We spend the day exploring Riga's Old Town, Art Nouveau District, and Central Market , and Jewish heritage of Latvia.
The heart of Riga is its Old Town (Vecrīga), a maze of cobblestone streets, medieval buildings, and charming squares. This district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflects Riga’s long and layered history, from its Hanseatic trading roots to its days under Swedish, Polish, and Russian rule. Start at Riga Cathedral, the largest medieval church in the Baltics., continue to the Town Hall Square with Riga’s most striking landmarks: the House of the Blackheads.
Leaving the medieval charm of the Old Town behind, a short walk brings you to Alberta Street, the heart of Riga’s Art Nouveau District. Home to more than 800 Art Nouveau buildings, Riga is often called the "Art Nouveau capital of Europe." The facades here are unlike anything else in the city—ornate, elaborate, and filled with mythical creatures, sculpted faces, and flowing lines.
To experience Riga’s daily rhythm, we visit Riga Central Market. Housed in five former Zeppelin hangars, this market is one of the largest and oldest in Europe, offering an overwhelming variety of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and traditional Latvian specialties.
During the tour, we dedicate time to explore Riga’s Jewish history. We visit Riga Ghetto and Holocaust Museum, a somber tribute to victims of the Nazi occupation, Peitav Synagogue, the last remaining synagogue in Riga. Stroll through the Moscow District, the wartime Jewish ghetto. Visit Rumbula Memorial, memorializing the location where thousands of Latvian Jews were murdered in 1941.
Breakfast
Grand Palace 5*