In this guide
💡 The Short Version: The main market is on Dome Square (Doma laukums), under the spire of Riga Dome Cathedral. It runs from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027 with free admission, with wooden chalets selling Latvian wool mittens, amber and hot blackcurrant Black Balsam. Two smaller markets run in Esplanāde park (home of the Rabbit Kingdom, a village of live rabbits) and on Līvu Square. Or book a tour: an Old Town walking tour with Christmas marketsad is sold on GetYourGuide.
⚠️ Order the hot Blackcurrant Balsam. Instead of standard red mulled wine, ask for Karstais Melnais balzams: steamed blackcurrant juice with 30% Black Currant Riga Black Balsam and a cinnamon quill, served in ceramic mugs.
The 1510 Christmas tree tradition
Riga claims the first public Christmas tree. In the winter of 1510, according to the records of the Brotherhood of Blackheads, the guild’s unmarried foreign merchants gathered outside the House of the Black Heads on Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums):
- They decorated a fir tree with ribbons, dried fruit and paper flowers.
- After singing hymns and dancing around it, they set the tree on fire to mark the return of the sun.
- A commemorative marker in eight languages sits on the spot. Each December the city puts up a large decorated spruce beside it.
Dome Square Christmas market: food, crafts and entertainment
The main market fills Doma laukums (Dome Square), the cobbled plaza between the cathedral and the guildhall facades.
Dates and operational hours
- Dates: 27 November 2026 through 3 January 2027
- Monday to Thursday: 11:00 to 21:00
- Friday and Saturday: 10:00 to 22:00
- Sunday: 10:00 to 20:00
- Christmas Eve (24 December): 10:00 to 18:00
- New Year’s Eve (31 December): 10:00 until after midnight, with a live DJ and countdown
- Admission: Free of charge
Artisan Baltic crafts
The wooden chalets sell Latvian handicrafts:
- Wool mittens (rakstainie cimdi): Sheep’s wool mittens knitted in double yarn with traditional geometric symbols such as the Sun, the Morning Star and the Tree of Life.
- Baltic amber: Earrings, brooches and polished worry stones.
- Woodcarvings and ceramics: Juniper wood butter knives, cutting boards, honey dippers and earthenware mugs.
- Beeswax candles: Hand-rolled candles made from Latvian honeycomb.
Seasonal foods and hot Black Balsam drinks
- Karstais Melnais balzams (hot Black Balsam): Blackcurrant Riga Black Balsam blended with hot cloudy apple or blackcurrant juice, spiced with cloves and cinnamon, and served with a slice of orange.
- Karstvīns (mulled wine): Red wine simmered with cardamom, cinnamon, orange zest and raisins, with non-alcoholic hot fruit versions.
- Piparkūkas (spiced gingerbread): Crisp Latvian biscuits spiced with black pepper, ginger, cloves, nutmeg and coriander, cut into festive shapes and iced.
- Braised sauerkraut and sausages: Pork sausages and smoked bacon fried in large iron pans, served with sauerkraut cooked with caraway and apples.
- Pelēkie zirņi (grey peas): Bowls of grey field peas stewed with diced speck and browned onions, eaten with a wooden fork.
Secondary markets: Esplanāde and Līvu Square
Two other central markets run over the same dates.
1. Esplanāde Park Christmas Market
In the park beside the golden domes of the Russian Orthodox Nativity Cathedral and the Latvian National Museum of Art:
- Lights: The park trees are strung with fairy lights.
- The Rabbit Kingdom (Trušu pilsētiņa): A miniature wooden village of multi-storey houses, church towers and windmills, populated by live rabbits.
- Rides: A retro carousel and a family Ferris wheel with views over the park.
2. Līvu Square Christmas Market
On Līvu laukums, between the Great Guild and the Cat House:
- An open-air fire pit, live acoustic folk music, craft winter ales and roasted nuts.
Winter activities in Riga
- Open-air ice skating: Public rinks operate through the winter in Esplanāde park and the Spīķeri quarter behind Central Market. The Lido Atpūtas centrs complex on Krasta iela has a 3,000-square-metre lit outdoor ice track with skate rental.
- Cathedral concerts: The 6,718-pipe Walcker organ in Riga Dome Cathedral is played at Advent and Christmas concerts, and there are choral performances in St Peter’s Church.
- Cross-country skiing: When snow settles, lit ski trails open in Uzvaras Park (Uzvaras parks) on the left bank of the Daugava, with ski and boot rental on site.
Practical winter packing and visiting tips
- What to wear: Temperatures mostly sit between 0°C and -8°C, with a wind off the Gulf of Riga. Wear thermal base layers, a fleece, a windproof, water-resistant down parka, a woollen hat that covers your ears, insulated gloves, and waterproof boots with grooved rubber soles.
- Walking on snow and ice: Snow is cleared from Old Riga’s pedestrian alleys, but the cobblestones can be slick with black ice below zero. Avoid smooth leather soles and use the handrails on bridge ramps.
- Daylight: In December the sun rises around 08:45 and sets by 15:45. Do outdoor sightseeing and viewpoint climbs between 10:30 and 14:30, and keep museums and the market for late afternoon, when the lights are on.
What to explore next
- Riga Black Balsam and Bars: The history of Latvia’s herbal liqueur, first made in 1752, and where to drink it.
- Riga Dome Cathedral Tickets & Organ Recitals: Midday organ recitals a few steps from the Christmas market.
- Where to Eat in Riga: Old Town taverns serving grey peas and pork ribs.
- Where to Stay in Riga: Spa hotels with heated pools and saunas.
- Best Time to Visit Riga: Compare winter holidays with summer white nights and autumn foliage.
Common questions
What are the dates for the Riga Christmas Market 2026?
The primary Riga Christmas Market on Dome Square (Doma laukums) runs from Friday 27 November 2026 through Sunday 3 January 2027. Smaller satellite markets in Esplanāde park and on Līvu Square operate over the same period. Admission to all markets is free.
What are the opening hours of the Dome Square Christmas Market?
The Dome Square market is open Monday to Thursday from 11:00 to 21:00, Friday and Saturday from 10:00 to 22:00, and Sunday from 10:00 to 20:00. Special holiday hours operate on 24 December (10:00 to 18:00) and on New Year's Eve, 31 December, when stalls remain open past midnight.
Did the Christmas tree tradition originate in Riga?
Riga claims it did. According to the Brotherhood of Blackheads' records from 1510, the members decorated a fir tree with paper flowers, carried it across Town Hall Square, danced around it and burned it at midwinter.
What should you eat and drink at the Riga Christmas Market?
Hot Riga Black Balsam with blackcurrant juice and cinnamon, mulled wine (karstvīns), peppered gingerbread biscuits (piparkūkas), pork sausages with braised sauerkraut, and grey peas with speck.
How cold does Riga get in December and winter?
Temperatures mostly sit between 0°C and -8°C, and fall below -10°C in cold snaps. Snow is common from mid-December through February. Pack a warm coat, thermal layers, a windproof hat, gloves, and waterproof boots with grippy soles for the cobblestones.
