AUGUST 2025

On our way back from Uzbekistan we had a 24 hours stopover in Riga. We had never been to the Baltics before and were keen to make the most of our time. In this blogpost you will discover what we got up to in the Latvian capital. Riga is very walkable, so it is possible to see a lot in one day, without feeling overwhelmed. We definitely loved our stay and would love to explore Tallinn next!

Where we stayed

As we only had a short amount of time in Riga, we decided to stay in the heart of the old town. We stayed in Old Town Kalku Apartment, which is an apartment managed by a private host. The instructions to enter were very detailed and the host was really easy to communicate with. The apartment was great and featured a large bedroom, a living room with a sofa bed and kitchen and a spacious bathroom. I would have loved to stay longer and make use of the bath. Definitely recommend staying here. Lots of breakfast options nearby. We used Bolt to get from the airport into town and it was very affordable.

Things we did in 24 hours in Riga

The city center of Riga is very walkable, we only used public transport to get to the Holy Trinity Church, which is located at the other side of the Daugava river. Definitely recommend visiting this pink church, we did encounter some other people taking pictures, but it is not a popular spot to visit. We also entered the church and lighted some candles.

Riga’s prettiest square is Rīgas Rātslaukums where you will find the iconic House of the Black Heads. You can visit the building to see the presidential silverware collection.

Riga is not overrun with tourist groups, but there was one building that was very popular: The Three Brothers, which are three houses from the medieval era, that host the Latvian Museum of Architecture. I had to be quite patient to get my picture, but it is a lovely spot nonetheless.

Just around the corner from the Three Brothers, you will find the Swedish Gate. I had no idea Riga was once ruled by Sweden, and there is lots of free information on signings near the yellow barracks, to explain the history.

Riga is a very clean city, with old buildings and cobblestone streets. If you are looking for a more alternative scene, I would recommend visiting the Born to be Free artwork. It is located in a garden of a creative hub, overlooking the Latvian Academy of Sciences (Riga’s empire state building).

The  Latvian Academy of Sciences features an observation deck, from which you can enjoy views over Riga. Tickets are only € 8 and I am ashamed we didn’t make time to visit.

Riga’s parks looked absolutely stunning at the end of May. You could see that a lot of attention had gone to the landscaping at the Bastejkalna Park and the blooms looked spectacular!

Food in Riga

If there is one thing I would recommend it is researching where to eat in Riga. We were quite spontaneous and this means that the most cozy terraces will already be booked on a sunny day. We ended up having a traditional Latvian dinner at Zviedru vārti restaurant, which was very tasty but we didn’t love the vibes of the terrace. After a week in Uzbekistan we would have loved to visit a wine restaurant, but couldn’t find one that accepted walk-ins. Garaza seemed to be the place to be, but make a booking a day in advance.

We had breakfast at Costa Coffee in Kungu Iela and discovered the most beautiful view over Riga’s old town in the first floor!