Riga Region Things to Do

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Most Viewed Things to Do in Riga Region

101.

St. Peter's Church   Riga

St. Peter's Church, Riga

 62 Reviews  St. Peter's Church [1209], is named after Saint Peter. A rather plain looking Church on the outside, it's built of stone which probably saved the Church from being devastated by the fire that burnt... 

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102.

Old Town   Riga

Old Town, Riga

 53 Reviews  Bastion Hill was a beautiful garden that was a real pleasure to walk through. The landscaped garden was begun in 1881, and is very pretty, as a brook with many waterfalls runs through the Park, and... 

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103.

Art Nouveau Buildings   Riga

Art Nouveau Buildings, Riga

 35 Reviews  This building was a different, brightly coloured design. It was an apartment house and shop, and is known for the blossoming foliage-shaped corner with a stylised sun above. Designed in 1903 by... 

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104.

House of Blackheads   Riga

House of Blackheads, Riga

 41 Reviews  Unfortunately, the lovely "House of Blackheads" I was viewing today, was not old, it was only completed in 1999. World War II, and because the House of Blackheads was one of the most impressive... 

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105.

Central Market   Riga

Central Market, Riga

 22 Reviews  Riga Central Market, one of the largest markets in Eastern Europe, is visited daily by 80,000 to 100,000 people. It was wow! How big is this place, certainly the biggest Market I have ever been to!... 

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106.

Freedom Monument   Riga

Freedom Monument, Riga

 49 Reviews  The Freedom Monument is a symbol of freedom, sovereignty and an independent Latvia. The Monument honours soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence (1918–1920). This impressive monument... 

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107.

Three Brothers   Riga

Three Brothers, Riga

 19 Reviews   These residential buildings are charming, looks so much to be medieval. It is said, these three brothers (Tri Brali) are best examples of medieval buildings in Riga. The three brothers are different... 

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108.

Swedish Gate   Riga

Swedish Gate, Riga

 16 Reviews  The Old Town of Riga used to be surrounded by walls on all sides, but now-days, not much is left. The Invaders tore must of them down in the 1800s. The Swedish Gate is an attractive city gate, so... 

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109.

Museum of the Occupation of Latvia   Riga

Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, Riga

 26 Reviews  I decided to view this museum as I had previously visited the Freedom Museum in Estonia..The museum was Established in 1993 to show what happenend here in Latvia during the years of Occupation from... 

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110.

Dome Cathedral   Riga

Dome Cathedral, Riga

 38 Reviews  The Dome Cathedral is the largest place of worship in the Baltics The foundation stone of the Dome was laid in 1211, when Bishop Albert had a great plan of building a church, a monastery, some more... 

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111.

National Opera   Riga

National Opera, Riga

 23 Reviews  The National Opera House is set in a lovely position overlooking some very nice Parks and gardens. The Theatre is affectionately known as “The White House,' and when viewing it, I could see why! An... 

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112.

Powder Tower   Riga

Powder Tower, Riga

 24 Reviews  This lovely old tower with Ivy growing over the red bricks, was once used for storing Gun Powder. Built in the 14th century, the building is now part of the Museum of War, with displays including... 

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113.

Riga Castle - Rigas Pils   Riga

Riga Castle - Rigas Pils, Riga

 20 Reviews  Riga Castle was built in 1330 in the old Town as the residence for Master of Livonian Order. Originally the castle was fortress-like 3 story building with an inner courtyard and four towers. Since... 

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114.

Daugava River   Riga

Daugava River, Riga

 15 Reviews  The Railway Bridge connects the two banks of Riga that are divided by the Daugava River. I happened to see this Bridge when I was having a look at the central markets. The Bridge was built in 1872,... 

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115.

Orthodox Cathedral   Riga

Orthodox Cathedral, Riga

 21 Reviews  The Nativity of Christ Cathedral is surrounded by a lovey park. Built in the Neo-Byzantine style between 1876 and 1883, during the period when the country was part of the Russian Empire, it is the... 

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116.

Cat House   Riga

Cat House, Riga

 16 Reviews   Not every house has a cat in the roof :) But in Riga - yes, it is :) The house surely has the Cat name after two black cats put on the roof. The owner of the house turned cats’ tails into the Guild... 

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117.

Latvian Riflemen Monument   Riga

Latvian Riflemen Monument, Riga

 13 Reviews  The Red Riflemen Monument is another impressive monument and also a very controversal! The monument was built in 1970, to honor the Latvian red Riflemen who guarded Lenin during the Russian... 

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118.

Musicians of Bremen Monument   Riga

Musicians of Bremen Monument, Riga

 8 Reviews  The Musicians of Bremen Statue is strategically placed between three major churches in Riga, Saint Peter's, Saint John's and Saint George's churches. The German city of Bremen, by the way, is twinned... 

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119.

Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum   Riga

Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum, Riga

 6 Reviews  I will confess up front that I am a complete sucker for 'skansen' type museums, so the fact that we made a beeline for the open air ethnographic museum just outside Riga should come as little... 

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120.

Jurmala Beach   Riga

Jurmala Beach, Riga

 6 Reviews  If you fancy something of a change from the city, then I can very well recommend a visit to the water park at Jurmala. It must be a good 20 miles out of town, but you can get there very quickly and... 

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121.

Bastejkalns Park   Riga

Bastejkalns Park, Riga

 9 Reviews  Coming over Bastion Hill you’re greeted by an outdoor dance floor filled with energetic couples. Welcome to Bastejkalns Park. A little further on you come to Lover’s bridge (second picture) where... 

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122.

Laima Clock   Riga

Laima Clock, Riga

 12 Reviews   Hard to say for me why Laima clock is famous in Riga, but anyway it was nice to see how it looks. This clock was donated by Laima chocolate manufacturer, and the main thing people like it as it is... 

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123.

Academy of Sciences   Riga

Academy of Sciences, Riga

 13 Reviews  The Academy of Sciences was a building that caught my attention, as it looked something like the American Empire state building! This tall building was built between 1953 and 1956, as a gift from the... 

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124.

Great and Small Guild   Riga

Great and Small Guild, Riga

 10 Reviews  Located next to each other in Riga, is the Small and Great Guild Halls, both impressive buildings. The Great Guild [1354], was a Merchant's organization for German merchants. The first building from... 

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125.

Bastion Hill   Riga

Bastion Hill, Riga

 7 Reviews   Bastejkalns is one of the parks that surround Old Riga Town. Bastejkalns in translation to English mean The Bastion Hill, so from the name we can guess that this place was very significant for the... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

House of Blackheads

by Dabs

You can tell by the appearance of the House of Blackheads that it is relatively new construction, rebuilt in 2001 as an 800th birthday present to the city.The original structure was built in 1344, destroyed in 1941 during WWII and totally flattened by the Soviets seven years later.In it's original incarnation, the House of Blackheads was rented out to the Blackheads Merchant Guild, the Blackheads being an organization of unmarried foreign merchants. The explanation of the name might be that the patron of Blackheads was St. Mauritius, the black officer of the Roman Thebes legion. As far as I know, the Blackheads name had nothing to do with acne :-)We learned later that the day we were here, the Mayor of Moscow was paying a visit and here I was thinking the brass band was there to welcome me :-)Closed Monday

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Dome Cathedral

by Dabs

The Dome Church has very limited visiting hours so we didn't get a chance to look inside. It's closed on Sunday and Monday, open from 13:00-17:00 Tuesday-Friday, 10:00-14:00 on Saturday.It is the largest cathedral in the Baltics, built in the beginning of the 13th century. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times, so it is a composite of different architectural styles. The last reconstruction was in 1776. The famous organ was made in 1884, but since we didn't get to go in we didn't see it.There was a car show going on in the square when we went by which is why there are cars in my photo.

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Three Brothers

by Dabs

The "Three Brothers" are residential dwellings, the white building (#17) on the right is the oldest dwelling in Riga, built in the 15th century. The middle "brother" (#19) was built in 1646 and the green building on the left (#21) is from 1718.

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St. Peter's

by Dabs

This was our first stop on our tour of Old Riga as it was just minutes from our hotel, Radi un Dragi.The mayor of Moscow was in town visiting the square outside of St. Peter's the first time we tried to visit, a very severe lady came rushing out shooing us away-"tomorrow, tomorrow". Of course tomorrow was overcast and cold and Sunday to boot, so we had to wait until mass was finished at noon, as a result our visit to the top of St. Peter's was short and sweet and we didn't get much of a look at the main part of the church as it was closed for a wedding.For a great view of Riga, buy a ticket (1.6 lv) for the tower at the main entrance to the church, then go to the side, walk up a couple flights of stairs to the lift. But wait until you have a warm sunny day :-) See my travelogue for some photos of the view.There was also an interesting exhibit on Moscow in the side part of the church, but...

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Russian Orthodox Cathedral

by Dabs

We timed our visit here perfectly, shortly after we walked out the visiting Mayor of Moscow and his entourage pulled up and we wouldn't have been able to go in.During the Soviet occupation of Riga, this domed cathedral was used as a planetarium but is once again used as a church.

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House of Bleackheads 2

by ginte

Due to their exceptional status the Blackheads played an important role in the society life and traditions; many VIPs of that time (including Russian tsars) took part in events organized by the Blackheads. As a German merchant club the Brotherhood of Blackheads existed in Riga until 1939.

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House of Blackheads

by ginte

This important centre for public life. The Blackheads was characteristically a common union of young, unmarried merchants and ship captains in the Hansa cities, which chose St. Maurice to be their patron. St. Mauritius was an imaginary African black moor (from this the name of the brotherhood "the Blackheads" comes).

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Latvian Rifleman statue

by Dabs

The controversial Latvian Riflemen statue is a monument to marksmen fighting in the Russian imperial army during WWI, some of which went on to support the Bolsheviks in the Russian Revolution and were Lenin's personal bodyguards.Regardless of the politics, it is a very impressive statue.

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St. Peter Church

by ginte

St. Peter Church was built in 1209. Now the parish is renewed, but church still is used as exhibition hall. A tower of the church – 123,5 m – is the highest in Riga. It was strucked by the lightening for the six times. In 1721 at the risk of his life the fire quenched Peter I. Last time tower burnt and fell down in 1941, when WW II reached Riga. The tower was renewed in the Soviet Union times. With lift you can go up and see all the Riga.

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Swedish gates

by ginte

Sweden Gate was built up at the end of 17th century to connect inner city with outer built houses and barracks. Like the other gates, the Sweden Gate were opened when the sun was rising and closed when the sun was setting.People tell that one girl liked one young Sweden. Athough maiden were forbidden to meet with soldiers, both lovers secretly met at the gate. But inhabitants of Riga cought them and were so mad that they built the girl in the wall just here. Still in midnight at the Swedish Gates can hear the poor girl’s whisper: I love him! True, that can hear only that who canselflessly love.

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Fun things to do in Riga Region

Top 3 Hotels in Riga Region

Best Eastern Centra Hotel Riga  Riga

 7 Reviews and 252 Opinions  We had an opportunity to travel somewhere with my husband for two nights. As we have 3 small kids,... 

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Reval Hotel Ridzene  Riga

 6 Reviews and 116 Opinions  This year - hotel Ridzene again. The main hotel's advantage is its very quiet location in the very... 

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Albert Hotel  Riga

 4 Reviews and 407 Opinions  Despite no plausable connection with the late great Mr Einstein The Albert Hotel is a shrine to the... 

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159 Hotels in Riga Region
 
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Questions and Answers

Amalker profile photo

Q:  Sveiki! I need an advice. my departure from Riga airport at 11.30, but bus arrived (internetional, from belarus) only at 8.10.... 

jonellis profile photo

A: You should have no problem. Yes, traffic can be bad, but by 0900 it seems to clear out. I used Municipal bus and as I recall, it took about 30 minutes from the stop near... 

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