After our trip, I have accumulated many reasons why it is worth coming to Riga, getting to know this city, falling in love with it and coming back again. Riga is really one of the few cities where you want to return!

1. Climb the tower of St. Peter's Church and look at the old city from a height

The church is open daily from 10:00 to 18:00, the cost of the lift is 9 euros for adults and 7 euros for students. On holidays, the schedule must be clarified. Also in the cathedral itself you can find the church choir. It is better to climb the tower in the late afternoon - there are fewer tourists and the sun will no longer be so bright and will not light up your photos.

2. Visit the old city market

The buildings of the market, which are visible from many points of the city, are former hangars for airships. Previously, they were much larger and were located outside the city, but the Riga City Council bought them at an auction and brought them to the city. In the buildings of the market, between the stalls, you can find old photographs where huge aircraft were inside the structures. At the market, you can try sanctioned cheeses, buy selected meat, and also taste delicious dumplings with all sorts of fillings - from beef to venison.

The market also sells a variety of flowers - tulips, daffodils, roses and many more!

3. View the city from the deck of the ship

In the Bastion Hill park, which is almost in the very center of Riga, you can find a small boat pier and for 18 euros (9 euros for students) you can ride along the city canal and even swim out onto the Dvina River, which offers a beautiful panorama and an excellent view of the city bridges. This tour lasts about 50 minutes and is perfect for a sunny warm day. Also pay attention to an interesting kayak trip along the Riga canals - Luzumpunkts.

4. Take a walk in the park next to the Japanese houses

After walking along the city canals, you will again find yourself in the city park, where among the fluffy green lawns and flower beds there are many Japanese arbors that Japan gave the city. They fit well into the city park and create the feeling that you are already in another country.

5. Marvel at the clock on St. Peter's Church

Walking around the city, you will almost always see the spire of St. Peter's Church. Take a closer look at the clock: firstly, this is the first clock in Riga since 1352, secondly, there is only one hand on the clock, and thirdly, the number 4 on the clock is not Roman.

6. Visit the best fish restaurant in Riga and try Le Dome signature dessert

12. Take a walk in Victory Park (Uzvaras park), especially when sakura blossoms there

In the city park Uzvaras, located on the left bank of the Daugava River, sakura blossoms in spring! The trees were donated to the city by the Japanese embassy in Latvia in 2012, and since then residents have enjoyed the stunning pink flowers every year. Big in the park green Zone, equipped with benches and paths, both for bicycles and for walking with children. If you haven't caught the bloom, then come here for a picnic.

13. Get to know Riga Art Nouveau

If you are not indifferent to architecture, head to Alberta Street, which is considered the pearl of Art Nouveau. Gorgeous façades adorned with female sculptures, Viking helmets, torches, screaming mascarons, standing sculptures of women with open mouths expressing worry and anxiety, Apollos, phoenix birds and much more. This street is called the street of millionaires, because the cost of apartments here is quite high, and throughout history the most famous personalities have lived here - from opera singers to politicians.

14. See the most beautiful staircase in the city

Having examined all the houses on Alberta Street, visit the Jugendstil Museum, located here, at Alberta iela 12. The luxurious interiors of the jugendstils.riga.lv museum start from the front, where you will find the most beautiful staircase in the city! Be sure to look at it from below, and then go up to the very top to enjoy a different pattern.

15. Sit with a book in a cozy cafe

Siena art cafe is located not far from the famous Alberta street. Antique furniture, beautiful porcelain and lots of books! Fresh croissants, French desserts, teas from all over the world, high-quality coffee, as well as French wines, champagne and even cognac await you every morning. It is nice to sit in Siena, enjoying an interesting book or a pleasant conversation.

Photo from instagram @veroveronika

16. Ride a bike

Almost the entire city can be explored on foot or by using public transport, call a green taxi. But how many cyclists are there in Riga! Feel free to rent a bike and go to see areas remote from the center, cross bridges and enjoy the beauty of small streets!

17. Walk down the most hipster street in the world

Miera iela Street (translated into Russian as Mira Street) received the title of the most hipster street in the world according to the SkyScanner travel portal, which identified the 20 most popular hipster neighborhoods in the world. Miera Street outperformed its competitors - New York's Williamsburg, London's Dalston and Berlin's Kreuzberg. Here you will find many cafes and art galleries, modern barbershops, as well as bookstores and specialty teas. Here - mieriela.lv you can take a virtual walk along Mira Street, and here delfi.lv you can see photos of its visitors.

18. Reach for the rooster on the statue of the Bremen Town Musicians

Walking through the old town, you will definitely come across the statue of the Bremen town musicians. This is a gift to Riga from German city Bremen. There is a legend that the higher you reach, the more secret desire will be fulfilled, so the noses of the donkey, dog, cat and rooster became shiny.

Photo from instagram @veronikakas

19. See the faces on the facade of the Church of St. John

Diagonally from the statue of the Bremen Town Musicians is the oldest church, in the foundation of which volunteer monks were immured. They wanted to be canonized, but after the foundation was made, their desire was considered pride. On the facade of the church, you can see the masks through which the preachers spoke to the people, inviting them to worship.

20. Get to know the Flower Street from the series "17 Moments of Spring"

Riga Jauniela Street (namely, house 25/27) was filmed in the famous TV series 17 Moments of Spring as Flower Street (Blümenstraße). It was from the window of this house that Professor Pleischner jumped out, having swallowed an ampoule of poison, when, when visiting a turnout in Bern, he did not check the established signals - a flower in the window. Pleishner remembered Stirlitz's instructions too late. Instead of the bird shop that the professor admired, the Eustace Hotel was opened, where cages with birds hang on the facade. The name of the hotel corresponds to the pseudonym with which Stirlitz signed his encrypted messages from Berlin to Moscow.

On the same street is one of the most famous facades - the house with cows or restaurant 1221.

21. Go to the courtyard of the house of Sherlock Homes and Dr. Watson

Away from the roadway of Yauniela Street, in a small cramped courtyard, is the house of Homs and Watson. Entering the courtyard, you will immediately notice the same door at 221b Baker Street.

22. Admire the Three Brothers

The famous "Three Brothers", named by analogy with the "Three Sisters" in Tallinn, show the periods of development of the construction of residential buildings in medieval Latvia. The White Brother, Middle Brother and Green Brother were each built in their own century, the oldest being in the 15th century. Try to get into the courtyard of the buildings, and after that go to the cozy veranda of the nearest cafe Parunasim cafe "teeka.

23. Get lost in the city and find the most beautiful front doors

Walking around the city, turn into any lane, then go straight, turn right, and somewhere here you will find a beautiful front door. It was "lost" in the city that we met the most beautiful porches!

24. Drink a glass of wine in one of the best bars in Riga

26. Go on a tour with a yellow suitcase

Every day at 12:00 a man with a yellow suitcase comes to the main entrance to St. Peter's Church, and a bunch of people from different countries is Free Walking Tour Riga. The tour is free, lasts 2.5 hours, at the end of which you can pay as much as you want. The tour goes to English language and it is always carried out by locals who know the most interesting places of your city. You will not be shown tourist sites, but they will definitely lead you somewhere that is not written in any guidebook. Highly recommend visiting."

27. Listen to the organ in the Dome Cathedral

The Dome Cathedral is the largest religious building in Latvia, it houses many artistic and historical values. The Dome Cathedral is famous for its organ. The schedule of concerts and other information can be found on the official website of the cathedral - doms.lv.

28. Drink Riga Balsam and visit Abram Kuntze's pharmacy

Abram Kuntze is the inventor of the famous Riga Balsam. The apothecary mixed 24 ingredients to make a medicine. The Riga balm became known during the time of Catherine II, when she visited Courland and felt unwell, she was offered a balm, after which the illness went away. A pharmacy in which a pharmacist worked was preserved in Riga, where they made a beautiful design and now it is Black Magic Bar, where every visitor can get a "portion of fear" and buy sweets with a surprise.

29. Find "waves" on the lawn of Livov Square

The square was formed in the middle of the 20th century, after the Second World War. Here is the Great Guild (merchants), the Small Guild (artisans), where dance balls take place, as well as a complex of buildings from the 18th century, when houses were attached to existing walls. Waves are depicted on the lawn, because the city river used to start here.

30. Learn the story about the house with black cats

Not far from Livov Square, to the right of the Great Guild, there is a house with two black cats on the roof, and the cats are in such a position that they are ready to defecate. The story of the appearance of cats is as follows: one of the Riga merchants really wanted to join the guild, but he was not accepted in any way, then he decided to buy a house opposite the guild and ordered to put cats on the roof spiers, and back to the guild. After that, there was a trial, the merchant was urged to remove the cats, but the court decided to turn the cats in the other direction. The cats were deployed, and the merchant was accepted into the guild.

31. Laugh at the name of the Stalin skyscraper

The Latvian Academy of Sciences is a 21-story building modeled on Moscow's "Stalin skyscrapers". The locals call the skyscraper birthday cake :) The building has Observation deck, so you can look at the city from a new angle.

32. Take a picture of the powder tower

This is the only surviving tower of the Riga fortress wall. In summer, the tower is covered with green ivy, and in spring you can see 2 cannonballs stuck in the tower wall since the 17th century. The tower was abandoned for a long time until German students rented it. Having opened the tower, they found mountains of pigeon droppings, but the students were not at a loss, they sold the droppings to farmers, and with this money they carried out restoration.

33. Find a monument to photographer Philip Halsman

On the side wall of the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design, on Skarnu Street, in 2011, a monument was erected to the famous photographer Philip Halsman, who was born in Riga. Halsman is considered the founder of surrealism in photography, because it was he who came up with the idea of ​​jumping in photographs. In the jump, he captured more than 200 portraits famous people, such as Marilyn Monroe, Sophia Loren, Selvador Dali, Henri Matisse.

34. Drink coffee with delicious ice cream

37. Meet the sunset with a view of the city at SkyLine Bar

One of the most the best views the city opens from the 27th floor of the SkyLine bar, located in the Radisson Blue hotel. Book in advance a table by the window and you will be waiting for the most beautiful view on the city during sunset. The bar has an excellent list of cocktails!

38. Buy souvenirs with Latvian ornaments

The Latvian ornament is many thousands of years old and, they say, secret information is encoded in it. There are many interesting souvenirs in Riga, ranging from designer postcards to ceramic houses and clothes.

39. Take a picture near the Stenders soap shop

This porch remains a mystery to me personally! Why is everyone taking pictures with him I don’t understand ?! You will definitely come across a shop while walking around the city, and you will have to take a picture.

40. Visit the luxury spa ESPA

Swim in the pool, lie down in the sauna and visit the procedures - an obligatory part of the program after walking around Riga! You can’t get there on holidays, so book your visit in advance - www.espariga.lv

41. Take a photo - postcard

Floating on the river in a boat or walking along the city bridge, you will have a stunning view of the city, its ancient towers, Riga Castle, and you can catch the point that all the towers line up in one row - this is the postcard view photo.

42. Walk to the Academy of Arts

The building of the Academy of Arts with neo-Gothic forms will not leave you indifferent! The building was built in 1905, and in 1919 the Academy of Arts was founded here. Around the building are unusual sculptures and a small park.

43. Go to the zoo

Get on the tram and go to the Riga Zoo! There is also the greenest district of Riga - Mezhaparks, as well as Lake Kisezers. Admission ticket to the zoo for an adult - 6 euros, for a child - 4 euros. The official website of the zoo is rigazoo.lv.

45. Fly with Air Baltic

Air Baltic calls itself the most punctual airline. On board the aircraft you will be offered a very tasty menu from famous chefs. It takes only 1 hour and 20 minutes to fly to Riga, so it's really easy to get here.

If you have free time, go out of town:

46. ​​Jurmala - take a walk along the sea and in a pine forest, sit on a cozy veranda of 36 Line and Faces restaurants. You can get to Jurmala in 35 minutes by train from the city railway station.

47. Rumene Manor - country residence(100 km from Riga) Hotel Bergs for relaxation, various events, banquets and conferences with the opportunity to spend the night in 5 spacious apartments.

48. Trek through the swamps in national park Kemeri.

49. Turaida Museum-Reserve.

50. City of Sigulda. The city is located 50 km from Riga. This region of Latvia is rich in nature and interesting sights, including Turaida Castle, cable car, caves, estates and others.

See you in Riga!

One day is clearly not enough for more or less detailed acquaintance with the city. But there is nothing to do, the return tickets have already been bought, so we will try to squeeze the maximum out of the day so that it would not be so “excruciatingly painful” later..

We are starting the “express method of getting to know Riga”. We will definitely take care of comfortable shoes, make sure that the camera battery is fully charged, and the flash drive is empty - the “home video” has been copied to the computer ..

It's time to go!

Climb. 7:30 am

We won’t be able to sleep today, we wake up, (not) do exercises, wash our faces, have breakfast, and forward, to meet the city.

Our task is to get to Old Riga by 10 am. If you already live in Old Riga, you can use the small handicap for a quiet breakfast or to soak up your bed.

A walk around Old Riga will take at least four hours, we recommend taking our route “20 most-most sights of Old Riga” as a basis

If the weather allows - stay near and climb to the observation deck - from here you can enjoy a wonderful view of the city.

Rest is a rather tiring thing, especially when it is associated with active sightseeing. It’s good to eat on the way, and our advice is simple - choose a cafe you like and enjoy a cup of coffee and a bun.

We will plan a substantial snack at a later time.

Dinner. About two o'clock in the afternoon

So, the route along Old Riga has been trodden, along the way we looked into vending courtyards and churches, the time is already about two hours, it's time to have a bite to eat. Since there is not much time, the best choice is the Lido bistro, located in the center, the address is st. Tirgon, 6.

We ate, drank beer or juice. It turned out quickly (with our time pressure - the most important thing), satisfying and inexpensive (which is also useful) - for 5-7 Euros per person in the center of Riga it is not so easy to have a hearty lunch.

Stop sitting around, the sun will set soon, and we have not yet completed half of the program. Riga, no matter how you turn it, we have no right to ignore this fact.

Our goal is tram number 6, the National Opera stop (the stop is not far from the Freedom Monument. If we are facing the Old Town, and the Opera building, respectively, is behind us, then our direction is to the right (women's left). You can see the schedule) .

A short respite in the tram, we pass four stops, we get off at the final one.

Here it is, the most expensive district of Riga, in every second house - either an embassy or a bank, if an apartment - then either an ambassador or a banker lives. There are also presidents here, corrupt .., oh, honest politicians, as well as ordinary working people .. no, after all, hardly simple .. A square meter costs 3-4 thousand Euros, people need to work for a year to get a couple of meters of living space accumulate. Politicians, however, also need to work hard, but they somehow manage to live here with non-banking salaries .. A paradox, however ..

The route is uncomplicated - we go without turning along Elizabetes street. To the right is the park, to the left are luxuriously restored 4-5 storey buildings of the early 20th century.

We reach the intersection of five streets, to our left - to Strelnieku street. We slow down, we are waiting for a meeting with the best examples of style in Riga.

The ultimate goal is Albert Street, only half a kilometer long, on which no building is architectural monument. We dedicated to her virtual walk in the article "".

In order not to carry a computer with you, you can print (or download to your phone) a PDF version of the guide.

No copyright infringement, the guide has been prepared by us for free use - you can download it, you can copy it, you can share it on social networks. Information should belong to everyone! Links to guides are at the end of the article. So, we promoted ourselves a little, let's move on ..

Albert Street passed, the time is eight o'clock, the strength is running out, there are 758 photos in the camera. A hearty lunch has already been converted into pedestrian energy (I wonder if such a thing exists?), it's time to think about a relaxing evening rest.

If you have the strength, you can return to Old city and hang out in some restaurant, like Lido (just kidding, Lido is not good for the evening, let's look for something more leisurely). Let's do this - walking along the charming streets of Riga, we choose a restaurant that we like.

To say that restaurants are located in Old Riga on every corner would be an understatement, rather, there are a couple more between the two corner establishments.

If we don’t have the strength, we stay in the embassy area, there are fewer restaurants here, but it’s also not difficult to find.

We digest impressions. Ninth o'clock in the evening

Having comfortably settled down and ordered dinner, we sip beer (the best varieties are Piebalgas, Valmiermuža, Užavas. Aldaris Luksus - only if nothing more decent is offered ..), and thoughts are annoyingly spinning in my head:

“.. leave tomorrow morning ..
..but what about her sandy beaches and the cool Baltic Sea .. they say that in summer there are more stars on the promenade than local residents..
.. and I also read somewhere that it is one of the top three major museums peace..
.. and it would be nice to take a walk along (they said, Western tourists go there like a museum, especially to the fish pavilion) .. and further along the restored Daugava embankment ..
.. and what are the creative quarters of Riga - I heard somewhere that interesting wooden buildings have been preserved there ..
.. it would be interesting to go to ..
..here's my mother-in-law advised to listen, she was here in 1974 .. she proved that the Riga instrument was the largest instrument in the world for a long time .. it drives, probably, as usual ..
.. it would be nice to give up, there is a Schengen, the Petrovs swam, they said - the night on the ferry, the next morning already there .. and it costs some pennies ..
..eh, it will be necessary to come again..”

And the main idea

"..and why I'm in Riga for only one day.. so little.."

And we warned you..

We note right away that you can not only read or print this guide to Riga, but also download it to your smartphone. And if you look at the interactive map of attractions, then also supplement it! Mark the places you would like to see and distribute them over several days of the trip. After that, download the free Ever.Travel mobile application and log in using the same account as on the site. In this way, your plans are synchronized between the web version and your smartphone, and you will receive a personal guide to Riga, which can be used even without an Internet connection. Questions? , we will advise you!

flickr, mark-jandejong

So, we start our walk around Riga from the majestic monument dedicated to the Latvians who fell in the years 1918-1920 in the struggle for the independence of Latvia. This 42-meter building is called the Freedom Monument and is located in the city center on Brivibas Boulevard. It was erected in 1935 according to the design of Karlis Zale. The vertical monument is crowned by the figure of a woman holding three stars in her hands. They symbolize the unity of the three historical Latvian provinces: Courland, Livonia and Latgale.

At the foot of the monument there is a multi-tiered composition consisting of 56 sculptures, which form 13 groups. The architect Ernests Shtalbergs perfectly realized the complicated idea of ​​Karlis Zale. The stone reflects the traditions of the Latvian people and captures the most important historical events. Bas-reliefs on the theme of work, family and spirituality are interspersed with images of real and fictional characters that the locals are proud of.

It is interesting that the inhabitants of Riga call the Freedom Monument by the female name "Milda". There is a version that a certain lady named Milda Winter posed for the sculptor when he sculpted a key element - a woman with stars in her hands. There is no direct evidence of this, but the rumors were enough for the pompous monument to receive such a simple nickname.

Further, we will not explain in detail how to get from one object to another - it is almost impossible to get lost in the center of Riga. Moreover, the route of this walk is laid out on the map, which you will find in the free Ever.Travel mobile application. Download and look into it during your tour of the city to understand how to get from one attraction to another. All places are arranged in the order most convenient for walking.

Flickr, Peter Knoferl

What to see in Riga? A few more walking routes:

Many places in Riga have their own unique history, and the Nymph Fountain is a love story that has become legendary. The famous Riga sculptor August Foltz created his masterpiece in 1887, near the building, which today is National Theater opera and ballet.

In 1882, there was a big fire in the then "German" theater, and the building was rebuilt until 1890. August Foltz was engaged in interior decoration, he also conceived the project of a marvelous fountain with a naked nymph, which was supposed to be in front of the theater. Suddenly, for some reason, work on it began to drag on for a rather indecent period. No one could understand what was wrong with the architect, why such a punctual and responsible person suddenly stopped meeting deadlines.

It turned out that Foltz fell in love with his model, did not want to part with her, and therefore could not finish the work. But as a result, he nevertheless completed the construction of the fountain, and the model became his wife. Although there is a less romantic version - supposedly the model was already his wife at the time of the creation of the sculpture.

The Fountain of the Nymph is a statue of a naked girl who holds a shell over her head with water splashing from it. Children sit at the feet of the nymph, and you can also see a dolphin and a turtle nearby. A very beautiful sculpture, one of the most elegant in Riga, a must for any excursion.

Flickr Janitors

The history of the Latvian National Opera goes back over a hundred years. This building was built in 1863 as the City German Theatre. However, it had to be almost completely rebuilt after a fire in 1885. Formally, the founding date of the Latvian National Opera is considered to be 1919, but some sources claim that it began its work already in 1912 under the direction of Pavuls Jurjans.

The opera building is a magnificent architectural monument of the 19th century, its facade is decorated with elegant sculptures. Luxurious interiors are represented by Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism and Empire styles. You can walk around the entire opera with a guided tour, during which you will even visit behind the scenes, and the guide will tell you about the history of both the building and the art.

The concert hall can accommodate about one and a half thousand spectators. Of course, it is he who seems to be the most important and ideally calibrated object of the composition in terms of light and acoustics. opera house. After all, everything here is done so that the audience can appreciate the performances of famous artists.

The Latvian National Opera is also known for its excellent ballet school, which has given the world such talents as, for example, Maris Liepa and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Flickr, BeeFortyTwo

And now, finally, from more modern areas, we find ourselves in a geographical and historical Center- The old town, locally called "Vecriga". The entire territory of this part of Riga is assigned to World Heritage UNESCO, and there are reasons for this.

The old city is spread out on the right bank of the Daugava. It is filled with so many medieval sights and other historical and cultural sites that one tour is clearly not enough to get acquainted with everything. Each narrow street is shrouded in an aura of antiquity, each building has its own unique history.

In the Old City you can visit such iconic places, as the Riga Castle, the complex of residential buildings "Three Brothers", the Big and Small Guilds, the House of the Blackheads and many other attractions. The spiers of the famous Riga churches rise above the idyllic roofs of the houses: the Dome Cathedral, the Church of St. Peter, the Cathedral of St. James, decorated on top with golden cockerels - a distinctive feature of the church architecture of the Latvian capital.

Everything here is conducive to leisurely walks and comfortable rest. There are numerous cafes and restaurants, museums and souvenir shops. Traffic in the Old Town is prohibited, so it is always quiet and comfortable here, and nothing will prevent you from enjoying the wonderful atmosphere of old Riga.

By the way, the old town of Riga is a great place to choose a hotel here. All sights will be within walking distance from you, and housing prices in the Latvian capital, even in the center, are surprisingly “not biting”. To search for a hotel, apartment or hostel, it is best to use the Booking.com website.

otzyv.ru, ViknikK

Probably everyone has read the fairy tale of the Brothers Grimm about the Bremen town musicians. And those who have not read it must have seen the popular Soviet cartoon based on this story. Therefore, if walking along the quiet streets of Old Riga, you suddenly see a sculptural composition of four animals: a donkey, a dog, a cat and a rooster, which perched on top of each other, you will immediately recognize the characters of a famous fairy tale.

This monument is a gift to Riga from the sister city of Bremen. The work of the German sculptor Christ Baumgartel was installed next to St. Peter's Church on Skarnu Street in 1990. That period of history was marked by the destruction of the Berlin Wall, the independence of Latvia, and the end of the Cold War between East and West. So, according to the sculptor's intention, the group of the Bremen Town Musicians, looking into the hut of the forest robbers, in a humorous form, was supposed to symbolize the fall of the "Iron Curtain".

Nowadays, few people know about such allegorical subtleties. People just like a funny monument. It is very popular: many believe that if you rub a donkey's nose, then a wish will come true, and if you reach out and rub the beak of a rooster that is above everyone else, then not a simple desire will come true, but the most secret.

In secret, we will tell you a company that helps to successfully “destroy” any borders and curtains. VisaToHome are the guys who work wonders: they arrange a visa so that you don't even have to leave your home! You send an application by email, and a courier comes to you for documents. All this is incredibly fast, convenient and, surprisingly, inexpensive!

livejournal.com, starevil

picasaweb.google, Alexey Vikhrov

All Riga in one day! Yes, yes, it's real, we continue our walk!

The Mentzendorf House-Museum looks like one of the typical examples of architecture that Riga inherited from the 17th-18th centuries. But one has only to go inside - and the history of the old city comes to life.

This house was built in 1695 by glassmaker Irgen Helms. Later, one of the first pharmacies was located here, which existed for almost 200 years. There is a legend that the famous "Riga Balsam" appeared here, in 1752, thanks to the recipe of the pharmacist Abram Kuntse. Currently, a separate exhibition hall is allocated for the history of this invention - in the attic.

From 1900 to 1939, the house was owned by the family of August Menzendorf, a wealthy Riga resident, who opened a shop selling food, delicacies and coffee here. By the way, coffee from Menzendorf at that time was considered the best in all of Riga!

After many years of desolation, in 1987 the house began to be restored and in the early 90s a chic museum was opened here. The restoration work was carried out by the Polish company "PKZ" together with the architect Peter Blume.

The building can be walked around completely - from the basement to the attic. Each room is full of interesting artifacts, interior items, furniture, which creates a very realistic illusion that you are in the 18th century. All exhibit items are authentic witnesses of those times. Special attention we recommend to pay attention to the unique paintings on the walls and ceilings.

They did not forget about the glazier Helms, the first owner of the building: today, a real glass workshop operates in the Menzendorf House, where you can see how glass is made and even participate in the process of its manufacture.

Flickr, globetrotter_rodrigo

The House of the Blackheads, one of the most famous architectural monuments of the capital of Latvia, was literally restored from oblivion only in the 1990s, to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Riga. Before that, it was a ruin, which turned into a beautiful building as a result of shelling by German artillery in 1941.

The meticulously restored House of the Blackheads now attracts visitors not only appearance, but also excellent interiors that fascinate with their beauty and luxury. The building hosts numerous exhibitions and hosts many festive events - both official and private. Since September 2012, while restoration work is being carried out at the Riga Castle, this house has been the residence of the President.

This building was built in the first half of the 14th century for the famous and extremely influential military trade guild of the Blackheads, which existed until 1940, but already in the form of a secular organization. By the way, the name of this brotherhood is not associated with someone's last name, but with Saint Mauritius, who was depicted on their coat of arms with a black head.

The architectural style of the House of the Blackheads, as we see it now, was formed in the 17th century, after one of the major reconstructions. The original design is unfortunately unknown. For many centuries of its history, the House has been repeatedly modified and supplemented with new elements. For example, in 1886, a sculptural group appeared on the facade, symbolizing Unity, the Universe, Neptune and Mercury.

Flickr, Doctor Casino

The history of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia began in 1993. Initially, it was, and remains to this day, a private non-governmental structure - this is emphasized by its organizers, arguing that the museum is politically and financially independent. It exists solely on the money of sponsors and patrons.

The initiator of the creation of this museum was the famous historian, professor of the University of Wisconsin Paulis Lazda, who was supported by many other Latvian scientists, as well as private individuals.

The purpose of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia is, first of all, to display the life of Latvians who suffered from Nazi terror during the Great Patriotic War, as well as from the Soviet regime in 1945-1991.

The museum is conditionally divided into several sections, each of which shows certain milestones in the history of Latvia. Here you can find information about the struggle of the Latvian people for independence up to its acquisition in 1991. The museum has collected a large number of documents and photographs on this subject.

From the very moment of its opening, the museum has evoked mixed responses from the Russian public. In particular, many questions are raised by equating Stalin with Hitler and the Soviet government with the German occupation.

flickr, fveronesi1

The very heart of Riga is the Town Hall Square, where all tourists flock, and the townspeople themselves are not averse to spending an hour or two here in their free time. After the shelling of 1941, it was completely restored and now it is beautiful place recreation.

Once there was a main market Square Riga. Gradually, it was built up with elegant examples of architecture, which were also restored to their original form.

From the gloomy depths of the Middle Ages, the Town Hall Square of Riga drew a bad reputation as a place of cruel executions. From the bright pages of history, it is worth mentioning that it was here that the world's first Christmas tree was installed more than 500 years ago.

There is a statue of Roland in the center of the Town Hall Square. This is a fairly well-known commander, the nephew of Charlemagne, who became famous for his political tolerance and respect for the population of the lands he conquered. The monument was erected in 1897, but now the square is decorated with its copy. The original is kept in the museum fund of St. Peter's Church.

Flickr, Alex Segre

In the XIV century the Town Hall Square was the central place of Riga. All significant events for the city were held here - from executions to holidays. And, as in any European city, a town hall was built here, in which the Riga City Council met, and once a year, decrees and laws were read to the townspeople from its balcony. Then, however, the area was not the Town Hall, but simply a nameless trade.

The first administration building perished in a fire, presumably from order troops. What appearance the second town hall had, we can only judge by old pictures. They depict a Gothic building under a high roof. This building also failed to withstand the war - it was bombed by Peter's troops at the beginning of the 18th century.

A few decades later, the town hall was restored, having decorated it in the style of classicism with baroque elements. In the second half of the 19th century, according to the project of the famous architect Johann Felsko, the silhouette of the building underwent another change - a third floor was added, and in general the outlines were slightly simplified, giving the town hall a certain elegance.

Before World War II, the largest city library was based in the Riga City Hall. The outbreak of hostilities brought catastrophic destruction: from the town hall, like many other memorial buildings, only ruins remained. New project, implemented for the 800th anniversary of Riga, allowed the restoration of the magnificent building, which opened in 2003. The Riga City Council currently sits here.

flickr, ritsch48

You don't have to go to London's Baker Street to visit Sherlock Holmes. That Holmes, whom we all know so well in the performance of Vasily Livanov, lived with Dr. Watson in Riga, on Jauniela Street.

This place is probably the most recognizable for the inhabitants of the former Soviet Union, because it was here that most films about foreign countries were filmed. Riga, like a real actress, played the roles of London, New York, Bern, Paris and many other cities.

In general, not very remarkable in itself, Jauniela Street first appeared in the 16th century, near the Dome Cathedral, during its existence it changed its name a couple of times until it became the “New” street starting from the Dome Square.

Its length is only 225 meters, but the size does not affect its cult significance. Here, in addition to Sherlock Holmes, Dr. Watson and Mrs. Hudson, the legendary Stirlitz and Pleischner from Seventeen Moments of Spring also visited. Even today the small hotel "Eustace" reminds us of this, and with it the restaurant "Alex".

The architecture here has hardly changed since then, so you should definitely visit this place, just created for pleasant nostalgia for "our" Baker Street and Flower Street.

Flickr, Khraym The Cheetah

The Dome Cathedral in Riga is a significant architectural landmark not only in the capital, but throughout Latvia. Its construction began in the 13th century and continued for several centuries, resulting in several transformations of the project with transitions from style to style. As a result, the grandiose cathedral, on which whole generations of architects and builders worked, was completed only in the 18th century.

The original design was discreet and laconic, gravitating towards the Romanesque style. At the turn of the 14th and 15th centuries, the volume of the building was increased by adding naves and chapels to it, adding a little growth due to the high octagonal spire - and the Dome Cathedral became a basilica with a Gothic spire.

In the 18th century, after the siege of Riga by Russian troops, the temple was damaged and had to be restored. A little later, the Gothic spire was demolished, replacing it with a Baroque one. In this form, the Dome Cathedral still exists, except for minor changes.

But this temple is known not only for its architecture. It houses a unique organ by the German firm E.F. Walcker & Co, established 1883-1884. The height of the instrument is 25 meters, it contains about seven thousand pipes. The organ is decorated with decorative carvings from the 16th-17th centuries. Now it is considered the largest in the Baltic States and the former USSR, and at the time of installation it was the largest in the world.

Flickr, Fearless Fred

Dome Square in Old Riga appeared in the city relatively recently - in the 1860-80s. Of course, it was named after the Dome Cathedral, which began to be built back in the 13th century.

The square was created with the sole purpose of providing better access to the temple and making it more visible. For this, several groups of old houses had to be sacrificed, but the inhabitants of Riga received a rather large and beautiful area, the size of which today exceeds 9 thousand square meters - an indecent amount for the compact Old Riga.

The architectural ensemble of the Dome Square is mainly formed by the Riga Stock Exchange and the building of the Latvian Radio. Both of them appeared at the beginning of the 19th century and are representative examples of classicism with baroque elements. Many local buildings had to be restored after an air bomb hit right in the center of the square in 1944.

Due to its size, Domskaya Square is often used for various holiday events. There is enough space to set up a big stage or hold some kind of themed festival.

Also on the square is a point from which three golden cockerels are simultaneously visible, decorating the tops of the old churches in Riga.

flickr, christeldevelay

The Museum of Foreign Art in Riga, known as the "Riga Stock Exchange", introduces visitors to a magnificent collection of Western European, Eastern and Ancient Egyptian art, from the fifth millennium BC to the present.

The largest museum of its kind in Latvia is located in the famous building of the Riga Stock Exchange, which adorns the Dome Square. The collection moved here in 1920, and since then it has occupied it, with the exception of periods of restoration of the historical building.

The Art Museum "Riga Stock Exchange" is divided into several thematic sections, the expositions of which are neatly systematized. The pride of the museum's collection is Northern European painting of the 17th century, which can be seen in the art gallery.

The Western Gallery will introduce you to the delightful collection of Western European porcelain from the 18th-20th centuries, including valuable Meissen porcelain. The decoration of these halls is made in the German style with luxurious wallpaper, clocks, furniture, parquet and gilded chandeliers.

Adjacent to the West Gallery is the Silver Cabinet, which houses a small selection of silverware. In the spacious and bright Eastern galleries you will see art objects from Japan, China and other Asian countries, mainly from the 19th century.

Flickr, Frans Sellies

On Malaya Zamkova Street in Old Riga, you can see three old houses, closely pressed against each other by side walls. These structures in our time are considered a single architectural composition, despite the fact that they were built in different time and have different styles.

They call them "Three brothers", which echoes the similar Tallinn "Three sisters": in the Estonian capital there are also three "fused" buildings of the XIV century.

The Riga "brothers" are a visual guide to the evolution of the construction of residential buildings, from the 15th to the 18th century. The older brother, also called "white" because of the color of the walls, appeared on Maza Pils Street in 1490. Its architectural style is Gothic with elements of the Renaissance, traditional for the Middle Ages.

The middle brother doesn't have a nickname, he's just "middle" because he's in the middle. His date of birth is 1646, the era of the decline of Dutch mannerism, which was less and less common in more solid buildings, but still relevant for small private buildings.

The younger brother, the smallest in both age and size, is called "green" because of his pale green color. Baroque influences are felt in its forms - this is especially noticeable if you look at the characteristic curved baroque gable.

"Three Brothers" was restored in the 1950s according to the design of Peteres Saulytis. At the same time, the back rooms and courtyards of the houses were combined.

One of the main Catholic churches in Riga - the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows - appeared on Castle Square in the form that we know, spontaneously and unexpectedly. In the 1760s, an ordinary modest church was erected on this site, and for some time the townspeople were, if not happy, then satisfied.

Only Archduke Joseph II of Austria was dissatisfied; He, without thinking twice, allocated a decent amount of money for the construction of a new church building.

His example was followed by other monarchs, including the King of Poland, and the future Emperor of Russia Paul I, as well as many parishioners from lower classes. The new church was built and consecrated in the name of Our Lady of Sorrows in 1785.

The appearance of the temple was finally formed in the second half of the 19th century, when, under the guidance of the now famous, but then still very young architect Johann Felsko, the premises were expanded from the northern facade, and a new gate tower was built - stone instead of the old wooden one. It is interesting that this restructuring was also made after the dissatisfaction of the crowned person: Emperor Nicholas I considered that the church was too narrow.

Old architectural complex The Riga Castle attracts attention not only with its history, but also with its unique style, which has been formed over many centuries. Different governments were located here at different times: the Livonians, the Poles, then the Swedes, and even later, the Russians. Currently, the castle is considered the residence of the President of Latvia, but since restoration work is underway here, the head of the country temporarily moved to the House of Blackheads in 2012.

The history of the Riga Castle dates back to the beginning of the 14th century. It was built on the banks of the Daugava so that it was possible to observe the ships heading to the port. At the end of the 15th century, during one of the conflicts between Rigans and Livonians, the castle was destroyed. It was restored only in the first half of the 16th century.

The constant change of rulers of the city could not but lead to a kind of eclectic architecture of the castle. Everyone rebuilt it to suit their needs. For example, during the reign of the Russian governor-general of Livonia, part of the complex was assigned to a prison.

In the Riga Castle, in addition to the President, the Latvian National Museum history, the Museum of Literature and the Museum of Foreign Art. Unfortunately, in 2013 there was a fire that destroyed several thousand unique exhibits; more than 3 thousand square meters of territory burned out. The restoration work is expected to be completed by 2015.

Flickr, H Barrison

Cathedral St. James is the main Catholic church in Latvia. It appeared in Riga in the 13th century, simultaneously with the Dome Cathedral and St. Peter's Church. However, its architecture is noticeably simpler than its peers, since it was intended not for the city, but for the rural parish. However, the Gothic pyramidal spire of this temple is the best preserved.

The main construction of the Cathedral of St. James was completed by the beginning of the XIV century. Initially, it was given the style of early Gothic. Later, the temple was rebuilt several times, which is not surprising - after all, it is already more than seven centuries old. He survived both wars, and change of governments, and conflicts between confessions.

In the 16th century, the cathedral became the first Latvian Lutheran church, but not for long: in 1582 it again passed to the Catholics, even later to the Jesuits, and during the Swedish rule in the 17th century, again to the Lutherans. During the Napoleonic wars, there was even a food warehouse here. The cathedral was finally given to the Catholics in 1923.

The interior of the temple is eclectic. Elements characteristic of different eras were constantly added here. The pulpit, made of rare mahogany, was installed in 1810. A new organ appeared in 1913. The stained-glass windows made in the Art Nouveau style and dating back to 1902 look very interesting.

The 80-meter tower of the Cathedral of St. James is decorated with a golden cockerel, traditional for Riga churches.

livejournal.com, starevil

The monument to those who died at the barricades in 1991 is made in the form of a symbolic bonfire. The author of the project Ojars Feldbergs did not invent unnecessary forms, the monument is strict and symbolic, as befits a memorial sign of tragic events.

January 20, 1991 is a day that is inscribed in the history of Latvia in red letters and stained with the blood of 5 people who laid down their lives for the sake of the country's freedom.

In honor of the dead, the wounded and hundreds of thousands of those who defended the streets of Riga around the clock in the cold January 1991, this day is called the Day of Remembrance of the Defenders of the Barricades.

Throughout January, celebrations are held in Latvia in memory of the sad events of those times, memorial bonfires are lit in all squares, near which people gather. The pyramidal bonfire became a symbol of the events at the barricades, because when the protesters stood on the streets of the capital in 1991, it was very cold and bonfires were burning everywhere, at which freedom fighters warmed themselves. More than half a million people then took to the streets, many even came from the villages on their agricultural machinery, for lack of a car.

The purpose of the confrontation was to give the Lithuanians time to form their own government, legislature, police and get out of the control of the USSR.

On the night of January 19-20, after provocative actions by the riot police, a shootout began, the riot police captured the suspected instigators of the shooting and wanted to deliver them to the pro-government prosecutor's office. By the time the convoy arrived in the city, the protesters had erected barricades near the building of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and met the cars with heavy fire. A fierce firefight broke out, during which 5 people were killed and 8 wounded.

Flickr, joeriksson

The Swedish Gate in Riga appeared as an alternative to the main entrance to the city. In the 17th century, the construction of the fortress walls was actively going on, and some enterprising residents independently made passages in the walls so as not to go around half the city and not pay tax for the transport of goods.

Perhaps this was done with the permission of the city authorities, who still had a share from the owners of houses with gates. They were locked at night and opened only during daylight hours. Of the eight such gates located on the territory of Riga, only one has survived to this day.

There are no ancient places without a legend. The Swedish Gate also has a mystical and gloomy history. Once upon a time, a young girl escaped through the gate at night to see her lover, a Swedish soldier. And when she spoke to him about the wedding, he got scared and betrayed her. The girl appeared before the city court and, as a punishment for forbidden love, was immured in the wall. Since then, girlish crying and the laughter of a vile soldier can be heard in the opening at night.

The Swedish Gate has been reconstructed several times. In the 1920s, 50s and 80s many lost baroque elements were recreated. In addition, three buildings were combined into a single architectural complex. Now there are a library, a studio and the Union of Architects.

Flickr, Bernt Rostad

The longest building in Riga appeared in the second half of the 18th century. They became the Yakovlevsky barracks, built to house Russian soldiers. Previously, there were also barracks on this site, but for the Swedish warriors, who had previously been housed in simple residential buildings, which was not convenient either for the inhabitants of Riga or for the subjects of Charles XI.

When Russian troops captured Riga, the issue of resettlement of the garrison was decided by itself, only a little later the dilapidated Swedish barracks were rebuilt. They got their name from the Yakovlevsky bastion, which was nearby.

Due to the versatility of the premises, various organizations managed to visit the barracks: the statistical office, the school, the labor exchange, in Soviet times - the Bureau of Military Projects and summer school. A major overhaul and restoration of the 237-meter building took place in 1995-97 and cost $6 million.

Currently, the Yakovlevsky barracks belong to commercial structures. There are various shops, beauty salons, bank branches, as well as several very cozy cafes where you can have a good time with a cup of coffee, while getting acquainted with this interesting monument architecture in the style of Dutch classicism.

geolocation.ws, Toms Grīnbergs

The medieval Riga fortress was once framed by 28 towers. The only surviving of them is the Powder Tower, built at the beginning of the 14th century. Then it was also called Pesochnaya, as it protected the main entrance to the city from the side of the Great Sandy Road (modern Smilshu Street).

During the Swedish-Polish war, gunpowder was stored in the tower, which is how it got its new name. The Swedish army thoroughly damaged the fortification - in 1650 it had to be restored. As a result, the height of the tower was more than 25 meters, and the thickness of the walls was 2.5 meters.

After that, the building withstood all subsequent assaults on Riga, including the capture of the Latvian capital in 1710 by the troops of Peter I, in memory of which nine cast-iron cores are still “stored” in the walls of the tower.

For almost two centuries the tower was empty and dilapidated, and at the end 19th century it was leased to private individuals who restored the interiors, organized a beer hall, fencing and dance halls.

Since the 1920s, a military museum has settled in the Powder Tower, which in Soviet times was transformed into a museum of the revolution. Today, the building again belongs to the Latvian Military Museum, whose expositions acquaint visitors with the military and political history of the country in the 20th century.

Flickr, Tania Ho

The house with cats could have remained one of the many examples of Art Nouveau in the architectural ensemble of Old Riga, if not for a special story. It was erected at the beginning of the 20th century by order of a wealthy local resident named Blumer. The building turned out, of course, elegant and beautiful - the architect Friedrich Scheffel worked on its construction.

However, the ambitious Blumer acted in an original way - on the roof of the house he placed sculptures of black cats with curved backs and raised tails, turning them back to the building of the Great Merchant Guild. In this act, he expressed his dissatisfaction with the refusal to be accepted into the community, where he passionately wanted to get into. After numerous disputes and frictions, Blumer was nevertheless accepted into the company of the Riga rich, and the cats were deployed in a “decent” direction. Today they still decorate the building, being one of the visiting cards and symbols of the Latvian capital.

Above the facade of the house there is a sculpture of an eagle with outstretched wings. The entrance is decorated with floral decorations typical of Art Nouveau style.

Currently, the first floor of the House with Cats houses a jazz restaurant and a casino called the Black Cat.

At the intersection of Kaleju, Zirgu and Amatu streets in Old Riga, there is the building of the Great Guild - one of the oldest and most interesting in the city. Now located here concert hall Latvian Philharmonic. You can visit one of the concerts to enjoy the wonderful harmony of music and architecture.

The building of the Great Guild begins its official history in the distant 14th century, although there are suggestions that as early as the 13th century there was a building on this site adjacent to the Riga fortress wall. For many centuries, the building was repeatedly rebuilt depending on the needs of the merchant class.

In all of Latvia, only Riga merchants had the right to sell goods abroad, so the local guild of St. Mary or the Great Guild, consisting mainly of Germans, was considered a very authoritative organization.

The first building of the Great Guild, two-storey, with a late Baroque superstructure, was demolished in 1853. In its place, a new one was built - in the Gothic style, larger in size and more modern. However, unique rooms remained intact - the Münster Chambers and the Fireplace Hall.

Another restructuring touched the building of the Great Guild in 1963, when it was adapted for a concert hall. Nowadays, this magnificent architectural monument pleases the eye, both with its appearance and with its original interiors.

flickr missyjessie

The Small Guild is located in Old Riga exactly opposite the Big Guild. This beautiful building in the form in which we know it now appeared in the city in 1866.

Nowadays, it is no longer members of the merchant guild who sit here, but the Riga Center for Culture and Folk Art, under the auspices of which concerts, conferences, festive and official celebrations are held. Studios of arts and crafts, theatrical art work in the center, folklore groups perform.

The Small Guild, also known as the Guild of St. James, was founded in the 14th century and was a union of artisans, as opposed to the Great Guild of St. Mary, where merchants were accepted. The guilds were not very friendly with each other - the entrance to the “competitors” building was, if not forbidden, then categorically undesirable.

In the second half of the 19th century, the outdated two-story building of the Small Guild, which stood for more than 500 years, was rebuilt according to the design of the architect Johann Felsko.

The interiors of the Small Guild deserve special attention. Hanoverian colored stained-glass windows are inserted into the windows, the floor is covered with terracotta mosaic tiles. A distinctive feature of the building is the facade tower, decorated with the image of St. John with a lamb - the patron saint of artisans.

Flickr, infra_milk

This legendary bar is located in an old building on Kalku Street. Previously, this place was the pharmacy of Abraham Kunze, the same alchemist who created the Riga Balsam. Perhaps he would have remained a little-known drug, but the case helped.

In 1789, the Russian Empress Catherine II stayed in Riga. She felt unwell and was advised to visit Dr. Kunze's pharmacy. Abraham did not lose his head and offered the Empress his miracle herbal balm. Catherine liked his action so much that she allowed it to be released officially.

As the saying goes local legend, even during the renovation in this room there was a smell of mint, lavender, cinnamon and rosemary. This magical fragrance is present here and now. The cafe has a safe with 24 types of herbs that are part of everyone's favorite drink. For 20 euros, you can even watch how it is prepared, and at the same time get a stack of balm, a cup of coffee, nuts and sweets with a surprise.

The showcase and interior of the bar are made in the spirit of antiquity. Wrought-iron lamps hang under the stone vaults, massive wooden furniture is all around. The waitresses are dressed in matching outfits from the mid-18th century, which gives this place a unique flavor. On the shelves you can see authentic books of the 18th century, glass vessels from the laboratory and various copper utensils. Bar visitors can buy souvenirs and, of course, an original bottle of Riga Balsam, or even two.

This concludes our tour of the city. We hope that we have fully answered the question “What to see in Riga in one day” :) And we remind you that you will find this route on the interactive map of attractions, where you can add it to your favorites, shorten it, or vice versa supplement it. And then synchronize with the free mobile application Ever.Travel and walk around the city without carrying voluminous books and maps. For more information on how convenient it is to travel this way,

Photo-article about what to see in Riga in summer and winter over the weekend (one, two or three days).

My personal TOP-15 sights of Riga (capital of Latvia): center, streets, architecture.

Now I am on the threshold of global changes for the better. I can feel it. I know this, as well as the fact that in order for dreams to come true, it is not at all necessary to rub the nose of a rooster on the monument to the Bremen Town Musicians in the center of Riga, but we will return to this later.

And now about what to see in Riga in one or two days. I’ll clarify right away that Riga, in my opinion, is one of the most beautiful cities Europe. No wonder it is included in the list of objects cultural heritage UNESCO as a city with one of the largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings in the world.

The photo below mainly shows Riga in summer, but there are also a few left from a trip to Riga in winter.

My TOP 15 attractions in Riga

In Riga, we lived in these apartments, rented at a discount for 50 € per day.

1. Architecture of Riga

You can spend hours looking at the buildings of one of the most beautiful cities in the Baltics. 40% of houses in Riga are built in Art Nouveau

Riga houses of the 17th century (mainly warehouses and residential houses of wealthy merchants):

The cat's house is one of the most legendary buildings in old Riga.

2. Viewpoint of St. Peter's Church

Address: Old Riga, st. Skarnu, 19

The height of the observation deck is 72 meters.

Paid entrance. Adults - 9 euro

From a height overlooking the Daugava River and the city center

3. Monument to the Bremen Town Musicians.

Excursions in Riga

Riga guides tell such intricate stories related to this monument that every tourist considers it his duty to rub the nose of one of the animals.

It's funny to watch how, through imperceptible verbal manipulations, guides make fat uncles jump half a meter above the ground in an attempt to reach the rooster's nose, because tactile contact with a bronze bird will give a 200% guarantee of the fulfillment of the most cherished desire.

Video with the guide's story about the percentage probability of wish fulfillment:

You can book a tour of Riga on the Internet, so as not to wander aimlessly around the city, but to learn a lot of facts in a relatively short period of time and see all the most interesting

4. Center of Riga

My Riga is cozy cafes with outdoor terraces where you can drink beer from large glasses and coffee from tiny cups, wrapping yourself in a warm blanket.

These are the streets of Riga, where you can easily meet a beautiful car

So is the wooden cow

These are cobbled streets where you can wander endlessly, now and then bumping into shops with antique trinkets, designer decorations, strange clothes and ridiculous toys.

The memory still keeps fragments of memories of how she walked in a man's jacket along the pavement lit by lanterns, tightly squeezing between her fingers a rooster smelling of childhood. I really wanted to believe that this would always be the case.

5. Riga Castle

A majestic building on the banks of the Daugava River:

6. Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ

Another name - Nativity of Christ Cathedral - one of the most impressive Orthodox churches in Riga

7. Cathedral of St. James

The main Catholic church of the country, built in the Gothic style in 1225.

8. House of the Blackheads

It was completely wiped off the face of the earth during the Second World War and restored recently.

Riga is even more beautiful at night

9. Red barns

Barn area near the Riga Central Market. This is a typical warehouse shopping district for merchants. The architects of most of the buildings in the Krasnye granaries area were Baltic Germans.

10. Stalinka, Academy of Sciences

There is an observation deck on the 17th floor, from where you can admire the panorama of Riga from a height of 65 meters from 8 am to 10 pm for just 2Ls

11. Three brothers.

Three brothers - this is how lovingly they call three cute houses, comfortably settled in the very heart of old Riga. The building is so dense that each house is a continuation of the adjacent one.

12. Bridges and beaches of Riga

Bridges across the Daugava River and city beaches, where here and there you can stumble upon idle townspeople sunbathing behind the bushes.

13. Back streets, parks, backyards of Riga

It is in the backyards and secluded streets that you can see a different life in any city, hidden from the eyes of uninitiated tourists. The capital of Latvia is no exception

What to see in Riga: an overview of the most important sights

The history of Riga, as well as the whole of Latvia as a whole, is closely intertwined with the history of the Russian state, so many of you must have heard a lot about this city, seen it in photographs, in films, and maybe even once visited here. But for the representatives of the younger generation, which entered a conscious age after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Riga is a typical European capital and is hardly associated with something familiar and familiar. For travelers who have gathered in Riga for the first time, we have prepared an overview of the most important and interesting sights of this beautiful city.

What to see in Riga in 1 day?

Not every traveler comes up with the idea of ​​organizing a purposeful trip to Riga (of course, we do not take into account business trips, trips to relatives, etc.). As a rule, this is either one of the points of the tour in Europe (in particular, the Baltic countries), or transit. In these cases, the question arises: what to see in Riga in 1-2 days and what is the most rational way to lay a route around the city? Let's figure it out.

Old city

Regardless of how much time you have in Riga, the first place to go is the Old Town, or Old Riga - central District a city where a medieval flavor has been preserved and a huge number of attractions are concentrated.

The Old Town of Riga occupies a very small area and you can slowly get around it "from and to" in a couple of hours. Where to start your walk - it does not really matter. As an example, we have laid a route from the Central Station of Riga, where many guests of the city arrive.

Route in Old Riga

The Dome Cathedral

The Riga Dome Cathedral can certainly be called a symbol of the city. A huge medieval building is located on the square of the same name, in the heart of Old Riga. The Dome Cathedral was founded back in 1211, but since then, of course, it has been repeatedly reconstructed and modernized. Today, the architecture of the cathedral belongs to the Gothic style with elements of the Baroque. The height of the cathedral, together with the spire, which is immortalized with a cockerel, is 96 meters.

Due to the fact that Riga throughout its history suffered greatly from the floods of its main waterway - the Daugava, the streets of the Old Town were covered with gravel. As a result, the floor level in the Dome Cathedral today is much lower than the street level. There is a feeling that the cathedral "rooted" into the ground. By the way, since 2011, a gradual reconstruction of the cathedral has been underway. It will last 10 years.

An important object of the Dome Cathedral is a huge organ, 25 meters high and including 6768 pipes. The cathedral regularly hosts organ music concerts.

Riga castle

Another medieval building on the territory of Old Riga is the Riga Castle, whose history begins in 1330. The castle rises on the banks of the Daugava. Since the 20th century, it has been the residence of the President of the country, but for the last few years it has been restored and therefore the residence was temporarily transferred to the House of the Blackheads. The castle was founded by the knights of the Livonian Order.

House of the Blackheads

One more " calling card» Riga is the House of the Blackheads. The construction of this attraction, as in the case of the Riga Castle, is associated with the Livonian Order - these are the years 1330-1353. However, during the Second World War, the building was completely destroyed and restored to its original form in 1996-2000, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of Riga.

Initially, the House of the Blackheads was built for the Great Guild - a community of merchants (merchants). Later, the merchants united in a brotherhood, which was called the Order of the Blackheads, which gave the name to this architectural monument.

Dome Square

Dome Square is the heart of the Old Town of Riga and, of course, a place where a huge number of tourists gather. Cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and other tourist sites are concentrated around the square.

In addition to the above-mentioned Dome Cathedral, there are other important city objects on the square: the Stock Exchange building, the Latvian Radio House, the Bank building and others. Each of them has its own unique architectural style. Together they form unique beauty architectural ensemble Domskaya Square.

St. Peter's Church

Along with the Dome Cathedral, the Church of St. Peter rises above Old Riga - another unique symbol of the city. This is the tallest building in the Old Town and the second (after the Riga TV Tower) in all of Riga. The height of the church is 123 meters and 64 of them fall on its spire.

It is this tall spire that arouses the admiration of all guests of the city, and it is thanks to it that St. Peter's Church is often called the main "visiting card" of Riga, leaving behind the Dome Cathedral, the House of the Blackheads and other unique sights of the city.

However, St. Peter's Church attracts the attention of tourists not only due to its majestic appearance, but also due to the observation deck, located at a 71-meter height. This is, without a doubt, the best observation deck in Riga. It offers a breathtaking view not only of the Old Town, but of the entire city. An elevator rises to the observation deck, the entrance fee is 9 euro for an adult.

Three brothers

This name was given to an architectural complex consisting of three small bizarre buildings located in old Riga on Maza Pils Street. Each of the houses has its own name - "White Brother", "Middle Brother" and "Green Brother". "Three Brothers" were built at different times and reflect the different eras of construction of residential buildings in the city. Today, all three buildings are not residential, they house the State Inspectorate for the Protection of Cultural Monuments, the Union of Latvian Architects, the Latvian Museum of Architecture and the editorial office of the Latvian Architecture magazine.

Powder tower and the remains of the fortress wall

In the old days, Riga, as it should be for any medieval city, was surrounded by fortress walls. In the 19th century almost all the fortifications were demolished as their original functions were lost. Only one tower has survived to this day - the Powder Tower and part of the city wall. Anyone can see them.

The Bremen Town Musicians

A rather popular attraction is the sculpture dedicated to the Bremen Town Musicians. Bremen is Riga's sister city. As a gift, this monument, made by a Bremen sculptor, was presented to the city.

According to tradition, if you make a wish and rub the nose of any of the four musicians, then it will definitely come true. Moreover, each animal is able to fulfill a separate wish, that is, in total you can make as many as four! And the most secret desire is fulfilled by the rooster, which is the most difficult to reach.

Cat house

There are quite unusual sights on the streets of Old Riga. For example, the House with black cats or, simply, the Cat House. This attraction is a building in the style of Riga Art Nouveau (rational modern), built in 1909. The turrets of this building are decorated with sculptures of black cats.

The history of their appearance is quite interesting. A merchant named Blumer, who owned this house, installed cats turned back to the Guild building, where they did not want to take him, thereby demonstrating a protest against such a decision. The Elder of the Guild did not like this act very much. A scandal ensued that turned into a lawsuit. However, the court did not find anything illegal in Blumer's actions. Later, Blumer was still accepted into the guild and the cats were deployed in the correct angle.

Yakovlevsky barracks

Opposite the city walls (or rather, the part that remained of them), Yakovlevsky barracks are stretched. They were built in the 17th century for the Swedish soldiers who defended the Gulf of Riga.

Of course, today the barracks are not used for their original purpose. Now they house souvenir shops, shops, offices, cafes, pubs and restaurants. Walking around the Old Riga, be sure to look here.

What to see outside Old Riga?

If you still have enough time left after a busy walk through the Old Town, pay attention to the following sights.

Freedom Monument

The Freedom Monument is a symbol of Latvia's independence. It is a 42-meter stele, erected in 1935, in memory of those who died during civil war in 1918-1920. This attraction is located on the central street of Riga - Brivibas Boulevard, in close proximity to the Old Town.

Lime Watch

Near the Freedom Monument there is another fairly well-known sight of the city - the Laima clock. Their history began in 1924. Since then, of course, they have been reconstructed and changed their appearance more than once.

Today, the Laima clock performs not only the function of the main city clock, but is also an important reference point: important meetings, dates, etc. are scheduled around them.

Riga TV tower

Speaking about the modern symbols of Riga, it is worth mentioning the Riga TV Tower - the tallest building in the city. Its height is 368 meters and according to this indicator it ranks first in the Baltic States and is one of the five highest buildings in Europe. Built in 1986. The tower rises on a small island in the Daugava River.

At an altitude of 97 meters there is an observation deck, from which, in theory, you can see the whole of Riga with its suburbs, but the local weather does not always allow this. One way or another, the Riga TV Tower is an integral part of the picturesque panorama of Riga.

Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ

The majority of the population of Latvia, as you know, profess Lutheranism (the Protestant current in Christianity), but Orthodoxy also plays a big role in the history of the country. Almost in the very center of Riga rises the Orthodox Cathedral of the Nativity of Christ. This incredibly beautiful building is made in neo-Byzantine style.

Its construction was carried out in 1877-1884. We recommend that you pay attention to this attraction.

Excursions in Riga

An excellent solution would be to see all the sights of Riga as part of a group or individual excursion. Especially if you want to get to know the city as best as possible in a short time. The guide will be a local resident of Riga, who, like no one else, knows the city and its history perfectly and, moreover, speaks Russian.

TRAVELING CHEAP!

Any trip begins with the search and purchase of tickets - this is what you can and should save on!

When looking for cheap flights during our travels, we use search engines such as Aviasales and Momondo.

Some rules for finding cheap flights can be found in this article.

Every traveler, of course, wants to optimize their costs and find a good hotel (or apartment) in terms of price / quality ratio. Thus, the more options you are offered, the more likely you are to find the best one. Therefore, your search can be greatly facilitated by the Hotellook service, which searches for the best accommodation booking systems.

You do not need to compare prices on different services yourself - Hotellook will do it for you!

To obtain a Schengen visa, as you know, the list of required documents includes an insurance policy for those traveling abroad.

When traveling to other countries where a visa is not required, obtaining an insurance policy for the safety of you and your family members will also not be superfluous, especially if you are traveling with children.

The road from the airport to the hotel or apartment after a long flight is often very exhausting. To get to the place as quickly as possible, in comfort, without dragging around the city with heavy luggage, we often use the KiwiTaxi service - booking taxi transfers at airports and cities around the world.

The best way to get to know a new city is through guided tours by locals. To do this, many travelers use services such as Sputnik8.