Rīga
Rīga is a two-day city break: a UNESCO-listed Old Town, Art Nouveau streets and a Central Market in former Zeppelin hangars, with the Jūrmala beaches under an hour away by train.
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Rīga is the capital of Latvia and the largest city in the Baltic states, on the Daugava River near the Gulf of Riga. The Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with medieval streets, churches and squares that are easy to cover on foot. The city also has one of the largest concentrations of Art Nouveau buildings in the world, many of them in the districts just outside the Old Town.
Two days is enough for the core: one day for the Old Town and the Central Market, housed in former Zeppelin hangars, and one for the Art Nouveau streets. With three days or more, add a trip to Jūrmala, a seaside resort under an hour away by train from Rīga's central railway station. Late spring to early autumn suits the coast and long walks best. Winter is cold and dark, and the city is quieter.
Rīga in five
- Ride bus 22 from the airport, not a taxiLiveRiga lists bus 22 by day, about 40 minutes to stops beside the Old Town and the stations, and an hourly N22 night bus. Taxis and ride-hailing take 15 to 25 minutes if you carry heavy bags.Where to stay in Rīga
- File the travel declaration if your passport needs itCitizens of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many other countries are exempt. Everyone else without a Latvian visa or residence permit files the free online declaration at least 48 hours before entry.Official declaration site
- Pair the Old Town with the Art Nouveau districtThe Quiet Centre sits a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Old Town, and Alberta iela was built between 1901 and 1908. Give the facades their own half day instead of squeezing them between church towers.Rīga in 2 days
- Avoid the first Monday for the Central MarketThe market pavilions open from 07:00 to 18:00 daily but close on the first Monday of every month for a sanitary day. Plan the hangars for another day that week.
- Validate your ticket every time you boardTickets must be registered on each tram, trolleybus or bus, and LiveRiga lists penalty fares of €15 to €30. FCDO also warns of on-the-spot fines for unvalidated tickets.
Things to do in Rīga
See all attractions in Rīga
Need to know
- Airport
- Rīga (RIX), about 10 km; bus 22 by day, N22 at night
- Getting there
- Rail and bus stations beside the Old Town; coaches from Tallinn, Vilnius, Warsaw
- Getting around
- Walk the center; tram, trolleybus and bus run 5:30 to 23:30
- Best base
- Old Town; Art Nouveau district for quiet
- Time needed
- 2 days; 3 with Jūrmala by train
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuarySnow14 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh0°Low-4°Coldest, short daysJanuarySnow
Poor
- High
- 0°
- Low
- -4°
- Precipitation
- 57 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Coldest, short days
- FebruaryCloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh1°Low-3°Frozen, quietFebruaryCloudy
Poor
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Frozen, quiet
- MarchCloudy11 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh5°Low-1°Thaw, grayMarchCloudy
Mixed
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 43 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw, gray
- AprilPartly cloudy11 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh10°Low3°Cool, bare treesAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, bare trees
- MayPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh16°Low7°Long days, greenMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days, green
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°Jāņi, light nightsJuneRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 81 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Jāņi, light nights
- JulyRain16 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Warmest, beachesJulyRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 107 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest, beaches
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh22°Low14°Warm, city birthdayAugustRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 105 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, city birthday
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh18°Low11°Crisp, quieterSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 63 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Crisp, quieter
- OctoberRain15 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Cool, dampOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool, damp
- NovemberRain13 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh6°Low2°Dark, drizzleNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 6°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 58 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, drizzle
- DecemberRain14 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh2°Low-1°Log Night, marketsDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 52 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Log Night, markets
Average daily high and low in Rīga, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Rīga
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
6
- Feels like
- 5°
- Humidity
- 78%
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 5%
Rīga
10:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today9°4°5%Monday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 5%.
- Tue9°5°63%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 63%.
- Wed8°2°47%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 8°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 47%.
- Thu11°7°50%Thursday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 50%.
- Fri9°4°25%Friday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Sat9°4°33%Saturday: Drizzle. High 9°, Low 4°. Chance of rain 33%.
- Sun8°3°31%Sunday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 31%.
Updated 06:59 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
Day trips from Rīga, the full guide- Jūrmalaabout 30 minutes by train to MajoriQuartz-sand beaches, wooden villas and the Dzintari concert hall on the Gulf of Rīga.Read the guide
- Sigulda and Gauja National Parkregional train on the Rīga to Valga lineCastles, river valley trails and Turaida; trains and buses run roughly hourly, per the park's visitor site.
- Rundāle Palace67 km by road; direct bus listedA Baroque palace in the countryside south of Rīga, with a French garden and its own opening hours.
Before you go to Rīga
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Rules for Rīga, checked
- Central Market: open daily 07:00 to 18:00. The pavilions close on the first Monday of every month for a sanitary day.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
- Riga Art Nouveau Centre: €5 full exposition from 1 Oct to 30 Apr (€9 from 1 May). Hours 10:00 to 18:00, tickets until 17:45; check open days.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
- Transit runs 5:30 to 23:30. A 90-minute ticket is €1.50 and a 24-hour ticket €5.00. Register it on every vehicle; penalty fares run €15 to €30.Checked Oct 4, 2026 · Source
Plan around Rīga
Rīga FAQ
How many days do you need in Riga?
Two days cover the Old Town, the Art Nouveau district and the Central Market. LiveRiga calls 2 to 3 days right for a first visit; add a day for Jūrmala or Sigulda.
Is Riga safe for tourists?
Generally yes, but FCDO flags bag snatching and pickpocketing in the Old Town, at the Central Market and at the stations, plus overcharging in some bars. Keep valuables out of sight and check the price before a taxi ride.
How do I get from Riga airport to the city center?
Take bus 22 by day, about 40 minutes to the Old Town edge, or the hourly N22 after midnight. A taxi takes roughly 15 to 25 minutes; agree the price first, since fares are not capped citywide.
Do US or UK citizens need the Latvia travel declaration?
No. The official declaration site lists the US, UK, Canada, Australia and many others as exempt. Check the list for your passport at eta.gov.lv, because other nationalities must file it 48 hours before entry.
What is Riga's Art Nouveau district?
It is the Quiet Centre, a 10 to 15 minute walk from the Old Town, where Alberta iela was built between 1901 and 1908. UNESCO describes Riga's historic center as holding the finest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture in the world.