Beautiful Art Nouveau Tour of Riga

This tour will introduce you to the so-called "beautiful era", when Riga was one of the wealthiest cities in Europe. Learn more about art nouveau architecture and understand why it’s one of the main reasons Riga is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Duration 3 hours

Private tour available in English, German, Russian

Private tour pricing from 70 EUR per person

Group tour available in English

Group tour pricing from 80 EUR per person

Liga guided us around Riga in a very comprehensive tour of its Art Nouveau buildings. She even managed to get us into a wonderful building with a stunning set of murals depicting day and night (that was worth the price of admission alone!). We are great fans of the Art Nouveau era but still found much that was new and exciting during this vibrant tour. Highly recommended!

Highlights

Learn more about art nouveau architecture

Find out what the symbols that adorn the luxurious façades mean

Visit the Art Nouveau Museum and discover what life was like in Riga at the beginning of 20th century

Get familiar with the masterpieces of Latvia’s most famous architects

Hear stories about interesting people who lived in these buildings

Description

When walking the streets of Riga and admiring the stunning art nouveau buildings, you might think “What a beauty contest!” This luxurious, totally decorative style of architecture is one of the main reasons why the historical centre is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Art nouveau architecture in Riga exists well beyond Alberta Street. There are almost 800 buildings featuring decorative symbols, each with its own meaning. Most of these buildings survived the 20th century, and during this tour we’ll explain how and why.

We’ll also explain the messages hidden behind the bright façades, and show you some of the hidden treasures that only the locals know about.