1, 2 and 3 Days in Riga Latvia Itinerary.

Welcome to the Drink in the Sights guide to spending one, two or three days in the Art Deco paradise that is the Latvian capital Riga. In my Riga travel guide I made the point that the old town of Riga is absolutely tiny so it is possible to do the old town in one whistle stop day. However this website is about drinking in the sights so I would urge you to spend 2 or 3 days in Riga and the surrounding area if at all possible. You really wont regret it. I've broken this guide down to three sections, one day in Riga, Two days in Riga, and three days in Riga. I know it's not very inventive, but please assume each day just follows on from the last.

One Day in Riga

If you've only got one day in Riga it's going to be all about The Old Town so it's best to start with a walking tour as this will ensure you see all the main sights. The tour will include the main square with its Christmas Tree monument (because Latvians like to pretend they invented Christmas) and the hugely impressive House of Blackheads, the old guild for unmarried merchants. You'll also see The Three Brothers which are three unique art deco buildings side by side as well as the impressive Riga Cathedral and the statue of an armadillo which I just find amusing. Also keep a look out for the Ghost Statue and the Breman Town Musicians from a Brothers Grimm fairytale. All in all the walking tour will only take you about two hours, but it really is the best way to put the wonderful old town in context.

Once the walking tour is finished it's time to head up to the city park which is a lovely tranquil area to walk around taking in sights like the gorgeous Riga Opera House and the Freedom Monument. If you don't feel like walking anymore after the tour you can take a boat ride around the park which will take about an hour. After this you'll want to head up to the Nativity of Christ Cathedral which is quite simply one of the most most beautiful churches you'll ever see. While the outside is stunning the inside is a blue and gold paradise the like of which I've rarely seen. This will take about an hour.

You're probably going to start running out of time around about now which is fine because you've seen the key bits you really have to do if you've only got one day in Riga. I'd urge you to visit the Skyline Bar which is just a few minutes walk from the Nativity of Christ Cathedral for some absolutely stunning views over the city ideally around sunset. Once you've drank in the sights there it's time to head to a couple of the Riga bars and grab some food. If any guide tells you to eat and drink anywhere other than Foldkklubs Ala Pagrabs they are mad. The food here is amazing and they brew their own beer so it's just perfect.

Two Days in Riga

If you've got two days in Riga there's still more to do in The Old Town. Your first stop should be the Riga Market which is built in three old aircraft carriers so it's pretty unique and also contains a Labietas bar, which is the local brewery if you want an early pick me up. Once you're done with the hustle and bustle of the market it's time to head over to The Academy of Sciences. This huge building is the opposite side of town to the Skyline bar and gives great views over the market and out towards the TV Tower, which looks like a huge spaceship has landed across the river. A ticket costs 6 euros, but it's worth it for the views. 

Once you've done drinking in the sights from the Academy of Sciences it's time to head back in to the center of The Old Town for a bit of culture and specifically to see the Latvian National Art Museum. The entrance fee is 6 euros which is unlikely to break the bank and you'll find some excellent sculptures in particular here. As an alternative to this there's an excellent Art Deco tour available which will take you out of The Old Town to spot all the best Art Deco buildings the rest of Riga has to offer. Assuming this is the last of your two days in Riga you really need to go visit a couple of the unique bars.

As previously mentioned in my one day in Riga itinerary Folkklub Alapagrabs is a magnificent cellar bar but that's just the beginning.  The Armoury is a unique mix of guns and booze and I assume it's the only place you can play with a bazooka while drinking a pint. Don't worry the guns are all decommissioned so there's no danger to life. There's also Distiller's Republic which is another great Riga cellar bar and microbrewery, and Alkimikis which is a great place to find a local brew. Finally if Belgium beers or more your tipple make sure you give the Kwakinn a visit. You really can't come for two days in Riga and not experience at least a bit of the famous nightlife.

Three Days in Riga

If you're lucky enough to have time for three days in Riga it's time to visit one of Latvia's true wonders the coastal area of Jurmala. The train from Riga to Jurmala only takes 30 minutes and costs less than 2 euros each way so it really is a bargain of a trip. I can honestly say the sand on Jurmala Beach is the softest I've ever walked on. I'm not even a beach person but I loved everything about this gorgeous little coastal town from the blue sea through to the giant turtle statue it's just the perfect place to spend the last of your three days in Riga. Well that is unless you go in winter in which case we have another option for how you could spend the last of your three days in Riga.

An alternative way to spend your last day in Riga is to visit the Latvian National Park of Sigulda. There's certainly worst ways to spend either the last of your three days in Riga or alternatively your fourth day than going to this area of natural beauty. Not only is there the park itself but there's also the Old Castle and Turaida Castle both of which are worth making the trip for all on their own. It only takes an hour on the train or bus to get to Sigulda, and only costs 2 euros each way so again Latvian public transport is an absolute bargain.

I hope you found my one, two and three days in Riga itinerary useful it really is a beautiful city with loads to offer so try and stay as few nights if you can drinking in the sights.