Top 15 (almost) non-obvious attractions in Riga

In this list you’ll find 15 of the most unique places to visit in Riga. Some of them are widely talked about in tourist guides but here we try to concentrate on less known places spread out all over the city so that you may grasp the diverse beauty of Riga entirely.

Latvian National Museum of Art

Holding a vast amount of local artists’ creations, this is the oldest art museum in the territory of Riga. Multiple exhibitions here will allow exploring Latvian and foreign creations from the renaissance all the way to modern times. Meanwhile, the magnitude and details of the freshly renovated building will leave you speechless even before entering. 

Address: Jāņa Rozentāla laukums 1

Museum of Art

Latvian Academy of Sciences

Constructed in the 1950s, this building is arguably the most impressive soviet architecture monument in Riga. Apart from the incredible design, it’s possible to get all the way up to the roof terrace here. There you’ll be able to enjoy a sight over river Daugava and rooftops on both sides of the city it divides.

Address: Akadēmijas laukums 1

St. Gertrude’s Old Church

Hidden among much younger buildings of the city center, only the tower of this church goes well above most. Especially if you start your almost 2 km long road there from the other side of Gertrude’s street. Getting closer to it, crossing all of the most important streets of Riga, this fairytale-like church will grow larger and larger in size till finally revealing its true amplitude and energy when sitting on a staircase at the bottom of it.

Address: Ģertrūdes iela 8

Riga Brethren Cemetery 

There are many parks in Riga but none quite like this one. In terms of Historical significance there’re not many places in the world that could match such a level. More than 3000 of true Latvian heroes who put their lives for this country to gain its first independence after WW1 lay here. And if the nature of this place seems a bit scary then let me tell you – the peace and quiet only makes the feeling here more monumental.

Address: Aizsaules iela 1B

Mežaparka Lielā Estrāde

Home to a festival unlike no other, when people from all over the country get a week off from their work to celebrate Latvian culture. This is where the Latvian national singing and dancing festival is being held once every 5 years. Next one is just around the corner by the way, taking place in 2023.

Address: Ostas prospekts 11

Provodnik factory

A former soviet factory now taken over by various artists. Open graffiti space on the outside, regular modern art exhibitions on the inside. This epic building has a lot to offer, including a guided tour to find out everything about the past, present and future plans of this location. With constant improvements being implemented, Provodnik, just like Riga itself is always full of surprises. 

Address: Aptiekas iela 19

Provodnik

National Library of Latvia

This list might have just as well been called the most magnificent places in Riga because so far it’s been all about monumental constructions from different centuries. The National Library of Latvia is no exception. With over 4.2 million books and publications, this architectural masterpiece is one of Riga’s proudest buildings. It’s also one of the newest around here, celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2023.

Address: Mūkusalas iela 3

Library

Vanšu bridge viewpoint

Sometimes all you need is just a place to sit with a stunning sight in fresh air. There are not many better forms of meditation than simply enjoying the panorama of Riga city center with all the churches, castles and modern day buildings standing over river Daugava. Feel free to take your own drinks and food and have a picnic in what is surely one of the nicest viewpoints in the city.

Address: Balasta dambis 15

University of Latvia Botanical garden

Latvia is a nordic country with only 3 months of summer throughout the year. Despite that, the Botanical garden of the University of Latvia will let you feel like in the jungle of amazon, finding a way through thick green leaves accompanied by a vast range of exotical butterflies from all over the world. There are 1640 different plant species represented in this garden with 30 of them being endangered and included in the red list of untouchable plants.

Address: Kandavas iela 2

Botanical garden

St. Peter’s church

The tallest church in Riga, with the golden rooster on top of its tower standing at 123.5 meters up towards the sky. You may notice this bird on multiple church towers and it’s believed that it protects the city from evil forces. The tower of St. Peter’s is not just an observable object. It’s also one of the most popular and breathtaking viewpoints over the city, offering a different perspective of the capital of Latvia.

Address: Reformācijas laukums 1

Andrejosta

The port region of Riga is home to some of the best restaurants this city has to offer. Not just that – through summer it’s a party zone with events being held all over Andrejosta nearly every day of the week. For seekers of more romantic, calm adventures – try exploring this industrial wonderland during golden hour. 

Address: Andrejostas iela

K.K Fon Stricka Villa

Hidden in the quiet center, surrounded by greenery is a 19th century constructed beer factory now serving as one of the most popular cultural points in Riga. Right beside it, there’s a lovely villa with fountain in the garden and stunning gate for an entrance, where the God of trading himself – Mercury – awaits guests of these incredible premises to this day. The Villa itself is amazing but make sure you pay a visit to all the spots around it too. There’s a little something for every taste.

Address: Aristīda Briāna iela 9

The Ethnographic Open-Air Museum of Latvia

How about a chance to travel back in time? Back to more intimate times in wooden houses that had no electricity or even a bathroom. People would wake up early in the morning to collect water from a pit and then distribute it around for all the residents of the homestead. It’s not much, especially when compared to the luxuries and needs of a modern man but such an experience might help appreciating what we have now more. 

Address: Brīvdabas iela 21

Open-Air Museum

Art Center Zuzeum

Currently consisting of more than 20 thousand artworks representing various genres, Zuzeum is where the largest private art collection in Latvia may be found. Starting from the end of 19th century, up to 20th century modernism as well as Soviet time creations from 1950s to 1980s. Apart from all of that, the gallery itself is just a lovely place to be. Roof terrace for enjoying drinks with a view, garden of sculptures and regular events that never fail to spark an inspirational emotion.

Address: Lāčplēša iela 101

Zuzeum

Aerodrome Spilve

This one is a real hidden treasure for those who’re into aeronautics. Especially if we’re talking about various old school planes that can’t be seen in regular airports. But this aerodrome is a bit more special than others with something else too. It’s like an onion that gets spicier with each layer taken off. Up until 1975 this was the main airport of Riga, and the airport terminal is unlike anything you’ll have witnessed in regular airports. And now the plot twist – inside this architectural masterpiece there are rave parties organized on a regular basis. 

Address: Daugavgrīvas iela 140

SpilveAerodrome

SpilveRave