Things to do in Riga

23 activities, venues and outings in Riga, from theatres and live music to parks and tours.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

DoOuter East Bank
Arena Riga
An indoor sports arena and concert venue. Notable as the home rink of the city's ice hockey team Dinamo Riga, playing in the KHL, the arena is also where the world's greatest pop and rock artists and bands hold their Riga concerts.
DoVecrīga
Bastion Hill
A small, pleasant park surrounding Brivibas Bulvaris. Sites in the Bastejkalns include a Chinese and a Japanese building, and the Bridge of Love over the Pilsetas Canal. The Bridge of Love has several locks on the railings put up by recently married couples. There is also a memorial to the two people killed here in the tumultuous events of 1991.
DoCentrs
Esplanade Park
Designed by Georg Kuphaldt, who was expelled by Germany in 1915 as a spy because he had a telescope in his garden.
DoCentrs
Koncertzāle Ave Sol
Ave Sol Concert Hall
Hosts the renowned choral ensemble Ave Sol. The hall also plays host to a range of other concert activities.
DoVecrīga
Latvian National Opera
A pretty building in its own right, this is also a nice place to see an opera or ballet.
€5-65, depending on seat and show
DoVecrīga
Latvian National Symphonic Orchestra
It is a team of highly professional musicians with strong traditions, generous sound and devoted performance.
€2-70, depending on seat and show
Do Not mapped
Jāņi
On June 24, Latvians celebrate the summer solstice with the midsummer festival called Jāņi. Before the celebration, flea markets are held in many places.
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Latviabeerfest
Takes place annually at the end of May. The largest international beer festival in the Baltics.
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Latvian Song and Dance Festival
Latvian Vispārējie latviešu Dziesmu un Deju svētki
One of the key cultural events in Latvia, which started in 1873 as a singing festival. This festival has become an important facet of Latvian culture and has been held 25 times since then. There are smaller Song and Dance Festivals between 5-year time spans. About 30,000 people from every corner of the country participate, with choirs and dance groups at the heart of the celebrations. Brass bands, folk ensembles, players of the zither-like kokle, amateur theatrical troupes, and foreign guests also perform at the festival. The traditional procession through the street of Riga is not to be missed, as the participants invoke plenty of enthusiastic audience participation.
Takes place once every 5 years, at the beginning of July
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Playground
Youth sport festival that encourages and enables every visitor to try to explore inspiring sports and culture on water, land and air (e.g. longboarding, SUP, wakeboarding, hydro-cycles, mountain bikes, slack line).
Mid-July€15/day, €35/3 days
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Rīga City Day
Rīgas svētki
Traditional weekend of celebrating a city. Many cultural events take place all around the city.
Takes place the whole of August
DoVecrīga
Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theater
Oldest Russian theatre in the world outside Russia.
the booking-office is open daily from 12:00 till 19:00€10-50, depending on seat and show
DoOuter East Bank
Riga Zoo
The Riga Zoo is small, but fairly popular.
€4-6
DoVecrīga
Theater-Club "Hamlets"
Riga Theater-Club in heart of old city.
Occasional eventsCosts varies
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Count of May
Maija Grāfs
Medieval festival. Takes place annually in mid-May.
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Easter
Lieldienas
Egg fights!
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GUNS Funnel
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International Baltic Ballet Festival
April
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Lattelecom Marathon
Lattelecom Rīgas maratons
The biggest sport marathon held since 2007 in Latvia.
Held in the middle of May
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Riga Rhythms Festival
Rīgas Ritmi festivāls
Takes place annually, at the end of June/start of July; 18:00–00:00Some events cost €10-45, some are free
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Rīgas Lāzertags
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White Night
Baltā nakts
Annually, in the beginning of September
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Wolftrike Drift Hall

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