Riga was founded in 1201 by Albert of Bremen as a port city and a base to conquer and convert the native Livonians to Christianity, a goal that was achieved in 1206 after a battle in Turaida during the Northern Crusades. Riga developed as the major trade hub of the area during the peak of the Hanseatic League in the 13th to the 15th centuries and was ruled by the Archbishop of Riga. The Reformation reached Riga in 1522, which ended the Archbishops' power. In 1621, Riga became part of the Kingdom of Sweden, although it maintained a great deal of autonomy. In 1710, an invasion by Peter the Great of Russia ended Swedish rule and cemented Russian influence on the city.

Latvia declared its independence on November 18, 1918. It was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1940. Riga served as the capital of the Latvian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Germans have inhabited the city since its establishment by Albert, and throughout most of its history, Germans were the elite while Latvians remained a lower class. The Germans' position as the elite continued through the Imperial period of Riga, visible in some of the architecture of the city. The Germans were forcibly evicted after the Nazi occupation of 1941-44.

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.

• Official website

• 56.922723.97861 Riga International Airport (Starptautiskā Lidosta Rīga RIX  ^IATA) (10 km southwest of Riga). The airport serves approximately 5 million passengers per year.  

Many flights to/from Riga are operated by Air Baltic, Ryanair, and Wizz Air.

There are designated areas in the airport where smoking is allowed.

Getting there and away:

• Bus 22 run between the airport and the old town, with a stop near the central bus and railway stations as well as Old Town. These buses operate as any other public transport in Riga; see Riga#Get_around for more information on riding the buses. The journey to the old town takes 30-40 minutes. The buses are available 24 hours, although in the night they might run less often. The bus stop is easy to reach - at the far end of the parking lot opposite the entrance of the terminal. There is a ticket machine at the bus stop or tickets can be bought at the Narvessen shop on the departure or arrivals level in the airport or in the app. Price of a single ticket is €1.50. Bus can get crowded if there are many incoming flights.
• The ride to the centre by taxi takes 15 minutes. Official vouchers are available for purchase but for a very high price (€33). Some taxis will illegally try to charge even more.

• The best way to hire a taxi is to use the Bolt Taxi mobile app, which allows you to see the rates being charged, time to pickup, enter the destination, and pay with the credit card that is linked to your account.
• Baltic Taxi^{[dead link]} runs taxi service from the airport to the centre for a fixed price of €15 if booked online or via metered rates if paid to the driver. Service to the old town takes 15 minutes.
• Red Cab Taxi offers metered taxi services from the airport. A journey to the city centre costs approximately €12 and the ride takes 15 minutes, depending on the traffic. Wheelchair accessible mini-vans are available but must be pre-ordered.

• It is common in Riga to use carsharing apps, which are cheaper than a taxi. Some cars are usually available near airport for taking. Download and register on Bolt or Citybee apps before you arrive.

There are international bus connections to anywhere in Europe, including frequent service to Tallinn and Tartu in Estonia, and Vilnius and Kaunas in Lithuania. 56.94524.11472 Riga's main bus station is just outside the old town. As of October 2023 there is substantial road and tramway construction underway around the bus station. Expect traffic snarls throughout most of the day. Pedestrian access is also presently limited and may require stairs or negotiating un-even terrain.

• Ecolines - operates service between Riga and most major cities in Europe.
• Eurolines Lux Express - Comfortable & free coffee. Buses to Tallinn or Vilnius take about 4 hours and cost €15-28, but with discounts to €7-9 if you book early. Buses to Saint Petersburg cost €35.
• Flybus - Service between Riga and the airports of Kaunas and Vilnius.
• Traveller Tours - Minibus sightseeing tours from Tallinn to Riga, stopping off at different sights along the way. €55

AS Pasazieru vilciens (meaning "Passenger Trains Company") operates service to many cities in Latvia, including the suburbs of Riga. You can book tickets online via the Latvian Railways site up to 45 days in advance, but tickets must be collected from a station in Latvia.

From 27 Dec 2023 a daily train plies from Lithuania. It leaves Vilnius at 06:30, calling at Siauliai, Joniškis and Jelgava, to reach Riga by 10:45. The southbound train leaves Riga around 15:30 to reach Vilnius at 19:50. The adult single fare is €24 in second class. Since 2022 no trains run from Russia, Belarus or Ukraine.

Trains from Estonia are suspended pending completion of the Rail Baltica project. It's no longer possible to work-around using local trains via Valga.

• 56.94627824.1218333 Riga central station (Rīgas Pasažieru stacija) (South of Centrs, east of the old town and with good public transport connections to all parts of Riga). (updated Dec 2023)

Riga has good road connections with Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, and Belarus. Riga is on the Via Baltica and ~300 km from Tallinn and Vilnius. In the city centre, you have to pay a fee for public parking^{[dead link]} which varies depending from distance to the centre.

Vecrīga is comprised mainly of rounded cobblestone streets that may be hard to walk on if you are not wearing proper shoes. Outside of Vecrīga, most streets are paved with asphalt, although some smaller streets may be unpaved. Sidewalks are predominantly concrete everywhere. Vecrīga is best explored on foot. Due to the neglected drainage system, the streets may be flooded during heavy downpours.

The city-owned Rigas Satiksme^{[dead link]} operates the trams (street-cars), buses, and trolleybuses. They all use the same e-ticket system called e-talons. A single fare covers any amount of rides on any route independent of the distance and is valid for 90 minutes. The Rigas Satiksme^{[dead link]} website provides a great interface for planning a trip within Riga. Also, for routes, timetables and live (bus and tram) traffic see this mobile friendly page and Trafi^{[dead link]} route planner.

Single fares are €1.5 for bus/tram/trolleybus/ trips if an e-talon card is purchased in advance from a ticket office, vending machine, press kiosk, Narvesen shop, app or other location listed on the Rigas Satiksme website. These electronic tickets are for one time charge only, without deposit. You pay the number of rides that you want on them (even if it is just one ride), and discard after using up all rides. Unlimited ride 24-hour cards cost €5.00, 3-calendar-day cards cost €8, and 5-calendar-day cards cost €10. The cards all are activated by using the yellow device in the vehicles. You must activate all cards every time that you enter a vehicle. On some Latvian public holidays (January 1st, May 4th, June 23rd and 24th, November 18th, December 31st) Riga public transport is free.

Tram lines are numbered 1–11; bus lines are numbered 1-55; trolley bus lines are numbered 1–27. Night buses are numbered N1-N10. While the numbers are similar, the routes are completely different - i.e. bus #2 is totally different from trolleybus #2. Tram numbers on stops are identified by "Tr", buses (not trolleybuses) by "A". Stops are marked by a blue rectangular sign with a stylized white image of the vehicle and lists the numbers that stop there. Timetables and stops of the route are also usually posted at stops and are fairly accurate. Bus routes are marked "A", but tram and trolley bus routes are marked "T" on timetables, except tram timetables should have red background for the "T" letter and trolley bus—yellow. The vehicles include an LCD screen with next stop information.

Trams are generally the fastest public transportation apart from trains. Although they are on street level and the rails are not physically separated from the rest of the traffic, in all but the busiest rush hours they have the right of way.

SIXT Latvia^{[dead link]} operates self-service bicycle rentals at bicycle stands across the city. The service is available to both residents and guests of Riga. You must have a mobile phone to register, but registration is free. The bikes have 3 speeds and lights, but no helmets. The advertised price on the website is €0.90 per 30 minutes, with a maximum of €9 per day. However, the effective amount charged seems to be €0.99 (Oct 2017) per half hour (the first minute of a subsequent half hour counts as a full 30 minutes).

Alternatively, ask your hotel if they provide bicycle rental.

Downtown Rīga has a lot of cobblestone streets, so be prepared for a bumpy ride. Bike lanes and paths exist but are not always marked clearly. On main roads, you may occasionally end up finding yourself on the wrong side of a guardrail.

From April to September a good way to go short distances is by electric scooter, which are abundant on city streets. Download Bolt, Citybee or Tuul apps to use them. As with bicycles, be careful when driving cobblestone streets. If you are 17 years of age or under, you need protective gear. It is illegal for two or more people to ride electric scooter. Price starts from 0.70 EUR for an ultra short ride, up to 3 EUR or more for a half-hour or longer ride.

The best way to hire a taxi is to use the Bolt, Yandex Go, Panda Taxi or Red Cab mobile app, which allow you to see the rates being charged, time to pickup, enter the destination, and pay with the credit card that is linked to your account.

If you hail a random taxi on the street, be aware that the taxi may not follow the most direct route and may use a meter rate that will significantly overcharge you.

It is not advisable to get around Riga by car unless you need to move things around. The street infrastructure has the same capacity as when it was initially planned a hundred years ago or more, and traffic congestions are the norm during working hours, which is most of the day. Traffic can be extremely slow, especially on the bridges.

It can be difficult to find a parking spot in Riga during working hours. In the very centre and the old town of Riga and on the Ķīpsala island parking services require a fee in certain streets^{[dead link]}. In the old town this can be up to €8/hour.

There are several car rental offices at the Riga airport as well as in other parts of the town. You can even rent a cheap Soviet-style car.

It is common in Riga to use carsharing apps. There are almost always some cars available near the center. The price is based on distance and time, but as a rule of thumb, it is usually about 30-40% cheaper than a taxi. Hourly / daily and even monthly packages are available. Download and register on Bolt, Citybee, Fiqsy apps before you arrive (driving license must be uploaded and approved). There is even a Tesla carsharing app available - check OX Drive app.

Boat service is available from May to September from/to Jūrmala. The boats stop in Riga stop near the Stone Bridge (Akmens Tilts), which is right next to the House of Blackheads/Riga Tourist Information Centre, in the old town. The trip costs €15-20 and takes 2½ hours -- it is much slower and more expensive than train service.

The tourist office, inside the House of Blackheads, offers guided tours and free pamphlets, complete with detailed descriptions of many buildings, for independent walks. These walks cover the old town, the nearby city centre sights, and the Art Nouveau district. It's easy to do each of these in around an hour, or linger and read every detail in the booklet. In the absence of any signs or plaques around the city, the booklet gives you an insight to what you are seeing.

Many private companies offer organized tours of Riga. Options include bike tours, Segway tours, pub crawls, hop-on-hop-off bus tours, walking tours, free tours, and tours focused on a certain aspect of Riga - away from the touristy old town.

Riga and its surroundings are popular destinations for adrenaline sports, which can be booked online, from most hostels and hotels, or from any local travel agent. The activities generally include transfers to/from your accommodation and all necessary supplies. Popular activities include bobsledding, AK-47 shooting (€40), bungee jumping from a cable car, scenic flights, canoeing, kayaking, go-karting, golfing, paintball, drift biking, husky dog sledding (€40), indoor skydiving (€60), laser tag in an old factory (€50) and driving a 4x4 off-road.

• GUNS Funnel. (updated Oct 2019)
• Wolftrike Drift Hall. (updated Oct 2019)
• Rīgas Lāzertags. (updated Oct 2019)

• Easter (Lieldienas). Egg fights! 
• Count of May (Maija Grāfs), Spīķeru laukums. Medieval festival. Takes place annually in mid-May. 
• Latviabeerfest, Vērmanes garden, ☏ +371 27 726 200, info@latviabeerfest.lv. Takes place annually at the end of May. The largest international beer festival in the Baltics. 
• Jāņi. On June 24, Latvians celebrate the summer solstice with the midsummer festival called Jāņi. Before the celebration, flea markets are held in many places. 
• Latvian Song and Dance Festival (Latvian Vispārējie latviešu Dziesmu un Deju svētki), Vērmanes garden, ☏ +371 28611731, presescentrs@dziesmusvetki.lv. An annual song and dance festival in July, with an even larger festival every 5 years. One of the key cultural events in Latvia, which started in 1873 as a singing festival. 
• Rīga City Day (Rīgas svētki). Takes place in the middle of August (2017: on Aug 18-20). Traditional weekend of celebrating a city. Many cultural events take place all around the city, including Street Music Day. Booklet ^{[formerly dead link]}  

Riga had a significant Jewish population during the Russian Empire period and therefore has a significant Jewish legacy.

• Great Choral Synagogue ruins
• Jews in Latvia museum
• Riga Ghetto and Latvian Holocaust museum

Usually remembered as a period of pity and shame (depends on who you ask though), Latvia was part of USSR for almost 50 years and was twice occupied by Soviets (in 1940 and 1944). This period is characterized by mass building of cheap and brutalist residential "sleeper" districts (to accommodate large influx of immigrants from "brotherly" Soviet republics), as well as some remarkable Stalinist style architecture. Some places worth attention are:

• Latvian Academy of Sciences - in the city centre, it is an example of Stalinist "Birthday cake" architecture ((sometimes referred to as Socialist Classicism). The spire was originally decorated with a wreath and a five pointed star, which was removed after Latvia regained independence in 1991. The building is a cousin to similar Stalin-era skyscrapers and resembles many others built in the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc at the time, most notably the main building of Moscow State University and Warsaw's Palace of Culture and Science. There is an observation dock on the top, price to visit is 6 EUR.
• Spilve Airport - a half-abandoned terminal building, which originally was completed in 1954, still remains as a notable example of Stalin's neoclassical architecture. There is a hammer and sickle on top of the building in all its glory - one of the few places where this symbol of USSR was not torn down and remains openly seen (it is illegal to display it in Latvia except in historical context). A large technical school existed here until the 1990s for major Soviet aircraft types, including Ilyushin Il-18, Ilyushin Il-62 and Tupolev Tu-134. On the other side (through the gate) is a cafe/bar with a nice view on airfield and for watching young pilots training (open in summertime), and it is also possible to see the original airport inner façade, with signs both in Latvian and Russian language. There are also tours available inside the building from time to time, but you'll need to ask around or contact Spilve airport directly. The tour is definitely worth it - interior is lavish, well kept, with intricate details. Interestingly, the airport building was a scene of many rave parties in the 90s. Socialist realism wall paintings are the best - each one of them has a story!
• Bolderaja district - a tour there is recommended for the adventurous types and ones who wish to really know what was living in Soviet Latvia possibly like. Most of the Soviet-built brutalist houses there, both from Stalin's and Khrushchev's era, still stand there with little or no renovation. Silikatu iela is a good place to start exploring. A former semi-military zone (due to its closeness to strategically important mouth of river Daugava), very different from modern Riga, eerily empty and atmospheric, it seems frozen in time. Some folks living there have not ventured outside it for tens of years. Check out the local bathhouses ("pirts" in Latvian) and authentic eatery / restaurant (Rozā pērle). There is also an interesting fortress nearby - Daugavgrivas cietoksnis - a closed military zone on weekdays, but available for visitors on weekend. The oldest, pre-Soviet part, still hosting a number of original fishermans' houses and local river "beach" frequented by locals, is located around Liela iela, Miglas iela and Kodola iela. You might also try to reach the nearby sea beach and have a swim while watching ships entering / departing Riga port. Bolderaja district area is not frequently visited by tourists, so try not to disturb locals and attract too much attention to yourself. Reachable by bus #3 from city center in about 30 minutes.
• Cafe "Veronika - if you haven't had enough of Soviet "aesthetics", you might try to visit this eatery and have a Soviet - style meal. It is close to the center, but a bit difficult to find, this is another place which seems frozen in time. It is very cheap (a day offer can be had for 4 euros) and includes authentic service from the bygone times - a buffet-style choice, aluminum pots, self service for dishes, artificial marble columns and wall / ceiling paintings. As with Bolderaja district, keep in mind, this is not a tourist attraction but an actual eatery for working class, so keep your profile low and be polite with the staff / locals. Address: Ganibu dambis 18c, search Google Maps for location and photos.

Black coffee in Latvia is traditionally served unfiltered and quite strong in small cups. If you are used to filtered coffee, you may want to have a "white coffee" (with either milk, whipped milk or cream), or you want to have a glass of water on the side. Coffee "to go" has become increasingly popular, and many of the coffee chains offer coffee served in paper cups with lids.

In addition to the independent coffee shops listed in district articles, several international coffee chains such as Double Coffee^{[dead link]}, Coffee Inn^{[dead link]}, and Costa Coffee, have locations in Riga.

Riga is a major nightlife destination for tourists and bars here are often open later than those in other European cities. On average, bars in Vecrīga will charge €2-3 per beer and bars outside of Vecrīga will charge €1.50-2 per beer. A specialty liquor is Riga Balsam, which is an acquired taste.

Riga is known for a sparkling nightlife. There is a difference in style between 'Russian' clubs and 'Latvian' clubs.

Many details can also be found here: https://www.embassypages.com/latvia

• Canada, 20/22 Baznicas St 6F, ☏ +371 67813945, fax: +371 67813960, riga@international.gc.ca. 
• Denmark, Pils iela 11, ☏ +371 67 226 210, fax: +371 67 820 234, rixamb@um.dk. 
• Finland, Kalpaka bulvaris 1, LV-1605 Riga, ☏ +371-6707 8800, fax: +371-6707 8814, sanomat.rii@formin.fi. M-F 08:30-12:00, 13:00-16:30. 
• 56.95401324.1095131 Georgia, Raina bulvaris 3-19, LV -1050 Riga, ☏ +371 7225812, fax: +371 7225812, riga.emb@mfa.gov.ge. M-F 08:00-17:00. 
• Germany, Raina Bulvaris 13, ☏ +371 67085100, fax: + 371 67085149, info@riga.diplo.de. 
• Greece, Elizabetes str. 11, Appt. 5, ☏ +371 6735-6345, +371 2009-3089 (Emergencies), fax: +371 6735-6351, greekemb-riga@mfa.gr. 09:00-17:00. 
• Ireland, Alberta iela 13, ☏ +371 6703-9370, +371 6703-9370 (Emergencies), fax: +371 6703 9371. 
• Italy, Teatra iela 9, ☏ +371 6721-6069, fax: +371 6721 6084, consolare.riga@esteri.it. 
• Japan, Vesetas iela 7, ☏ +371 6781-2001, +371 6781-2002, fax: +371 6781-2004. 
• Norway, Kaļķu ielā 15, ☏ +371 67814100, fax: +371 67814108, emb.riga@mfa.no. 
• Spain, Elizabetes iela 11 3, ☏ +371 6732-0281, fax: +371 6732 5005, emb.riga@maec.es. 
• Sweden, Andreja Pumpura iela 8, ☏ +371 6768 6600, ambassaden.riga@gov.se. 
• Russia (Посольство Российской Федерации), Antonijas 2, ☏ +371 67332151, fax: +371 67830209, rusembas@ml.lv. 
• Ukraine, Kalpaka bulvaris 3, ☏ +371 6724 3082, fax: +371 6732 5583, emb_lv@mfa.gov.ua. 
• United Kingdom, J.Alunana iela 5, ☏ +371 6777 4700, fax: +371 6777 4707, britishembassy.riga@fco.gov.uk. M-Th 08:30-17:00, F 08:30-13:30. 
• United States, Samnera Velsa iela 1, ☏ +371 6703 6200, fax: +371 6782 0047, askconsular-riga@state.gov. (updated Mar 2018)

• 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

Ventspils ←	W  E	→ Rēzekne → Moscow
Tallinn ← Saulkrasti ←	N  S	→ Bauska → Kaunas
Kaliningrad ← Jelgava ←	SW  NE	→ Sigulda → Pskov