Top 10 things to see in Riga

Great if you only have a short time in Riga and want to make the most of your visit.

1. Occupation Museum – A must see for any visitor to Riga. Here you will find a well laid out modern museum documenting the occupation of Latvia from 1940 to 1991. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. The museum is housed in a Soviet-style building that has been likened to a square hand grenade.

two. The monument to freedom – Inaugurated in 1935, the Latvian Freedom Monument is a symbol of the creation of a nation and the end of the War of Independence, which took place between 1918 and 1920. At the top of the monument you will see Milda, the idyllic woman Latvian holding 3 beginnings, representing the 3 regions of Latvia that existed when it was created.

3. Albert Street – Riga’s most famous street is home to an impressive array of Art Nouveau architecture. In particular, from the architect Mikhail Eisenstein, Konstantin Peksens and Eugene Laube.

Four. The Central Market – Good local food at local prices. It is worth the visit to buy ingredients for a picnic. Don’t miss out on the hemp butter.

5. Dome Cathedral – It houses the largest organ in Europe and is one of the largest places of worship in the Baltic. It’s worth coming to a recital here if you get the chance.

6. St. Peter’s Church – The original church was built of wood in the early 1200s and was built by the local Livs, the first church that was not built by foreigners. Today you can visit the observation deck and see the old town.

7. The three brothers – Three of the oldest row houses in Riga, their construction spans more than 3 centuries. It is worth stopping to take a snapshot of the beautiful houses.

8. The Swedish gate – Aptly named as it was built during Riga’s Swedish rule, it is the last remaining gate to the city. The town’s executioner, who lived upstairs, is said to have placed a rose by his window the night before the execution.

9. The House of the Blackheads – Built in 1334 and originally built for the city guilds. It was taken over by the Order of the Blackheads and was used solely for them. Little is known about the origin of the order, other than the single merchants who formed it.

10. Riga Academy of Sciences – Riga’s first skyscraper was completed in 1957 and is often called Stalin’s birthday cake. You can go up to the observation deck and see the Moscow suburb and the central market from above.