and ‘The Three Brother’ ensemble.
Before leaving the city centre, we call into the Riga Central Market, housed in five old zeppelin hangars (how many other markets have you been to that are set in zeppelin hangars, eh?!), to witness the bustle of everyday life. Just next to the Riga Central Market you’ll find one of Riga's creative quarters – Spīķeri, where there are various art industries, nightlife venues, and restaurants.
Jump on a tram and head to the next creative Riga neighbourhood of Miera Street. Here, little shops, cafes, and all kinds of creative initiatives work side by side to create one of the hippest 'hoods in town. To get into the spirit of local life, you’ll be taken to a favourite local spot - a small, cosy café surrounded by wooden houses and a chocolate factory. Enjoy a drink, and take the chance to order some of the great local food and chat with the staff, if you'd like.
With full bellies, head back to Old Riga, paying a visit to another Riga creative quarter – Berga Bazars, which boasts both charm and buzzing metropolis. It’s a historical pedestrian village-like enclave surrounded by art and fashion shops as well as gourmet restaurants. Here the Riga Slow Food Market takes place on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, making Berga Bazaar the best place to purchase real, local, and traditional Latvian products in Riga.
Here in Berga Bazars this tour of Riga comes to an end. Your local guide will be happy to give you some other tips about where you can continue to explore local life in Riga, or they will also be able to give you directions back to your accommodation.
