Things to do in 3 days in Riga, Latvia

If you are planning a visit to Latvia and Riga, then these are the things you can do in 3 days in Riga.

I decided to go in September and the weather in September in Riga starts to drop.  I was there in the middle of the month and within a day the temperature dropped 10 degrees!! Unfortunately I hadn’t done any research and so didn’t come prepared with a coat, which would prove a mistake as I was headed north to Estonia and Finland where it would get colder.

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Getting to the old town from the Airport

Getting from the airport into Riga is very easy, if you are staying in the old town then there is no point getting a taxi you can get the bus from the road outside the airport, just go outside, cross the car park, look for the bus stop and get either the 22 or 222.  It costs 2 Euro into the centre and there are 2 stops for the old town depending on the area where you are staying.  I was staying near the bus/train station so I got off at the Stockmann shopping centre.  It only takes 30 minutes and is cheaper than a taxi which would cost around 15 Euro.

What to see in Riga in 2 days

Whether you have three days in Riga, two days in Riga or one day in Riga, there are plenty of things to see in Riga, read below all the best places to see in Riga.

Russian Orthodox Cathedral

Firstly we walked down Merkela Iela and stopped at the impressive Russian Riga Orthodox Cathedral which was built between 1876 and 1883 and is the largest in all the baltic countries.  It is beautiful inside and worth a visit (though you are not allowed to take photos inside) if you are in Riga.

Art Nouveau Riga

We then walked towards Alberta Iela to see some of Art Nouveau buildings.  Around a third of the buildings in Riga are Art Nouveau built between 1904 and 1914 making it not only the highest concentration of art nouveau lativa but in the world.  It is beautiful to walk down the streets and see the different styles of art nouveau architecture from this period.

Kronvalda Park Riga

We then walked down to Kronvalda Park where we chilled out on the grass by the canal, despite it being a bit damp from the recent cold nights!!!  It’s a great place to chill out and you can even take a boat trip down the canal if you want.  The river cruises cost 12 Euro and take you along the canal and into the Daugava river.

Freedom Monument Riga Latvia

We carried on walking along the canal rather than the busy roads until we got to Freedom Monument Riga, it was built to honour the soldiers killed during the Latvian war of independence from 1918 – 1920.  It was unveiled in 1935 and managed to survive the soviet occupation in Latvia. There is supposed to be a guard of honour, two guards who stand watch between 9am – 5pm every day, but as you can see from my photo, no guard that day!! Though I did see the guards the following day!!  An interesting fact is that you can only be a guard if you are at least 6ft tall!!

Laima Clock

Opposite the Freedom tower is the Laima clock considered by the residents of Riga as the main meeting point in town.  It was completed in 1924 but in 1936 it started to carry the name of Laima confectionery company.

Riga Dome Cathedral

After this we then walked into the old town and saw the Riga Dome Cathedral.  Construction began on the 25th July 1211.  It was originally built as a church, then a basilica and then became a cathedral.  You can visit the inside and it costs 3 Euro but you also get to see the cloisters which is a beautiful area.

St Peter’s Church Riga Latvia

St. Peter’s Church Riga, is a beautiful church and well worth a visit.  I decided to pay the 9 Euro fee and get the lift up to the top of the spire as I had heard the views of the city were amazing.  I wasn’t disappointed, definitely a must when you visit.

That evening I walked around to find try and find some cheap places to eat in Riga, luckily there are a lot of choices and some great food to try.

Free Walking Tour Riga

The next day I headed to the meeting point for the free walking tour to see the sights I had missed the day before.  It started in the old town before proceeding down to the market.

Riga Central Market

The central market riga latvia is the largest in Europe and was constructed using 5 old German Zepplin hangars.  It’s a great place to walk through with lots of cheap local food to try.  It was opened in 1930 and is one of the largest markets in Europe.  It is a great place to buy food, but also to try different local dishes.

After we had walked through the market we headed to the river front, there is a walkway at the side with beautiful views.

From there we walked up past the Riga Ghetto Museum which informs visitors about the history of Latvia’s Jewish community and the 70,000 Jews who lost their lives during the holocaust.

We then walked past the Academy of Sciences Riga which you can go up and see the view of the city.  It was completed in 1956 and the 17th floor has a viewing platform for the public.

We then walked through the train station and down the art noveau district I had visited the day before and finished at the freedom monument.  It was a great walk and the guide was very informative, well worth doing when you visit Riga.

Where to stay in Riga

I stayed in the old town and it is a great location for seeing everything in Riga on foot.  I stayed at the Wicked Weasel Hostel and paid 14 euro a night for a 6 bed mixed dorm (excluding breakfast). Click here for more information on the Wicked Weasel Hostel.

I have also stayed at the Ibis Riga Centre where you will pay from 56 Euro for a double room including breakfast.  Click here for more information on the Ibis Riga Centre.

Visiting other towns in Latvia

Latvia is very easy to get around, there is a train station and bus station just outside the old town and it easy to get trains/buses to other places within Latvia or the buses if you are wanting to get to another country, it is not far to Lithuania where you can visit Vilnius or Trakai.  If you are interested in things to do in Latvia and places to see in Latvia then read about the 2 day trips I did outside Riga.  Sigulda a beautiful town outside of Riga within Guaja National Park and Kemeri National Park and the hike I did there.

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