One Day in Riga Itinerary – Exploring Centrs & Old Town in Detail

This one-day Riga itinerary is a great starting point for anyone visiting the capital of Latvia for the first time and unfamiliar with the city. It’s also an excellent travel agenda for those who have been to Riga briefly but didn’t see much or feel that their visit wasn’t as fulfilling as it could have been. 

I’ve included a detailed, step-by-step route around Riga, featuring important highlights that make it special, along with some alternative spots where not many tourists venture. In this way, you can experience both Riga’s iconic and hidden gems, ensuring a well-rounded and memorable visit.

I have been to Riga on a few occasions (usually for a few days) and from all those visits, I’ve put together this one-day itinerary that shows different sides of the city. In fact, at this moment, I am back here for 2 weeks to take care of a few personal errands and explore the city more thoroughly before returning to Tallinn. So, I’ll be uncovering more interesting finds on what to see in Riga, but for now enjoy your day there!

What to Know About This Riga Itinerary

It starts in Centrs, a central neighborhood outside the Old Town known as the New Center of Riga. We chose this area for two reasons – first, it’s more affordable than the Vecrīga area (the historic center), with lower accommodation costs and large grocery stores nearby where you can shop at local prices without overpaying.

And second – because it is more local and feels like the elegant heart of the city, blending historical charm with modern urban life.

Unlike the Old Town’s medieval atmosphere, Centrs has beautiful Art Nouveau architecture, wide boulevards, and a more refined, cosmopolitan vibe. Walking distance to Old Town is short and enjoyable since you pass by stylish cafes and a lively local scene, all set against a backdrop of beautifully preserved buildings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

While the Old Town feels like a step back in time, Centrs offers a glimpse into Riga’s prosperous and artistic past, combined with the buzz of a contemporary city. 

I would highly recommend staying here if you like being in the center of events but not directly in the Old Town area which in Riga gets quite touristy. But in any case, this itinerary is still easy to use even if you stay in another neighborhood.

One Day in Riga – Itinerary Overview & Step-By-Step Route

Morning in Riga – Walk in Centrs, Visit Riga Apartment From the Early 20th Century, Enjoy Riga Views From the Water

Since I suggest you stay in Centrs neighborhood, this is where the itinerary starts as well. Walk from your accommodation towards Esplanade Park, with beautiful trails that wind beneath clusters of trees and with nice views of the Nativity of Christ Orthodox Cathedral.

On your way from your hotel to the park, take a stroll through random streets while admiring the Art Nouveau architecture. If you haven’t had breakfast yet, stop by Jungle Cafe or Beze Confectionary.

The first one is like a local chain with various baked goodies on a budget including sandwiches (hot and cold), quiches, and various coffee drinks. The second cafe is a cozy, family-run spot where they bake pastries and make desserts from their own cherished family recipes. You can enjoy breakfast croissants, delicious juices, and cakes. Their baked goods come with various fillings, including delightful cinnamon rolls, spinach and cheese buns, egg and cabbage pastries, and more.

After wandering around the streets and sampling some local specialties, head to Alberta Street with beautifully preserved early 20th-century buildings, stylish facades, and decorative details.

One particularly interesting place to visit there is the Riga Art Nouveau Center (located on Alberta Iela, 12), one of the city’s newest museums and the only one in the Baltic States dedicated entirely to Jugendstil, also known as Art Nouveau, Modernism, and Tiffany style.

There, you’ll step into a real Riga apartment from the early 20th century, with a fully restored 1903 interior, from the layout of the rooms to the smallest details. It is allowed to touch and take photos of everything, making it the perfect place to experience life as a Riga resident from the early 1900s.

Depending on the pace, you may end up spending 15-30 minutes inside the apartment, after that, continue walking to Kronvalda Park where I suggest you do one lesser-known activity in Riga and that is to take a boat along the charming Riga City Canal and Daugava River. It doesn’t open up many views, but you get to see some popular sights of the old town from the water. 

If you are hungry at this point, I suggest you stop to eat at Lidojosa Varde restaurant, a very local establishment with big portions and reasonable prices.  

Afternoon in Riga – Central Market, Traditional Food & Old Town Exploration

After the boat ride, if walking feels like too much, you can hop on a bus or tram to go towards the Central Market, largest food market in the Baltic States and one of the largest in Europe. Entrance to this market is here.

Even if you’re not a big fan of markets, I still recommend going there to indulge in some treats. Besides fresh produce, there are many stalls offering delicious freshly-prepared food – traditional Latvian dishes, rare Ukrainian specialties, and even some dishes made from Soviet-era recipes, like meat-filled pastries (belyashi) at one of the stands.

But besides the food, what makes this market especially interesting is its unique setting. It is located in large, semicircular buildings that were once airship hangars during World War I. These massive structures were designed to accommodate and protect the German Zeppelin airships, which were used for reconnaissance and bombing missions.

Before reaching the market, if going on foot, go through the Bastejkalna Park (unique green space). Walk through it to see how beautiful and uniquely designed an ordinary city park can be. Also, take a moment to stop and admire the Freedom Monument, which is a symbol of Latvia’s independence.

After the market stop, it is finally time to walk into the Old Town, where you can discover the heart of Riga’s history and culture. Since you’ll be entering from the eastern side, the first remarkable place not to miss would be St. Peter’s Church, the oldest building in the Latvian capital. After multiple restorations after fires, it turned into a modern church (with an elevator) that takes visitors to observation platforms offering panoramic views of the city.

The tower of the church (and if you want to see the city from above) is a highlight and a must-see thing in Riga in one day.

Evening of a Day Trip to Riga – Spend It in Old Town

Old Town of Riga is rich in things to see, so you can easily spend the rest of the day there. When limited on time, follow this itinerary in that way where you follow the recommended places in the order they are listed.

And they are the House of the Blackheads, Town Hall Square, Jauniela Street (that one where the Soviet Sherlock Holmes was filmed, which I mentioned earlier), the Dome Cathedral and Dome Square behind it, and ‘Three Brothers’ (a unique complex of buildings in Riga consisting of three houses from different eras).

After them all, take a stroll to Riga Castle, which was once a stronghold of the Livonian Knights and is now the Presidential Palace. You can’t go inside, but it’s still interesting to walk around.

With all these locations and things to do that I mentioned above in this itinerary, spending one day in Riga will be packed with memorable experiences, stunning sights, and a rich taste of the city’s culture and history.

Where to Eat & Drink in Riga in One Day

Besides those places that I have already mentioned above in the itinerary, here are a couple of my favorite spots where to dine or snack without breaking the bank:

LIDO – popular restaurant chain that offers home-style, affordable food and a comforting dining experience.

Ezītis migla bars – a chain of simple yet very charming and budget-friendly bars. They are called among Latvians as ‘student-friendly’ bars meaning that students can afford and love choosing these spots. In any of them, you can grab an inexpensive bite and drink while exploring the Old Town. Our favorite location though is this one near St. Peter’s Basilic. Choose to sit on the backstreet in the lovely courtyard.

Le Dome – high-end restaurant specializing in fish and seafood from local lakes and Baltic Sea, with excellent service, culinary techniques, and live music on weekends. If you are coming for a day to Riga in summer, then there is a chance to dine on a terrace or rooftop from where beautiful views open up.

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