MUSEUMS

Art Nouveau Museum

This stunningly beautiful museum is a true gem for all art and design enthusiasts. The museum is actually an apartment, richly decorated in Art Nouveau styles, from its furniture to the paintings to the cutlery and other bits and bobs. It even includes live human exhibits who walk around or sip tea from little porcelain cups, dressed in clothes that were typical of the Art Nouveau and Jugendstill eras.

Museum of the Occupation of Latvia

This museum is a great place to visit for all those interested in Latvian and European history, especially the period during and following WWII, when the Iron Curtain closed in on most Eastern European countries. It highlights the 50 and more years that Latvia was under the Soviet yoke, using a lot of interactive and visual aides, along with personal anecdotes, to make the information more accessible and memorable. Make sure you check the section on the Berlin Wall, which is also brilliantly put together.

World of Hat Museum

This museum with a slightly unusual subject was founded by Dr. Kirill Babaev who decided to share his love for (and large collection of) hats with the public. The exhibits include hats from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas, all of which the founder, a passionate traveler, has picked up during his wanders around the globe and gathered under one roof.

Sun Museum

Riga’s Sun Museum is quite odd and quirky but that also makes it a really fun place to visit and a good travel memory, too. The name is pretty self-explanatory: the museum provides detailed information about the sun and astronomy in general, with various interactive activities to boot, including painting your own little sun.

Latvian Ethnographic Open Air Museum

This open-air museum is perfect for a day out with family or friends as it includes a lot of walking, hiking and various forms of entertainment for both adults and children. The museum displays the different regions of Latvia and the diversity of their folklore and traditions.

PARKS

The Botanical Gardens

These gardens, situated on the outskirts of the town, belong to the University of Latvia. They are very large and include tropical plants contained in greenhouses. For an additional fee, visitors can enter the butterfly house, which is highly recommended, where a variety of colorful, tropical butterflies can be admired.

Bastejkalna Park

This park is named after the Bastion Hill (Bastejkalns) that is situated inside it. It is a beautiful park to visit and walk around. There are many lovely little bridges, flower beds, and benches to sit on. There is also a canal going across it, which makes for a perfect relaxing walk next to the water.

Vermanes Park

Though located close to the city center, this park is a perfect place to escape the rushing world and have a leisurely walk, or sit in one of the small cafes situated on its pathways. Like all Riga parks, it is very clean and well maintained. There are plenty of benches, flower beds, and shady, tree-lined walkways to escape the summer heat.

Mezaparks

Though located a bit away from the city center, this park is easily accessible by tram and is a great attraction, especially for families. It is also close to Riga Zoo. The park is great for children to run around and it is easy to rent a buggy or a bike on-site.

Kronvalda Park

Another centrally located park, Kronvalda is the second richest public park in Riga. The park was named after the participant of the Neo-Latvian movement, Atis Kronvalds. It includes around 104 foreign tree and bush species and a huge, stunning fountain, which offers a show of lights and colors at night. There is also a playground, roller-skating tracks, and a canal which offers boat and water bicycle rides during the summer.

MARKETS

Riga Central Market

This is one of the largest and most visited markets in Eastern Europe, where, depending on the season, you will find fresh vegetables, fruits and berries, freshly baked Georgian bread, and the most recent catch of the fishermen and delicious smoked fish in the Fish Pavilion.