Our most recommended things to do in Riga

Riga: Canal Boat Sightseeing Tour

1. Riga: Canal Boat Sightseeing Tour

Explore the historical part of Riga while having a relaxing and romantic sightseeing boat trip along the charming Riga City Canal and Daugava River. Enjoy onboard commentary from your captain as you take in the sights. While traveling aboard an eco-friendly canal boat, you can see the popular tourism objects from a different angle. Pass by Kronvald's Park, Latvian National Theatre, Bastejkalns, Freedom Monument, Latvian National Opera, Stockmann Shopping Center, Riga International Bus Terminal, and Riga Central Market. Continue to Daugava River and enjoy more beautiful scenery with views of Andrejosta Yacht Club, Riga Freeport Passenger Terminal, the TV Tower in Zaķusala, Riga Castle, Riga Cathedral, and old wooden houses located on Kipsala Island.

Riga: Guided Old Town Walking Tour

2. Riga: Guided Old Town Walking Tour

Discover Riga's Old Town on a guided walking tour of its main sights. Listen to your local guide's fascinating stories and learn about the city's rich history. Pass well-known locations, including the House of the Blackheads, the Three Brothers building complex, and the Swedish Gate. Start your tour at the bright red House of the Blackheads and head inside the Old Town. Marvel at the centuries-old buildings surrounding you here. From the Town Hall Square dating back to the 13th century to the towering Saint Peter's Church. Continue your walking journey and see the magnificent Great and Small Guild Halls, the medieval and Art Nouveau Cat House, the Three Brothers Buildings, St. Jacob's Cathedral, the Swedish Gate, and more. Along your route, learn about how Art Nouveau architecture swooped into Riga, local and historical stories, and insights into what food to taste while in Latvia.

Riga Sightseeing Tour by Canal Boat

3. Riga Sightseeing Tour by Canal Boat

Climb aboard an eco-friendly canal boat to see the sights of Riga from a different perspective as you cruise along the Daugava River. Escape the crowds of the city center as you set sail from the pier by the Freedom Monument at the 18th-century fortifications known as the Triangula Bastion (Bastejkalns). Glide gently under historic bridges and see landmark attractions such as the elegant home of the Latvian National Opera, Europe's largest market and bazaar at Riga Central Market and the UNESCO World Heritage monuments of the Spīķeri Quarter.  Get amazing views of the Vecrīga district (Old Riga) as you cruise towards the Riga Passenger Terminal and Yacht Club Andrejosta. Make your way back towards the departure point and get stunning views of Kronvalda Park and the Latvian National Theatre.

Riga: Beer or Cider Bike Tour

4. Riga: Beer or Cider Bike Tour

Go sightseeing in a completely different way on a beer or cider bike tour through the heart of Riga. Explore the beautiful streets of the city’s Old Town while pedaling, drinking, and chatting with friends.   Your English-speaking guide and driver will greet you at the meeting point and take you to the waiting beer bike. Once seated and ready to start, you will be served your choice of beer, cider or prosecco — and then the fun begins.   The bike holds up to 15 passengers and is easy enough for even 4 people to pedal. While riding around the Old Town with drinks in hand, you can listen to your favorite music and turn on LED lights for a party on wheels.   After an hour of taking in the sights, head to one of the restaurants near the finishing point for a nice meal.

Riga: Central Market Latvian Food Tour

5. Riga: Central Market Latvian Food Tour

Embark on a tour through the UNESCO-listed Riga Central Market. Explore 5 former zeppelin hangars and learn about local Latvian food and shopping habits on the market. A knowledgeable local tour guide will lead you through the market and provide you with an introduction to Latvian food, sharing the origins of local food traditions. Throughout the tour, you will receive a wide range of local specialties which include local bread, several kinds of cheese, freshly smoked meat, several types of fish, non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks, and delicious local sweets. These tastings will be sufficient enough to make you feel as if you have had a light lunch and should be enough to get you through to dinner.

Riga: 1-Day Hop-on Hop-off Grand Bus Tour

6. Riga: 1-Day Hop-on Hop-off Grand Bus Tour

Main Stop A - Triangula Bastion (11.Novembra Krastmala 17) Discover Riga on a hop-on hop-off tour. Enjoy 60 minutes route, and see the Opera House, the historic Old City, and the Central Market. With more than 80 sights along the routes, this pass allows you to make the most of the hop-on-hop-off tour style. Departing from the Town Square, the tour runs through three districts. First, the bus goes to Pardaugava, an area that overlooks ancient cathedrals on the left bank of the river Daugava. Crossing the Stone Bridge, take in the panorama of the Old City.  Then, pass the Boulevard Ring, see the famous Monument of Freedom, the Opera House, the Powder Tower, and much more. See Riga's Central Market, the largest covered market in Europe. Then you can see a range of architectural styles, from romantic facades to decorative art nouveau. See the famous Alberta Street, with its detailed facades and Michael Eisenstein architecture. 

Riga Highlights bike tour

7. Riga Highlights bike tour

To see, hear and smell outside of Riga Old Town! In 2 hours we are going to show you places outside the old town. The bike tour focuses on remarkable areas - the Art Nouveau district, Boulevard Circle, apart parks and the Moscow suburb with its gems. Places which are out of reach by walking but easily accessible by bicycle and more bicycle-friendly than the cobblestone-covered streets of the Old Town. While cycling at an easy pace you’ll be introduced to many interesting objects and places which are not necessarily included in tour guide books, but are an important part of our city and its history. We’ll have also some short stops for taking pictures. Only bike tour in Riga using tour guide system! Thanks to a professional tour guide system (headphones for you and a microphone for the guide) this tour is much more efficient and safe than a regular bike tour. Also, we employ some of the best guides in the city, meaning you will be fully engaged and entertained the whole way through. For more comfort, you can bring your earplugs with you. Easy-level bike tour for Riga visitors. Thanks to these features and also the fact that Riga is flat, the Riga Highlight Bike tour is suitable for cyclists of all ages and the level of difficulty is EASY.

Riga Hop On Hop Off City Sightseeing tour

8. Riga Hop On Hop Off City Sightseeing tour

Riga – The Capital City of Latvia Come and enjoy sightseeing on both sides of the Daugava River in Riga on red double-decker busses. The excursion ticket is valid for 48 hours and during that time you can get on or off the bus as many times as you wish at 27 bus stops. The hop-on hop-off service offers a flexible opportunity to get to know historic and present day Riga. The audio guide texts, heard through the headphones, have been recorded by native speakers in 10 languages: English, German, Russian, Finnish, Swedish, Norwegian, French, Spanish, Italian and Latvian.

Riga: Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads

9. Riga: Entrance Ticket - House of the Black Heads

Wander through centuries in House of the Black Heads! Feel the magic atmosphere of luxurious halls of celebrations, decorated with brilliant chandeliers and a gallery of royal portraits. Explore the mysterious medieval cellars and elaborate historical rooms with a surprising silverware collection. For the past 700 hundred years, the House of the Black Heads has pleased and enraptured inhabitants and guests of Riga. This is one of the most magnificent buildings in Riga, preserving both the unique historic heritage of the legendary Brotherhood of Black Heads and the history of Riga. For centuries House of the Black Heads was the cultural epicenter of Riga, gathering the most respectable inhabitants of Riga and their guests, during celebrations organized by the Black Heads and their successors. This building, which is situated in the heart of Old Riga, is the symbol of Riga and among the central premises of representation of Riga – not for nothing also the President of Latvia has chosen House of the Black Heads as his temporary residence for almost four years!

Riga: Private Boat Tour City Canal and Daugava

10. Riga: Private Boat Tour City Canal and Daugava

Enjoy a different lifestyle experience in Riga in maximum comfort and style aboard on one of the most unique classic Tender boats in Rīga in small group (up to 5 persons). Experience will take ~ 50 minutes. The start of the experience will be at Andrejosta Yacht Club (Rīga, Esporta street 1D). please use Google Maps for finding the location (don't use Iphone/Apple maps). Boat is parked at Pier C. If You are visiting Rīga by Cruise ship, Yacht club is located only 5 minutes walk from Rīga Passenger Port. Opportunity to take a peaceful and romantic trip through the City canal and Daugava. The trip will lead from the Yacht Club Andrejosta to the Latvian National Opera through the City Canal and then back to Andrejosta and further along the Daugava to Riga Castle. During the trip, you will see a charming panorama. There will be wonderful views in all directions, and you will be able to enjoy a great panorama of Kronvalda Park, the National Theatre, Bastejkalns, Freedom Monument, National Opera, Andrejosta, Rīga Passenger Port, the magnificent towers of Old Riga, AB Dam and Ķīpsala.

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Latvia’s capital combines diverse architecture, a historical old town, and a thriving culinary scene.

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The best day trips and excursions from Riga are:

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What people are saying about Riga

Overall rating

4.5 / 5

based on 1,452 reviews

This was a breathtaking way to get out of Riga and see more of the real Latvia. The tour includes 3 stops: 1. a walkway in and out of a forest through bogs and wetlands; 2. a walkway amongst marshes; and 3. a trip past pine trees and dunes to the beach. Stops 1 and 2 include stunning views from vantage towers. We visited in December 2022 and, although snow had started to melt and stop 1 was rainy, by the time we reached stop 3, the sky had broken, providing stunning views of the sky, beach and sea. Our guide, Rolands, is a biologist and conservationist, whose passion and knowledge of the area and of Latvian culture and history was amazing. Nothing was too much trouble for him and I can honestly say he’s the best tour guide I’ve ever encountered. He provided details the day before as well as food and drinks on the day, and was happy to take pics of my wife and I to capture memories. We will definitely do another tour in Latvia and look forward to Rolands being our guide again.

It was a fascinating tour, full of history and insight with a very knowledgeable guide. Definitely worth doing

Lugs was a great guide. Highly recommend the tour for a good mix of Riga and Latvian culture.

Lovely tour with Gunter (sorry if I’ve spelled this incorrectly!) - fantastic tour of Riga!

I had an amazing experience! My guide was on time, phenomenal and just overall amazing!!!