Riga - sightseeing and attractions - bus to Riga

Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia, as well as the largest city in all the Baltics in terms of population (it has a population of over 630,000). It lies on the Daugava River in the Gulf of Riga on the Baltic Sea. The name Riga is most likely derived from the word "ringi," meaning a bend in the river, or from the word "riga," meaning rye.

The first settlement in the area was established as early as the 10th century. It was inhabited by the Livonian tribe. Riga as a city has existed since 1202 and for many centuries was a member of the Hanseatic League, a maritime union of trading cities. The Latvian capital is also one of the largest concentrations of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe. It is worth going there at any time of the year to see beautiful monuments, interesting museums and learn about the city's interesting history.

What can Riga impress with? Attractions in the Latvian capital

What to see in Riga? Here are the most interesting tourist attractions of the Latvian capital.

The Old Town

The Old Town in Riga was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997 and is considered the most beautiful among all the old towns in the Baltic capitals. It has been beautifully restored after the destruction of World War II. Historic houses, churches and squares can be found there at almost every turn, and most of the more interesting tourist attractions can be reached on foot. One third of the buildings within the old town are built in the Art Nouveau style.

The center of Riga's old town is City Hall Square. Within it you can find historic townhouses, including the 14th-century House of the Blackhead Brotherhood, a building that was once the headquarters of an association of rich and unmarried merchants of German origin. The name comes from the brotherhood's patron saint, St. Maurice, in iconography depicted as a man with a dark complexion. At the turn of the 16th and 17th centuries, the building was rebuilt and enriched with an ornate Mannerist facade, which was restored after the destruction of World War II.

Three Brothers

Under this name is a complex of three medieval residential houses on Mazã Pils Street. It was named so by analogy with similar buildings in Tallinn called the Three Sisters. The townhouses represent different architectural styles, date from different periods, and are united by richly decorated facades.

Riga Central Market

The building opened in 1930 and was then Europe's largest shopping center. German airship hangars relocated from under Lipava were used for its construction. In the five market halls with an impressive area, you can buy basically anything. Especially worth trying are pickled foods, such as pickled cauliflower or pickled garlic flowers, and the delicious Latvian dark bread rupjmaize.

Riga Cathedral and Cathedral Square

Riga's Cathedral Square is the cultural and social center of the city. It suffered much damage during World War II, but was later restored and damaged buildings were reconstructed. The Protestant cathedral located there is the largest medieval church among the Baltic countries. It dates back to the 13th century. The cathedral is best known for its impressively sized organ with 6768 pipes.

Riga Castle

In the northwestern part of the Old Town is a castle. It was built between 1330 and 1353 as the seat of the Teutonic Order of Inflants. After its reconstruction in 1515, it was the residence of the governor of the King of Poland. Over the years it has been rebuilt many times. Since 1922, the castle has served as the seat of the president of Latvia.

The observation deck at the building of the Latvian Academy of Sciences

The building of the Latvian Academy of Sciences is located in the so-called Moscow Suburb. Its resemblance to the Palace of Culture and Science in Warsaw is not coincidental, as both were built on the model of the so-called "Seven Sisters of Stalin," Moscow skyscrapers representing the Socialist Realist style. The building is 108 meters high, with a terrace on the 17th floor offering a view of Riga.