A Weekend Guide to Riga, Latvia

Weekend guide to Riga, Latvia! 

A few weeks after I came back from my most recent trip back to Riga, Latvia, my friend Devlin sent me a voice note saying he’s craving a “cold weather with cozy vibes and a sauna followed by smoked fish and pickled vegetables and hard liquor” type of experience, suggesting we book a trip somewhere east. East of Poland, that is. If you’ve ever craved something like that, look no further. 

I present you with a truly unsolicited weekend guide to Riga, which is nicknamed ‘The Pearl of the Baltics.’ Bet you’ve never heard that one! It’s true, though! Riga is full of gorgeous architecture and the most charming old town, and it’s small enough that a weekend trip is the perfect amount of time. Also, especially in the capital, you'll find that most Latvians are bilingual (Latvian and English), often trilingual (speaking Russian, too). 

Lots of people have never even heard of Latvia, so here’s some trivia for your next pub quiz:

• It’s sometimes called the ‘Paris of the North’ 
• Kristaps Porziņģis is Latvian 
• Winston Bishop played on Latvia’s 8th best basketball team for 2 years 
• Latvia has the tallest women in the world 
• Riga-born Jacob W. Davis invented jeans!

During my year abroad, I spent the second half of the year in Riga. I lived with a host mom along Brīvības street, which is the longest street in Latvia (fun fact!) but basically just connects the historic old town to areas further outside the city. That being said, I spent my 3 months there right in the center, and it’s been 3 years and I still won’t shut up about how much I loved Riga. Of all the cool places I’ve lived, I dare say Riga might have been my favorite, and that’s no small feat. I wouldn’t say I’m an expert on Latvia or even Riga, but I certainly am an enthusiast. 

Another good thing about Riga is that it’s so small that I never once used public transport to move around the city… like, ever. It’s the most walkable place I’ve ever lived, but just because it’s condensed does not mean it’s boring! 

Guide to the Old Town 

The Old Town of Riga is super easy to navigate, because you really can just follow Brīvības street, which is a straight line. You don’t have to go in this order, obviously, but I mapped out these stops starting at the bottom and going up, so if you do follow this order, you’re set for your itinerary. 

The KGB museum (‘The Corner House’) 

In this ‘house’ is where the KGB used to operate from in Riga. It’s perfectly preserved in time, and it’s an eerie glimpse at what went on in these prison cells, offices, and interrogation rooms. The only way to go inside the museum is through a guided tour, which isn’t very expensive and is totally worth it. 

Riga Nativity of Christ Orthodox Cathedral

This one’s pretty impossible to miss, literally– it’s enormous and gold-plated (and free to enter)!

Bastejkalna Park

To be honest, I never even knew the name of this park, but we’d go here most days, especially in the warmer months (which, by the way, is a GREAT time to visit Latvia)! You can’t get into the Old Town from Brīvības street without passing through it, and it’s just so lovely. 

Freedom Monument 

Can’t miss it, literally – she’s a glorious giant woman carrying 3 stars. And, FYI, this monument is the start of Brīvības Street (‘Brīvības’ means freedom)!

Old Town!

I can’t even say one specific thing in the Old Town to target, the whole area is just so beautiful. A few hours is perfect to mill around the old buildings and pop into artisanal shops (maybe buy something made of amber, the national gem of Latvia?).

I’d also recommend coming back here at nighttime to hit the bars and clubs! 

St. Peter’s Church

Can climb up for a nice view of the city (but, in my opinion, the view from the Radisson Blu Skybar is even better)

House of the Blackheads 

To be honest, I've never actually been inside, but it’s an iconic image of Riga and per Google images, the inside looks gorgeous. 

Riga Central Market 

This market mostly sells food (prepared and fresh), and if you’re coming from outside Eastern Europe, it’s pretty cool to see the kinds of things they sell. Caviar, smoked fish, kvass… they have it all. 

Food, drinks, restaurants and bars to try!

All of my Latvian friends are (understandably) incredibly proud of their Latvian heritage, so I feel it’s my duty with this blog post to share some parts of Latvian culture that you simply must try when visiting. 

Black Balsam (duh)

Black Balsam is the national drink of Latvia. It’s an herb liquor created in 1752, and it comes in a variety of different flavors. 

At Black Magic in the Old Town, you can do a tasting session that delves into the history of the medicinal drink. This one is definitely unique to Latvia, and something you DEFINITELY have to try when you’re there. 

Lido (restaurant)

Lido is something of a staple in Latvia. It’s a chain of quick-service restaurants, and all the employees dress up in traditional Latvian garb. It’s probably the easiest (and cheapest) way to get a taste for traditional Latvian cuisine, so I highly recommend you try it! 

Honey beer (Medalus) 

A personal favorite of mine, this honeyed beer is delicious. Not every bar sells it, but you can even buy it in grocery stores for real cheap. 

Latvian/Baltic fried garlic bread (Ķiploku grauzdiņi)

This is a call to battle for all my garlic lovers in the house. It’s rye bread fried with a ton of garlic, and if you can find it fresh from a bakery or a restaurant, it’s an absolute must-try. It’s like garlic bread on steroids.

Molberts ice cream 

When it was warmer, my friends and I frequented this place. They make their ice cream (and the cones) in-house, and they have tons of unique flavors (such as Earl Grey, chocolate sausage with marmalade, and honey cake with lingonberries)! It’s one of my favorite ice cream shops in the world, and I never jest about ice cream. 

Kūkotava bakery

This pastry shop/cafe has the best pastries around, and the prices are wonderfully inexpensive. 

Radisson Blu Sky Bar 

This sky bar is free to enter and supremely cool. Compared to some bigger European cities, the prices for cocktails aren’t as crazy as you’d expect at a nice rooftop bar. Plus, it’s indoors, so you’ll be warm in the winter, and truly has the best views of Riga from all angles. 

All in all, I’ll never stop recommending people visit Latvia. It’s so unique, and the people are so proud of their heritage, it’s just an incredible and immersive experience. As I said with my Edinburgh post, please feel free to contact me for more information on Riga!