A Perfect One Day in Riga Itinerary

A view from the old town over the river, with the church tower in sight and the rooftops of the old historic buildings of the city underneath it.

Riga is a city that I unexpectedly visited and even more surprisingly fell in love with. The capital of Latvia is small, colourful and walkable. Full of interesting history, great food and Art Nouveau architecture I urge you to visit the to get a different break away.

The beauty of Riga is that the old town is compact. You can reach the major sites within minutes of walking. Then you can branch out a little further from the old town and visit fascinating sites there too, smell the abundant food markets, and listen to catchy Latvian folk music without exhausting yourself.

If you want to spend one day in Riga, digesting as much of the city as you can then this post is for you!

How to Get Around Riga

Traditional old houses in the centre of Riga, on a sunny day

Riga is totally walkable due to its size—the Old Town (Vecrīga) is quite compact at only about 0.8 square kilometres (0.3 square miles). You can easily walk across the entire Old Town in about 15-20 minutes. The medieval streets are pedestrian-friendly, and most major attractions are within a few minutes walking distance of each other.

If you want to venture further outside of the old town then you have a few options.

Public transit runs from 5:30 AM to 11:30 PM. This includes the tram, trolleybus and regular bus. For a more in-depth look at the public transport timetable, you can plan your trip more precisely.

If you’re coming into the city from the airport you need to take Bus 22 where you can purchase tickets from the driver with your card.

A Perfect One Day In Riga Itinerary

Morning

The historic centre of Riga on a sunny day, with typical old buildings and cobble stone paved alleys

The good news is that most of the Old Town’s best attractions are within walking distance of one another. Riga Cathedral, The House of the Blackheads, The Three Brothers, The Cat House and Riga Town Hall Square to name but a few, can reached on foot.

But before we begin the day it’s important to fuel up before exploring Riga.

Breakfast

We stayed at the Hestia Dragu Hotel and honestly, the breakfast was fantastic.

A full buffet with anything you could want. Egg, fruit, yoghurt, cereals, meat. We left with our bellies full and smiles on our faces every day as we explored Riga. I would highly recommend staying at the hotel too or even stop by for breakfast alone.

Morning activities:

Riga Old Town Free Walking Tour

A walking tour can be done in many European cities and Riga is no exception. A free walking tour is a great way to quickly see the main sites in Riga old town and helps you learn the streets.

While we waited for others to join there will be many guides in the old town trying to catch your attention. We had arranged to meet in front of St Peters church. We waited a few minutes for a guide to arrive along with a small group of tourists.

Quickly we were on the way around the old town.

On this tour, we stopped by:

  • The House of the Blackheads and Riga Town Hall Square
  • The Three Brothers
  • Riga Cathedral
  • The Swedish Gate
  • The Cat House

The tour lasted 2 hours in total and it was thoroughly enjoyable. Our guide was informative and we ended up with a deeper understanding of Latvian history and culture.

While the tour is free I encourage you to donate to the guide. Most people did in our group and it is only fair as they are giving up their free time to assist tourists in the city.

It’s important to give back even if it’s small especially when travelling.

St Peters Church

The view of Riga from the tower of the church on a sunny day

If you search for Riga, you will more often than not see the view of Riga Cathedral from St Peter’s Church.

This church is a must-visit. It is thought to date back to the 13th century. Riga Cathedral is a landmark that I think of first when someone mentions Riga. When you enter St Peters church you will appreciate it in all its glory. When I visited, the inside was very busy and it hosted a truly impressive art exhibition.

We walked around at a leisurely pace and appreciated not just the art but the church interior.

Still, the main attraction is the top viewpoint. Oh, the magical viewpoint. You can use the elevator to get there and appreciate the iconic view of Riga Cathedral.

I would do this again if I get the chance. You can walk around and get 360 views from the top and see all of the city’s major landmarks.

The opening hours are from 10.00 AM – 05.00 PM which gives you most of the day to experience this magical interior and view.

House of the Blackheads

Another one of Riga’s iconic sites is the House of the Blackheads. This place has one fascinating history. Let me explain. One interesting point to note is the House’s link to the Christmas Tree. It is in this very location that the first Christmas Tree was decorated back in 1510 which I find fascinating.

Built originally as a warehouse for merchants who wanted a meeting place to host celebrations in 1334, I feel it is a very unique attraction. Also, the site was destroyed by German and Russian aircraft in 1941 and after some time the House of the Blackheads was opened in 1999.

It is open every day from 10.00 AM – 05.00 PM.

Lunch

A plate of ribs staked on top of each other

When you start to feel peckish there is plenty of great local options available.

Latvian food is famous for its hearty nature, where it is common to use ingredients like potatoes, rye, pork, and cabbage. I have to say, the flavours are generally simple but comforting.

My personal favourite was Lidojošā Varde. Here I ate some fantastic ribs which I strongly recommend you try if that’s your taste. The meat fell off the bone. The sauce waters my mouth when I think back to it.

Also in its favour, the staff were super friendly and helpful even though I had little Latvian to communicate. They made the experience easy and memorable and most importantly the food was quality.

Afternoon

Now that you are settling into life in Riga’s capital you will be pleased to know that there are so many more interesting places to visit. We will explore more tasty Latvian food, history and politics.

Afternoon activities

Riga Central Market

Another must-see attraction to include in your one-day visit to Riga is Riga Central Market.

A UNESCO World Heritage List member since 1999 (along the old town of Riga) it can be a great way to see how locals live their daily lives and indulge in their traditional cuisine.

The market has a warm and friendly atmosphere. Walking freely through the market your senses will be alert to the smells, sounds and tastes that you will surely try inside.

While there is an abundance of foods to try we opted for some tangy spiced pickles and ham. It was out of this world.

You will notice the interesting shape of the market’s exterior. It is huge and the best part – the market was built using German Zeppelin hangars! How unique and intriguing to see the hangers now being put to such a positive use in the community. I love this!

Latvian Academy of Sciences

The tall building on a sunny day, photographed from the bottom up

Now this place is worth a visit. Standing a striking 108 meters tall The Latvian Academy of Sciences was built after World War Two and it is the 17th floor which offers the best view.

Did you know it was the tallest building in Latvia at the time of its construction?

Stalinist architecture became very common throughout the Soviet Union and Riga did not escape this. What struck me was the harsh architecture if I can say that. The outside is mainly made of dark stone, making it look strong and serious. You will find many hammer and sickle symbols all around the construction. The design shows the big, solid style popular in Soviet buildings after World War Two. It can feel quite intimidating when walking up to the front door but I would urge all visitors to Riga to include it when in Riga.

Admission is €6.00 per person.

Freedom Monument – “For Fatherland and Freedom”

Carved into the bottom of the monument you will find these words. People often mention the Freedom Monument when talking about Latvian independence.

It is dedicated to all soldiers who lost their lives between 1918 and 1920 during the Latvian War of Independence. Over 4,000 people perished within 20 months.

You can walk up the stairs and take a moment to learn about Latvia’s history. Standing at 42 metres it is visible throughout Riga and symbolises a difficult past.

It was built with granite and copper and stands for national unity. Watch out for the two-man guard of honour at the bottom of the monument.

You can explore the monument for free and I recommend you visit. It holds a powerful message worth visiting.

Dinner

A large plate of meat with cabbage and roast potatoes on the side

We had some fantastic meals in Riga. However, the winner would have to be Province Restaurant.

You simply cannot miss the traditional old-style recipes found here. My favourite was the Latvian Cabbage Soup with Pork Meat and roasted potatoes which was astonishing. You must get this soup! But I wouldn’t be surprised if every other meal was as good.

I am now a fully converted Latvian food lover!

Spending the Night?

When we visited Riga we stayed at Hestia Hotel Draugi. The bedroom was colourful and compact with beautiful colours pretty much everywhere. While the rooms were very nice for the cost the buffet breakfast was what stuck out for me. You could eat until your heart’s content with a wide variety to choose from including typical Latvian food.

Additionally, the hotel is only a 7-minute walk from the Riga Cathedral! I highly recommend staying here.

Other good places to stay in Riga include the central district but even at that, you get far away from the old town. Some other good hotels in the centre include:

  • Redstone Apartments
  • Neiburgs Hotel
  • Konventa Sēta Hotel Keystone Collection

All of these places to stay have amazing reviews online so you can trust them. Check them out for yourself if you’re not convinced.

Final Thoughts

Riga honestly surprised me with its beauty and history making it one of my favourite cities in Europe. It’s easily up there with the best things to do in Rome, with my two days in Naples and with Madrid.

The old town is thankfully compact and easy to walk. There are numerous places to see and learn about the history of the region.

The food in Riga also left a big impression on me. Before I visited I didn’t really know what to expect. I am delighted to now recommend Latvian food to just about anybody willing to listen to me!

Overall, spending a day in Riga was an unforgettable experience. The mix of historical landmarks, architecture, and mouth-watering food makes it a great destination for a short trip.

You should definitely add Riga to your travel plans. I promise it will be memorable!

Author’s Box: James Fahey is an Irish travel blogger who specializes in exploring and documenting the best attractions across Asia and Europe. Through his blog and YouTube channel, he provides practical travel tips, honest reviews, and detailed city guides to help others plan their perfect trips. His mission is to showcase worthwhile and lesser-known destinations. Follow his adventures as he documents his travels across Asia, Europe and beyond!

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