Riga 3 Day Itinerary

Start at the Riga Cathedral (Rīgas Doms) on Doma laukums — the largest medieval church in the Baltic states and home to one of Europe's great pipe organs. Climb St. Peter's Church tower for a 360° panorama over the city's red-tiled rooftops and the Daugava River.

Walk the Old Town's most iconic streets. See the Three Brothers — the oldest group of residential buildings in Riga, dating from the 15th century. Find the quirky Cat House on Meistaru Street. Cross to the medieval Blackheads' House on Rātslaukums, rebuilt in the 1990s and arguably the most photogenic building in the city. Cross the river to the AB Dam bar strip for waterfront views back toward the skyline.

Dinner in Vecrīga. Lido — a Latvian canteen chain — is excellent for traditional dishes like grey peas with smoked pork, beetroot salad and pirāgi (bacon pastries) at very low prices. For a sit-down experience, try Rozengrāls in a 15th-century vaulted cellar.

Riga has the largest collection of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe — over 800 buildings, most built between 1896 and 1913. Walk Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela to see the extraordinary facades by Mikhail Eisenstein (father of the film director). Visit the Riga Art Nouveau Museum at Alberta 12 for interior access and context.

Head to Riga Central Market — one of the largest in Europe and housed in five enormous former Zeppelin hangars from World War One. Pick your way through stalls selling smoked fish, amber jewellery, mushrooms, wild berries, local cheeses and Latvian textiles. It is an entirely local experience and one of the great market halls of Europe.

Explore Miera iela, Riga's most fashionable street — independent restaurants, concept stores and wine bars. The nearby Kalnciema Quarter hosts a market on Saturday mornings. End with a drink at one of the rooftop bars overlooking the city.

Take the commuter train from Riga Central Station to Jūrmala (30 minutes, trains every 30 minutes) — a beloved beach resort on the Gulf of Riga. Walk the 33km of white sand beach through the resort towns of Majori and Dzintari, lined with ornate 19th-century wooden villas and pine forests.

Explore the Dzintari Forest Park for a boardwalk walk through the dunes. Return to Riga for a final wander along the Bastejkalna Park embankment and the city canal, which is particularly beautiful on summer evenings.

Riga International Airport (RIX) is 10km from the city. Bus 22 runs directly from the city centre in around 30 minutes. Allow at least 2.5 hours before international departure.