Our Riga Travel Guide: What to Do in 2 Days Over New Year

Why Riga Is the Perfect Destination for New Year Celebrations

Latvia? Riga? Why should you travel here? If we asked you about the biggest downside of traveling after Christmas and over New Year's, most of you would probably say: the price. But what if we told you that we've found a destination that is affordable, stunning, and full of variety? A place where the Christmas market is still open, and New Year's Eve is packed with cool street parties. Sounds perfect, right? Welcome to our Riga travel guide—let us show you why this city should be on your winter bucket list!

RIGA TRAVEL GUIDE

What to see in Riga. Map with locations

Why We Recommend Riga for New Year and the Christmas Market

Riga surprised us as a New Year destination. With 600,000 people living there, the city felt quite small but full of charm. Riga for New Year is also very affordable, with cheaper food, drinks, and hotels (we stayed here) compared to other cities.

What makes Riga special over New Year is the perfect mix of history, traditions, and a cozy winter atmosphere. If you’re wondering how to spend 2 days in Riga, be sure to check out our Riga travel guide to find out the best things to do and see in this wonderful city!

The Best 2-Day Itinerary for Riga

Although Riga is the largest city in Latvia, it’s easy to explore on foot. In our Riga travel guide, all destinations are within walking distance and offer plenty of variety. From a market located in old German Zeppelin hangars from World War I to Riga’s most beautiful buildings and lots of local food, we experienced it all!

Day 1: Exploring Riga's Culture and History

The First Day in Riga: The first day serves to give you an overview of Riga and share our first top food recommendations! From breakfast in a cozy traditional café to walking through the main sights and enjoying a traditional dinner, we’ve got your day covered.

1. Start Your Day Right: Breakfast at "Rigensis" in Riga

Before exploring Riga, you’ll need a good breakfast. Rigensis Bakery, centrally located just a few minutes from the meeting point of the free walking tour, is the perfect spot to recharge. We loved the bakery’s old, authentic, and cozy interior. Known for its homemade baked goods, from fresh bread to delicious pastries and cakes, Rigensis Bakery pays great attention to quality – something we noticed in every item. The atmosphere is inviting, and the coffee is excellent. While the service can feel a bit cold, the outstanding products make it well worth a visit.

Address
Tirgoņu iela 8, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Opening hours
Monday – Sunday
09:00 am – 07:00 pm

2. Join a Free Walking Tour in Riga: Explore the City’s History and Highlights

Something we always recommend is joining a free walking tour in Riga. It’s a fantastic way for us to meet other travelers, dive into Riga’s history and culture, and get personal recommendations from your guide after the tour. We don’t want to review the entire tour here, but instead show you what you might miss out on without it. Here are some impressions of Riga’s architecture that we experienced during the free walking tour.

We joined the free walking tour by “Free Tours Riga by Locals”, which we booked a day in advance through GuruWalk. The tour was super informative, and our guide added a fun, personal touch. We paid $10.oo per person. If you’re wondering how to spend 2 days in Riga, this tour is a perfect way to explore the city and learn about its history.

Our Tour
https://www.guruwalk.com/walks/35782-old-riga-free-walking-tour-in-english

Price
You can decide for yourself how much the tour is worth. We chose to pay $10.00 per person.

3. Warm Up with Pelmeni Soup at O'Paps: Perfect Comfort Food

Winters in Riga are cold, so we wanted to warm us up after almost two hours of walking and standing. To be honest, we had already visited O’Paps on the evening of our arrival. But we loved it so much that we knew we had to come back! So, what can we recommend here?

One dish you absolutely have to try at O’Paps is their pelmeni soup. It’s a salty broth filled with mushrooms, herbs, and, of course, pelmeni—delicious dumplings filled with meat. The soup is traditionally served with sour cream on the side, which you can add if you like (we preferred it without!). O’Paps also offers a great selection of local beers, so don’t hesitate to ask the friendly staff for their recommendations.

Address
Laipu iela 2/4, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Opening hours
Sunday – Wednesday
11:00 am – 12:00 pm
Thursday
11:00 am – 02:00 am
Friday – Saturday
11:00 am – 04:00 am

4. Experience the Magic of the Riga Christmas Market

After a couple more beers than planned, we decided to head to the famous Riga Christmas Market. Honestly, we had no idea what to expect. Having visited many Christmas markets in Germany, where the bar is set quite high, we were curious to see how Riga compares. What can we say except that it turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip?

From a distance, we could already smell something that reminded us of grilling, and oh my god, the food offerings are incredible – making it a must-visit spot in any Riga travel guide! Unlike some Christmas markets in Germany, there’s no entrance fee, and the music adds to the winter atmosphere. Like in Germany, the Christmas market is unfortunately not the cheapest experience. Mulled wine costs €4.50, and blood sausage is priced at €8.00. The buildings and the lights are simply beautiful, so make sure to visit the Christmas market in the evening to fully enjoy the magical atmosphere.

Let’s get back to the food! If you love meat, the Riga Christmas Market is the perfect place to try local specialties. Over an open fire, big pots bubble with soups, while the grill is packed with ribs, blood sausage, meat skewers, and sauerkraut. For the more adventurous, you can even find pig’s ear—though we decided to skip that one! Exploring the market with a warm meal in hand is definitely one of the best winter activities in Riga and a must when visiting Riga for New Year.

For staying warm, definitely try the soup!

We wanted to try the blood sausage and a Baileys coffee. Unfortunately, it’s not very cheap—$8.00 for the blood sausage and $8.50 for the Baileys coffee. But hey, you have to treat yourself sometimes, especially on a New Year trip to Riga! Watch out, the mustard is very spicy and will clear your nose!

The Riga Christmas Market is an absolute highlight and a must-visit in Riga. The atmosphere is magical, it feels safe, and it’s the perfect place to end your first evening in a cozy way. After the christmas market, we headed back to the pub—but don’t drink too much! The second day is all about even more delicious food in Riga.
 

Address
Doma laukums 8a, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Opening hours
Early December in Dome Square and will run until the first week of January.

Day 2: Riga Central Market and National Opera

After an exciting first day in Riga, we decided to start the second day a bit more relaxed. As you may already know, we love trying local food and exploring markets. By the way, if you’ve ever wondered what markets in South America, especially in Lima, Peru, are like, be sure to check out our Lima food article.

1. A Visit to Riga's Central Market: A Culinary Experience

We skipped breakfast to leave plenty of room in our stomachs for the Central Market. Pro tip: Always order one portion and share it. That way, you can try even more! You might be wondering how much time you should plan for the Central Market in Riga. Due to its size – the market spans 72,300 square meters (778,000 sq ft) and has more than 3,000 stalls – we spent 4-5 hours there. But we also took our time, having both breakfast and lunch there. Honestly, we just kept eating! The Riga Central Market consists of five different halls, each focusing on a specific type of product.

What makes the market in Riga so special is that it’s housed in hangars from World War I, originally used for Zeppelin storage. Today, it’s one of the largest markets in Eastern Europe, welcoming between 80,000 and 100,000 visitors daily – a huge number that highlights its popularity with both locals and tourists.

At the right hall of Riga Central Market, you’ll find plenty of fresh fish and vegetables at great prices. Everything is top quality and affordable—we were amazed to pay just $1.60 for six large cucumbers! We choose pickled cucumbers in chili, garlic, and dill, and each flavor was a unique. 

At Riga Central Market, our favorite spot was the second hall from the right, next to the first. Here, you’ll find a lively food court offering a variety of delicious dishes. We tried sausages, pelmeni, Nutella pancakes, and local beer. A tip: one person can order while the other looks for a free table. Don’t miss Pelēkie zirņi ar speķi ($5.00), a traditional Latvian dish with grey peas, fried onions, and diced speck. The dumplings were $5.00, sausage $3.50, and Nutella pancake just $3.00. With affordable beer prices, it’s the perfect place to try authentic Riga flavors on a budget!

If you’re craving international cuisine, you’ll find plenty of options here too!

The other halls mainly offer meat, clothing, cheese, and other goods. However, we weren’t as impressed with these and they weren’t as popular. Currently, there are plans to revamp this section of the market to make it more attractive again.

If you’re looking for affordable and authentic food in Riga, the Central Market is your go-to destination. From delicious local dishes like Pelēkie zirņi ar speķi to fresh meats, cheeses, and more, it’s was for us a food lover’s paradise . We had a fantastic time exploring the market and would definitely return on our next trip to Riga! Perfect for experiencing local flavors at great prices.

Address
Nēģu iela 7, Latgales priekšpilsēta, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Opening hours
Monday – Saturday
07:30 am – 06:00 pm
Sunday
07:30 am – 05:30 pm

2. National Opera and the Freedom Monument

We originally planned to spend our second afternoon at Majori Beach, just a 30-minute train ride from Riga. With tickets (you can buy them online here) costing around $1.50, it’s an easy and affordable trip. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t cooperate, so instead, we visited two more sights that weren’t covered by the walking tour: the National Opera and the Freedom Monument! You can buy tickets for a guided tour of the Opera here.

3. Dine at the Traditional Salve Restaurant

On our last evening, we wanted to have dinner at a traditional Latvian restaurant, so we chose Salve, which offers a wide selection of Latvian dishes. Our top recommendation here is the Peas Crème Soup with Smoked Bacon, served in a bread bowl!

Address
Rātslaukums 5, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1050, Latvia

Opening hours
Monday – Saturday
12:00 – 10:00 pm 
Sunday
12:00 – 09:30 pm

Menu
https://www.salve.lv/en/menu

Website
https://www.salve.lv/en/

Conclusion: Our Riga Experience in a Nutshell

Our time in Riga was unforgettable, offering a mix of history, culture, and delicious food. If you’re wondering how to spend 2 days in Riga, our Riga travel guide will lead you to landmarks like the Freedom Monument and National Opera. The Riga Central Market is a highlight, offering fresh food and local specialties. The city is budget-friendly, even during the holidays, making it perfect for foodies and culture lovers. If you’re visiting Riga for New Year, don’t miss the best winter activities in Riga, like the Riga Christmas Market. Despite unpredictable weather, our time in Riga was fantastic—definitely worth the visit!

Thanks for Reading!

We truly hope our Riga travel guide has inspired and assisted you in planning your trip! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to text us. We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments and would greatly appreciate your support in helping our travel blog grow. Please consider sharing this article!
Vicky & Malte

Traveling is our Passion
ABOUT
VICKY AND MALTE
Traveling is our Passion

We love traveling around the world and even more we love to share our trips and to inspire other people!

OTHER POSTS

Leave a Reply

LATEST POSTS: