Latvia is a country in northern Europe on the east coast of the Baltic Sea. Riga, its capital city, is located on the banks of the Daugava River. I spent 2 days exploring this wonderful city and all it has to offer!
Arriving at Riga Airport:
There is nothing better than gazing out of the plane window when landing, especially in a new country. You get a first glimpse of the landscape and what the country looks like as you fly over. The approach from the north into Riga Airport showcases the coastline, a long beach and vast forests. From this direction if you are sitting on the left side of the plane (unfortunately I wasn’t) you get an aerial view right over the city. My flight landed just before 9 AM, catching the last few moments of golden glow from sunrise.
Getting from the Airport to the City:
Riga has a relatively small airport with limited transport options into the city. The airport is easy to navigate, and as soon as I had exited the terminal building, there was a bus waiting to take me into the city. I took the number 22 bus which runs directly from the airport to the heart of the city in roughly 35 minutes.
Arriving into Riga City Centre.
I was the last one off the bus at the final stop. As always, I had no fixed plan other than to explore. My hotel was a short walk, so I headed there first to check its location, though it was far too early for check-in.
A short walk from my hotel I came across the Latvian Academy of Sciences. Outside, I noticed a sign for a panoramic viewing platform offering citywide views. One ticket costs 8 Euros. I did not go up however, but next time I will!
From here, I hopped on a tram, riding 3 stops into the city. Consulting the map I downloaded on my phone, I decided to head toward the Cathedral located in the old town.
What to see in Riga:
Riga’s Old Town:
I spent much of my time wandering through Riga’s old town. Once you enter you are greeted by cobblestone streets and stunning architecture. It is easy to get lost among the winding streets, admiring the beautiful buildings, restaurants and cafes, made even more picturesque by the cloudless blue sky above.
The cathedral sits at the heart of the old town and is a magnificent structure. From there, you can explore in any direction and stumble upon more architectural wonders. Nearby, you’ll find the House of the Blackheads, Riga Castle, museums, Līvu Square, The Three Brothers and more. I could have spent an entire day strolling through the cobbled streets. In fact, I ended up returning the next day to see what I had missed!
Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ:
This is the largest Orthodox Church in Riga and it is eye-catching. Surrounded by green space with plenty of seating, it’s a great spot to relax and admire the building. Outside, there’s a blue tree covered with dozens of bird boxes, which I find quite unique.
Riga Central Market:
This bustling market is a paradise for food lovers. There is so much going on. Market vendors selling an incredible variety of meats, fruits and vegetables which have to be some of the freshest I have ever seen. There are stalls both outside and inside the massive halls, including one dedicated entirely to meat. If you arrive hungry, good luck resisting the temptation to sample everything! If I lived in Riga, this would be where I get all my groceries from.
National Library of Latvia:
You can’t miss it. This modern building stands out dramatically against Riga’s skyline. Located across the river from the old town, it is ‘one of the most significant cultural and scientific buildings in Latvia’, it is ‘depicting a glass mountain or a symbolic Castle of Light’, according to the leaflet I found in the hotel. Up close it is a striking building. Entry is free, and the open, spacious interior is equally impressive.
Riga TV and Radio Tower:
This structure looks like something straight out of a sci-fi film. It is the 3rd highest TV tower in Europe and is not hard to miss. Getting there is a little tricky, you have to take a bus that drops you on the side of a highway, followed by a 20 minute walk along a less-maintained path. However it is worthwhile if you want to see it up close and the walk there provides good views across the river on both sides of the island. You can go up the tower but only during certain times of the year usually in late spring and summer.
Green Spaces in the City:
Riga boasts beautiful parks and green spaces, particularly near the old town. A small river meanders through the green spaces. Both days I enjoyed sitting in the sun on one of the many benches eating my lunch and taking in the peaceful surroundings. It is a lovely place to walk through away from the busy city life surrounding them.
Ķīšezers Lake:
This was an unexpected find on my visit to Riga. I took tram number 11 from the city centre, initially planning to ride just a few stops but ended up staying on right until the end of the line, Mežaparks, the station after Riga Zoo. From there it was a short 5 minute walk to the shores of the lake. The lake has a small beach where I was and you could see right over the other side of the shore. I can only imagine how nice it would be to sit lakeside on a warm summer day.
Exploring beyond Riga:
One thing I would like to have done if I had longer in Riga would be to venture beyond the city. Riga is surrounded by forests which I briefly caught glimpses of on the tram journey to the lake. The tram stop at Riga Zoo seems to be an entry point into vast woodlands. There is also an extensive coastline to be explored! I only saw a fraction from the window of the plane. Jurmala Beach is one particular I would love to have visited. This only gives me a reason to come back and explore more!
Getting Around Riga: Public transport
Public transport in Riga is straightforward and reliable. Some stops (not all) have live departure boards showing upcoming buses and trams. To make life easier, I purchased a 3 day ticket which covered my entire stay in Riga. The 3 day ticket cost 8 Euros (£6.75), this is valid for unlimited journeys on buses, trams and trolleybuses, it also includes the airport bus. This I believe is fantastic value for money. There are other ticketing options depending on your length of stay. I used the mobile app called ‘Mobilly’ which I found easy to use and it was great the entire time.
Tip: Once you have purchased your ticket you need to activate it in the app. Once it is activated you can use it. One thing to note when using public transport in Riga is you have to validate your ticket every time you get on a different vehicle. For example if you take a bus and then a tram straight after or even a bus and then another bus you have to validate your ticket each time you get on a new vehicle. To do this you open the Mobilly app and it will prompt you to scan a QR code. Inside every vehicle there are QR codes dotted about on the doors and windows, they are hard to miss. Scan the QR code in the Mobilly app and your ticket will be validated. If a controller asks to see your ticket you show them your validated ticket inside the Mobilly app. It is straightforward to use however can be a bit tricky when the vehicle is full and people are in front of the QR code but you’ll see locals in all sorts of poses trying to scan the QR code, myself included!
I also found using the citymapper app incredibly useful while in Riga, it has detailed trip instructions that help navigating journeys in the city. It was super useful when I wanted to visit the national library, tv tower and to and from the airport.
Is Riga Safe?
Absolutely. Every Latvian I met was super friendly and helpful, from the hotel staff to the restaurant staff. I felt completely safe walking through the city, even at night.
Tips for visiting Riga:
- Download a map that you can access offline in case you lose signal
- Ensure your mobile data plan covers you in Latvia to avoid extra charges.
- Use apps such as citymapper and Mobilly for purchasing public transport tickets.
- Latvia uses the Euro and most places seem to accept both cash and cards. At the markets however, it seemed to be a cash only affair so make sure you have enough when visiting!
- Learn a few basic Latvian phrases to help you when necessary and be polite by saying please and thank you in Latvian. A lot of the younger generation appeared to speak quite good English but don’t be afraid to say words in Latvian!
My Overall Experience:
I loved Riga! It was a fantastic city to explore. I loved exploring the old town, greenspaces and the rest of the city. I highly recommend visiting and can’t wait to return to explore the forests, beaches and other surrounding areas.
Paldies Riga!
