Riga is the capital and largest city of Latvia, set in the Riga Region on the Baltic coast of Europe. It is a city that rewards slow walking, with a well-preserved medieval Old Town at its heart and a large collection of Art Nouveau architecture spread across its streets.
What the city offers
- The Old Town: a compact area of narrow streets and historic buildings that forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage site.
- Art Nouveau architecture: facades decorated with ornament and flowing lines, found in districts beyond the centre as well as within it.
- Culture: Riga is a major cultural centre, so theatres, galleries and music are part of an ordinary visit.
What kind of visit it makes
Riga suits a trip built around walking. Many of its best sights sit close together, so a visitor can move from the medieval streets of the Old Town to the decorative facades of the Art Nouveau quarter on foot, stopping where something catches the eye. Its status as Latvia's capital also means it is the natural base for seeing the country, with the rest of the Riga Region and the wider country within reach.
Visitors who enjoy architecture will find the city especially rich, since the medieval and Art Nouveau styles sit side by side in one place. Those who prefer cultural life will find a city with a steady calendar of activity. Going in the warmer months makes walking and sightseeing outdoors more comfortable, though the city has its own character through the rest of the year.