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Riga's old town from above, the Daugava and its bridges behind
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RigaTravel Guide

Latvia4 stories

The Baltic's biggest city pairs a UNESCO-listed medieval core with the world's most celebrated Art Nouveau district and a central market housed in Zeppelin hangars.

Is Riga right for you?

When to come

Late spring through early autumn

Around 24°C by day in July, 0°C in January — recorded at the local weather station.

What it costs

Mid-range. Comfortable without planning around money, expensive if you stop counting.

What we've planned, and who for

We have a weekend here planned hour by hour.

Riga is inA proper winterEnough for a long weekendDeepest in Europe
When to go
January: around 0 degrees by day, -4 at night, 47 millimetres of rain, cold, some precipitation.
February: around 0 degrees by day, -5 at night, 40 millimetres of rain, cold, some precipitation.
March: around 5 degrees by day, -2 at night, 34 millimetres of rain, some rain.
April: around 12 degrees by day, 3 at night, 35 millimetres of rain, some rain.
May: around 18 degrees by day, 8 at night, 48 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
June: around 21 degrees by day, 12 at night, 65 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
July: around 24 degrees by day, 15 at night, 80 millimetres of rain, wet. We recommend this month.
August: around 23 degrees by day, 14 at night, 78 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
September: around 17 degrees by day, 10 at night, 67 millimetres of rain, some rain. We recommend this month.
October: around 11 degrees by day, 5 at night, 76 millimetres of rain, some rain.
November: around 5 degrees by day, 1 at night, 56 millimetres of rain, some rain.
December: around 1 degrees by day, -2 at night, 50 millimetres of rain, cold, some precipitation.
Cold to hot, by dayDry to wetWhen we would go

Late spring through early autumn

Average daily highs, recorded at Riga (1991-2020 normals).

Where this comes from

Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Agency (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riga weather box)

Budget level

Mid-range

Typical cost profile for visitors

Combine it with
Plan itWhere to stay in Rigaad · Booking.comTours and tickets
On the map

Finding Riga

Open in Google Maps Larger map
The stories

Reading Riga

Riga's Town Hall Square under a deep blue sky, with the ornate red-brick gable of the House of the Blackheads on the right and the green spire of St Peter's Church rising on the left.
01
Destinations

Riga for Less: A Budget Playbook for the Grandest Baltic Capital

Latvia's capital keeps its best assets outdoors and free: gilded facades, a market in vast pre-war hangars, and a pine-backed beach half an hour away by train.

Latvia · 2 min
Two dark, crusty Latvian rye loaves resting on a wooden board beside a cup of coffee and an old hand grinder, lit by a window in a brick-walled room.
02
Food

Rye, Sprats and Black Balsam: Eating Riga from Morning to Midnight

Latvia’s food is built on rye, smoke, sour dairy and the forest floor. A day of eating in Riga, dish by dish, market pavilion by market pavilion.

Latvia · 2 min
Riga Cathedral rising above the old town rooftops with the Daugava river beyond
03
Itineraries

48 Hours in Riga: Spires, Art Nouveau and Zeppelin Hangars

Two perfectly paced days in Latvia's capital — from the House of the Blackheads at breakfast to Black Balsam at midnight, hour by hour.

Latvia · 2 min
A cobbled street on Ķīpsala island in Riga lined with painted timber houses and a grassy embankment, its old stone bollards running away under soft grey evening light.
04
Hidden Gems

Riga’s Quiet Half: Wooden Streets and Neighbourhood Markets

Riga's wooden suburbs, its restored warehouse blocks and a garden city in a pine forest — a full day in the half of the capital most visitors never open, and the practical detail that makes it work.

Latvia · 13 min
In pictures

Riga, framed

A dense pile of dried salted fish on a market table in Riga, Latvia
Photo: Alex Bell / Unsplash
The House of the Blackheads on Riga's town hall square, reflected in wet cobbles at night
Photo: Tom Podmore / Unsplash
Riga's old town lit gold at dusk, seen across the Daugava
Photo: Jānis Beitiņš / Unsplash
Riga's old town rooftops with the cathedral tower and the river beyond
Photo: Tom Podmore / Unsplash
Our picks

What we'd do in Riga

See and do

Eat and drink

Before you go

Practical essentials for Latvia

Money

Euro (EUR)

Language

Latvian; Russian is widely spoken and English is common in Riga

Power

Type C/F, 230V 50Hz

Getting around

Riga's trams, buses and trolleybuses take a contactless bank card or phone tapped on board, or a paper e-talons ticket bought at a Narvesen kiosk.

Tipping

About 10% in a restaurant if no service charge is included; taxi fares are rounded up.

Tap water

Tap water is safe to drink in Riga and Latvia's other cities.

Driving

Right-hand side; a UK or EU licence is accepted as it is, with no International Driving Permit required.

Emergency

112 (general); 110 police, 113 ambulance

Country-level guidance, checked against official sources. Currency, fares and entry rules change — confirm anything time-critical before you travel.

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