Excursions in Riga are varied, affordable, and easy to tailor, including classic walking tours, niche food tours, or full-day adventures to beaches, castles, and neighbouring capitals. Below is a practical guide to a variety of options in and beyond the city, including day tours, free tours, and the best day trips from Riga by train.
Tours in Riga
Paid tours
For a well-structured tour of must-sees, book a guided Old Town walk that covers Vecrīga’s UNESCO-listed landmarks, including the House of the Blackheads, St. Peter’s Church area, and the Riga Cathedral with Dome square, and continue toward the 19th–20th century Art Nouveau district around Alberta street. Reputable marketplaces like Tripadvisor and Civitatis aggregate guided day tours in Riga (including Old Town essentials, Art Nouveau tours, panoramic bus tours, canal boat+walk combos etc.), making scheduling and language options straightforward. You can also book Daugava boat cruises and sunset tours for open scenic views of the riverfront. If you prefer a personal approach, private tours are available too.
Tip: For a different perspective, consider bike or e-bike routes that link the Old Town, riverfront, Central Market, and green parks. Many operators, including Eat Riga, also run small-group orientation tours ideal for your first morning in the city.
Free tours
Free tours in Riga are a fantastic way to get your bearings and keep costs down. Riga Free Tour offers several tours - Old Riga Free Tour, Alternative Riga Free Tour, and Central & Art Nouveau Free Tour - all tip-based and led by local guides. The walk itself is free, and you tip what you feel it’s worth at the end. It is advisable to reserve a slot in advance during peak months and always check the current timetable before you go. If you’re wondering what the tours are like, glance at Riga Free Tour reviews on TripAdvisor to set the right expectations on pace and storytelling.
Tip: Bring comfortable shoes, clothing suitable to the season and – unless you’re taking the tour in below-zero temperatures – a small umbrella, as weather can change quickly.
Specialized tours
Specialized tours allow you to lean more into niche interests, offering deeper experiences beyond standard sightseeing, and Riga is no exception. If you’re a foodie, the food tours in Riga focus on the massive Central Market (set inside historic zeppelin hangars) with tastings of traditional Latvian products, including rye bread, smoked fish, cheeses, and seasonal pickles. You’ll find options from local providers, for example, Eat Riga’s Latvian Food Tasting Tour and global platforms like Secret Food Tours or Withlocals. These typically run 2–3 hours and pair bites with stories about Latvian cuisine and everyday culture.
Alternative Riga tours (such as those mentioned earlier among Riga Free Tour offers) take you more off the beaten path into districts neighbouring the city centre and highlight lesser-known landmarks that usually fly under the radar.
Soviet Riga tours (for example, the Soviet Riga Free Tour) focus on the city’s remnants of the Soviet era, including notable buildings, monuments and landmarks, mostly outside the city centre. These let you get a glimpse of what life was like during these nearly 50 oppressive years.
If you happen to be a fan of the mystic, paranormal and grim, the Riga Ghosts & Legends Tour offers a different angle of the city, with tours of the city’s oldest cemeteries near the rustic Brasa district, complemented with local ghost legends and captivating stories.
For a peek into the city’s nightlife, spontaneous exploration would be our first recommendation, but if you prefer a guided experience, there are bar crawls, as well as craft beer and Black Balsam tasting tours to book.
Other niches worth a look:
- Art Nouveau deep dives - soak in more of the magnificent architecture and peak into the fascinating Art Noveau museum.
- Market + canal boat combos (seasonal) - see the city from a different angle.
- Medieval Riga tours - tours focusing more on the oldest parts of the city, mainly in the Old Town
- Riga Zoo - visit the spacious city zoo and see its incredibly diverse population of animals. The zoo focuses on species protection and reproduction, research and education. If you admire wildlife, it is informative and well worth a visit.
Day trips and excursions from Riga
If you are staying in Riga for more than 3 days, you may want to explore beyond the capital. Below are our picks for excursions from Riga.
Nearby destinations
Jūrmala – beach, resorts and wooden villas
The classic seaside day tour from Riga: hop on a suburban train to Majori or Dubulti. Average journey time is ~30–35 minutes with frequent departures. Alternatively you can also take a river boat and see more of the coastline along the way. Spend a day between the pine-backed dunes and wander along charming historical wooden villas and summer cottages. In summer, this is the easiest and breeziest escape.
Sigulda – Gauja National Park, castles and viewpoints
Dubbed the “Switzerland of Latvia,” Sigulda delivers river-valley vistas, cable-car rides, and two castle sites (in Sigulda and Turaida). Trains take about 1h–1h10m from Riga, making this one of the most popular Riga day tours year-round. In winter, adrenaline seekers can try public rides at the Sigulda Bobsleigh & Luge Track (soft-bob/summer-bob options depending on season). Ready-made tours are also available.
Cēsis – medieval charm and a candlelit castle tower
A superb cultural day trip with cobbled lanes and one of Latvia’s most impressive castle complexes. By train it’s roughly 1h20m–1h30m from Riga (direct services run several times daily). Don’t miss the medieval castle tower lit by candle lanterns and the new castle museum with park views. Group and private tours are available.
Kuldīga – Europe’s widest waterfall + UNESCO-listed townscape
Kuldīga is famous for Ventas Rumba, the widest waterfall in Europe, and a beautifully preserved historical town centre that has even served as a filming location for several movies. It’s a full-day outing: driving is ~2 hours each way; direct buses run roughly 3 to 3.5 hours. Several operators offer guided day trips if you prefer everything arranged.
Rundāle castle - Baroque at its finest
This opulent chateau is among the most important examples of Baroque and Rococo art and architecture in Latvia. Explore the fully restored palace interior and enjoy a stunning French-style garden with thousands of roses blooming in the summer. Getting there by bus or car will take 1h20m to 1h40m, but tours are also available.
Winter angles
For day trips from Riga in winter, Sigulda shines with bobsleigh experiences, ski slopes, and snowy forest trails, while Cēsis offers serene castle visits and cafés. For a cold-weather downtime, visit Jūrmala’s spas.
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Tallinn (Estonia)
Ambitious but doable - a very long day trip from Riga to Tallinn: frequent intercity buses take about 4 to 4.5 hours each way. From 2025 there’s also a daily cross-border train link with a transfer in Valga (helpful for multi-city itineraries). If you opt to make the dash, plan a sunrise departure and only essential sightseeing.
Vilnius (Lithuania)
Similarly, a day trip from Riga to Vilnius is possible by coach in approximately 3h40m to 4h15m, with many daily departures. Organised Riga day tours that include Vilnius highlights (Old Town, Užupis) remove the pressure of planning, though a DIY bus round-trip works fine if you’re disciplined with time.
Practical tips
- Seasonality: Late spring to early autumn means outdoor cafés, canal boats, and long evenings, while winter swaps in festive markets, museums, bobsleigh, and cozy spa days.
- Booking: For paid tours, pre-book popular time slots. For free tours, reserve a spot during weekends/holidays. If you are planning a tour on a weekend or a holiday, it is best to book some days in advance.
- Transit apps: Use Vivi for Latvian rail tickets and real-time train info when planning DIY day tours from Riga. For more information on getting around with Riga public transit, head to Rīgas satiksme. For scooters and taxis, Bolt is the local go-to provider.
FAQ: Excursions in Riga
What are the must-do Excursions in Riga for first-time visitors?
Start with a guided Old Town walk, then add an Art Nouveau and Centre tours. If time allows, finish with the Central Market or canal-boat combo.
Are there free tours in Riga and how do they work?
Yes - Riga Free Tours offer tip-based group walks. You reserve a timeslot, join the guide, and tip what you want at the end based on how valuable you found these tours.
Paid vs. free tours: which should I choose?
Free tours are great for getting to know the city and its stories; paid tours usually offer smaller groups, tailored routes, more time-efficient pacing, and extras such as free entry and tastings.
Are day trips from Riga by train realistic?
Absolutely. Popular destinations for day tours from Riga include Jūrmala (beach/spa), Sigulda (castles/nature), and Cēsis (medieval town and castle).
Is a day trip from Riga to Vilnius or Tallinn feasible?
It is going to be a long (and we mean looong) day but possible. Many travellers treat a day trip from Riga to Vilnius or day trips from Riga to Tallinn as early-start, late-return coach journeys or opt to stay overnight.
What languages are tours offered in?
English is common; other languages (German, Spanish, etc.) are available on request or through select operators.
Are walks stroller/wheelchair-friendly?
Old Town cobbles can be uneven, so it is best to go with a companion. Many routes can adapt on request; we advise to check accessibility with the operator in advance.