I’ll be honest, I’ve kind of been putting off writing this post for a while. Well, 4 months to be exact. Not because I disliked Riga, quite the opposite in fact. I really had a lovely couple of nights in the Latvian capital back in June.
But the thing about writing city guides is that in order to make it valuable to you, I like to either have a comprehensive list of things to see and do, or offer some off-the-beaten-track, quirky activities for your trip. And with just 2 nights in Riga and only 1 full day in between, I don’t feel like I have either.
It didn’t help that I was seriously suffering with morning sickness and fatigue during this trip! The first trimester of pregnancy is not fun to travel in just FYI. So I didn’t do as much as I usually would.
But I didn’t want to just NOT write about my experience either, y’know? That doesn’t sit right with me.
So this is a bit of a mini insight into Riga if you will. This is what I got from Riga’s vibe, what I liked about it and a few little spots I would recommend. But I’m sure there are a whole heap of places I don’t even know about, so please feel free to chip in with your recommendations in the comments!
24 Hours In Riga
Big Bad Bagels
Ok, I struggled with food on this trip but one place I completely adored in Riga was Big Bad Bagels.
Not gonna lie, I went in purely for the name, I mean it sounds cool right? But actually the bagels at this spot were delicious and totally lived up to their description. I went for the ‘Hot Greek’ bagel for breakfast, which comes with grilled courgette, tzatziki, tomato, mozzarella and greens. It was really good and only set me back €3.50. Everything is so bloody cheap in Riga.
Nativity Cathedral
Walking into Riga Old Town from our Airbnb, we stumbled across one of Riga’s landmarks, the Nativity Cathedral. This ornate chuch with it’s domes and gold detailing is very pretty and worth a look if you’re in the area. We didn’t go in but the cathedral is pretty impressive from the outside and is situated in the Esplanade park, which is also a nice spot to check out in warm weather.
Livu Square
My favourite part of my day in Riga was relaxing in Livu Square. There are a few nice squares in Riga but this one was just beautiful on a sunny day in June. All of the bars and restaurants have al fresco areas so you can have a beer in the sunshine and just take in the colourful surrounding architecture.
It’s a nice spot to people watch too. I should mention that being so cheap, Riga definitely attracts stag do’s but it didn’t feel too much, just like people were enjoying themselves. It was good vibes not lads lads lads. I feel it’s important to make that distinction!
The Three Brothers
The weird thing about Riga is that most of the ‘sights’ people recommend are just buildings. So I’d read that The Three Brothers was something to go check out, but in reality I was a little underwhelmed.
It’s just three buildings side by side that are from three different architectural periods. And I mean they’re pretty to look at, sure. But they’re just tucked down a side street and I kinda got there and thought ‘oh cool’ and then was done and ready to move on. You know what I mean?
Parunasim Cafe
But what I did stumble upon near The Three Brothers was a very cute cafe in a hidden courtyard covered in fairylights!
There are actually signs in the area advertising Parunasim as ‘The Most Romantic Cafe In Old Town’ and they’re not wrong. This cute little spot has good coffee, cakes and sweet treats and is done up really nicely inside. It would be a cute place to sit in the winter. But as it was the summertime we relaxed outside in their pretty hidden courtyard with a cold drink and snacks, planning our next move. Would recommend a visit for sure.
House Of The Blackheads
Ok another one of the buildings/sights of Riga is the House of the Blackheads. Again, you kinda turn up and see it and move on, but this one does feel a bit more impressive. And it’s situated in the Town Square with street performers and a bit more hustle and bustle about it. Worth a look in.
Folkklubs
Another place I’d recommend is Folkklubs. It’s an underground bar/restaurant/tavern that has total Game Of Thrones vibes. It’s all stone and wood and medieval with vaulted ceilings. And they serve traditional Latvian food and play traditional Latvian folk music so it feels like quite an authentic spot. It’s a great place to come in the evening for a beer!
Exploring On Foot
Ok, so like I said my trip to Riga was very casual so most of the time here was spent wandering around the Old Town. Other than the buildings I’ve mentioned above, there’s lots more cool architecture to spot in the city. Like the Cat House, Vecriga and Riga Cathedral. As well as just really Instagrammable colourful houses.
You’ll also find loads of bars and restaurants and boutiques on your travels. Ooh and a nice market not far from Livu Square. So most of our day was spent stopping for a nice refreshing drink every hour and just generally having a wander!
Like I said, I’m sure that is by no means all that Riga has to offer but my little sample of the city in 24 hours was enough to make me really like it. It has beautiful architecture, a good atmosphere and some cool little spots. I’d definitely recommend a visit, and actually it might be a pretty cool place to visit for Christmas markets this year, huh?
Have you been to Riga? Is there anything else you’d recommend?
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