Riga rewards the curious. A Hanseatic port turned cultural hub, it blends cobbled lanes and spires with bold Art Nouveau façades—one of Europe’s finest collections. Its UNESCO-listed Old Town, storied churches, and riverfront skyline set a timeless mood, while a booming food scene keeps things deliciously current.

Fun fact: Riga Central Market, Europe’s largest, lives inside repurposed Zeppelin hangars from the 1930s. Another: The nearby Gauja River Valley cradles medieval castles and forested cliffs, earning it the nickname “Switzerland of Latvia.” And yes—Riga Black Balsam, the local herbal liqueur, is a rite of passage.

Practical notes: Latvia uses the euro, cards are widely accepted, and English is common in the center. Winters are crisp (ideal for cozy cafés), summers are mild (perfect for riverside strolls and a Jūrmala beach jaunt). Dress for changeable weather, and book popular restaurants in advance on weekends.

Riga

Riga’s heart beats in Vecrīga (Old Town), where the House of the Blackheads, St. Peter’s Church, and the Cathedral mark centuries of trade and faith. Cross into the 20th century on Alberta iela, a living gallery of sinuous Art Nouveau reliefs and floral balconies.

Between sights, you’ll eat well: market pickles and smoked fish, rye bread and pelmeni, modern Baltic seafood, and standout coffee. Evenings invite a beer hall singalong or a refined tasting menu; either way, you’re never far from a memorable nightcap.

• Top sights: House of the Blackheads, St. Peter’s Church tower, Riga Cathedral, Freedom Monument, Art Nouveau Museum, Kipsala’s wooden houses, National Library (“Castle of Light”).
• Great museums: Latvian National Museum of Art, KGB Corner House (occupation history), Ethnographic Open-Air Museum (traditional homesteads).
• Food & drink essentials: Central Market tastings, hearty Latvian plates at a beer cellar, modern Baltic seafood, and a sip of Riga Black Balsam.

Getting there & around (book with our partners):

• Flights to Riga (RIX): Most major European hubs fly 2–3 hours to RIX. Compare fares and times on Omio (often $80–$250 roundtrip within Europe depending on season).
• Trains & buses in Europe: If arriving from Tallinn or Vilnius, check Omio Trains and Omio Buses (Riga–Sigulda ~1h15 by train, ~€3–€4; Riga–Jūrmala ~30 min, ~€1.80–€3).
• Airport to Old Town: Taxi/ride-hail ~20–25 minutes; Bus 22 ~30 minutes. Buy tickets on board or at kiosks.

Where to stay (handpicked + quick-search tools):

• Grand Hotel Kempinski Riga (elegant, opposite the Opera; spa and polished service): Check availability
• Radisson Blu Latvija Conference & Spa Hotel (central, skyline views from the 26th-floor bar; spa): Check availability
• Wellton Riverside SPA Hotel (Old Town edge, generous spa with pools/saunas): Check availability
• Rixwell Old Riga Palace Hotel (quiet Old Town corner, good value): Check availability
• Compare more hotels: Hotels.com Riga | Apartments/homes: VRBO Riga

Day 1 — Arrival, Old Town, and a Latvian cellar supper

Morning: Travel day. If you land early, drop bags and take a gentle loop around Town Hall Square to orient yourself—note the ornate House of the Blackheads and the spire of St. Peter’s.

Afternoon: Espresso and cake at Parunāsim kafe’teeka (cozy courtyard nook) or Kalve Coffee (light roasts and sleek design). Then join this guided wander to unlock context and shortcuts: Riga Old Town Walking Tour in a Small Group. Expect stories of guilds, merchants, and wartime scars as you thread the lanes.

Evening: Book a table at Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs, a vaulted beer cellar pouring local brews alongside potato pancakes, grey peas with bacon, and live folk sets; it’s a quintessential first-night feast. Prefer modern plates? Try Barents for Baltic seafood (think wild fish, foraged greens) or MUUSU for seasonal European dishes. Nightcap with a splash of Riga Black Balsam—herbal, bittersweet—at a classic bar or head up to the Skyline Bar atop Radisson Blu for city lights.

Day 2 — Markets, Art Nouveau, and craft beer

Morning: Start at MiiT Coffee (roastery vibe; great pancakes) or Big Bad Bagels (hand-rolled, with Latvian twists). Then taste the city at its source with the Riga Central Market Traditional Food Tasting—smoked sprats, pickled cucumbers, farmhouse cheeses, rye bread, and sweet pastries under those iconic Zeppelin hangars.

Afternoon: Walk or tram up to Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela to admire Riga’s Art Nouveau gems—mythic faces, peacocks, and floral arabesques. Pop into the Art Nouveau Museum to see a period apartment restored down to the parquet, then refuel at Rocket Bean Roastery on Miera iela (Latvia’s third-wave pioneer). Optional detour: KGB Corner House for a sobering look at Soviet-era repression.

Evening: Meet a brewer and sip what’s new: Brewery Tour and Beer Tasting in Riga—five styles with stories, perfect before dinner. For the meal, Valmiermuiža’s Brewery Embassy pairs Latvian farm produce with their beers; or book Ferma for dry-aged steaks and Baltic produce. Finish at Labietis, a cult microbrewery with experimental botanicals, or a refined cocktail bar near the Opera.

Day 3 — Castles and cliffs: Sigulda & Turaida day trip

Morning: Grab a flat white at Kalve Coffee or a pastry from BakeBerry, then head to the Gauja Valley for forested vistas and medieval legends. Easiest is a guided day: From Riga: Sigulda & Turaida Legends Group Tour. You’ll see Sigulda Castle ruins, Turaida Castle’s red-brick tower, and Gutmanis Cave—the largest in the Baltics.

Afternoon: Continue exploring trail outlooks above the Gauja and, if time allows, ride the river cable car for a sweeping view of the valley. Lunch suggestions in Sigulda include Mr. Biskvīts (casual European fare) or Kungu Rija (rustic Latvian classics).

Evening: Return to Riga in time for a relaxed dinner. LIDO Atpūtas Centrs offers an abundant Latvian canteen experience—perfect if you’ve worked up an appetite—or head back underground to Folkklubs Ala for live music and shared plates. If you’re up for a stroll, the Freedom Monument and Bastejkalns canal look especially photogenic after dark.

Day 4 — Wooden quarters, Jūrmala breeze, and departure

Morning: Cross the river to Āgenskalns Market for coffee and a light breakfast (seasonal produce and artisanal bites in a beautifully restored market hall). Wander the nearby wooden architecture streets, then, if your flight is later in the day, hop a quick train to Jūrmala from Riga Central Station via Omio Trains (~25–30 minutes to Majori, ~€1.80–€3). Stroll pine-scented lanes, the pedestrian Jomas iela, and the broad sandy beach; climb the Dzintari Forest Park tower for Baltic Sea views.

Afternoon: Lunch by the sea at Riviera (Mediterranean plates and grilled fish) or 36. Line (modern Latvian seafood by the dunes). Head back to Riga, pick up edible souvenirs at Central Market (rye bread, cloudberry jam), collect your bags, and transfer to RIX.

Evening: Departure. If you have a late flight, squeeze in the Latvian National Museum of Art or a spa hour at your hotel (Wellton and Radisson Blu Latvija have convenient facilities). Toast farewell with one last Balsam—neat or in a blackcurrant cocktail.

Optional swaps (seasonal): If you’re visiting in winter, consider a snowy adventure (husky sledding runs December–March most years) or a sunset bog-boardwalk walk in Ķemeri National Park; in summer, extend your Jūrmala time for a salty swim.

Dining cheat sheet (extra picks to mix in): Domini Canes (Old Town favorite, seasonal European plates), Province (homey Latvian comfort dishes), Entresol (inventive small plates called “knapas”), The Catch (stylish Japanese robata and sushi), Valtera Restorāns (farm-to-table Latvian). For sweets, try a Laima chocolate shop; for ice cream, watch for Latvian berry flavors.

How to book the featured tours:

• Old Town small-group walk: Viator
• Central Market tasting: Viator
• Sigulda & Turaida day trip: Viator
• Brewery tour & tasting: Viator

Four days in Riga give you time to savor history-rich streets, gilded Art Nouveau, and the forests and fortresses of the Gauja Valley—plus a generous slice of Latvian hospitality. Come hungry, pack layers, and let the city’s markets, music, and riverlight do the rest.