Riga is the capital of Latvia and home to around a third of the country's population — a concentration that makes it the undisputed centre of Latvian life. It's one of the most architecturally impressive cities in the Baltic region, and for most visitors it's the reason to come to Latvia in the first place.
The medieval Old Town (Vecrīga) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a well-preserved core of church towers, cobbled lanes, and merchant houses. But the more distinctive attraction is the Art Nouveau architecture that covers entire streets just north of the Old Town — an astonishing concentration of ornate stonework from the early 20th century.
The Central Market, housed in five enormous repurposed zeppelin hangars near the bus and train stations, is one of the best food markets in Europe. It's worth visiting for its own sake as much as for the food.
Riga has a lively restaurant and bar scene. The Old Town gets tourist-heavy in summer; the more interesting eating and drinking tends to happen in the residential neighbourhoods of Āgenskalns, Miera iela, and the area around the central market.
See the Riga city pages for sights, eating out, getting around, and more.