Historic places in Riga

Historic places in Riga

1. EatVecrīga

   Alus Arsenals

   A nice, cozy restaurant in the Riga old town serving various meat and fish oriented dishes with quality local beer. Located right next to the Riga castle so it's easy to find. The actual interior of the restaurant is in a cellar, but in summertime, the restaurant features a spacious outdoor terrace.

   12:00-22:00 mostly·Main courses €6-18

2. SeeCentrs

   Choral Great Synagogue

   Mostly in ruins since the Germans burned it down on July 4, 1941 with 600 people locked inside. There is a memorial to 400 Latvians who saved Jews during the Holocaust.

3. SeeCentrs

   Former KGB Building

   The former KGB building is actually an attractive, ornate historic building at the corner of Brivibas and Stabu. It stood empty for years, but for the 2014 celebration of Riga becoming the European Capital of Culture it was revived with a number of artistic initiatives taking place there. It is now a branch of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, holding a general exhibition about the KGB activities, and guided tours of the cellar where interrogations took place.

   Mon Tue Thu Fri 10:00-17:30, Wed 12:00-19:00, Sat Sun 10:00-16:00·exhibition free, €5 for a guided tour of the KGB cellar

4. EatVecrīga

   Gardenia at Hotel Garden Palace

   Mediterranean and European cuisine. Cosy and elegantly casual restaurant.

   Open now · closes 11 pm·€5 and up

5. SeeVecrīga

   Latvian Sports Museum

   Historic sports equipment and sportswear, photographs from a variety of sporting events.

   10:00-17:00 (closed Sundays)·Adults €0.71; school children, students, seniors €0.43; children aged 6 and under, people with disabilities free

6. SeeVecrīga

   Museum of Ancient Baltic Jewellery

   The Museum of Ancient Baltic Jewellery was established by two well-known Latvian jewellers.

   Mon-Sat 10:00-19:00, Sun 10:00-17:00

7. SeeVecrīga

   Museum of the History of Riga and Navigation

   Actually two museums plus a number of special exhibits, though you pay one price. English, German and Russian descriptions of each permanent collections are provided in a booklet inside each exhibit hall. Both of the main museums are quite interesting, and they provide a good idea of what Riga was like in the past.

   May-Sep: daily 11:00-17:00, Oct-May: Wed-Sun 11:00-17:00·€5 plus more for photo permission

8. SeeVecrīga

   Museum of the Occupation of Latvia

   This noticeable and austere black building is clearly out-of-place. In the Soviet days, this housed a museum to the Red Riflemen, a group of Latvians who volunteered for the service to Russia during the Russian revolution of 1917. Now it houses a museum of Latvia's time under the Nazi and Soviet occupations. Very long, but very moving – essential for anyone interested in the history of the USSR or Nazi Germany. Outside the building away from the town square stands the Soviet-era Monument to the Riflemen.

   €8

9. SeeVecrīga

   National History Museum of Latvia

   The History Museum is interesting, however there is little English (every room has its exhibits summarized on a single plaque). However, the museum does give a very good idea of Latvian history, and will give you a good understanding of the area.

   10:00-17:00 (closed Mondays)·Adults EUR 3.00; pupils €0.75; students, seniors €1.50

10. SeePārdaugava

    National Library

    Nacionalā Bibliotēka

    An important part of the West Bank's cityscape, the National Library was built in 2008-13. It is perhaps the most remarkable part of the "New Riga" giving a more gentle feel to skyscrapers and other high-tech buildings that have been constructed on the West Bank of the Daugava since independence. The building was nicknamed the "Castle of Light" (Gaismas Pils), and the architect intended to mimic the towers of Vecriga, although casual tourists may rather see it as a cruise ship that has just arrived from the Baltic Sea and is anchored across the river from the Old Town.

11. SeeVecrīga

    Porcelain Museum

    Covers the history of porcelain in Riga through the 19th and 20th centuries.

    11:00-18:00 (closed Mondays)·Adults €5.00, children €3.50, free for preschoolers

12. SeeVecrīga

    Riga Castle

    Rīgas Pils

    One of the medieval castles in Latvia, on the bank of the river, which is now the seat of the Latvian president. The museum in the castle can be visited by the public.

13. SeeVecrīga

    Riga Cathedral

    Rīgas Doms

    Dating to 1207, the cathedral is one of Riga's symbols. The 6768-pipe organ inside is particularly spectacular. Besides the organ, however, the interior is rather Spartan, and may not be worth the entrance fee (even the organ is being restored, though).

    Mon-Sun 10:00-17:00

14. SeeVecrīga

    Riga Film Museum

    This museum holds various exhibitions that display different aspects of cinema art, actors and film history.

    Tue Wed 11:00-18:00, Thu 11:00-20:00, Fri 11:00-18:00, Sat 11:00-17:00·Adults €3.50; students, pupils, seniors €1.80

15. SeeCentrs

    Riga Ghetto Museum

    The museum, which encompasses a relocated historic wooden house and cobblestones from the Jewish ghetto created by Nazi Germany in occupied Riga during the Second World War, documents both the history of the ghetto and the tragic fates of Riga's Jewish population who perished in the Holocaust. It also attempts to recall Jewish community life from before the war.

    Sun-Thu 10:00-18:00, except Jewish religious holidays·Voluntary donations - €5 suggested

16. SeeCentrs

    Riga Orthodox Cathedral

    The Orthodox Cathedral was erected during Russian rule for Russian residents. In contrast to its relatively plain exterior, it is spectacular on the inside, but be aware that shorts are not allowed.

    free

17. EatVecrīga

    Rozengrāls

    An authentic medieval restaurant in a real medieval basement in the Old Town. Serves tasty medieval foods and beverages.

    Open now · closes midnight tomorrow·€20-30

18. SeeCentrs

    St. Gertrude Old Church

    Vecā Svētās Ģertrūdes baznīca

    The brick neogothic church of St. Getrude, despite "old" in its name, is an entirely late 19th-century creation that replaced a series of stone and wooden churches that stood there (and were repeatedly destroyed due to being outside of the city walls) since the 15th century. The unusual veracity with which the 19th-century architects interpreted the principles of Gothic architecture may make the church pass for an authentic medieval creation, both inside and out. St. Gertrude has long-standing links with Riga's German Lutheran community, and offers religious services in German. The Latvian Lutheran community which used to share the church with the German has moved to the "new" St. Getrude church further east down Brīvības Street.

    Mon Tue 10:00 - 14:00; Wed Thu 14:00 - 19:00; Sun 09:00 - 14:00·Free

19. SeeVecrīga

    Sun Museum

    One of Riga's weirdest museums, it covers the history of sun mythology and its role in Latvian culture.

    Daily 09:00-18:00·Adults €4.00, students/seniors €3.50

20. SeeVecrīga

    Triangula Bastion

    A modern building with an excavated fragment of the historical fortification wall system along the river. The building has the best view terraces in Riga.

    09:00:22:00·Free

21. SeeOuter East Bank

    Twin water towers

    These beautiful water towers were built by Oto Intce and Rūdolfs Frišs in 1896–1897 and were the first water towers built in Riga. Surprisingly, one of these is the only water tower still in use to this day. They are known among locals as Anna and Zhanna (Ann and Joan). Legend has it that Anna was a skilled quack in medieval Riga. She was accused of being a witch and burnt to death. This caused her sister Zhanna to commit suicide. Their ashes were brought to a place that was considered wicked, which is exactly the water towers are located today. This place is indeed quite strange and renowned for its remoteness dominated by a huge cemetery and a prison.

22. SeePārdaugava

    University of Latvia Botanical Garden

    Botaniskais Darzs

    The Botanical Garden is quite large and featuring an impressively broad and well-cultivated collection of plant species. The long history of the garden is reflected in its rich built heritage. There is a butterfly house within the garden's grounds, where you can experience free-flying tropical butterflies. Apart from botanical interests, the garden is simply beautiful and great for a stroll.

    Apr-Sep 09:00-19:00, other months 10:00-16:30, Butterfly House has shorter opening hours (check website)·€3, Butterfly House €4.50 extra

23. BuyPārdaugava

    Āgenskalns Market

    Āgenskalna tirgus

    This is a smaller counterpart to the Central Market, to be found the central square of Āgenskalns on the left bank of Daugava, which is a crossing of no less than 6 streets. An impressive building from 1911-23, remarkable as a red-brick manifestation of Jugendstil architecture in Riga. While the offerings are decisively not geared towards tourists, you may want to visit just to experience the historic low-rise neighbourhood.

    Daily 07:30-18:00

24. SeeOuter East Bank

    Čiekurkalns district

    Čiekurkalns is a pleasant residential area on the outskirts of Riga. Despite the intense industrial development in the vicinity, most of the historical wooden architecture build in the end of XIX century has been preserved.

25. SeePārdaugava

    Latvian Railway History Museum

    Exhibits several collections of Soviet rolling stock.

    Tue-Sun 10:00-17:00

26. Do Not mapped

    Count of May

    Maija Grāfs

    Medieval festival. Takes place annually in mid-May.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Riga (CC BY-SA 4.0).