Freedom Monument
The Freedom Monument is a 42-meter granite and copper column in the center of Riga, erected in 1935 and dedicated to Latvian independence. Free.
Street in Riga
Art Nouveau District
Riga has the highest concentration of art nouveau architecture in Europe, with over 800 buildings in the style. The densest cluster is on Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela in the Centrs district. Free to walk and admire from the street. The facades are flamboyant, with sculpted faces, organic lines, and ornamental ironwork. Budget travelers walk Alberta iela slowly, look up at every building, and see one of the most underrated architectural treasures in Europe without paying anything.
Practical
Before you go
- Address
- Alberta iela 12, LV-1010 Riga
- Good to know
Nearby
More in Riga
Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
House of the Blackheads Riga
A meticulously reconstructed medieval guild house on Town Hall Square, originally built for the Brotherhood of Blackheads. The ornate facade is free to admire and is one of the most photographed buildings in the Baltics.
Latvian War Museum
The Latvian War Museum is housed inside the medieval Powder Tower at the edge of the Old Town, covering Latvia's military and political history from the medieval period through both World Wars and the Soviet occupation to independence. Free.
Riga Cathedral
The largest medieval church in the Baltics, blending Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture accumulated over eight centuries. Entry costs a small fee.
Riga Central Market
The Riga Central Market is housed in five massive former Zeppelin hangars near the old town, making it one of the largest and most unusual market buildings in Europe. Free to enter.
Riga Old Town
Riga's Old Town (Vecriga) is a UNESCO-listed medieval center of cobblestone streets, church spires, and guild houses. Free to walk.
Working out what Riga costs?
The whole of Riga