Itineraries for Your Trip to Riga
2 Days in Riga for First Timers
I’ve had a soft spot for Riga ever since my first time in the Latvian capital. Like many first-time visitors, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this city by the Baltic Sea. But once I’d been, I realized that if travelers knew just how captivating the city’s Old Town, art nouveau architecture, and quiet ambience is, it would be an awful lot busier.
One visit to Riga wasn’t enough for me, so I returned for a much longer second stay, giving myself plenty of time to tick off the museums, neighborhoods, and cafes that I’d previously missed. If you don’t have the time for a protracted visit, you can still cover many of the highlights: here’s what to do with two days in Riga.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a walk through the city’s gorgeous Old Town.
Don’t bank on blue skies and hot days during summer in Riga; pack an umbrella just in case.
Riga Old Town is the best place to begin your time in the city; it’s where you’ll find many of the city’s most iconic landmarks. Join a walking tour or organize a private guide to show you around the historical center. Visit Riga Town Hall Square, the home of the House of the Blackheads, and other highlights such as Riga Cathedral and St. Peter’s Church.
Head outside of Riga Old Town for the afternoon to see other parts of the city. Start with a visit to Bastejkalna Park, then take a canal boat ride up to the equally pleasant Kronvalda Park. From there, it’s a short wall to the dynamic duo of Albert Street and Jauniela Street, two stretches famous for their art nouveau buildings; the Riga Art Nouveau Museum with its beautiful spiral staircase, sits on Albert Street.
Riga has become a popular destination for bachelor and bachelorette parties, but you don’t need the excuse of an upcoming wedding to experience the local nightlife. This evening, enjoy dinner at one of the many Old Town restaurants serving Latvian cuisine, then spend your night hopping between pubs and bars, independently or on a pub crawl.
Thanks to Riga’s small size, it doesn’t take long to escape the city and find yourself surrounded by nature. This morning, make an early start and travel—by car or train—out to the seaside resort of Jūrmala. Once there, you can enjoy the local beaches, admire elegant seaside villas, and explore the wetland bogs of Ķemeri National Park.
At lunchtime, return to Riga to explore more of the city—and its foods. Just across from the Old Town, near the bus and train stations, you’ll find the large Central Market, a maze of stalls selling fresh fruit, produce, and Latvian snacks you can browse through (and make a meal of). A short walk from there, you’ll find the Latvian Academy of Sciences, a towering building that offers panoramic views of the city.
Your time in Riga is drawing to an end, so on your last evening, take one last stroll in the Old Town after dinner and enjoy the city beautifully lit up at night. Alternatively, should you wish to squeeze in one last activity before dinner, there are a variety of interesting (and sometimes unusual) experiences available in the early evening, such as taking a craft class to learn to make your own glass plate.
