The Latvian Open Air Ethnographic Museum (Latvijas Etnogrāfiskais brīvdabas muzejs) is one of the oldest and largest open-air museums in Europe, spread across 87 hectares of pine forest on the shore of Lake Jugla, about 9 kilometres from the city centre. Over 100 historic rural buildings — farmsteads, windmills, fishermen's houses, churches, and craft workshops — have been relocated here from across Latvia and reassembled with their original furnishings.
The buildings span four centuries and all of Latvia's main ethnographic regions, giving a genuine picture of how rural Latvians lived before the 20th century. Craftspeople in traditional dress demonstrate weaving, pottery, blacksmithing, and other trades on summer weekends. The midsummer festival (Jāņi) on 23 June draws huge crowds and is the best single event at the museum.
Reaching the museum by public transport is easy — tram 1 from the city centre runs close to the entrance. Allow at least half a day.