Vecpilsēta

A modern building with an excavated fragment of the historical fortification wall system along the river. The building has the best view terraces in Riga.

Statue of St. Roland, the patron of Riga. The original statue erected in 1897 was destroyed in World War II; now a replica stands there.

The House of Blackheads is where the merchants-to-be had their guild. Part of this building is the tourist information office, the rest is a fascinating museum. The upper levels house grand ballrooms while the basement has a wine cellar and several exhibits relating to trading in Riga.

Pretty to look at, but not open for visitors.

Amazing sculpture based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.

This monument remembrance of the events of Bloody Sunday 13 January 1905.

The house was built by and is named after Ernst Metue von Dannenstern.

First Christmas tree in Riga was in 1510!

Housed the guild of the tradesmen, who would join after being a member of the Blackheads (see House of Blackheads). Home to the Latvian Philharmonic – you can't just walk inside. It's the exterior that's worth seeing though.

Another pretty building just behind the Big Guild, this one housed the craftsmen's guild. Like the Big Guild, you can't go inside except for a performance.

This building (also housing a pub of no particular note) is most famous for the two statues of black cats on the roofs. The legend has it that a disgruntled tradesman who was not accepted into the Big Guild, built this house and put the cats on it with their tails pointing towards the Big Guild, thus expressing his…

Wagner once lived in Riga, on the street now named after him. This hall where he performed occasionally holds concerts.

This noticeable and austere black building is clearly out-of-place. In the Soviet days, this housed a museum to the Red Riflemen, a group of Latvians who volunteered for the service to Russia during the Russian revolution of 1917. Now it houses a museum of Latvia's time under the Nazi and Soviet occupations.

The Museum of Decorative and Design Art is located in the former St. George’s Church building (1204), which is the oldest stone building in Riga. It features seven collections of decorative and design art work.

This museum holds various exhibitions that display different aspects of cinema art, actors and film history.

Covers the history of porcelain in Riga through the 19th and 20th centuries.

A pretty building in its own right, this is also a nice place to see an opera or ballet.

It is a team of highly professional musicians with strong traditions, generous sound and devoted performance.

Riga Theater-Club in heart of old city.

Oldest Russian theatre in the world outside Russia.

A small, pleasant park surrounding Brivibas Bulvaris. Sites in the Bastejkalns include a Chinese and a Japanese building, and the Bridge of Love over the Pilsetas Canal. The Bridge of Love has several locks on the railings put up by recently married couples.

A Latvian shopping mall experience.

A former convent courtyard that now contains several touristy shops.

Literally Beer Yard. Serves huge portions of excellent meat and two veg from a grill at the front of the tavern, as well as an excellent choice of beer. Probably the best value place in town, with two courses easily costing less than €7.

The Latvian location of the international chain of stir-fry restaurants. Choose your ingredients and watch them being cooked in a giant wok.

A nice, cozy restaurant in the Riga old town serving various meat and fish oriented dishes with quality local beer. Located right next to the Riga castle so it's easy to find. The actual interior of the restaurant is in a cellar, but in summertime, the restaurant features a spacious outdoor terrace.

Delicious vegan food.

Mediterranean and European cuisine. Cosy and elegantly casual restaurant.

This restaurant and bar is a more upmarket option than Lido, serving very good Latvian food.

An authentic medieval restaurant in a real medieval basement in the Old Town. Serves tasty medieval foods and beverages.

As is evident from the name, the restaurant focuses on steaks. There are steaks of every kind of beef cut imaginable, and the price depends on the cut. The quality of the steaks is pretty much close to the best in Riga. The meat is tender, juicy and extremely tasty.

Traditional Latvian café, popular amongst locals. Always fresh pastry. Cash only sales. There are five Mārtiņa Beķereja cafés in Riga. Vaļņu iela 28 is located in Old Town Riga.

Riga’s first Aussie pub promises to provide plenty of authentic down under atmosphere, but thankfully without any stuffed koalas, Fosters beer posters or, God forbid, any portraits of Paul Hogan.

Cozy bar with DJs in the evenings. Salsa dancing on Tuesdays starting at 21:00. 2-for-1 drinks during happy hour (17:00-19:00).

Huge beer selection with 28 beers on tap, folk dancing, live music performances, and great authentic food.

Sports bar with karaoke nights.

A popular Irish bar.

A karaoke and sports bar. Great place to duck in and have a few jars. A very wide selection of songs and drinks, with a great atmosphere and stuff on the TVs. The karaoke is really fun and it's an intimate setting.

A very cool place with a decor that will remind you of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings. Very atmospheric. Perhaps the best place to try different types of black balsam, with flights and tastings here, lots of flavors to choose from.

Ground-level restaurant with nightclub in the basement.

Popular with young Latvians.

A trendy place popular with a younger crowd. The main floor has a dance floor with rock and pop music while the basement has a room with techno and/or alternative sounds. It is a very busy place on Th F Sa and is closed on Su M.

Clean, safe, cheap, and in a great location. Friendly and helpful staff. Free coffee and tea.

Friendly, English-speaking staff. Capsule hotel style.

Comfortable beds with curtains for privacy and darkness. Offers adrenalin tours, pub crawls, hockey game excursions, and other communal activities. 24-hour reception. Reception sells beer. Free shot of Riga Balsams upon check-in. Friendly staff.

Red Nose hostel is on a quiet and narrow cobbled backstreet of Old Town, just behind St.Jana church.

En suite rooms, very popular bar, sauna, and 24-hour reception.

41 rooms.

Not quite as central as some other hotels, but still quite near Old Town. All rooms have satellite TV and minibar.

The Old City Boutique Hotel is a 4-star hotel and has a central location in Riga’s Old Town.

Old Riga Hotel Vecriga is located in the historical and cultural centre of Riga, on an ancient Gleznotaju street (Painters’ and Goldsmiths’ Street).

In a quiet street in Riga’s Old Town, within walking distance from all the main attractions.

In a historic building.

Elegant boutique hotel with 65 guest rooms.