In this guide
💡 The Short Version: Riga is the largest city in the Baltic states, with a medieval Hanseatic Old Town, a large Art Nouveau district and museums on the Soviet and Nazi occupations. Most museums close on Mondays (including the Latvian National Museum of Art and the Art Nouveau Museum), and the KGB Corner House guided cell tour is the one sight that needs advance online booking. Bus 22 runs from Riga Airport to Old Riga in about 30 minutes for €1.50. Almost everywhere takes cards, public transport needs a ticket scanned on every vehicle you board, and hotels add a tourist tax per person per night (children under 18 exempt). Or book a tour: an Old Town walking tour with a local guidead or a Central Market Latvian food tourad is sold on GetYourGuide.
In a day you can see the carved masks and sphinxes on Alberta iela, buy smoked fish in the Central Market’s former zeppelin hangars, and finish with a glass of Riga Black Balsam, the herbal liqueur, in an Old Town bar.
What to Book in Advance vs Walk In
Most museum and sightseeing tickets are sold at the door, usually without a queue.
| Sight / Activity | Advance Booking | Adult Price | Opening Times & Scheduling Advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| House of the Black Heads | Walk in | €10.00 | Open daily 10:00–17:00. Check official calendar for private state reception closures. |
| St. Peter’s Church Tower | Walk in | Pay at the desk | Tower lift included. |
| Riga Dome Cathedral | Walk in / Online concerts | Concert €15 | Closed to tourists on Sunday mornings for worship. |
| KGB Corner House (Stūra māja) | Essential online (bezrindas.lv) | €15.00 (ground floor free) | English tours run at 11:00, 12:00, 13:00, 15:00, and 16:00. Cells accessible only by guided tour. |
| Museum of the Occupation of Latvia | Walk in | €8.00 | Open daily 10:00–18:00 on Latviešu strēlnieku laukums 1. Free entry on national commemoration days. |
| Latvian National Museum of Art | Walk in | €7.00 (€15 combined) | Tuesday to Thursday 10:00–18:00, Friday to 20:00, weekend to 17:00. Closed Mondays. |
| Riga Art Nouveau Museum | Walk in | Pay at the desk | Alberta iela 12. Tuesday to Sunday 10:00–18:00. |
| Riga Castle & Three Brothers | Walk in | Free exterior | Three Brothers facades viewed freely 24/7; Castle open Wednesday to Sunday 10:00–18:00. |
| Rundāle Palace Day Trip | Walk in / Online | €17.00 combined | Open daily 10:00–18:00 from May to October and 10:00–17:00 from November to April. |
| Sigulda & Gauja National Park | Walk in / Train ticket | Turaida €9.00 | Aerial cable car operates weather-permitting. |
| Jūrmala Day Trip | Train station ticket | €1.50 train fare | Trains run every 20–30 min to Majori station. Coastal beach is free open access. |
| Fine Dining (3 Pavāru, Milda) | Reserve 1–2 weeks ahead | €€€ | Essential for weekend dinners; Milda closed Mondays. |
Weekly Rhythm: Closed Days and Operational Hours
- Monday Closures: These are closed every Monday:
- Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMM).
- Riga Art Nouveau Museum (Alberta iela 12).
- Art Museum Riga Bourse (Mākslas muzejs Rīgas Birža).
- National History Museum of Latvia inside Riga Castle.
- Fine-dining restaurant Milda.
- Open Seven Days a Week: The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, the KGB Corner House (exhibitions and tours), the House of the Black Heads and the Central Market are open daily (note that individual Central Market trade pavilions carry out monthly deep-cleaning maintenance on the first Monday of each month).
- Sunday Morning Church Services: Riga Dome Cathedral is reserved for Lutheran worship on Sunday mornings, opening for tourist sightseeing and cloister walks at 14:00.
- National Commemoration Closures: Major state museums close on Midsummer (23 and 24 June), Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (24 and 25 December), and New Year’s Day (1 January). On Latvian Proclamation Day (18 November), municipal institutions operate special schedules with free admission at the Occupation Museum.
Transport and Arrival Logistics
Old Riga is pedestrianised; for anywhere else you use the Rīgas Satiksme buses, trams and trolleybuses.
Airport to City Centre
- Bus 22: Departs outside Arrivals Hall E every 10 to 15 minutes. Journey time is 25 to 35 minutes to Grēcinieku iela (southern edge of Old Town) and Central Station. Tickets cost €1.50 when purchased in advance (Narvesen kiosk or Mobilly app) or €1.81 when paid directly to the driver with a contactless card. Consult our dedicated Riga Airport to city guide for full stop maps.
- Night Bus N22: Operates hourly between 00:30 and 04:30 for late-night flight arrivals.
- Bolt App / Taxis: Book Bolt in the app; official airport cabs (Baltic Taxi, Red Cab) run on the meter.
City Transit Rules
- Fares: Standard single 90-minute tickets cost €1.50 (unlimited transfers; final tap allowed up to minute 89). Unlimited time passes cost €5.00 for 24 hours, €8.00 for 3 days (72 hours), and €10.00 for 5 days.
- Mandatory Scan: You must scan your yellow paper e-talons or phone app QR code on every vehicle you board, even when transferring. Travelling without a scanned ticket brings a penalty fare. Review full ticket details in our Riga public transport guide.
Money, Tipping and Accommodation Tax
Latvia has used the euro (€) since 2014.
- Card Acceptance: Contactless cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay are taken almost everywhere. Carry cash for small market stalls and public toilets.
- Tipping: Discretionary: 10% for good table service in sit-down restaurants; rounding up the bill at bars and cafes.
- Tourist Accommodation Tax: Riga charges a municipal accommodation tax per person per night; children under 18 are exempt. See our money and costs guide for the rules.
Where to Stay in Riga
- Vecrīga (Old Town): Best for a first visit, with the main sights on the doorstep. Hotels include the five-star Grand Hotel Kempinskiad, the boutique Neiburgs Hotelad, and the cheaper Wellton Riverside Spa Hotelad.
- Centrs & The Boulevard Ring: Just across the canal parklands, with 19th-century architecture and the train and bus stations.
- The Quiet Centre (Klusais centrs): The embassy and Art Nouveau district, with bistros and residential boulevards.
Hotels, spas and boutique options are in our where to stay guide.
Complete Riga Travel Guide Directory
Sights, dining, neighbourhoods, day trips and itineraries:
Historic Sights & Ticket Guides
- St. Peter’s Church Tower: The 123-metre Gothic spire, the viewing platform lift and tickets.
- House of the Black Heads: Hanseatic merchant history, 14th-century brick cellars, grand ballroom, and silver collection.
- Riga Dome Cathedral: The medieval cathedral, its 6,718-pipe organ, the cloister and midday recitals.
- Riga Castle and the Three Brothers: The medieval fortress on the Daugava and Riga’s oldest stone residential dwellings on Mazā Pils iela.
- Freedom Monument and Bastejkalns: Honour guards, Bastion Hill parkland, canal boat tours, and twentieth-century memorial stones.
- Free Things to Do in Riga: Free architectural walks, parks, markets and free museum entry days.
20th-Century History & Architecture
- Art Nouveau Alberta Iela: Mikhail Eisenstein’s dramatic facades, the Quiet Centre walking route, and the Pēkšēns spiral staircase museum.
- Latvian National Museum of Art: Jaņa Rozentāla laukums, Vilhelms Purvītis landscapes and the restored glass roof terraces.
- Museum of the Occupation of Latvia: The Black Prism memorial, Soviet and Nazi occupation timelines, and Siberian deportee artefacts.
- KGB Corner House (Stūra Māja): Guided tours of the basement interrogation cells, exercise cages, and chequered history on Brīvības iela.
Food, Drink & Local Culture
- Riga Central Market Guide: Zeppelin hangar navigation, smoked fish, rye bread, pickled garlic, and the Spīķeri creative quarter.
- Where to Eat in Riga: Traditional grey peas at Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs, modern Baltic cuisine at 3 Pavāru and Milda, and budget Lido bistros.
- Riga Black Balsam and Bars: Herbal elixir tasting notes, cocktail recipes, craft beer cellars, and craft gin distilleries.
- Riga Christmas Market and Winter: Doma laukums festive stalls, gingerbread, mulled wine, snow conditions, and winter hours.
Logistics, Transport & Practical Advice
- Riga Airport to City Centre: Bus 22, night bus N22, Bolt app rides, licensed airport taxi tariffs, and return journey directions.
- Public Transport in Riga: The 90-minute unified ticket (€1.50), tram lines 1 and 11, validation rules, and penalty fares.
- Money in Riga: Euro currency details, cashless card acceptance, tipping customs, bank ATMs, and municipal tourist tax rules.
- Is Riga Safe?: Petty crime hot spots, nightlife bar scam history, taxi precautions, public drinking laws, and emergency numbers.
- Best Time to Visit Riga: Month-by-month weather averages, daylight variations (18h vs 6.5h), seasonal boat schedules, and festivals.
- Where to Stay in Riga: Old Town vs Quiet Centre vs Boulevard Ring, with direct booking links and hotel reviews.
Curated Itineraries
- Riga in 1 or 2 Days: Focused 24-hour and 48-hour walking schedules covering Old Town, Art Nouveau, and Central Market.
- 3 Days in Riga: Three days of city sights plus one regional day trip.
Regional Day Trips from Riga
- Day Trips from Riga Overview: Direct rail and bus transit comparisons for palaces, national parks, and Baltic beach resorts.
- Rundāle Palace Day Trip: Rastrelli’s Baroque palace, the Golden Hall, White Hall, French rose gardens, and Bauska bus connections.
- Sigulda and Gauja National Park: The “Switzerland of Vidzeme”, Livonian Castle ruins, Gutman’s Cave, and Turaida Medieval Reserve.
- Ķemeri National Park Bog Boardwalk: The 3.4 km Great Ķemeri Bog boardwalk loop, observation tower, mineral springs, and Ķemeri station trains.
- Jūrmala Day Trip: Baltic white-sand beach, Majori pedestrian promenade on Jomas iela, and ornate wooden seaside architecture.
Itineraries
Day-by-day plans for a first visit.
Itinerary
Riga in 1 or 2 Days: City Break Itinerary
How to see Riga in 1 or 2 days: day-by-day walking routes through Vecrīga, Central Market, Alberta iela Art Nouveau, viewpoints and museum booking logistics.
Itinerary
3 Days in Riga: Long Weekend Itinerary
A 3 days in Riga itinerary: Vecrīga's medieval core, Alberta iela Art Nouveau, Central Market, and choosing between Sigulda, Rundāle Palace or Jūrmala.
Which ticket to buy
The official ticket, the tours that include entry, and which sells out first.
Tickets
House of the Black Heads Riga: Tickets & Tour
House of the Black Heads in Riga: €10 entry, opening hours, Celebration Hall ballroom, 14th-century medieval cellars, the silver collection and Town Hall Square.
Tickets
St. Peter's Church Riga: Tower Climb & Tickets
St Peter's Church in Riga: the lift to the 72-metre viewing platform, how the ticket desk works, the golden cockerel and panoramic skyline views.
Tickets
Riga Dome Cathedral: Tickets, Organ & Hours
Riga Cathedral: €15 midday organ recitals, the 6,718-pipe Walcker pipe organ, Romanesque cloister and Dome Square logistics.
Tickets
Latvian National Museum of Art: Tickets & Hours
Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga: €7 permanent collection, €15 combined ticket, Friday late opening to 20:00, roof terraces and Purvītis masterworks.
Tickets
KGB Corner House Riga: Tickets & Cell Tours
KGB Corner House (Stūra māja) in Riga: €15 guided basement cell tours, booking in advance, free ground-floor exhibition, Soviet Cheka history and visiting logistics.
Tickets
Occupation Museum of Latvia: Tickets & Guide
Museum of the Occupation of Latvia in Riga: €8 admission, daily opening 10:00 to 18:00, Gunnar Birkerts' House of the Future, Gulag barrack exhibits and audio guides.
Day trips from Riga
Out and back in a day, with the tours compared against going on your own.
Day trip
Day Trips from Riga: Jurmala, Sigulda & Rundale
Day trips from Riga compared: Jūrmala beaches, Sigulda castles, Rundāle Palace, Ķemeri Bog and Cēsis, with train times, bus connections and entry costs.
Day trip
Jurmala Day Trip from Riga: Beach & Train Guide
Jūrmala day trip from Riga: train to Majori in about 30 minutes, quartz sand beach, Jomas iela pedestrian street, historic wooden Art Nouveau villas and Dzintari forest tower.
Day trip
Sigulda Day Trip from Riga: Castles & Valley
Sigulda and Gauja National Park day trip from Riga: train times, €9 Turaida Castle, cable car, Gutman's Cave, Livonian Order castle ruins and hiking trails.
Day trip
Rundale Palace Day Trip from Riga: Bus & Tickets
Rundāle Palace day trip from Riga: public bus via Bauska, €17 combined tickets, opening hours, Rastrelli's Golden Hall, the French rose garden and visiting tips.
Day trip
Kemeri Bog Boardwalk Day Trip from Riga: Guide
Great Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk day trip from Riga: trail loops, observation tower, train from Riga, nature trails, peat pools and practical visiting tips.
Where to stay
Areas and hotels, chosen for a visitor rather than a resident.
Airport transfers
From the airport to the centre, every option priced and timed.
Getting around
Tickets, passes and the transport a visitor actually uses.
What's on, month by month
Festivals, holidays and closures that change a visit.
Food and drink
Where to eat, what to order and when to book.
Food and drink
Riga Central Market: Zeppelin Hangars & Food Guide
Riga Central Market: the five Zeppelin hangars, opening hours, smoked fish, Baltic rye, artisan cheeses, where to eat, tastings and practical market logistics.
Food and drink
Riga Black Balsam & Bars: Herbal Liqueur Guide
Riga Black Balsam and where to drink it: the 1752 secret recipe, Abraham Kunze, Black Magic apothecary bar, Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs, Skyline Bar and craft beer taprooms.
Food and drink
Where to Eat in Riga: Best Restaurants & Dishes
Where to eat in Riga: traditional grey peas with speck, Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs, Milda, 3 Pavāru, Lido cafeterias, Central Market seafood and modern Baltic dining.
More guides
Guide
Riga Art Nouveau Guide: Alberta Iela & Museum
Riga Art Nouveau architecture guide: Alberta iela, Eisenstein's facades, Elizabetes iela, National Romanticism and the Art Nouveau Museum tickets and hours.
Guide
Freedom Monument Riga & Bastejkalns Canal Park
The Freedom Monument in Riga and Bastejkalns park: the 42.7-metre obelisk, hourly guard change, Soviet-era survival, canal boat cruises and the 1991 memorials.
Guide
Three Brothers & Riga Castle: Medieval Guide
The Three Brothers on Mazā Pils iela and Riga Castle: the Latvian Museum of Architecture, the castle history museum, presidential residence and Castle Square.
Guide
Free Things to Do in Riga: Walks & Viewpoints
Free things to do in Riga: the Swedish Gate, Bastejkalns, the Freedom Monument's hourly guard, Alberta iela's Art Nouveau, Central Market and free museum days.
Guide
Money in Riga: Currency, Tipping & Tourist Tax Guide
Money in Riga: the euro, card acceptance, bank ATMs, tipping, the municipal tourist tax and ticket and transport prices.
Guide
Best Time to Visit Riga: Weather & Seasons Guide
When to visit Riga: July highs of 23.8°C, November highs of 4.8°C, seasonal canal boat schedules, daylight swings from 18 to 6 hours, and festival dates.
Guide
Is Riga Safe? Practical Safety & Scam Prevention Guide
Is Riga safe for tourists? Practical guidance on petty crime hot spots, night-time safety, taxi scams, public alcohol laws, winter walking, and emergency contacts.
Plan your trip
The rules and costs that apply to every city on the site.
Common questions
What should I book in advance for a trip to Riga?
Very little requires weeks of anticipation, but guided cell tours of the KGB Corner House (Stūra māja) must be booked online at bezrindas.lv as English slots sell out. High-end restaurants such as 3 Pavāru and Milda require advance table reservations. Sightseeing tickets for St. Peter's Church, Riga Dome Cathedral, and the House of the Black Heads are easily purchased on the day at the door.
What is closed on Mondays in Riga?
Several major museums close on Mondays: the Latvian National Museum of Art (LNMM), the Riga Art Nouveau Museum, the Art Museum Riga Bourse, and the National History Museum in Riga Castle. The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, the KGB Corner House and the House of the Black Heads remain open seven days a week.
How do I travel from Riga Airport to the city centre?
Take municipal bus 22 directly from the passenger shelter outside Arrivals E. The ride to Grēcinieku iela on the southern edge of Old Riga takes 25 to 35 minutes and costs €1.50 with a pre-purchased ticket or €1.81 paid directly to the driver with a contactless card.
Does Riga charge a tourist accommodation tax?
Yes. Riga charges a municipal accommodation tax per person per night. Children under 18 are exempt, and the hotel collects it at check-in or check-out.
When does the Riga Christmas Market take place?
The primary Old Riga Christmas Market takes place on Doma laukums from late November (around 27 November) through early January, featuring artisan wood chalets, glühwein, and festive concerts.