Discover Rīga: Old Town, Art Nouveau and the Daugava

Rīga combines a historic centre with a European-influenced urban history, significant art and varied paths along the water. Rīga’s historic centre preserves evidence of European influence on the city’s historical development. It has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997.

Getting there and getting around

Bus No. 22 takes about 40 minutes from Rīga Airport to the city centre. Trams, trolleybuses and buses are among the most important forms of public transport in the city. Rīga Old Town is about a five-minute walk from Riga Central Station.

Culture and history

Rīga’s Old Town began developing in the early 13th century around a trading port connected to important cities of the Hanseatic League. In the Art Nouveau district, elaborately decorated façades from the early 20th century line entire streets. Rīga’s Art Nouveau architecture is concentrated in the so-called Quiet Centre, about a ten-minute walk from the Old Town.

The Latvian National Museum of Art was designed between 1903 and 1905 specifically to house art. Its permanent exhibition covers Latvian art from the 19th and 20th centuries; the museum also houses the largest collection of artworks created in Latvia. The Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation was founded in 1773 and is located in the historic ensemble of Riga Dome Cathedral. A 13th-century ship, referred to as the “Riga ship”, is also on display there.

The Latvian National Opera and Ballet has been operating on Aspazijas Boulevard since 1923. In a single season, it presents more than 200 performances in total. Alongside the historic ensembles and museums, regular stage performances are therefore also a cultural feature of Rīga’s cityscape.

Market and Latvian specialities

Riga Central Market is located in former Zeppelin hangars that were converted into market pavilions. The five pavilions offer Latvian specialities such as smoked fish and rye bread. The Riga Central Market site is an integral part of Rīga’s Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nature and urban landscape

Riga Zoo is the oldest zoo in the Baltic states. In Bastejkalns Park, narrow paths wind through a rock garden; the park is also characterised by a cascade of water and views of the city. The Daugava promenade on the right bank of the Daugava extends from the Old Town to the Ķengarags district of Rīga.

Riga by Canal offers boat trips along the City Canal and on the Daugava. For cyclists, a seven-kilometre cycle path connects Rīga’s city centre with Mežaparks and runs through a lush pine forest. Rīga also offers several opportunities to rent SUP boards, rowing boats or kayaks.

Seasons and activities

The changing seasons are also reflected in the city’s public landscapes and activities. In Rīga, azaleas, magnolias, rhododendrons, roses, peonies and dahlias are presented seasonally. Azaleas bloom from February to April, magnolias in spring, rhododendrons at the beginning of summer, roses and peonies in midsummer, and dahlias in autumn. In winter, Uzvaras Park is transformed into a cross-country ski trail.

Beyond Rīga, this regional level includes Baldone, Mārupe and Riga.

For the higher-level travel overview: Latvia.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Cesvaines Novads, Skrundas Novads, Jelgavas Novads, Raunas Novads, Lubānas Novads.