Latvia were one of those destinations that made folk raise an eyebrow when we told them where we were off to. “Latvia? Why Latvia?” Because it’s brilliant, that’s why. Riga is genuinely one of the most underrated cities in Europe and we’d go back tomorrow.
How much does Latvia cost?
Latvia is a proper bargain compared to Western Europe. We averaged around £30-40 a day for two people in Riga, covering accommodation, food, drink, activities and transport. A pint costs around £2–3. A proper sit-down meal for two with drinks £20-25. Street food and market food is even cheaper. Accommodation in a central Riga hotel or apartment runs from £25–45 per night for a double – decent quality and well located.
We booked accommodation through Booking.com and found solid options in the Old Town area. For getting there, Skyscanner regularly shows Ryanair and Wizz Air flights from the UK for well under £40 return.
Where we went
Riga Old Town – A UNESCO World Heritage site and absolutely worth the designation. Cobbled streets, medieval churches, Art Nouveau architecture around every corner (Riga has more Art Nouveau buildings than anywhere else in the world – we didn’t know this before going and it properly stopped us in our tracks). The whole area is free to wander and genuinely gawk worthy.
The Central Market – Housed in five enormous, repurposed Zeppelin hangars and one of the best food markets we’ve visited anywhere. Local produce, cheap hot food, fresh bread, dairy, smoked fish. Go hungry.
The bronze gnomes – Wait, wrong city. That’s Wrocław. Easy mistake after a long road trip. Riga’s got its own quirks though – the cat statues on Meistaru Iela being a particular highlight.
Getting around Latvia on a budget
Riga itself is very walkable – the Old Town, Art Nouveau district and Central Market are all manageable on foot. Trams and buses are cheap for longer distances within the city. For day trips to Jurmala beach or the Gauja National Park, trains and buses from Riga Central Station are regular and inexpensive.
When to go
June to August for warm weather and the full Baltic summer experience. December for Christmas markets that are genuinely magical and far less crowded than Western European equivalents. We went in early summer and it were cracking – long evenings, warm enough for outdoor eating, and the city felt properly alive.
Our Latvia posts — start here
4 Days in Riga: A Tight Traveller’s Guide from Yorkshire to the Baltics
Riga, Latvia – the most confused city in the world? We spent 4 days in Riga, and spent a lot of the time marvelling at the wide variety of architecture. Old Eastern Europe? Wild West? Modern sky rises? Riga had it ALL.
