✈️ TLV to Riga (RIX)
Latvia
Riga
CityRIX
IATA2893.5 km
Distance4h
Flight TimeCoordinates: 56.9236, 23.9711
Airlines:
About Riga
Weather in Riga
Understand
Riga is famous for its world heritage -listed old town (Vecrīga) and city centre (Centrs), in which over 800 buildings — a third of all buildings — are of the Art Nouveau (aka Jugendstil) style of architecture and thus Riga is one of the best destinations to see this architectural style. Chiefly built in the first years of the 20th century, many of Riga's Art Nouveau buildings were created by ethnic Latvian architects unlike earlier buildings in the city . The Art Nouveau style involves intricate building facades, with carvings of flowers and mythological creatures, and ornate doorways and windows. A considerable part of the old town was either destroyed by fire or destroyed by the Germans in World War II but many old buildings were also spared. The old town was a draw of the city during the Soviet times and it received protected status in 1967. The damaged parts, most notably the House of the Blackheads, were restored in the late 1990s, mainly to make Riga more attractive as a tourist destination. Another thing that attracts visitors, especially young adults, is the lively nightlife and discount airlines that offer cheap flights to/from much of Europe. Riga is bisected by the river Daugava. Old (medieval) town is in the centre of the city on the east side of the river. It is surrounded by a ring of ~19th–early 20th-century architecture including the Art Nouveau buildings described above, followed by a mix of private 2-floor house districts (many also pre-World War II) and Soviet-era 5-18 floor apartment districts. Especially near railroad lines, they are interspersed with industrial plants from different eras, including some from the Imperial Russian era.
Talk
The official language of Latvia is Latvian ; however, in Riga, the majority of the population speaks both Latvian and Russian , and ethnic Russians form slightly more than a third of the city's population. English is widely spoken by younger people and by people in the tourism industry. German is also commonly spoken by tour guides.
See
For tourists, the most interesting districts are Vecrīga (the UNESCO-listed Old Town) and the area around the nearby Freedom Monument , which do double duty as the setting of Riga's foremost historic sites and the centre of its burgeoning nightlife. In Vecrīga, the two main clusters of historic sites lie just a few blocks from each other: Town Hall Square , which contains the striking 13th-century House of Blackheads , the Town Hall (built in 2003 as a down-to-the-last-detail copy of the 17th-century original), and Riga Cathedral and the square surrounding it. There you'll also find important museums such as the National History Museum of Latvia (in Riga Castle ) and the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia , as well as remnants of the Medieval-era city fortifications popping up here and there. Further out from Vecrīga is Riga's modern-day downtown (Centrs). Aside from the aforementioned Freedom Monument, architecture buffs flock here to admire the beautifully preserved Art Nouveau row houses on Alberta iela and other nearby streets — one of the densest clusters of architecture of that style in the world — as well as still more museums, such as Latvia's National Museum of Art . However, there are places worth visiting outside the city centre. Some other old and well-preserved urban districts that are relatively unvisited by tourists include Agenskalns and Tornakalns, just over the Stone bridge. Further out, the residential areas on the periphery of town are largely made up of gray apartment blocks built in the typically Soviet style. These areas are nearly identical to those all over Eastern Europe . However, they do give an idea of how the vast majority of the people in Riga live and of the history of the area. The Riga Pass , which costs €16-26 , has discounts for museums and some tourist attractions.
Do
If you're interested in classical culture , head to the National Opera in the Old Town to enjoy opera or ballet or to the Koncertzāle Ave Sol a little further north. The city has several pleasant parks, notably around the city canal and further north into Centrs. Another interesting park is Mežaparks in the north of the city with beautiful old villas and Riga's zoo. It's also possible to do a boat ride on the canal, making a tour around the old town on the Daugava river. Start point is near the Freedom Monument. Also, check out the nearby sights of the Riga region , some of which allow for a good day trip from Riga due to the frequent and comprehensive travel options of the region. Football: the men's national soccer team play home games at Daugava Stadium, 3 km east of city centre. The city has three clubs playing soccer in Virslīga, the top tier: Riga FC , RFS and Metta . FK Auda play at Kekava 15 km south. The playing season is April-Nov.
Buy
Russian Language School scams are extremely common in Riga. One such school that has cheated foreigners is Russian Language School of Baltic International Academy Lomonosova Street 1/4 - 308. They take money for intensive classes and then when they are unable to offer them will not refund one's money. They have several classes for free for locals meeting only a few hours a week. The only good reviews are from the locals or people living in Riga who got free classes. Buy items like amber and wool mittens and socks in the central market or throughout Vecrīga in little stands. You might haggle and get good prices for souvenirs. During the Christmas season there is a small Christmas market in the main square of old town which offers lots of festive fare and hot wine. Like in other cities around the world, you can find shopping malls in the suburbs along most major thoroughfares. While not attractions in themselves, they may come in handy especially if you get around by car; you can buy things you need on your trip, some Latvian specialties to bring home or have a quick meal there.
Eat
Riga, as the most vibrant and cosmopolitan city of the Baltics, offers countless opportunities to sample both local cuisine and international favorites. Latvian food can be hearty, using a lot of potato, cabbage, beef, pork and fish. A diversity of foreign cuisines is also available — sushi restaurants in particular are in vogue. The most central districts Vecriga and Centrs are the places to go for the widest selection of restaurants, though there are certainly also places to eat elsewhere in the city. There are a couple of local restaurant chains that have eateries in many different parts of Riga: Čili Pica , Several locations ( One near the Freedom Monument, another on the ground floor of the Stockmann mall near central station ). Cheap but good pizza. Lido . A network of 8 restaurants offering decent hearty Latvian food, including desserts, at good prices. The restaurants are either cafeteria-style or feature English menus. The Vecriga district has unfortunately seen a rise in tourist trap restaurants. It is advisable to scrutinise and memorize the price and size of the advertised offer against what is actually being served.
Drink
Latvia is home to a number of fraud/extortion scams in bars, run by the local mobs. A common scam , which targets men, begins by having someone randomly coax you into a bar. Upon buying a drink, you will be presented with a bill for as much as €100. If you can't pay with cash, the bar will take credit cards – or you might be forced to withdraw money from their handy ATM. If you ask, you will even be presented with a menu and the €100 price listed. If you refuse to pay, the exit door will most likely be blocked by a large bouncer. The trick to avoiding this scam is not to enter a bar recommended to you by someone on the street. A variation of this scam occurs when someone you meet on a dating app, such as Tinder, suggests meeting at one of these bars – or takes you there after first meeting at a more reputable place. The trick here is to check the online reviews of any establishment a stranger invites you to. Below is a list of bars/clubs in Riga known to conduct these scams (as of September 2025). Many are strip bars or locations of prostitution rings. These shady establishments change their names often to escape lists like these and continue extorting unwitting travelers, so use your judgment when entering a bar. Atspulgs (formerly Livu Krodzins Bar, Lord’s Pub, Groks Pub, and Royal Pub) – Kalku 22; on the eastern corner of Livu Square; the most active (and obvious) scam bar in Riga. Medusa Lounge (formerly Enigma, Puzzle, and Pink Panther) – Kalku 22; the entrance is next door to Atspulgs. Karaoke Club (formerly Burlesque Club, Roxy Klub, and Babylon) – Kalku 24; next to Medusa Lounge, just east of Atspulgs, near the entrance to Vecrīga on Kalku street. Bar Fly (aka Fly Bar ) – Gleznotāju 4; near Livu Square in a small street to the south of scam bars on Kalku; the sign announcing this is Bar Fly is very small; above the door in larger text is written Ūdenspīpji Klubs . Royal Club (formerly Golden Dolls Night Club, Zephry Bar, and Kapsula Bar) – Aspazijas bulvāris 32; its latest incarnation is less blatantly scammy, but still expect expensive drinks and a poor show.
Sleep
Hotels and hostels in general offer free WiFi and many have computer terminals. Almost all accept credit cards. Unsurprisingly the largest concentration of hotels are in and around Vecrīga. For budget accommodation, head to the eastern half of the old town and the surroundings of the railway station. Upscale hotels are to be found in the core of Vecrīga and around the Esplanade Park in Centrs.
Stay safe
As with neighboring Vilnius and Tallinn, Riga is generally safe if you know how to take the basic precautions. Riga's old town is extremely safe at all times, as are the city's major thoroughfares. On the other hand, certain areas in the city's western parts have had their share of crime since the fall of the USSR. Many Latvians will tell you that any Russian-speaking neighborhood is rife with crime and violence. While this may be blown out of proportion due to historical tensions, poorer parts of Riga with significant Russian populations do need to be avoided after dark. Alcohol consumption in Riga is high and bar fights are relatively common. It is wise to be level-headed and not escalate a situation. See the info box in the Riga#Drink section regarding common bar scams in Riga.
Go next
The Baltic states are compact and virtually all of the region is within 300 km of Riga, at least as the crow flies. All of Latvia and a large part of what Estonia and Lithuania has to offer is doable as a daytrip if you have a car. However, larger cities listed below do have several days' worth of attractions. Sigulda – A town in central Latvia with many interesting castles and historic points of interest. Probably, the most popular destination outside of Riga for foreign tourists, also due to its closeness. Jūrmala – A popular holiday and sea resort town with wooden houses just west of Riga, which claims to have the longest beach in Northern Europe. Salaspils – a former German concentration camp site 15 km southeast of Riga. Ligatne – A village fairly well known for its nature trails, with a great natural park with wildlife animals and "fairy tale" forests with characters from famous Latvian fairy tales. Nearby, also an old Soviet bunker complex can be visited, which was built in case of a nuclear war. Cēsis – One of the country's oldest towns. It has an impressive castle complex of Livonian Order origin, a charming city centre with some cobblestoned streets, and historic wooden buildings. Liepāja – Named "the city of wind", and the southwestern most city of Latvia. Famous for its sandy beach, numerous music events, and the largest organ in the world. It features modern architecture and a long history along with the formerly secret Soviet military neighbourhood of Karosta (literally: War Port). Valka – A unique town on the Estonian border, which runs through the town centre, creating Valga on the other side. It is close to regaining the status of an important cultural centre. Tartu – Museum-rich and hanseatic city on the banks of the Emajõgi River. Also, Estonia's second-largest and oldest city, intellectual hub famous for its universities, and a lively student city. Accessible from Riga by direct bus. Tallinn – The capital, and financial and cosmopolitan centre of Estonia, with a medieval Old Town. Beautiful and expensive. A 5-hour bus trip from Riga. Pärnu – Estonia's 4th largest city and the summer capital of Estonia, popular for its balneo-therapy complexes and spa centres, surrounded by numerous beaches, little more than halfway to Tallinn. Vilnius – The capital of Lithuania; a 5-hour bus trip from Riga. Kaunas – The second-largest city in Lithuania. Klaipėda – A beach town near Nida and the Curonian Spit . Šiauliai – Famous for the Hill of Crosses. Stockholm - accessible via direct ferry from Riga; 17-hour journey ↑ https://saraksti.lv/#/en