Things to do in Riga
Stroll through Old Town's meandering streets stopping at Riga Cathedral, Latvia's largest church, and St Peter's Church for great views. Visit Alberta iela for Art Nouveau architecture in New Town or take a tram across the river to the Left Bank for a glimpse of Riga's Soviet legacy at the Soviet Victory Monument. Most museums ask for a small entrance fee and are usually open Tuesday to Sunday 11am-5pm.
Museums and Galleries
Expand all1. Riga Motor Museum - Antique cars
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The Riga Motor Museum is Mežciems' claim to fame. The largest antique car museum in the Baltics boasts Stalin's ZIS 115 limousine, a Rolls Royce from the Kremlin's collection and a Lincoln Continental given to Brezhnev by Richard Nixon.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Ls1
Opening Hours
Daily 10am-6pm
Address
6, E. Eizensteina iela, Riga, LV-1079
Telephone
+371 67 09 71 70
2. Occupation Museum of Latvia - Latvia's tragic history
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The ugly black building that houses the Occupation Museum in Old Town is perhaps symbolic of the dark periods experienced by Latvians under the Nazi and Soviet regimes. Exhibitions include a life-size recreation of a Siberian gulag barracks.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Free
Opening Hours
May-Sep daily 11am-6pm; Oct-Apr Tue-Sun 11am-5pm
Address
1, Strelnieku laukums, Riga, LV-1050
Telephone
+371 7 212 715
3. Ethnographic Open Air Museum - 16th-19th century life
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Located on the Bergi lakeshore, the Ethnographic Open Air Museum offers a glimpse of Latvian life between the 16th and 19th centuries. Dozens of original wooden homes, churches, taverns and farm buildings have been reassembled to be preserved for posterity.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Ls0.75-1.50
Opening Hours
Daily 10am-5pm
Address
440, Brivibas gatve, Riga, LV-1056
Telephone
+371 67 99 45 15
Transport
Bus 1 from Terbatas to the Brivdabas muzejs stop
Website
Attractions
Expand all4. Soviet Victory Monument - Riga's communist legacy
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The tower of the Soviet Victory Monument on the Left Bank and its gold stars can be seen from across the river. Statues of Mother Russia and Communist soldiers surround this controversial symbol, hated by Latvians and revered by Russians.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
Left Bank, Uzvaras parks, Riga, LV-1048
Transport
Tram 10 from Grecinieku to Slokas
5. St. Peter's Church - Old Town's tallest building
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Erected in 1209, the Old Town's tallest structure was badly damaged in World War II. However, St Peter's famous copper spire was rebuilt and now serves as an observation deck for anyone willing to pay for the lift ride.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Ls0.50; Ls2 for the lift
Opening Hours
Tue-Sun 10am-6pm
Address
19, Skarnu iela, Old Town, Riga, LV-1050
Telephone
+371 67 22 94 26
Transport
On foot
6. Riga Cathedral - Latvia's largest church
Show more Riga Cathedral's red brick walls and black steeple dominate Old Town's central square. Built in 1211, it's famous for its size, stained glass and pipe organ, which was once the world's largest. Its Romanesque cloister is also worth a look.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Ls1.50
Opening Hours
Daily 10am-6pm
Address
1, Doma laukums, Old Town, Riga, LV-1050
Telephone
+371 67 21 32 13
7. Riga Zoo - Baltic's first zoo
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Occupying nearly 20 hectares of the posh Mežaparks neighbourhood, Riga Zoo houses hundreds of animals from wolves, polar bears and kangaroos to lions and giraffes. There's also a modern tropical building housing insects, rare birds and reptiles.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Cost
Ls3.5
Opening Hours
May-Sep daily 10am-6pm; Oct-Apr 10am-4pm
Address
1, Meža prospekts , Mežaparks, Riga, LV-1014
Telephone
+371 67 51 84 09
Special things to do
Expand all8. Alberta iela - Art Nouveau masterpieces
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Nearly every building on Alberta iela in New Town is an Art Nouveau masterpiece including No 2 where philosopher Sir Isaiah Berlin was born. Enter No 12 to view a six-story winding staircase decorated in this extravagant style.Show this on mapE-mail this item
Address
Alberta iela, New Town, Riga
Transport
On foot.
9. The Brothers Cemetery - War memorial
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Built to honour thousands of Latvian soldiers who fell, mostly during the First World War and the Latvian War of Independence, The Brothers Cemetery was designed by the well-known Latvian sculptor Karlis Zale (of Freedom Monument fame).Show this on mapE-mail this item
Opening Hours
Daily 8am-5pm (until 9pm Sat & Sun)
Address
1, Aizsaules iela, Riga 1026
Transport
Tram 11 to "Brâïu kapi" (Brothers Cemetery) stop
