Walks and sightseeing

If your accomodation is in the city center or the old town, you will rapidly discover it might not be worth it to get a public transport ticket as Riga is very walkable. If you need a ticket, you can get if off the Rigas Satiksme mobile app or in a physical form at vending machines or any Narvesen Kiosk (for bus 22, you can get the ticket directly fromthe driver but it is the only exception). There are single use and 1, 3 or 5 day tickets available which activate when validated inside the bus or tram. The single-use ticket is valid for 90 minutes which means you can validate it again on as many transports as you want in that period. If you validate it in minute 89, you can stay in that transport as long as you need to - only validation counts for the time limit.

Nonetheless, most of your time in Riga should be spent going by foot. The paved streets of the old town make access difficult to cars and I don't recommend going by bike in Riga. This is why I will recommend some places and ways to walk around if you don't feel like choosing a direction blindly.

  Parks

    Mezaparks
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  Botanical Garden
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  other park
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  Guided tours

If you don't have much time in Riga, I advise to go on one or multiple free guided tours . My tip is to try to book the Old Riga tour at 10am and to directly make it follow by the Alternative Riga tour at 12 if you feel brave to have access to a lesser known part of town and spend 2 more hours to discover the secrets of the Moscow kvartal.
These completely free of charge tours are often interesting and the guides are engaging, often being pssionates and history students. That is why I encourage to bring a small amount of cash with you to thank them with a tip.

Art Nouveau streets

Museums

Immerse yourself in Latvian culture and history with a visit to the Latvian National Museum of Art, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, and the Riga Motor Museum. Each museum offers unique insights into Latvian identity, showcasing art, history, and innovation that shaped the country.

Restaurants and bars

Riga boasts a vibrant nightlife, from trendy bars in the Old Town to jazz clubs and rooftop lounges. Check out Folkklubs Ala Pagrabs for live music and traditional Latvian drinks, or head to Kaņepes Kultūras centrs for a more alternative, artistic vibe. Riga's nightlife scene caters to all tastes, from lively bars to relaxed evening hangouts.

Date specific activities

For shopping enthusiasts, Riga offers both high-end brands and unique local crafts. Browse through Riga Central Market, a historic and bustling marketplace, or visit Kalnciema Quarter for artisanal goods and locally made items. Don’t miss Galerija Centrs for a mix of international and local brands in a historic building.
That's it for our one week vacation inspiration but, as the saying says here, "Riga nekad nav gatava" : Riga is never finished ! You can come back to this site (-and of course to the city itself-) later and it might include new places or acitivities because there are always fresh projects and changes in Riga !
Who knows what hidden gems we might discover just by roaming aimlessly through the paved streets...

In the same way, if you think something is missing, wether you want to add your own recommandation to the site or cannot find the information you are looking for, reach out to me :D