We just got back from ten days in Riga, Latvia, and while a lot of people made comments about ten days being too much time in the city, I’d argue it gave us exactly what we needed to put together the ultimate 1 day in Riga itinerary.
With a bit of work mixed with exploring, day trips out of the city, and finding arguably the best restaurant in Riga, we’re sharing our favorite bits of the city to create the perfect day in Riga for you.
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Riga At A Glance
- Latvia uses the euro as currency and cards are widely accepted.
- If renting a car, Non-UK and non-EU drivers need an International Driver’s Permit to rent a car
- You can find meals under €10 per person, even under €5 if on a budget
- vivi.lv is the website to search for train timetables and purchase tickets. Find it here.
- Read more about ten things to know before visiting Riga here.
Our Experience in Riga
We booked our tickets only four days before flying out and it was over Easter weekend through the Easter holiday break… so needless to say, options for accommodations available for ten days were pretty slim.
With that said, we ended up booking a place right near the National Library, leaving us with beautiful river crossings each time we went into town. However, it was a bit far out of town (especially if you only have one day in Riga). Instead, I would recommend something closer to Old Town and the train/bus station.
We got to know the city and can say that our favorites include the architecture in the art district, the food at Folkpub Ala, and our favorite day trip was to Kemeri National Park.
Although we had anticipated doing a lot more exploring of Latvia and the neighboring countries via car, after booking our rental car in Riga, we learned we needed an International Driver’s Permit, so we had to cancel our car rental and explore via public transportation instead.
And honestly, this turned out to be a blessing, and public transportation makes it easy to get to some pretty cool places just outside of Riga.
How To Use This Itinerary
For each of the places we recommend in this 1 day Riga itinerary, we include coordinates and important booking information where needed. These coordinates are an easy way to copy and pin onto a map like Google Maps, where you can then have your own little pocket tour.
If you plan to use Google Maps, be sure to grab an eSIM before landing in Latvia, and pack a battery bank like this to ensure your phone doesn’t die while exploring the city.
This is a very food-heavy itinerary… if you’re only in Riga for a day, you’ve got to taste it all… but trust me when I say, you have to save room for dinner at Ala. It is amazing.
The Perfect 1 Day In Riga Itinerary
Coffee & A Light Breakfast | By 9:00
- Opening Hours | 7:30 AM – 6:00 PM
- Coordinates | 56.94385, 24.11499
- Food Tours | Book a Riga Central Market Tour and Tasting Here
- Walking Distance | Market to Old Town — roughly 10 minutes on foot
Being in Riga for ten days, we intentionally booked accommodation that came with a kitchen, so for us this looked like coffee at home and some yogurt.
However, we recommend going to the Riga Central Market. The market is held near the bus and train station in the old hangars. The hangars were used for World War 1 German Zeppelins. I was so confused at first with the hangars because it’s in the middle of the city with no runway, but the zeppelins make way more sense!
Grab a coffee and a pastry from one of the market stalls… the outdoor stalls also have loads of fresh local fruit if that’s more your style.
Trust me when I say, you really can skip most of the other market food. We tried multiple things, from dumplings to soups and pastries, and the pastries were by far the most flavorful.
READ MORE | What to Buy and Avoid at The Riga Central Market
Aside from being at the market for coffee and a pastry, the real reason you need to start here is the cheese stand near the front of the entrance to the main food hall. The cheese here is phenomenal, and you’ll want to grab some along with their deer jerky for a picnic later at Kemeri National Park.
Wander Through Old Town To The Art District
- Coordinates | 56.95977, 24.10825
- Guided Tours | Book a walking art tour with a local guide before it sells out.
- Walking Distance | Old Town to Art Nouveau District — roughly 15 minutes on foot + extra time for photos
After you have some food and coffee in ya, now’s the time to explore the Old Town of Riga. The Old Town is relatively small, super walkable, and has so many random streets to get lost down, it’s fun to explore.
Some notable things to see are, find more information on each with coordinates in the post above.
- Cat on the Roof | Look up at the corner of the merchant house on Meistaru Street.
- St. Peter’s Cathedral | One of the most iconic landmarks in Riga’s skyline.
- The Broken Wall | A preserved section of Riga’s original medieval city wall, tucked between buildings and easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.
- Riga Castle | Sitting right on the banks of the Daugava River, Riga Castle is one of the oldest buildings in the city.
- House Of Blackheads | One of the most photographed buildings in all of Riga.
- Three Brothers | The oldest residential complex in Riga.
Don’t worry, while there’s loads to see in the UNESCO World Heritage Old Town, you’ll have time walking through here later as well when grabbing lunch. For now, your goal is to head towards the Art Nouveau District.
Walking through the Old Town, you’ll pass through a lovely park alongside a canal, and over to the Art District of Riga.
Photograph The Art Nouveau Buildings
- Coordinates | 56.95955, 24.10844
- Opening Hours For Museum | closed Mondays, open 10:00 – 18:00 Tuesday – Sunday
- Guided Tours | 2-Hour Art Nouveau Walking Tour
When heading to the art district, our plan was to go inside the Art Museum. However, we arrived after closing, 6 PM, but were thankfully still able to get inside the building and see the beautiful stairwell.
This stairwell makes for a great photo spot with the painted walls lining the spiraling staircase leading to a beautiful ceiling.
Aside from the photographic stairwell, the buildings all in the area have intricate carvings and are true works of art. It’s a beautiful area to walk around in, marveling at the Art Nouveau architecture.
Lunch Break at Lido or Spinati un Sviests
- Lido Coordinates | 56.95287, 24.11978
- Spinati un Sviests Coordinates | 56.9495, 24.10289
- Price Range | €3-€12
- Walking Distance | Art Nouveau District to Lido — roughly 10 minutes on foot
The last time we were up in this region of the world we learned of milk bars in Poland. Milk bars were created during the war as a way to feed people cheaply. Going to Latvia, I wondered if there was something similar.
After a bit of research I learned that the milk bar equivalent in Latvia is a Lido, or restaurant if looking for something with a bit more flavor.
Lido is a classic Latvian restaurant where food is served buffet style and priced per item. It’s easy to eat for under €5 at a Lido, and just as easy to spend over €20!
We loved all the traditional Latvian food Lido offers, and found it’s also a great place to stop in and grab a local beer and snack.
I also read about Spinati un Sviests and really wanted to try it. However, the timing just never worked out as it’s only open on weekdays from 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM. I read it’s more of a home-cooked style meal than Lido, though it has the same concept. Definitely worth trying if timing allows!
Remember, wherever you choose to eat, you don’t want to get too full because you’ll be enjoying the cheese, jerky, and fresh fruit you grabbed from the market at Kemeri National Park in just a bit.
Sunset At Kemeri National Park
- Coordinates | 56.91251, 23.45943
- Train Tickets | €2.80 each way
- Guided Tours | This tour comes with transportation & a stop at the beach
- Parking Fee | €3
- Walking Distance | Lido to train station for Kemeri — roughly 15 minutes on foot
- Time at Kemeri | 3 hours including 1 hour of walking each way
Kemeri National Park is a freaking beautiful park that requires a decent amount of walking to both reach and explore.
While the best time to visit Kemeri National Park is actually for sunrise, if you don’t have a car, that can be super difficult so we recommend visiting at sunset instead.
We were super glad we went at sunset instead of sunrise because you have to walk from the train station to the park, which is over an hour, and that’s a long walk in the dark if you don’t know where you’re going.
I read a few things that recommended spending an entire day at the national park. However, in our experience, arriving a few hours before sunset gives you plenty of time to walk the Great Bog Boardwalk
Getting To Kemeri National Park
The easiest way to get to Kemeri is via train from Riga to Kemeri Station. From there, you’ll walk for one hour to get to the national park. You can sometimes get a Bolt ride, but in the middle of nowhere, we wouldn’t count on it.
The park itself doesn’t have an entrance fee, and you just walk right in, and head straight to the bog boardwalk. Enjoy walking the loop, stopping for a picnic snack at one of the benches along the way.
Pay attention to the time when at Kemeri, as the trains only leave once per hour, and you’ll have at least a one hour walk back to the station.
End The Day With A Late Dinner At Folkpub Ala
- Coordinates | 56.94608, 24.10781
- Price Range | €9-18
- Reservations | email and other online contact information or +371 27796914
- Walking Distance | train station to Folkpub Ala – roughly 5 minutes
Trust me when I say you need to have dinner at Ala. And even if you’re not hungry for dinner, you need to go in and experience this place! The traditional garlic bread is to die for, and my mouth is literally watering while writing this right now.
The food is really good and really cheap for what it is. We highly recommend the ribs coming in at under €9.
Eating at Ala is more than just about the food though, it’s an entire experience. The name literally means basement pub, and the traditional Latvian setting with live music every night is an absolutely unreal experience.
If you’re visiting in a group, you should definitely make reservations. However, if just one or two people, we ate here three times without reservations and never had a problem getting a seat, although we ate at the bar when needed.
If you’re lucky enough to visit Ala on a night where traditional music is being played, just wait until the dancing starts at either 8 or 9. This place comes alive!
Thursday nights offer beer specials, where whatever beer is on special for the night only costs €3 for .5 liters. Be sure to read the menu to see what other specials are on offer for the week!
I recommend the beer platter, ribs, and amber beer. We ate and drank the night away on three different occasions having multiple drinks and each time it was under €50 for the two of us. So incredibly cheap for how amazing the experience and food are!
The Perfect One Day In Riga Itinerary
That’s a wrap. We know this itinerary is full. But trust me, it’s a great way to truly see it all. Be sure to look at the train schedule ahead of time at vivi.lv, as the trains aren’t very frequent.
And certainly wear good walking shoes, as you’ll be putting in the steps on a day like this! Most people will recommend seeing Riga from above, and while I can see how that would be cool, we passed, choosing instead to spend our money on ribs at Ala!
Riga From Above
If you want to see Riga from above, below are your options. We recommend booking your tickets in advance so you can pay with card and don’t have to wait in line.
St. Peters Church Tower
- Coordinates | 56.94743, 24.10865
- Cost | €9
- Tickets | pay on site
- Location | center of Old town
Latvian Academy of Sciences Observation Deck
- Coordinates | 56.94319, 24.1217
- Cost | €8
- Tickets | Secure your spot here.
- Location | past the Riga Central Market
National Library
- Coordinates | 56.94105, 24.09682
- Cost | free but have to check coat and bag for a small fee
- Location | across the bridge from Old Town
Alternative Day Trip From Riga
If going out in nature and the long walk to the bog doesn’t sound interesting to you, we recommend taking a day trip to Sigulda or, better yet, Cēsis to visit the Cēsis Castle Park.
Cēsis has a castle right in the city center. In fact, there’s an entire castle park there. We opted for a day in Sigulda instead, and are looking forward to going back one day to explore Cēsis. The castle has a candlelight tour that sounds super cool!
*We haven’t made it to Cēsis yet ourselves, but it’s top of our list for our return trip — the candlelight castle tour alone has us sold.
How To Get To Riga’s City Center
If flying into Riga’s airport, the process is so simple and cheap to get into the city center. The airport is only about 30 minutes from the city center.
While there are no trains to get to the center, you can take bus 22 for under €2, rent a car, or take a Bolt (Latvia’s version of Uber).
To make things easier for you, we’ve written an entire guide on getting from the airport to the city center, which you can find here.
READ MORE | How To Get From Riga’s Airport to City Centre
More On Riga
While we spent ten days in Riga, we realize most people visit Riga for a quick weekend getaway or even a day trip from neighboring countries.
In our ten days, we’ve come up with the things that are worth your time, what you should eat, and things to know about Riga. Check out these posts on Riga below.
LEARN MORE | 10 Things To Know Before Visiting Riga
READ MORE | Other Things To Do In Riga That Are Actually Worth Your Time
EATING IN RIGA | What To Skip On And What To Get At The Riga Central Market