A first-time guide to Rīga, Latvia

06.08.2024 - 21:00 / lonelyplanet.com

Aug 6, 2024 • 9 min read

Latvia’s capital can cast a spell on even the most experienced travelers. It’s a city where medieval mysteries live alongside contemporary art performances, hundreds of Art Nouveau buildings line historic streets, and the city’s flourishing culinary scene offers traditional Latvian dishes and modern Nordic cuisine. Yet, Rīga is largely undiscovered by mass tourism. It’s perfect for appreciating a tranquil and cultural city without a crowd.

Whether you prefer warm summer nights or fresh winter mornings, walking around art galleries or spending time in nature, going to local alternative bars or extravagant concert halls, Rīga offers it all.

The best time for visiting Rīga is summer, when everything is green, the days are long and warm, and there is plenty of sunshine. In the middle of June, the sun rises as early as 4:30am and sets as late as 10:20pm. What could be better than sipping a sparkling drink on a terrace, or listening to live music late in the evening while it is still pleasant and light outside? Summertime in Rīga comes with many open-air concerts and other cultural events, most of which are free to attend. 

Rīga’s cultural life peaks in August, when the city celebrates its anniversary offering a wide range of events. With the average temperature around 20℃ to 25℃ (68℉ to 77℉), and only rarely reaching 32℃ (90℉), Rīga is an excellent summer destination for escaping the heatwaves of the southern countries.

If you are not afraid of cooler weather, a lack of sunlight and possibly heavy rainfall, then other seasons work just as well. Late spring comes with wonderful blossoms in the parks and green spaces of Rīga. Early autumn paints the whole city golden. The middle of winter might surprise you with a marvelous Christmas atmosphere: lovely craft markets, aromatic mulled wine, and white snowflakes falling from the pitch-black sky. Avoid visiting Rīga in November or February, which are usually the dreariest months of the year. 

If you spend only a weekend in Rīga, you can probably see the most important sites. You can walk around the charming cobblestone streets of the Vecrīga (Old Town), where a rich variety of architectural styles from Gothic to Modern stand side by side. Visit picturesque sites such as the House of the Blackheads, St. Peter’s Church, Rīga Dome Cathedral, Three Brothers, and the Great Guild; walk along the canal; go to the Freedom Monument and the magnificent Latvian National Opera and Ballet building. 

Leave some time for exploring the famous Art Nouveau district around Alberta Street ⁠– a place likely to leave you speechless. Visit some of Rīga’s finest museums, such as the Latvian National Museum of Art, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, and the Zuzeum