
Riga
About
Discover the history of Riga
Latvia's capital, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is renowned for its striking Art Nouveau architecture and picturesque medieval Old Town with cobblestone streets and lively squares. Museums, galleries, and concert halls fuel a vibrant cultural scene, while the Central Market—housed in converted zeppelin hangars—showcases local life. Winter transforms Riga into a Nordic wonderland: snow adorning Art Nouveau facades, Christmas markets at Dome Square, ice skating on frozen canals, and traditional sauna culture. Short days and crisp air offer chances to catch the Northern Lights. Parks and gardens round out this dynamic urban landscape where history meets modernity.
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Discover the best attractions in Riga and its surroundings
Riga Central Market
Its five halls were assembled between 1924 and 1930 from the steel frames of German zeppelin hangars, in a functional Art Deco style. Still a working food market, it is UNESCO-listed together with the historic centre.
The Freedom Monument
The Freedom Monument is a 42-meter limestone sculpture commemorating Latvia's independence, standing at the heart of Brīvības bulvāris, a tree-lined boulevard featuring cultural institutions and public spaces.
Bastejkalna Park
Hilly green space with man-made cascades, small bridges, sculptures & a swan house on the canal.
House of the Black Heads
Destroyed in 1941 and levelled in 1948, the guild house of the Blackheads, a brotherhood of unmarried merchants, was rebuilt to the original design and reopened in 1999. The stepped gable, medieval cellars and reception rooms are open to visitors on Town Hall Square.
Dome Square
The largest paved square in the old town opens at the foot of the cathedral, whose 19th-century organ is heard at regular recitals, with Latvian Radio along one side. The Christmas market is held here in December.
Latvian National Museum of Art
National museum of art housed in an imposing building with a Baroque & classicist-style facade.
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