We decided to visit Riga. The choice was based on the idea that it is not the most popular tourist destination and does not have overwhelming crowds. We were right: there are tourists, but not too many. And the city itself feels like a fairy tale.
Beautiful architecture everywhere
Our apartment was located about 1.2 kilometers from the historical center. Every day we walked to the old town using a different route to see more. And this is where the architecture of Riga immediately stood out.
In many cities, unusual architecture is concentrated in the old town, while the rest of the city is built in a more standard way. In Riga, it is different. In almost any part of the city, you can see buildings that stand out architecturally while still fitting naturally into the overall style. And there are many of them.
Even when more ordinary buildings appear between them, the overall impression remains consistent — like a single architectural composition.
We also visited areas far from the center, and even there we found interesting architectural solutions. Most importantly, nothing feels forced or overly showcased. Riga is simply like that.
One thought that came to mind: architecture students from all over the world should come here to gain experience.
Old Town
Everything described above is just the way to the old town. The historical center itself is beautiful without exception: expressive buildings, a warm atmosphere, and a balance between a capital city and a smaller, more intimate place.
It is worth walking through the entire center, exploring every street and corner. Some notable places include:
- House of the Blackheads
- Bremen Town Musicians — a gift from the sister city of Bremen
- Riga Cathedral
- Freedom Monument
- House of the Black Cats
But this is only a small part. We explored the entire center and did not regret it.
A green city
Despite its rich architecture, Riga is also a very green city. On the way from the center to our apartment, we passed through three different parks — all within just 1.2 kilometers.
The historical center is separated from the rest of the city by the Riga City Canal.
Clean flowing water, lilies, many birds. Around the canal there are parks, trees, grass, and benches. It seems to be one of the favorite places for local residents. Tourists stay in the old town, while people of Riga walk along the canal.
You can also find small tourist boats on the canal. They go around the entire route, enter the Daugava River — on which Riga is located — and return from the other side. The views are very beautiful. It is definitely worth trying.
A memorable trip to the capital of Latvia
We expected the trip to Riga to be interesting, but in reality it exceeded our expectations. Architecture, parks, history, and people all come together to create an atmosphere that is hard to forget.