It’s impossible to be bored in Riga, especially at the weekend when you’ve got a smorgasbord of brunches, exhibitions, markets, festivals and concerts to choose from. Yes, this can lead to serious bouts of FOMO but then there’s always next weekend in Riga…
Last year I pledged to share ideas for day trips from Riga but I couldn’t leave the city out of the picture. Here are my tips for making the most of your weekend in Riga itself! If you’re looking for company, you can book amazing customised tours with a local. Your tour can definitely included some of the spots mentioned here.
Weekend brunch in Riga
A modern-day Latvian tradition, weekend brunch in Riga is usually an all-you-can-eat buffet on Saturdays and Sundays from around 11 am till 4 pm. At one point, for a place to be considered even remotely cool, it had to serve brunch, but I’ve noted a bit of brunch fatigue as of late. Some places are experimenting with a la carte breakfast menus or limiting their brunch offer to pancakes or waffles. Nonetheless, there are a few places that do an absolute killer spread which make it worth escaping the comforting confines of your dearest duvet.
Life in Riga recommends
- Bulka – unexpected suburban gem. Brunch is best combined with a walk or cycle along the nearby Mārupīte river trail.
- La Kanna
- Innocent Cafe – one of the first if not the first place to do brunch in Riga and still going strong.
Markets in Riga
Weekends in Riga are made for spending the money you’ve worked hard for all week! And where better to spend it than Riga’s fabulous markets?
Life in Riga recommends
- Kalnciems Quarter Market – Saturday morning bliss on the left bank of the River Daugava. Go for organic produce, Latvian wine, handmade knitwear, jewellery and baby clothes. Enjoy the atmosphere and quality customer service! This is as upmarket as a market experience gets.
- Āgenskalns Market – easy to combine with visiting the Kalnciems Market. A buzzing suburban market with street food stalls. A good place to buy picnic items to enjoy at one of the nearby parks – Uzvaras parks, Arkādijas parks or Māras dīķis.
- Riga Central Market – this one speaks for itself. Don’t forget to check out our recommendations on what to buy!
Galleries and museums in Riga
Riga has a pretty great art scene and more than one travel writer has referred to it as the “new Berlin” thanks to both that and its nightlife. Spend some time in the galleries and museums to see if you agree!
Life in Riga recommends
- kim? contemporary art centre – now in a new, exciting location on the premises of a former biscuit factory. Sounds cool already, right?
- Noass – a floating gallery and events space moored at AB Dambis, a peninsula that juts into the River Daugava and is the best place for panoramic shots of Riga’s old town.
- Museum of Decorative Art and Design – go for the fashion exhibitions!
- Latvian National Museum of Art – freshly renovated and transformed into a true 21st century museum that every Latvian is proud of.
- Riga Motor Museum – ok, so this one doesn’t have much to do with art but it’s everything a contemporary museum should be. The building alone is fascinating, and it contains so many vintage cars and fun interactive features.
Of course, most people will recommend checking out the bars and clubs of Riga but I don’t consider myself much of a nightlife guru, so I’ll leave that one to the guide books. Oh, but one thing I feel confident in sharing is my favourite cocktail bars in Riga!
Ready to plan your weekend in Riga? The city has a lovely selection of holiday apartments and boutique hotels (check out Two Wheels and Neiburgs!) alongside international chains. Book yourself a place to stay now.
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Enjoyed this post? Continue with Weekend Away From Riga: Cēsis!
