Riga Central Market & Traditional Food tasting experience
Recommended by 94% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Riga, Latvia
- 2 hours (approx.)
- Group discounts
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Navigate the charming bustle of Riga's Central Market on a food-tasting tour that introduces you to local dishes you might otherwise have missed. You'll taste a filling selection of 20 snacks, and delve deeper into the history of the UNESCO-listed center of the Latvian capital.
- Learn much more by touring with a guide than you would on your own
- This short tour is ideal if you're pressed for time
- Feast on more than 20 different tasters
- Travel with a small group of fewer than 15 people
What's Included
- Local guide
- Degustation of more than 20 different tastes of Latvian Gastronomy
- Full stomacks after the tour guaranteed for most :)
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Prāgas iela 1, Latgales priekšpilsēta, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia
Meeting point: Please meet your guide at the Narvesen kiosk outside Riga International Bus Station (Rīgas Starptautiskā Autoosta), Prāgas 1, Riga. Your guide will be waiting outside the main entrance and will be holding a yellow umbrella. We recommend arriving 5 minutes before the tour starts.
End point
- Rātslaukums, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia
Rātslaukums
Itinerary
1
Rigas Centraltirgus
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- A minimum of 4 people per tour is required!
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Suited for vegetarians upon prior notice!
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.7
based on 47 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
Elena showed us the markets with a wide selection of Latvian delicacies. The tastings were great and really informative.
The market is amazing for its variety. Unfortunately it was raining the day we were on tour but that’s the way it goes. Guide informative and explained the various foods and Latvian food culture/traditions. Food portions were small. Good for a basic overview.
Response from Host, Sep 2026
Thank you for joining our tour and for your kind words about our guide and the market! We’re sorry the weather wasn’t on our side, although unfortunately that’s beyond our control. Regarding the portions, our tour includes 20+ different tastings, so they are intentionally tasting-sized to allow guests to try a wide variety without excessive food waste. Larger portions would mean fewer tastings or a higher price.
See the Riga marketplace and enjoy genuine Latvian food with a knowledgeable and informative tour guide.
I really enjoyed learning about the central market and the foods of Riga/Latvia. I enjoyed tasting them even more!
My family and I had an absolutely wonderful time on this traditional food tasting experience at Riga Central Market!
The market itself is a fascinating place to explore our guide helped us navigate the maze of stalls with ease. We got to taste a wonderful variety of traditional Latvian foods, fresh rye bread and local cheeses to smoked fish, and some delicious sweet treats we'd never tried before. we even got to have a traditional Latvian meal! Full meal with a traditional summer dish (cold beat soup), warm beans in a meat sauce, and even two yummy deserts! Every single bite was flavorful, and it was so much fun trying things we wouldn't have known to order on our own.
What really made the experience special was our tour guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable about Latvian food traditions and history, sharing interesting stories and context behind each dish we tried. She was also so friendly and warm and everyone felt included and engaged throughout the tour.
We left with full bellies, new favorite snacks, and a much deeper appreciation for Latvian cuisine. Highly recommend this tour for families, food lovers, or anyone visiting Riga who wants an authentic, tasty introduction to the local culture!
Our guide never showed up. We called and they told us to walk 10 minutes away and still no guide. We waited for 30 minutes.
This was a great tour. We got to sample many yummy dishes mixed in with some history and a walk through of the market. At the end we went to a local venue and had a sit down meal. A nice surprise.
Engaging and interesting overview of Latvian cuisine and culture from a local perspective, with a wide range of samples—cheeses, soup, pestos, fish sandwiches, pudding, etc. The market is less traditional/ingredient-focused, one building is devoted to souvenirs and another has more of a food hall feel. That didn’t detract from the experience but something to keep in mind as far as what to expect.
Gunta was a great guide-knowledgeable, friendly, and willing to create a great experience for her guests. Love the different tastes and flavors we got to try
Truly Latvian traditional food choices, we
Learned alot about the history of the market, fun group, great guide
The experience started with an amble through the old town to the market which the guide made interesting. The tour of the market was good as was the food tasting. I had booked the vegetarian option for our friends and was slightly disappointed that when we were given the smoked chicken they were not given a suitable alternative resulting in them receiving less tasting samples.
For this tour we had to meet in the Smile line office which is located in The Blackheads building, to the left of the entrance. This needs to be made clearer in the instructions as many people had to be contacted by the organisers to direct them to the correct place.
Excellent and interesting food tour of Riga. Lots to taste and see. Gunta was a great and fun guide, sharing lots of stories and information .
This was a great introduction to Latvia food and the large central market. Sorry, I think the tour guide name was Ina? She was great, told us a lot of great info about various Latvian things. Her pace is a little on the quicker side which I appreciated. Starting the tour with balsam tastings was pretty cool.
The tour starts in the agencies office in the House of Blackheads with tasting of Riga black balsam. For those not drinking alcohol, apple juice from managers garden was served.
During the walk to the market the guide told us some interesting facts about Riga’s history.
In the market time flew very fast as we visited different hangars and have several tasting stops where we were sampled with traditional soup, grey peas, smoked chicken wings, rye bread in different usage, hemp based pestos, smoked sprats and herring fillet sandwiches and of course nice local cheese in three flavors. For the first time i tried a fresh birch tree sap which is very healthy seasonal beverage harvested only in the spring.
After all this well thought choices of sampling I really had a full stomach, so consider not to have a lunch before this tour. 100% recommend!
Excellent tour, great tasting and local knowledge. Great value, definitely a must do while in Riga. 😊
The tour was informative. I’d strongly recommend it to anybody interested in traditional gastronomy of Latvia. The tour guide is well-prepared for the tour. She was really kind also.
The Riga Central Market food tour with Gunta was the highlight of our trip! The tour was perfectly organised, showcasing a fantastic range of traditional Latvian foods and market specialities. Gunta was an exceptional guide - warm, engaging, and full of interesting information about the market's history and the city's food culture. Each tasting was thoughfully chosen, and you could tell she truly loves what she does. A wonderful way to experience authentic Riga.
Very informative, really enjoyable, well set up, the guide was professional, there were absolutely no flaws and the price is worth the experience.
Very knowledgeable guide, friendly and personable.
Great to taste local food and really enjoyed it.
Just felt that the actual food tasting was a bit rushed.
We didn’t get to taste the puddings in the photo, just couldn’t resist a photo. Bought some home too.
The guide was amazing and knowledgeable - she took us through Old Riga and gave us lots of historical context en route to the market. Gunta had a great sense of humour and answered all our questions and laughed at us with the pickled herring! Would highly recommend. Foods were interesting and on the whole tasty!!
Brilliant tour, lots of history provided by our tour guide. Pace was good, plenty of food to try (very authentic traditional Latvian food) lots of interaction and the market was fascinating.
It was an ok tour - we’ve been to other markets where they’re out of the ordinary, the market felt like a supermarket deli (reference UK supermarkets). The food was interesting and great quality, even if not to our tastes. I’d have personally liked more insight into Latvian history around food, but that’s also my preferred interest.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for your feedback. We’re glad you appreciated the food quality, even if it wasn’t to your personal taste. The Riga Central Market is a UNESCO site and deeply rooted in Latvian history and culture, so comparing it with the supermarket is not the best idea. While it may differ from more exotic markets which you like better, we assure you there are no snakes or unusual animals—just real, local life.
Alexander was a marvelous guide, friendly and very knowledgeable about the palace and the history it embodies. He made everything come alive.
The visit was made extra special because it had snowed the night before. Magical!
Excellent introduction to Latvia’s food culture with a solid dose of important history on top. Both the market and the halls that were open were exciting, and there was a feeling of getting a little closer to a "real" Latvia.
Our guide, Mikhail, was skillful and extremely knowledgeable. I highly recommend the trip.
Auto-translated
Good and well-read guide and nice layout. Gave a good taste of Riga and tips on things to try during the rest of the stay. Really recommended when in a city for the first time.
Auto-translated
From
-22%
$41.50
per personWas $53.20
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Special Offer
Riga Central Market & Traditional Food tasting experience
47
2 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$53.20
$41.50
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Riga, Latvia
- Latvian Academy of Sciences Observation Deck (Panorama Riga) Tours & Tickets
- Albert Street (Alberta Iela) Tours & Tickets
- Swedish Gate (Zviedru Varti) Tours & Tickets
- St Peter's Church Tours & Tickets
- Riga Town Hall Square (Ratslaukums) Tours & Tickets
- Riga Cathedral (Rigas Doms) Tours & Tickets
- Riga Castle (Rigas Pils) Tours & Tickets
- Jauniela Street (Jauniela Iela) Tours & Tickets
- House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju Nams) Tours & Tickets
- Riga Old Town (Vecriga) Tours & Tickets
- Latvian National Opera (Latvijas Nacionala Opera un Balets) Tours & Tickets
- Riga Art Nouveau Museum (Jugendstila Muzejs) Tours & Tickets
More attractions near Riga, Latvia
- Riga Old Town (Vecriga) Tours & Tickets
- St Peter's Church Tours & Tickets
- Latvian National Opera (Latvijas Nacionala Opera un Balets) Tours & Tickets
- House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju Nams) Tours & Tickets
- Riga Town Hall Square (Ratslaukums) Tours & Tickets
- Riga Castle (Rigas Pils) Tours & Tickets
- Riga Cathedral (Rigas Doms) Tours & Tickets