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Riga is a city that blends medieval charm with bold Art Nouveau elegance and a creative, modern spirit. Its Old Town is a maze of cobbled lanes, colourful façades, and lively squares. Add bustling markets, panoramic viewpoints, and easy day trips to the coast or countryside, and you have a destination that’s as varied as it is welcoming. For all these reasons, Riga was a key highlight of my solo Baltic trip. In this Riga travel guide, I am happy to share some highlights to help you experience the best of Latvia’s capital at your own pace.
1. Riga Old Town – 2. House of the Blackheads – 3. Art Nouveau architecture – 4. St. Peter’s Church – 5. Central Market – 6. Freedom Monument – 7. Bastejkalna Park – 8. Canal Cruise – 9. Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ – 10. Jūrmala (day trip) – 11. Kemeri National Park (half-day trip) – 12. Sigulda & Gauja National Park (day-trip)
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12 Best Things to Do in Riga on a Budget (Especially for Solo Travellers)
1. Wander Through Riga Old Town
Start your Riga adventure in its UNESCO-listed Old Town, a maze of cobbled streets, colourful façades, and lively squares. This historic centre dates back to the Middle Ages, and many of its buildings still reflect Gothic, Baroque, and Art Nouveau influences.
Begin at Dome Square, home to Riga Cathedral, then follow the narrow lanes toward Town Hall Square where the House of the Blackheads stands as one of the city’s most striking landmarks.
💡 Tip: Visit before 10 AM for quieter streets and softer morning light for photos.
A walking tour is an amazing way to see Riga’s history come to life. This 2-hour Riga Old Town walking tour takes you past iconic landmarks, hidden courtyards, and centuries-old streets while your guide shares local stories and insider tips.
That being said, if you prefer to visit independently, here are some of my favourite sights within Riga’s Old Town:
Riga Cathedral (Dome Cathedral)
Dating back to 1211, Riga Cathedral is the largest medieval church in the Baltic States and a defining feature of the Old Town skyline. Its mix of Gothic, Baroque, and Romanesque styles reflects centuries of additions and renovations. Inside, don’t miss the world-famous pipe organ, one of the largest in Europe when it was built in the late 19th century.
Three Brothers House
These three side-by-side houses are the oldest residential buildings in Riga, each built in a different century. The oldest, from the late 15th century, has a simple Gothic façade, while the others show Dutch Renaissance and Baroque influences. Together, they tell the story of Riga’s architectural evolution.
Swedish Gate
Built in 1698, the Swedish Gate is the last surviving gateway from Riga’s old city walls. Legend says that flowers left in the small window above the gate meant a secret meeting with a loved one. Today, it’s a charming spot for photos and a reminder of Riga’s defensive past.
Livu Square
Once the site of medieval buildings, Līvu Square is now a colourful gathering place lined with cafés and flower beds. In summer, it’s one of the liveliest parts of the Old Town, perfect for people-watching or enjoying a drink in the open air.
Cat House
This quirky Art Nouveau building is best known for the two black cats perched on its turrets. According to legend, the cats were placed with their tails facing the Great Guild in protest during a dispute. Today, it’s one of Riga’s most photographed and light-hearted landmarks.
2. See the Iconic House of the Blackheads
Although the House of the Blackheads is technically within the Old Town, it is a highlight on its own! Standing proudly in Town Hall Square, the House of the Blackheads is one of Riga’s most photographed buildings. Originally built in the 14th century for a guild of unmarried merchants, it was destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in the 1990s with remarkable attention to detail.
Its elaborate façade is decorated with sculptures, coats of arms, and bright colours that make it stand out in any weather. You can admire it for free from the square or step inside to see exhibitions on Riga’s history and the guild’s legacy.
🎟️ Access to the House of the Blackheads costs 7€ for adults and 5€ for pupils, students, and seniors. You can purchase your ticket online here.
🕒 The House of the Blackheads is open everyday from 10.00AM to 5.00PM.
The name “House of the Blackheads” comes from the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild of unmarried merchants and shipowners whose patron saint, St. Maurice, was depicted as a Black African knight.
3. Admire Riga’s Art Nouveau Facades
Riga is often called the Art Nouveau capital of Europe, with more than a third of its buildings in this elegant style. The finest examples are on Alberta iela et une Elizabetes iela, where ornate façades feature sculpted faces, floral patterns, and flowing lines. These are a 30-minute walk from the Old Town, but well worth the detour in my opinion, if you are an architecture enthusiast like me.
Obviously, it’s free to stroll these streets and admire the details, but if you’re curious about the history and design, step inside the small Art Nouveau Museum, set in a beautifully restored apartment from the early 1900s. For a deeper dive, join an Art Nouveau walking tour and let a local guide reveal the stories and hidden details behind Riga’s most beautiful façades.
4. Climb St Peter’s Church Tower for a Panoramic View
For the best view of Riga, head to St Peter’s Church in the heart of the Old Town. The church itself dates back to the 13th century, though it has been rebuilt several times due to fires and wars. Today, its tall spire is one of the city’s most recognisable landmarks.
A lift takes you up to the viewing platform, where you’ll be rewarded with sweeping views over the Old Town’s red rooftops, the Daugava River, and the modern skyline beyond. On a clear day, you can even spot the TV Tower in the distance.
🎟️ Access to Riga’s Saint Peter Church and Tower costs 9€ for adults, 7€ for pupils, and 3€ for people aged 8-18. If you want to visit the church without access to the tower, prices are respectively 3€, 2€ and 1€.
🕒 Riga’s St Peter’s Church is open everyday from 10.00AM to 6.00PM.
5. Taste Local Flavours at Riga Central Market
✨ This guided Central Market Tour invites you to explore Latvia’s culinary heart, tasting everything from smoked fish and rye bread to seasonal berries, while learning the stories behind these local specialties.
6. Visit the Freedom Monument
The Freedom Monument is one of Riga’s most important symbols. Built in 1935, it honours those who fought for Latvia’s independence. The tall granite and copper column is topped by a statue of a woman holding three golden stars, representing Latvia’s historical regions.
It’s located at the edge of Bastejkalna Park, making it an easy stop on a walk through the centre. Soldiers stand guard at the base, and a changing of the guard ceremony takes place several times a day.
7. Relax in Bastejkalna Park
Right in the city centre, Bastejkalna Park is a peaceful stretch of greenery with a canal running through it, crossed by small bridges and lined with colourful flowerbeds in summer. It’s the perfect spot for a quiet break between sightseeing stops. You can sit with a coffee, watch the boats glide along the water, or simply enjoy the shade of the trees.
8. Embark on a Riga Canal cruise
A canal cruise is one of the most relaxing ways to see Riga. Small wooden boats glide along the city canal, passing under charming bridges and alongside the green banks of Bastejkalna Park. The route often continues onto the Daugava River, giving you a fresh perspective on the Old Town’s skyline and modern landmarks. Most cruises last about one hour, and you can board from several piers near the park.
✨ This popular Canal Boat Sightseeing Tour takes you past Riga’s top landmarks along the City Canal and Daugava River, all while enjoying a relaxing ride on an eco-friendly boat.
9. Step Inside the Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ
With its golden domes gleaming in the sunlight, the Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ is one of Riga’s most striking religious buildings. Built in the late 19th century, it was converted into a planetarium during the Soviet era before being restored as a place of worship. Inside, you’ll find colourful frescoes, intricate icon screens, and chandeliers (no photos allowed, though!).
🎟️ Access to the Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ is free.
🕒 The Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ is open everyday from 7.00AM to 6.00PM.
10. Take a Seaside Day Trip to Jūrmala
Just 30 minutes from Riga, Jūrmala is a beach town with kilometres of white sand, shallow water, and fresh sea air. The shoreline is backed by pine forests and dotted with charming wooden villas in pastel colours. The main street, Jomas iela, has plenty of cafés and restaurants. At the end of the street, there is an Eastern Orthodox Church that I really enjoyed visiting.
🚊 Trains leave very regularly from Riga Central Station, with tickets costing 1-3€. There are two train stations in Jūrmala: “Dzintari” and “Majori”. Check Riga-Jūrmala trains timetable and prices here.
11. Walk the Wooden Trails of Ķemeri Bog Boardwalk (Half-Day trip)
Ķemeri National Park is home to one of Latvia’s most beautiful bog landscapes. The wooden boardwalk trail winds through moss, small lakes, and open sky, offering a completely different side of the country’s nature. The short loop takes about 30–40 minutes, while the longer loop is just over an hour.
Sunrise here is magical, with mist hovering over the bog pools. To this day, walking alone in Kemeri bog right after sunrise, with the sound of birds and morning dew highlighting spider webs is still on of my fondest travel memory.
🎟️ Access to Kemeri Bog boardwalk is free.
🚊 Reaching Kemeri National Park via public transport is doable but requires some planning. About 10 trains leave daily from Riga Central Station, with tickets costing 2-3€. The journey lasts 1 hour. Then, it takes a 30 minutes walk in the forest to reach the park entrance. Check Riga- Kemeri trains timetable and prices here.
💡 Bring mosquito repellent! I learned the hard way the forest is infested with swarms of mosquitoes.
12. Explore Castles and Nature in Sigulda (Day Trip)
Known as the “Switzerland of Latvia,” Sigulda sits in the Gauja River Valley and is surrounded by forested hills and medieval castles. For a full-on day, I recommend taking the train early to Sigulda. Once you arrive, visit the Sigulda Castle and the nearby New Castle, then take the cable car over the Gauja River for spectacular views and access to Krimulda Manor. From there, walk through forest paths or take a local bus to Turaida Castle, the region’s most iconic red-brick fortress. The surrounding Turaida Museum Reserve includes folk sculptures and panoramic viewpoints. On the way back, if time allows, stop at the Gutmanis Cave, the oldest tourist attraction in Latvia and steeped in local legends.
🚊 Trains leave regularly (every 1-2 hours) from Riga Central Station, with tickets costing 2-4€. Check Riga-Sigulda trains timetable and prices here.
🎟️ Cable car tickets costs 9€ one-way for adults and 14€ both ways.
And that’s a wrap on the best things I recommend doing in Riga!
What next? Maybe you are pursuing your Baltic trip? Then, these articles may interest you:
✨ An Amazing Baltic Trip: Visit 3 countries in 10 days (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
✨ Vilnius Travel Guide: 12 Best Things to Do on a Budget (Perfect for Solo Travellers)
Where to stay in Riga?
Riga has a fantastic range of accommodation for every budget. For convenience and atmosphere, the best places to stay are in or just around the Old Town (Vecrīga).
🛏️ Voir plus available accommodation in Riga.
Please note that the prices mentioned above are indicated per night and based on the prices indicated in Summer 2025 for a stay during the summer. Prices are subject to fluctuation according to supply and demand, time of the year, and the will of the owners.
Is Riga safe for solo travel?
Yes, Riga is generally very safe for solo travellers, including solo female travellers. I never felt uneasy during my time here. The main streets and tourist areas are well-lit in the evenings, and the city’s compact centre means you’re rarely far from other people, even when wandering alone.
I spent my whole trip on my own and never once felt out of place. Riga has a friendly, easy-going atmosphere that makes you feel welcome within hours of arriving. If you’re considering visiting solo, especially as a woman, you can feel confident you’ll be safe and comfortable here.
I hope these suggestions of things to do in Riga have been helpful and informative!
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