Riga/Vecrīga

Old Riga — Vecrīga in Latvian — is the old town of Riga. Vecrīga is famous for its old churches and cathedrals, such as Riga Cathedral and St. Peter's Church. Vecrīga is one of two world heritage sites entirely situated in Latvia (the other is the old town of Kuldīga).

Understand
Vecrīga is here defined as the area east of Daugava River, south of Krisjana Valdemara iela, west of the city canal and north of the railway that crosses Daugava.

Due to Covid-19 lockdowns and the following financial difficulties, many shops and eateries that used to be popular have closed down business or have moved outside Vecriga to where the locals live.

Get in
The central railway station and the bus station are right at the southeastern corner of the old town. From anywhere in Centrs, it's around a kilometer to anywhere in the old town, wherefore walking can also be an option.

If you're coming from the airport can get in by bus 22, going along the southern rim of the old town and terminating near the railway station. The city's main transport hub, there's a bus, trolleybus or tram going here from almost anywhere in Riga, have a look at the network maps to see which line you should take.

If you travel by car, better leave it outside Vecriga; most streets are pedestrianised and cheap parking is next to impossible to find. In case the car is essential for you, parking within Vecriga begins at €15 for a 24 hours period.

Old Town Square & surroundings


The Old Town (Vecrīga) is both a place of historical tourism sites, as well as the centre of night-life for locals. The area around Old Town was mostly built between 1860 and 1914 and has many buildings that resemble Berlin, Paris, or Rome.

Monuments and historic buildings near Old Town Square






Museums near Old Town Square



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Monuments and historic buildings near Cathedral Square




Buy
If you are looking for typical Latvian tourist souvenirs and trinkets, the largest selection can most likely be found in Vecriga. Shop around for prices as there are many small shops offering souvenirs and trinkets.

Mid-range








Splurge




Sleep
Many of the splurge hotels in Vecriga offer spa, massage and wellness. In Latvia there is a difference between the generic mild "massage" (masāža) that is offered and "sports massage" (sporta masāža), which is the one where the body is worked over. Sometimes the sports massage is somewhat less expensive than the generic massage, the latter being offered for around €70 a session.

Splurge




Stay safe
Since the 2010's the Riga old town has changed from an inhabited part of Riga to a tourist attraction with very few inhabitants. This means that Riga old town mainly consists of shops, offices and hotels and the odd tourist trap. Outside of working hours most people frequenting Riga old town are tourists.