Quick Answer
- Christmas: the Dome Square market is set for 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027; Riga came third in Europe’s 2025-2026 vote.
- Winter: December averages minus 0.3°C; on 21 December the sun is up about 08:59 to 15:43.
- Airport: bus 22 to the Old Town in about 40 minutes, 1.50 euros prepaid or 1.81 euros to the driver.
- Transport: 1.50 euros for 90 minutes, 5 euros for 24 hours; validate on every vehicle.
- Day trips: Jūrmala in about 30 minutes and Sigulda in about 1 hour 15 minutes by Vivi train.
At a glance
- Best time
- Jun–Aug; late Nov–early Jan for Christmas
- Time needed
- 2 to 3 days
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
- Language
- Latvian; English widely spoken
- From the airport
- Bus 22, 1.50 to 1.81 euros
- Getting around
- Trams and buses, 1.50 euros per 90 minutes
Riga is Latvia’s capital: a Hanseatic Old Town on the Daugava, a 19th-century centre of wooden and Art Nouveau buildings beyond its old ramparts, and a market housed in former zeppelin hangars. The decisions that matter are the season, where to sleep, how to get in from the airport and which sights to fit into a short winter day. Every date and price below was checked on 29 October 2026.
When is the best time to visit Riga?
June to August is the warm season, with average temperatures of 16.7 to 19.3°C and nights that barely get dark around midsummer. Late November to early January brings the Christmas market and the shortest days, and January and February are the coldest stretch, when the Old Town is quietest.
| Month | Average temperature (°C) | What it is like |
|---|---|---|
| October | 7.5 | Autumn, short days, low hotel prices |
| November | 3.0 | Grey and damp; the Christmas market opens on 27 November 2026 |
| December | -0.3 | Christmas market; sun up about 08:59 to 15:43 on 21 December |
| January | -2.1 | The market runs to 3 January, then the quietest weeks of the year |
| February | -2.0 | Cold and often frosty |
| March | 1.5 | Lengthening days, nights still below freezing |
| April and May | 7.4 to 13.0 | Spring, with April one of the driest months |
| June to August | 16.7 to 19.3 | Long days and the beach season; July is warmest |
Temperatures are LVĢMC’s 1991-2020 monthly averages for the Rīga station (day and night combined, so afternoons run warmer and nights colder); sunrise and sunset times are from the Norwegian Meteorological Institute’s sunrise data for central Riga. July and August are also the wettest months, at 79.5 and 77.9 mm. For the rest of the country, from Jūrmala to Gauja National Park, see our Latvia guide.
Riga at Christmas
The Old Town Christmas Market (Vecrīgas Ziemassvētku tirdziņš) fills Dome Square, beside Riga Cathedral, and its organiser’s site counts down to a run from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Opening hours for 2026 had not been confirmed on 29 October; last season the market opened from 11:00 to 21:00 Monday to Thursday, 10:00 to 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays and 10:00 to 21:00 on Sundays. In 2025 it had over 80 traders selling Latvian handmade crafts and food, and a children’s corner with a carousel, pony rides, sheep, creative workshops and Santa’s cottage, plus choirs and folk groups on stage.
Riga’s standing is new: in European Best Destinations’ 2025-2026 vote it came third behind Craiova and Zurich with 72,804 votes, its first time in the top three, and the Riga City Council says the same platform named its Christmas lights the best in Europe for the third year in a row. Tripadvisor’s Travel Index of UK searches for winter 2026/27 also has Riga in its trending top ten. Comparing cities? Our Christmas markets 2026 guide lines up Europe’s market dates.
What to pack for Riga
Four picks from our gear guides that suit this trip. Each card opens the live Amazon price; the links below lead to the full comparisons.
25 x 18 x 4 cm, 254 g, 2.1 L. Locking zips, a cut-resistant double-cable strap, an RFID passport pocket and a strap that clips to a chair. Reader’s Digest’s best crossbody for travel.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonThe best value compression set going. A double-zip pulls the air out so a week of clothes shrinks to a few inches thick, and you get eight pieces (cubes plus a shoe and laundry bag) for roughly the price of one branded cube. The fabric is thin and the zips aren’t lifetime kit, but for the money nothing beats it.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonThe reliable all-rounder: three USB-C and two USB-A ports, plugs for 200+ countries, and a built-in fuse with a spare. The adapter most people should buy.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonModel A1259, 10,000mAh, about 37Wh, 215 g. Two phone charges in a jacket pocket, and small enough that the two-bank limit never becomes a question.
Check price on Amazon Live price on AmazonWhere should you stay in Riga?
| Area | Best for | The trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town (Vecrīga) | The Christmas market, Dome Square and the main sights on foot | Cobbles with luggage; the priciest rooms on market weekends |
| Centre around Brīvības iela and the Freedom Monument | A short walk to the Old Town, more mid-range hotels | Busy roads, less atmosphere at night |
| Quiet Centre (Art Nouveau district, Alberta and Elizabetes iela) | The Art Nouveau facades and the Riga Art Nouveau Centre | A longer walk to the Old Town |
| Around Riga Central Station and the Central Market | Trains to Jūrmala, Sigulda and Tallinn, bus 22 at Autoosta | Busy, functional streets around the station |
| Ķīpsala and Pārdaugava (left bank) | River views of the Old Town skyline | A tram or bus ride across the Daugava |
First visit, especially in winter? Stay inside the Old Town or on its edge, so the market, the cathedral and dinner are all a short walk in the cold, and bus 22 from the airport stops at Grēcinieku iela on the Old Town’s edge. If you plan day trips by train, a room between the Old Town and Central Station saves time. Compare Riga hotel prices by area as soon as you have dates, especially for Christmas-market weekends.
How do you get to and around Riga?
What should you not miss in Riga?
| Experience | Price (2026) | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Christmas market, Dome Square | Free | 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027; go on a weekday morning or after dark for the lights |
| Old Town (Vecrīga) | Free to walk | The Hanseatic core of the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Riga |
| Art Nouveau district and Riga Art Nouveau Centre | 5 euros (whole exhibition, October to April), 9 euros (May to September) | The museum at Alberta iela 12 opens 10:00 to 18:00; the facades outside are free |
| Riga Central Market | Free to wander | Pavilions open 07:30 to 18:00 on the market’s site in late October; meat, fish, dairy, vegetables and gastronomy halls |
| Latvian National Museum of Art | Check the museum’s site | Closed on Mondays; open to 20:00 on Fridays, a good dark-afternoon plan |
The Old Town and the Art Nouveau district
UNESCO describes Riga as a major centre of the Hanseatic League from the 13th to 15th centuries, and says it is generally recognised as having the finest collection of Art Nouveau buildings in Europe. The listed Historic Centre covers 430 hectares: the medieval Old Town by the river and the 19th-century districts laid out around it, first with wooden neoclassical buildings and then in Jugendstil. Walk the Old Town around midday in winter, then head north-east to Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela for the richest run of Art Nouveau facades. The Riga Art Nouveau Centre at Alberta iela 12 has an Art Nouveau interior exhibition; in winter the whole exhibition costs 5 euros for adults.
Riga Central Market
The market’s pavilions were adapted from German army zeppelin hangars and the market was completed in 1930, according to its own history page. The hangars were cut down from 37.4 m to 20.5 m high, and today the five pavilions sell dairy, meat, fish, vegetables and gastronomy, with about 3,000 trading places. The market says it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage listing in 1997 as part of the Historic Centre of Riga.
Day trips from Riga
- Jūrmala: about 30 minutes by Vivi electric train to Majori, the central stop nearest the main beach and promenade, for a walk along the sand and the wooden villas. Tickets are around 1.50 euros at the ticket office.
- Sigulda and Gauja National Park: about 1 hour 15 minutes by train, with the cable car across the Gauja valley, Turaida Castle and sandstone cliffs; covered in our Latvia guide.
- Tallinn: a full travel day by Elron train or coach, so better as the next stop than a day trip; see our Tallinn guide.
What goes wrong on a Riga winter trip?
- Planning for summer daylight. In late December the sun is up for under seven hours; walk the Old Town around midday and save museums for the afternoon.
- Wet cold and slippery cobbles. December and January hover around freezing, so pavements turn to slush and ice. Winter boots with grip matter more than style.
- Underdressing for the river wind. Pack a thermal base layer and a packable down jacket.
- Forgetting to validate. Riga tickets must be registered on every vehicle you board, and inspectors fine 15 to 30 euros.
- Saving museums for Monday. The Latvian National Museum of Art is closed on Mondays, so plan the Old Town walk for that day instead.
How many days do you need in Riga?
Two to three days covers it: one for the Old Town and the Christmas market, one for the Art Nouveau district and the Central Market, and a third for Jūrmala or Sigulda. Add a few days and continue to Tallinn by train, or compare the month’s best trips in where to go in December.
Entry: Latvia is in the EU and the Schengen area; non-EU visitors should read our Schengen 90/180 rule and EES and ETIAS guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Riga Christmas market in 2026?
The organiser’s site counts down to the Old Town Christmas Market on Dome Square from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Opening hours for 2026 were not confirmed on 29 October; last season the market opened from 11:00 to 21:00 Monday to Thursday, 10:00 to 22:00 on Fridays and Saturdays and 10:00 to 21:00 on Sundays, with over 80 traders selling Latvian crafts and food.
Is Riga worth visiting in winter?
Yes, for the Christmas market, the Old Town and the Art Nouveau district rather than long days. Riga came third in European Best Destinations’ 2025-2026 Christmas market vote. LVĢMC’s 1991-2020 normals give Riga an average temperature of minus 0.3°C in December and minus 2.1°C in January, and on 21 December 2026 the sun is up only from about 08:59 to 15:43.
How do I get from Riga Airport to the city centre?
Take bus 22, which runs to the Grēcinieku iela stop by the Old Town and to Autoosta, next to the international bus station and near Riga Central Station, in about 40 minutes depending on traffic. Live Riga lists the fare at 1.50 euros with a ticket bought in advance at Narvesen, a ticket machine or the Mobilly or Timey apps, or 1.81 euros paid to the driver by bank card. A taxi takes 15 to 25 minutes and costs about 10 to 25 euros.
How much is public transport in Riga?
A 90-minute ticket costs 1.50 euros and covers transfers between trams, trolleybuses and buses, a 24-hour ticket costs 5 euros, a three-day ticket 8 euros and a five-day ticket 10 euros. Register the ticket every time you board a new vehicle: riders without a valid ticket face a fine of 15 to 30 euros.
Is there a train from Riga to Tallinn?
Yes. Since 12 January 2026 Elron has run a direct Riga-Tartu-Tallinn train, which at launch left Riga Central Station at 07:38 and reached Tallinn at 13:57. Tickets cost 29 euros online or 32 euros on board. Coaches also run the route.
How many days do you need in Riga?
Two to three days covers Riga well: one for the Old Town and the Christmas market or Dome Square, one for the Art Nouveau district and the Central Market, and a third for a day trip to Jūrmala, about 30 minutes by Vivi train, or Sigulda in Gauja National Park, about 1 hour 15 minutes away.
Sources
Climate: LVĢMC, 1991-2020 normals for the Rīga station. Sunrise and sunset: Norwegian Meteorological Institute. Christmas market: the organiser’s site and the Riga City Council. Transport: Live Riga (Riga Investment and Tourism Agency) and Vivi. Sights and prices: UNESCO, Riga Central Market and the Riga Art Nouveau Centre, all checked on 29 October 2026. Full links are in the sources box on this page.
Start planning your Riga trip
For the Christmas market, go between late November and the first days of January, on a weekday if you can; for long evenings and the beach, June to August. Compare a few dates before you book.
