The Riga Central Market (Rīgas Centrāltirgus) is one of the largest and most impressive food markets in Europe. It occupies five enormous arched hangars that were originally built during the First World War to house German military Zeppelins and were transported to Riga after the war. Each hangar is dedicated to a different category: meat, dairy, fish, produce, and a general goods hall.
The scale is remarkable — the fish hall alone is the size of a medium aircraft hangar, packed with Baltic sprats, smoked eels, and every other variety of local fish. The dairy and meat halls are equally well-stocked. Outside the hangars, stalls spill into the surrounding streets selling vegetables, pickled goods, bread, and cheap hot food.
Come for the atmosphere as much as the food. The market is busiest on Saturday mornings. The surrounding neighbourhood, recently upgraded, is becoming one of Riga's more interesting areas for eating and drinking.