Why visit
Riga has the world's largest concentration of Art Nouveau architecture, a UNESCO old town, Central Market in old Zeppelin hangars, and Jūrmala beaches nearby.
Riga at a glance
City population
610k
Metro: 1.1 million
Elevation
6 m
20 ft
Time zone
UTC+2 (UTC+3 DST)
Europe/Riga
Airport
RIX
Riga International
Founded
1201
Getting around
Trams, trolleybuses, buses; walkable old town
Signature dish
Grey peas with speck, sklandrausis, rupjmaize, Black Balsam
Neighborhoods for travelers
Old TownArt Nouveau DistrictMiera ielaĀgenskalns
Latvia at a glance
Country center
57.0°, 25.0°
Coast
Has coastline
Country area
64,559 km²
24,926 mi²
Country population
1.9 million
29/km²
Subregion
Northern Europe
Currency
Euro (€)
EUR
Dial
+371
Language
Latvian
Demonym
Latvian
Internet
.lv
UN
Member state
ISO code
LV / LVA
Where in the world
57.0° · 25.0°
Latvia
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Click the map to open in Google Maps. Outline via svg-maps/world · CC BY 4.0
Did you know
- Riga has the largest collection of Art Nouveau (Jugendstil) buildings in the world: over 750 examples.
- The Latvian capital was founded in 1201 by German crusaders and was once a major Hanseatic port.
- The Freedom Monument was preserved throughout Soviet occupation: Latvians laid flowers there in silent protest.
- Latvia hosts the largest choir festival in the world every five years: 30,000+ singers perform at once in Riga.
- Riga has the world's largest collection of Art Nouveau architecture: over 750 buildings.
Bordering Latvia
Traveler notes
- Art Nouveau quarter on Alberta iela
- Central Market: Europe's largest by some measures
- Jūrmala beach town 30 minutes by train
Plan checks
- Build a three-day plan before extending. Most travel cities are easy to undersell to yourself.
- Check seasonal timing: high season can triple costs on some coastal destinations.
- Check opening days. Major sites close on Mondays or Tuesdays in many countries.
Explore more
Frequently asked about Riga
What currency is used in Riga?
Riga uses the Euro (€), ISO code EUR.
What languages are spoken in Latvia?
The primary language is Latvian.
What is the international calling code for Latvia?
The calling code is +371.
What airport serves Riga?
Riga International (IATA: RIX).
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