14 Essential Things to Know Before Visiting Riga for the First Time

Riga is a city I’ve been lucky enough to visit multiple times, and the Latvian capital is full of surprises. While it has certainly become more popular in recent years, I would still very much class Riga as a “hidden gem”. Its history is fascinating, and regardless of when you visit, you won’t be short of fun adventures. 

At the same time, though, Riga isn’t necessarily an easy city to visit. I had no idea what to expect when I first visited in 2019, and as a result, I left with a bad taste in my mouth. Thankfully, I’ve since had the opportunity to return. Now that I know precisely what to expect, I can confidently say that the Latvian capital is a great weekend trip and also worth seeing as part of a bigger Baltic trip itinerary. 

To ensure you know precisely what to expect and help you have a more positive first experience in Riga, I’ve put together this complete guide with all of my key learnings. 

1. Buying Public Transport Tickets Isn’t Always Straightforward

Buying tickets for public transport in Riga isn’t necessarily as straightforward as in some other European cities. You’ll find two apps: Rigas satiksme and Mobilly. 

The Rigas satiskeme app only lets you register for an account if you have a Latvian, Lithuanian, or Estonian mobile number. So, as a tourist, you will probably use Mobilly. With this app, you can sign up if you have a mobile number from the EU, EEA, UK, Switzerland, or Ukraine. 

If you have a number from Canada, the US, Australia, or another non-European country, things aren’t so simple. You can purchase tickets from kiosks and vending machines, which is a bit more inconvenient than using the above-mentioned apps. 

To be honest, you probably won’t even need to use public transport in Riga. Yes, the network is extensive, but getting around by foot or Bolt is still simple. 

2. Cash and Card Payments Are Both Viable in Riga

Cash and card payments are widely accepted in Riga, and for the sake of simplicity, I have only ever used my bank card. So far, I’ve had no issues. Both Visa and Mastercard are viable options. 

One thing to keep in mind is that using your bank card from home could lead to high foreign exchange fees. For this reason, I recommend signing up for an account with Wise. You can pay in Euros with an EUR bank account, meaning you get a fair rate and no foreign transaction fees. 

3. Riga Isn’t Always Instagram-Perfect

If you only see images of Riga through Instagram or Google Images, you’d be forgiven for thinking the entire city is a fairytale. And don’t get me wrong, the Old Town certainly is beautiful. However, some parts of the city are far from pretty—and understanding this is important for not feeling disappointed. 

There are quite a few buildings in Riga that haven’t been maintained very well, and these are often close to some of the most beautiful parts. While these streets aren’t necessarily dangerous, they’re also not inviting. 

The area around Riga Central Station also isn’t particularly pretty, nor are parts of the city close to the main food market. The underpass near the main train station was also far from my favorite part of Riga. 

Riga’s gritty side gives it more of an authentic feel than some European cities, and expecting that some parts of the city aren’t beautiful is important for keeping your expectations in check. 

4. Some Bars Don’t Want Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties

Riga is a popular place for bachelor and bachelorette parties (or stag and hen parties, if you’re British). The city has lots of great bars, but some of them are not very welcoming to these kinds of parties. 

While walking around Riga’s Old Town on one summer trip, I noticed signs outside some bars that explicitly said “No Stag Parties”. The city has taken a hard stance against these kinds of tourists over recent years.

If you’re traveling in a big group, keep this in mind as you may not get served. However, from personal experience, people in Riga will be polite to you if you do not act in a disrespectful way.

5. Riga Is Largely a Safe City, but Beware of Pickpockets

For the most part, Riga is pretty safe. Violent crime is incredibly rare, and personally, I have felt safer in Riga than in most cities. At the same time, though, pickpockets do exist—and you do need to be aware of this. 

I would be particularly careful around Riga Central Station and the bus station. Riga Central Market is also busy, and as a result, I recommend keeping an eye on your belongings here. 

Beware of pickpockets in the Old Town, too. If you take the usual precautions that you would in any big city, you will be fine. 

6. The Seasons in Riga Differ Significantly

I wouldn’t say there’s a best time to visit Riga, as each season has its own charms. But at the same time, there is a huge difference between coming here in the summer and in the winter. 

Winters are normally very cold and quite windy, and snow is also common. You also need to keep in mind Riga’s latitude; at 56ºN, it’s further north than Copenhagen and Edinburgh. As a result, daylight hours are short in the winter. 

If you visit Riga in December, the sun will not rise until after 08:30, and it will be down again before 16:00. When I visited in December 2019, it was largely gray, too.

On the flip side, summer days are long—you’ll have over 17 hours of daylight if you visit in June. It can also get surprisingly warm; when I stayed in the summer of 2025, for example, it was 30ºC 86ºF. On top of that, it was also very humid. 

Summer in Riga will be more expensive, so if you want to save some money, consider visiting in the off-season instead. 

7. Riga’s Air Quality Isn’t Always Great

Since I live in Copenhagen, I admittedly take good air quality for granted. Of all the cities I’ve visited in Northern Europe, I have to say that Riga’s air quality isn’t the best. My allergies also really kicked into gear when I was here in the summer. 

If you’re sensitive to air pollution, you might notice this in Riga. There was also quite a lot of dust; as soon as I went to Vilnius, all my issues in this respect went away. 

Air quality will, of course, depend on when you visit and the parts of the city you’re in. While not as bad as some cities in Asia, there are cities in Europe with better air quality. 

8. English Is Widely Spoken in Riga

While Latvian is the official language in Riga, you should have no issues communicating in English. Pretty much everyone I’ve spoken to across my trips to Riga has spoken at least basic English, and many people are what I would consider to be fluent. 

If you’re only staying in the touristy parts, you will definitely have no problems getting around in English. While many restaurant menus will be in Latvian, you will also find a decent number in English. 

While you don’t have to become fluent in Latvian before your trip, a simple “sveiki” (hello) and “paldies” (thank you) will be appreciated. 

9. Book Your Accommodation in the Centrs District

The overwhelming majority of Riga’s main attractions are in the Centrs district, and as a result, you should book your accommodation in this part of the city. If you’re only going to be in Riga for a couple of days, my suggestion is even more relevant. 

Most hotels in Riga are based in Centrs anyway, so you will probably end up here by default. When booking accommodation, keep in mind that the main streets in Riga—such as Elizabetes iela—are often noisy. So, if you’re sensitive to noise, be sure to book something in a quieter part of the district. 

10. Riga Is Very Affordable by European Standards

If you’re looking for a cheap weekend getaway, Riga is one of the best cities in Europe. Compared to most capitals (especially those in Northern Europe), Riga is very affordable. 

Many of the meals we had at restaurants cost less than €40, and you can also find affordable flights to Riga. The city is Air Baltic’s main hub, and you can get direct flights from across Europe. Ryanair also operates budget flights to Riga, and since you only have one airport to choose from, you don’t need to worry about traveling 100 kilometers into town.

Even hotels are pretty affordable; you can stay in luxury for a fraction of what it would cost you elsewhere. Bolt is also pretty cheap and ideal for getting between the airport and the city center. 

11. Check to Ensure You Don’t Have Black Mould in Your Accommodation 

The main reason I haven’t mentioned the specific hotel we stayed in Riga is that, unfortunately, while I really liked the room, we found quite a lot of black mould. Don’t get me wrong—this can also be a problem in Copenhagen, where I live. However, I would prefer to avoid it as much as possible. 

I know others who’ve also had issues with black mould in their accommodation when visiting Riga. So, before booking, I suggest reading reviews and making sure that you’ve limited your chances of dealing with it in the place you’re staying. 

Generally, you’re better off going for newly-refurbished places, as these will often be less likely to have such issues. 

12. Riga Is a Very Walkable City

One of the reasons Riga is an ideal weekend trip is that it’s easy to see the city without needing too much time. It’s pretty compact, and in my opinion, walking is the best way to enjoy the Latvian capital. 

You will have no problems at all clocking 20,000+ steps as you admire the city’s architecture and explore its food and beer scene. Pretty much everywhere in the central parts is easy to reach on foot, and it also didn’t take us too long to walk over to the other side of the river. Plus, the views kept us interested anyway. 

Bring a good pair of walking shoes; even if you’re here in the winter, you will probably want to be outside. 

13. Most Museums in Riga Are Closed on Mondays

Riga’s complex history has led to the city naturally having lots of interesting museums. When visiting, I recommend going to at least a couple of them. You should, however, keep in mind that many of them are closed on Mondays. 

Saturday will probably be your main museum day when you visit. If possible, I think it’s better to stay from Friday to Sunday rather than Saturday to Monday, as this allows you to see more of the city and its cultural institutions. 

Museums being closed on Mondays isn’t too uncommon in Europe, but it still caught me off guard when I first visited Riga. So, it’s definitely worth keeping this in mind. 

14. Riga Is Easily Reachable From the Other Baltic Capitals

I’ll let you in on a little secret: Traveling through the Baltic countries (especially their capitals) is one of my favorite things to do in Europe. The crowds are significantly smaller, even during the peak tourist seasons. Moreover, it’s now easier than ever to travel between Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius.  

Regular and cheap long-distance buses operate between Riga, Vilnius, and Tallinn. We also spent a few days in Tartu, Estonia’s second-biggest city, before continuing to Riga on our summer trip—which I suggest doing if you have some extra time. 

In early 2025, train schedules became synchronized to allow easier travel between the three Baltic capitals. We first tried this ourselves on a trip in July and August 2025, and it was very effective. Tickets are affordable if you book in advance, too; for two people, we paid less than €30 combined for first-class tickets between Riga and Vilnius. 

Vilnius is amazing, and Tallinn is full of charms, too. So, when visiting Riga, I recommend giving some time to the others if you have a week or so. 

Final Thoughts

Riga is a cool weekend getaway, but before visiting, there are several things you need to know. While the Old Town is picturesque, some parts of the city are not. Moreover, buying transport tickets isn’t always the easiest thing compared to other places in Europe. 

Now that you’ve read this guide, you should be much better prepared for your first visit to Riga. Keep in mind when you’d be happier visiting, and take the usual precautions you would in any city to stay safe when you’re here.