Riga

#northerneurope

House of the Blackheads
Highlights: This building looks straight out of a fairytale super ornate and colorful, right in the middle of the Old Town. We learned it was originally a guild house for unmarried merchants (hence the name), and although it was bombed in WWII, it’s been beautifully rebuilt. Even if you don’t go inside, the exterior is a must-see.

Riga Central Market
Highlights: We spent hours here just wandering. The market’s set inside huge old Zeppelin hangars yep, actual airship hangars and it’s packed with everything from fresh berries and cheeses to smoked fish and pickled everything. Locals shop here, so it’s authentic, affordable, and a great place to snack your way through Latvian flavors.

Alberta Street & the Art Nouveau District
Highlights: This area is stunning if you’re into architecture every building has crazy details like sculpted faces, flowers, and curved lines. We walked slowly with our necks craned upward the whole time. There’s also an Art Nouveau Museum if you want to dive deeper, but honestly just walking the streets felt like stepping into an open-air museum.

Bastejkalna Park & Freedom Monument
Highlights: Right in the heart of the city, this park gave us a nice break from all the sightseeing. It’s green, peaceful, and crossed by canals and bridges. We sat with ice cream near the Freedom Monument a tall, elegant statue that holds a lot of meaning for Latvians — and just watched the city go by.

Post by Quinnie_ | Aug 26, 2025