🏰 Riga in 48 hours: the perfect weekend route 🇱🇻

Baltic charm, delicious fish, a fabulous Old Town and friendly people – all this is an absolutely fair description of Riga! but it is not very popular among tourists, unlike Warsaw or Vilnius.

In this material we want to prove that it is very, very in vain! The active travel season is about to begin, during which we invite you to take a look at this cozy city! Start planning your route now. After all, after the places we offer, you will definitely want to go to Riga! However, remember: you will need a visa to Latvia.

Old town of Riga

The old town of Riga, which we wrote about in more detail here, is absolutely charming in the form of cockerels on weathervanes, paving stones, dozens of cozy cafes, souvenir shops and, of course, the unique Latvian architectural style. It has been preserved very well. You can just walk around, admire the beauty and take photos. But this is not serious for the reader of Pilgrimos and is disrespectful to the place. Spare no expense and contact the local excursion gadfly. The Old Town is full of many interesting details and stories that you won’t find out about on the Internet.

National Library of Latvia

Very close by – you just have to cross the bridge to the left bank of the Daugava – in a building called the “Palace of Light”, there is the Latvian National Library. Although it is rather a cultural and information center with a lot of interesting things. There is a cafe, a room for board games, a meditation area, interactive museums, one of which can be inspired by the book, and co-working areas. Thanks to panoramic windows and glass doors, everything is permeated with light: conference rooms, exhibition and reading rooms. At the very top there is an observation deck, from which you can clearly see the Old Town, the bridges, and the TV tower. And now the most pleasant and interesting thing – it’s all free!

Lido and Recreation Center on Krasta Street

After a nice walk around the place, we remember about lunch. One of the main conditions for a comfortable trip is that the tourist is well-fed. How can you admire wonderful things on an empty stomach? We declare with confidence that this will not happen to you in Riga! After all, it is very easy for a Minsk resident to find acquaintances here! Complete immersion in authentic, and most importantly delicious Latvia!

For an unforgettable experience of affordable and varied food, head to the recreation center on Krasta Street. Yes, this is not the city center and is located a little far away, but the impressions will more than repay the time spent. The restaurant itself is located on 5 hectares of the complex, as well as attractions, an ice skating rink, and a volleyball court. So there will be something to do there at any time of the year.

In terms of food, there is the widest range of food in Latvia. On two floors of the building there are large restaurants with national cuisine and the most popular European dishes.

Be sure to try the main dish of the country – gray peas with speck. It includes peas, onions, bacon or lard. Gray peas are rarely found in our stores, but in Latvia they are very popular.

Some locals say that in “Lido” this dish is not prepared as tasty as at home, but we are sure that you will definitely like the unusual combination! A filling meal that will last a long time. By the way, the recipe for gray peas with smoked meats is included in the list of intangible heritage of the country. So it’s definitely a must eat!

We also note the wide variety of desserts. Pastries, cakes, buns for every taste! The main thing is to stop in time. The same applies to the beer cellar, which is located in the Lido. The intoxicating drink of the same name has repeatedly become the best at local and international competitions.

Latvijas balzams veikals

Since we are talking about strong souvenirs, the answer to the question: “What to bring from Latvia?” — as clear as possible. You can find balm in every store in Riga. There are even specialized balm shops, Latvijas balzams veikals. Some of the most affordable prices for drinks are in VYNOTEKA stores. One of these, by the way, is located next to the Lido. The assortment includes: classic, cherry, currant and, more recently, chocolate-mint. The last one is something we especially recommend trying.

Riga Central Market

Having thoroughly refreshed ourselves, we head to the largest market in Northern Europe – the Riga Central Market. Upon arrival, you will appreciate the huge semicircular pavilions. The fact is that the building previously served as hangars for storing airships. So the market is both an attraction and an opportunity to buy food and other souvenirs.

Each pavilion presents its own products: dairy department, dried fruits and sweets, fish and fish products, meat and deli meats, vegetables and bread. There is a problem… They let you try everything! So you definitely won’t leave this place without shopping! Let us immediately orient you and say that black rye bread, sprats (any fish) and Latvian cheese are those products that you cannot leave without trying or purchasing. Because it's all incredibly delicious! True, there may be problems with cheese. The smell is, to put it mildly, very specific. So it’s better to use it on the spot so as not to scare off the border guards.

As a sweet present, you can purchase something from the Laima chocolate factory. “Serenade”, “Squirrel”, “Salted caramel” – everything will be delicious!

Radisson Blu Latvia

Riga at night is no less beautiful than during the day. We suggest a life hack from where you can look down on the city. We head to the Radisson Blu Latvija hotel. It is located near the Old Town. On the top floor of the building there is a cafe-bar with an incredible panorama of the city. The prices in the cafe are frankly steep, but if you just go up to see the beauty, no one will make a comment. By the way, there is a panoramic elevator that goes to the last floor of the hotel, so it’s best to take it up.

Tallinas kvartāls

And how to end the evening in Riga? Right! Let's go to the most party district of the city! Walking 10 minutes from the hotel you can get to Tallinas kvartāls – a favorite place for young people and a cultural location in the capital. “Tallinn Quarter” is the former territory of an ambulance base, which was brought back to life by starting to hold exhibitions here and build local businesses.

Bars, street food corners, concerts, open mic nights, quizzes, movie nights, carnivals, board games – there's never a dull moment here. In addition, there will be plenty to do in the area during the day. Just look at the original graffiti drawings on the walls.

We have listed options for where else to spend the evening, and you come to Riga! She is cool! And we already have a route ready for the big weekend.