Things to Know Before Visiting Riga 🇱🇻
Riga feels like the cool, older cousin of the Baltics — a bit rugged at the edges, yet still stylish and steeped in history. With its cobblestone lanes and pastel façades, this Latvian capital has just the right balance of charm and grit. It’s where Art Nouveau meets medieval — enough character to make you wonder why you didn’t visit sooner.
Where Is It?
Riga is the capital of Latvia, one of the three Baltic States in Northern Europe, perched along the Baltic Sea between Estonia and Lithuania. It’s the largest city in the country, but home to just below 600,000 people, which makes it feel both cosmopolitan and cosy at once.
How to Get There & Get Around
Getting to Riga is straightforward — Riga International Airport (RIX), the hub of the Baltics, offers ample low-cost flights across Europe. If you’re in the midst of a “Visit the Baltics” trip, Tallinn or Vilnius have regular bus services that are smooth and scenic. We arrived in Riga the easy (and picturesque) way — by FlixBus, which offers a direct service from Tallinn, a smooth ride of about 4 ½ hours.
Once in Riga, walking is your best friend, but if your feet give up on you, try one of these transport options:
🚃 Trams, trolleybuses, or buses — all part of an easy-to-use public transport system.
🛴 Scooters: in summer, e-scooters are everywhere — fun but unruly on cobblestones.
Seasons & Best Time to Go
We visited Riga in June, which turned out to be nearly perfect — long, sunny days and a plethora of summer events happening. Here’s what to expect through the year:
Spring (Mar–May): crisp mornings and flowers everywhere.
Summer (Jun–Aug): warm days, buzzing cafés, and street festivals.
Autumn (Sep–Nov): fewer crowds, golden trees, cooler weather.
Winter (Dec–Feb): magical snow, Christmas markets, and cheaper prices — just pack everything you own to keep warm.
🔆 Best for weather: late-May to August.
💸 Best for budget: November to March.
How Long to Stay
We stayed two weeks, which gave us enough time to explore every corner and get a real feel for the city’s rhythm — but for most travellers, 3–4 days is plenty to see the highlights and enjoy lazy mornings.
If you’ve got longer, consider adding Sigulda (the “Switzerland of Latvia”) or Jurmala (Riga’s nearby beach town) to your itinerary.
Best Area to Stay
Riga’s districts all have their own character, and their own brand of quirkiness. Here are our recommendations:
Old Town: central, full of history, and where most of the action is.
Centrs: trendy, close to markets and transport. Perfect for food enthusiasts and those who enjoy walking.
Āgenskalns: across the river but quieter with local vibes and leafy streets.
Miera iela: full of indie shops and quirky bars — hipster heaven.
We stayed on the outer rim of Centrs, and being able to walk everywhere (and grab a pastry item when the sweet cravings set in) was a huge bonus. For first-timers, we recommend staying in the Centrs as well.
What to Do
Riga’s not just old buildings — it’s full of life, music, and quirks. Here are a few things to do whilst you’re in town:
Explore Old Town: wander through cobblestone alleys, and get lost — it’s half the fun.
House of the Blackheads: Riga’s most photogenic building and a crash course in its merchant history.
Art Nouveau District: a UNESCO highlight — grab your camera and head to Alberta iela.
Central Market: snack your way through it; entry is free.
Walk Along the Daugava River: peaceful paths with skyline views.
Useful Tips
💬 Three words to learn: Sveiki = hello || Paldies = thank you || Alus = beer
💳 Money: cards are accepted everywhere. We didn’t use cash once. Pocket some Euros if you do want cash on hand.
📱eSIM: Saily or Airalo have both served us well on our travels.
💡 Bonus tip: locals can seem brash at first, but have a chat and you'll soon realise they’re warm and witty.
Our Real Costs
($AUD based on two people over 2 weeks — 2025)
🚌 Getting there: $19 (one-way from Tallinn)
🏠 Accommodation: $84 per night (Airbnb)
🍽 Food: $32 per day
🚇 Transport: $0 (we walked everywhere)
🎟️ Activities: $80 total
📱 Data: $9 total (eSIM)
Our Thoughts
Riga is affordable (for Europe), walkable, and bursting with personality — exactly the kind of place that makes travel so addictive. Whilst it's definitely worth a visit, we’re unlikely to return. That said, we're keen on a summer hiking adventure through Latvia's forest areas, so never say never!