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.
Market in Riga
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. The pavilions are organized by product: fish, meat, dairy, vegetables, and mixed goods. Prices are local, not tourist. Budget travelers eat lunch here (smoked fish, dark bread, fresh berries) for a fraction of restaurant prices.
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Other places worth the walk, and what each one costs.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The largest medieval church in the Baltics, blending Romanesque, Gothic, and Baroque architecture accumulated over eight centuries. Entry costs a small fee.
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