House of the Black Heads
Museum
Start at the ornate reconstructed guildhall on Town Hall Square. Visit the rooms inside for a sense of Riga’s trading history, then continue into the compact old town.
Riga at Christmas: A 3-Day City Break
Riga suits a Christmas break built around woollen gifts, gingerbread and a walkable old town. Spend three days between the Dome Square stalls, Art Nouveau streets and the food halls of the Central Market.
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Day 1 — Old Town
Day 1 — Old Town
St. Peter's Church
Place of Worship, History Landmark
Take the tower lift for views across the old town and Daugava, or visit the church at ground level. This is the clearest overview of the area you will spend the day walking.
Riga Cathedral
Place of Worship, History Landmark
Step inside the cathedral beside the Christmas-market square. An organ concert can make a good evening plan for music lovers, with the stalls immediately outside before or after it.
Three Brothers
Historic Site
See the three adjoining historic houses on a short old-town detour. The changing façades show different periods of Riga’s domestic architecture without requiring a lengthy visit.
Rīgas pils
Castle
Walk past Riga Castle by the river for its exterior and the surrounding old-town streets. This is a brief riverside stop before returning to the Christmas market.
Līvu Square
Public Plaza
Walk through this small square and its colourful old-town frontages. The surrounding lanes are a good place to find a warm café between the church visits and Christmas market.
Dome Square
Public Plaza
Finish the old-town day at Riga’s main Christmas market, opening 27 November 2026. Browse woollen mittens, wooden gifts and gingerbread, with hot food and mulled wine around the stalls.
Day 2 — Art Nouveau & Parks
Day 2 — Art Nouveau & Parks
Freedom Monument
Monument, History Landmark
Begin the second day at Latvia’s independence monument, where the old town meets the boulevards. Continue through the canal-side park towards the art and architecture district.
Bastejkalna Park
Park
Follow the canal paths through the park as a short link between sights. In December, the nearby museums and cafés give the day a warmer rhythm than an extended park walk.
Nativity of Christ Cathedral
Place of Worship, History Landmark
Step into the Orthodox cathedral on the edge of the Esplanade for its painted interior. It fits naturally between the Freedom Monument and the national art museum.
Esplanāde
Park
Cross the park between the cathedral and art museum. Keep this a short daylight walk, saving the longer outdoor browsing for the Christmas market later.
The Latvian National Museum of Art
Museum, Art Museum
Make this the main art visit today, with Latvian painting and changing exhibitions in a restored historic building. The surrounding district leads naturally towards the Art Nouveau streets.
Riga Art Nouveau Centre
Museum, Museum Gallery
Visit the period apartment at Alberta iela 12, then walk along Alberta Street to see the sculpted façades. The interior gives context to the architecture outside.
Day 3 — Market & Riverside
Day 3 — Market & Riverside
Central Market
Farmers Market
Start the day among the market pavilions for rye bread, smoked fish, pastries and a food break. This is Riga’s everyday food market, a different experience from the Christmas stalls in Dome Square.
Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
Museum
Visit the exhibitions on Latvia’s twentieth-century occupations before crossing the river. Personal accounts and objects explain how the period changed everyday life.
National Library of Latvia
Library, Performance Culture
Cross the Daugava for the contemporary library and views back towards the old town. It pairs well with the Railway History Museum on this side of the river.
Latvian Railway History Museum
Museum, History Museum
Choose this museum for railway history and historic rolling stock near the National Library. It is a useful alternative to another art collection, with both indoor displays and an outdoor yard.
AB Dambis
Park
Walk onto the riverside embankment for a broad view of the old town across the Daugava. A short daylight visit works best before returning to the Christmas stalls and dinner.
Optional extras
Optional extras
Art Museum "Riga Bourse"
Museum, Art Museum
An optional art museum beside Dome Square, useful for a wet afternoon without leaving the old town. Swap it for one of the longer cross-river stops if you want a more compact third day.