Best Things to Do in Latvia (2026 Guide)

Latvia sits at the centre of the three Baltic states, a country whose capital Riga was one of the great commercial cities of the Baltic world for centuries, growing rich on trade and leaving a legacy of extraordinary architecture from multiple periods. The medieval Old Town, the Hanseatic warehouses, and above all the remarkable concentration of Art Nouveau buildings from 1900-1914 make Riga one of Europe’s most architecturally distinctive capitals. The 20th century brought Soviet occupation, mass deportations, and population loss that gave the city its current mix of careful restoration and remaining decay — a palimpsest of multiple histories.

Best Time to Visit Latvia
May through September offers the most comfortable conditions. June and July bring long days, outdoor café culture, and the Riga Summer Festival. Jāņi (Midsummer, June 23-24) is the most important Latvian holiday — bonfires, folk singing, and flower crowns; celebrated more authentically in the countryside than in the city. December brings the Riga Christmas Market (claimed to be the world’s first Christmas market, an argument also made by Tallinn) and attractive light installations in the Old Town.

Getting Around
Riga International Airport is 10km from the city centre, accessible by bus or taxi. The Old Town, Art Nouveau district, and Central Market are all walkable from each other. Trams and trolleybuses serve the wider city. Sigulda is 50km east of Riga and easily reached by train (1 hour). Day trips to Jūrmala (beach resort, 30 minutes by train) are popular in summer.

Riga Old Town
Riga’s UNESCO-listed Vecriga (Old Town) is compact and dense with medieval and later architecture. The House of the Blackheads, built in 1334 for a merchants’ guild and destroyed in WWII, was meticulously reconstructed and reopened in 2001 — its ornate Gothic and Renaissance facade is the city’s most photographed building. Riga Cathedral (Rigas Doms), founded in 1211, has one of Europe’s largest pipe organs. Riga Castle (Rigas Pils), the residence of the Latvian president, sits at the northern edge of the old town. The Town Hall Square (Ratslaukums) preserves the civic heart of medieval Riga.

Art Nouveau Riga
Albert Street (Alberta Iela) is the finest single street of Art Nouveau in Europe — designed largely by Mikhail Eisenstein (father of filmmaker Sergei Eisenstein) in 1903-1906, its six apartment buildings display the full range of the Jugendstil aesthetic. The Riga Art Nouveau Museum on Alberta Iela occupies a preserved apartment from the era, furnishing included. The Academy of Sciences observation deck provides panoramic views over the city. The Swedish Gate, built in 1698, is the only surviving medieval city gate.

History and Culture
The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia documents the Soviet and Nazi occupations between 1940 and 1991 — deportations, resistance, and survival — with considerable documentary depth and emotional directness. The Latvian National Opera, in a neoclassical building from 1863, is one of the Baltic states’ finest cultural institutions and offers excellent opera and ballet at lower prices than Western European equivalents. The Sigulda Castle ruins in the Gauja River valley, 50km east, are set within one of Latvia’s most dramatic landscapes — the gorge provides hiking trails, a cable car crossing, and a medieval castle.

Food & Drink
Latvian cuisine is Baltic in character — dark rye bread, smoked fish from the Gauja and Daugava rivers, grey peas with smoked pork (Latvian national dish), and seasonal forest mushrooms. The Central Market (Centrāltirgus), in five former Zeppelin hangars, is one of Europe’s largest covered markets and the best place to experience Latvian food culture — fresh produce, smoked meats, dairy, and fish alongside inexpensive prepared food stalls. Riga’s restaurant scene has developed significantly, with strong Nordic-influenced tasting menus at Vincents and Biblioteka No.1.

Practical Tips

The Art Nouveau district is north of the Old Town — walk north along Alberta Iela and parallel Elizabetes Iela to see the finest buildings. The Riga Art Nouveau Museum on Alberta Iela 12 is essential context.
Latvia uses the euro (EUR); card payments are widely accepted, though smaller market stalls may be cash-only.
Jāņi (Midsummer) is celebrated June 23-24 — if visiting around this date, book accommodation well in advance and consider joining a countryside celebration rather than staying in the city.
The Central Market closes by mid-afternoon — visit in the morning for the best selection.
Sigulda is best visited by combining the castle, the cable car, and a short Gauja River gorge walk — a comfortable day trip from Riga by train.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Riga compare to Tallinn and Vilnius?
Riga is the largest of the three Baltic capitals and has the most architecturally rich streetscapes — the Art Nouveau district alone sets it apart. Tallinn has the better-preserved medieval core. Vilnius has the most atmospheric Baroque Old Town and a stronger artistic underground culture. All three are compact and walkable; combining them in a single Baltic trip is the most rewarding approach.

Is Latvia worth visiting?
Yes — Riga is one of Europe’s most underrated capitals. The Art Nouveau architecture is genuinely world-class and there is nothing comparable elsewhere on the continent. The Old Town, the museum infrastructure, and an increasingly good restaurant scene make a 2-3 day visit thoroughly rewarding.