The city of Riga is the capital of the Eastern European nation of Latvia. Home to nearly a third of the nation’s population, the city is the largest among all the cities in the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. Riga dates back to the early 13th century, and since then, the city has firmly established itself as one of Europe’s cultural heavyweights. Read on to know all about the destinations in the Latvian Capital of Riga that make it one of Europe’s most special cities.
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1. Town Hall Square
The Town Hall Square in Riga is home to some of the city’s most iconic monuments, such as the House of the Blackheads and the Town Hall. The old-world design of these monuments makes it difficult to believe that the age of these structures is only slightly more than 20 years.
There’s also a Soviet structure from the 1970s, which was home to the Occupation Museum until a few years ago. Also worth seeing here is the Roland Statue, which depicts a legendary knight. It’s symbolic of the city’s privileges during the Medieval era.
2. Vecriga
Vecriga is Riga’s historic city center, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It features several social squares and cobblestone alleyways, along which the city’s oldest churches and residences can be found. It’s also one of the most popular destinations in Riga for tourists because of its number of museums, art galleries, and nightclubs.
It’s also the origin of one of Riga’s most iconic desserts, which features choux pastry, vanilla cream, curd, and sugar icing. If you want to take home a souvenir from the city, we recommend visiting Skru Street, which is full of arts and handicrafts shops.
3. Albert Street
Riga is famous for its Art Nouveau marvels, and Albert Street is one of the best places in the city to experience them. The street functions like an outdoor architecture gallery and its Art Nouveau architecture was all constructed in a short span – from 1901 – to 1908. Eight structures on Albert Street are designated state monuments of Latvia.
The credit for the roadway’s design goes to Mikhail Eisenstein, a Russian architect. However, Konstantin Peksens, one of Latvia’s most prominent architects, also had a hand in bringing the design of Albert Street to life.
4. Freedom Monument
The Freedom Monument is an iconic landmark located in Vecriga’s east, and it commemorates the Latvian soldiers. They gave their lives in the battle against the Soviets in Latvia’s War of Independence. The war was waged during the 1918 – 1920 period, and the monument was established 15 years after the war’s end – in 1935. It has a height of 42 meters.
Liberty’s copper sculpture can be seen clutching three golden stars at its top. The approach toward the monument’s base features 13 relief groups, which depict images and allegories from Latvian culture along with some iconic national heroes.
5. Riga Cathedral
The Riga Cathedral functions as the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church’s Archbishop seat. The building dates back to the 13th century, but it’s seen countless renovations since it was first established on the Daugava River’s right bank. Its spire top features a cockerel that weighs 86 kg – similar to other churches in and around Vecriga.
The Romanesque cloister, which is among the building’s oldest parts, is worth visiting. The cathedral used to be home to a Dome Pipe Organ in the 16th century – the world’s largest back then. However, a fire hazard in 1547 destroyed the organ. It was later rebuilt in the late 19th century with 6,718 pipes.
6. Ethnographic Open Air Museum
The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum is situated on Lake Jugla’s east bank. It’ll take approximately 30 minutes to reach the museum from Riga’s city center by car. If you’re curious about the country’s culture, this is one of the destinations in Riga you must visit. The museum features 118 traditional Latvian buildings from all the provinces of Latvia. They were painstakingly rebuilt here after they were transported.
The oldest building is from the 17th century, whereas the most modern building dates back to the 20th century. The contrast between the cultural differences of the Zemgale, Vidzeme, Latgale, and Kurzeme provinces is on show here. The museum was established in 1824, and it turned into a haven for skiers in the winter months.
Consider booking your next trip to Latvia and to make your trip planning easier, browse through Latvia itineraries and find the trip that best fits for you!