Riga

Old Town gems, markets & Soviet-era views

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Riga is one of the most rewarding places to explore, and this local guide brings together the best things to do, where to eat and where to stay in one place. Highlights include Vecaki Beach, Latgale Market (Latgalite Flea Market) and Rozena Street. Food lovers should not miss Gauja (Soviet-style bar) and Parunasim kafe'teeka. Below you will find 13 hand-picked local recommendations across sights, restaurants, hotels and tours, which you can filter by category and budget to plan the perfect trip, whether you have a weekend or a week.

Riga at a glance

Ideal stay: 2 to 3 days
Best time to visit: spring and autumn
Highlights: Vecaki Beach and Latgale Market (Latgalite Flea Market)
Where to stay: Old Town and Zakusala
Local picks: 13 hand-chosen recommendations
Getting around: walkable, plus easy public transport

Local tips for Riga

Stories and neighbourhood know-how from our local guides.

Local tipsBest Things to Do in Riga: A Local’s GuideThe best things to do in Riga, chosen by locals: top sights, where to eat, where to stay and the…

Where to stay in Riga

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Old Town

Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs

A cavernous cellar folk club in the Old Town with the city’s biggest range of Latvian beer and cider on tap, hearty modern-traditional food, and live folk music five nights a week (plus folk dancing on Wednesdays). Rowdy, warm and thoroughly local.

Old Town

Funny Fox

A fun, high-energy cocktail bar in Riga’s Old Town, known for playful drinks, dancing and a buzzy weekend crowd. A reliable spot to kick off (or keep going) a night out in the centre.

Centrs

Gauja (Soviet-style bar)

A tiny bohemian bar styled like a 1960s-70s Soviet apartment – vintage furniture, board games and old magazines, going for 40+ years. A history lesson and a great bar in one, with local poems instead of a Lenin bust. Tip: try a Brengulu beer.

★ 4.5

Gauja, kafejnīca

Gauja is a little bar reminiscent of a typical Soviet apartment. Everything inside is from the 60s and 70s, including the board games and magazines. Slip into this little slice of bohemia…

Centre

Grand Poet Hotel

A sleek design hotel overlooking the Bastejkalns park.

★ 4.6

$$$

Latgale Suburb

Latgale Market (Latgalite Flea Market)

Widely called the best flea market in the Baltics – a sprawling hunt for trash and treasure on Riga’s Latgale side: old books, Soviet records, cameras, tools, bikes, even phones. Haggle hard. Note: parts have been cleared and its long-term future is uncertain.

★ 4.4

Latgale Suburb

Latvian Academy of Sciences (Panorama Riga)

Riga’s ‘Stalin’s birthday cake’ – the 1958 Soviet high-rise whose rooftop terrace is the city’s best observation deck, with sweeping skyline views (marketed today as Panorama Riga).

★ 4.5

Latvian Academy of Sciences Observation deck

Im not sure locals love this building but it does add to Riga’s skyline.

Old Town

Neiburgs Hotel

An Art Nouveau boutique hotel tucked into the medieval old town.

★ 4.5

Old Town

Parunasim kafe’teeka

Old Town’s hidden treasure – a cosy café tucked in the courtyard of St. James’s Cathedral, all carefully chosen vintage detail and famous for gorgeous home-baked cakes. Its name means ‘let’s talk’. Find it beside the Saeima (Parliament).

★ 4.6

Parunāsim kafe’teeka

This is Old Town’s hidden treasure and by hidden I mean – literally. It’s located in a small courtyard and not just any but a church courtyard! Cakes are their speciality, they…

Centre

Riga Art Nouveau Walking Tour

A guided walk through the old town and the worlds finest Art Nouveau quarter.

★ 4.5

Centre

Riga Central Market

A vast, atmospheric market housed in five old Zeppelin hangars.

★ 4.5

Zakusala

Riga TV Tower

The 368-metre Riga TV Tower on an island in the Daugava is the tallest structure in the European Union, a striking tripod-legged landmark. Its observation deck has been undergoing long renovation, so check whether it’s open before making the trip.

Robert’s Books

Robert’s Books has the best selection of used and new English-language books in Latvia. They have a wide range of affordable books about all the possible topics, including books on Latvian history,…

Old Town

Rozena Street

One of Old Riga’s hidden gems – the shortest and narrowest street in the city (with long-enough arms you can touch both walls). Usually quiet, with a beer garden and a medieval-style restaurant at either end.

★ 4.5

Old Town

Rozena Street (Rozena iela)

One of the shortest and narrowest streets in Riga’s Old Town, a quiet hidden gem tucked between two historic ends.

Vecaki

Vecaki Beach

One of Riga’s three official seaside swimming beaches, in the leafy northern suburb of Vecaki – a summer sunbathing spot and, for locals, a year-round place to walk and clear the mind. Easy to reach by train (~25 min), bus or the Riga-Mezaparks-Vecaki cycle route.

★ 4.5

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Riga travel FAQ

How many days do you need in Riga?

Two to three days is enough to enjoy the highlights of Riga at a relaxed pace.

Where is the best area to stay in Riga?

Stay central and walkable to the main sights for a first visit.

What are the best things to do in Riga?

Browse the local picks above, from top sights and museums to where to eat and stay. Or read our best things to do in Riga guide.

What is the best time to visit Riga?

Spring and autumn usually bring the most comfortable weather and thinner crowds, though Riga is worth visiting year-round.