Top things to see!
1. Riga's Old town (Vecriga)
UNESCO World Heritage site with something for everybody. Centuries-old warehouses and churches line the cobbled streets and squares. Old Riga is also home to most of the city's best clubs, bars and restaurants and can easily be negotiated by foot.
2. The Freedom Monument (1931-1935)
The Freedom Monument was created by sculptor Karlis Zale (1888-1942) and architect Ernests Stalbergs, and built with money donated by the people. Latvia wouldn't be Latvia without Milda staring proudly over the city.
3. Alberta iela: Art Nouveau Architecture
Often synonymous with Paris and Prague, Riga actually boasts the finest collection of Art Nouveau architecture on the planet. It accounts for more than a third of central Riga's buildings. The most stunning collection of buildings is found on the truly incredible Alberta iela.
4. Riga Central Market (1930)
One of Europe's largest marketplaces. You will find everything from a Zeppelin-hanger full of cheese and dairy products to counterfeit cds on sale, as well as a fascinating window in on real life in Latvia.
5. Riga's churches
Everything from an Orthodox Cathedral to Vecriga's 13th century Lutheran Dome Cathedral. Even the atheists amongst you will be impressed.
6. Swedish Gate
The period of Swedish rule is remembered by the Swedish Gate, Zviedru varti, built at that time and the last surviving city gate. The tower, known as the Powder Tower, was first mentioned in the mid-14th century but was completely destroyed by the invading Swedes. They rebuilt it in 1650 with walls 2½ m thick to store gunpowder, hence its current name. It now forms part of the Latvian War Museum at the edge of Riga's old town.
7. The Musicians of Bremen
This charming piece of art, The Musicians of Bremen, was a gift from Riga's twin city in 1990. Riga's close connections with its fellow Hansa City go back many centuries. Indeed the town's 13th-century constitution was based on that of Bremen. The sculpture, which is an exact replica of the one in Bremen City Hall, depicts the four animals from the story.
8. National Opera House
It is the focus of Latvian cultural life. World-class opera on offer in one of Europe's most magnificent opera buildings.
9. The Occupation Museum
No visit to Latvia would be complete without a visit to this museum which tells the harrowing tale of Latvia's occupation by Soviet and German forces.
10. Open Ethnographic Museum
If you would like to know how life once was in Latvia then the open air museum can provide you with a very good impression of the Latvia of old. Everything from windmills to churches have been moved to this preservation site on the edge of the city.
