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You are welcome to explore Riga with an audio guide! Riga audio guide is literally a personal guide in your pocket, you just need to download the MP3 files to your smartphone, iPhone, iPod or MP3 player and listen as you go. Our storytelling style puts you next to your own personal guide who tells you the stories of the sights and brings a vivid reality to your tour. You feel the excitement of history being created in front of you as the stories unfold. And the atmosphere at the time will linger with you long after, as you can recall the trip as often as you wish. Your tour will be interesting, enjoyable and flexible. You will hear interesting and entertaining stories. Audio guide considers your wishes and goes where you want to go. You will be the master of your time and can visit the sights according to your own plan. |
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This walking tour will take for about 4 hours, but this can be a bit less if you walk quickly or longer if you take a leisurely stroll.
01 RIGA CASTLE 6:06 minutes – Pils laukums 3
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The Castle of Riga has always been the center of power. During periods when the President of the country is in residence, the President’s banner also flies above the tower. The government of Latvia is also quartered in this historical castle. |
02 DOME CATHEDRAL 6:20 – Doma laukums
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The Dome Cathedral on the Dome Square is certainly the heart of Riga City. It is also the most central spot in the Old City, and has been included in the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage monuments. |
03 CENTRAL MARKET 5:56 – Nēģu iela 7
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Did you know that one of the tourist attractions in the capital city of Latvia is the Central Market? It may seem strange for some – doesn’t this historic city of culture have anything to offer to its visitors other than a daily shopping location for thousands of city inhabitants? But the market really is worth visiting! |
04 HOUSE OF THE BLACKHEADS 4:06 – Ratslaukums 7
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Ever since medieval Hanseatic times, when Riga was a member of the Hanseatic League, it has been a major commercial town in the east of the Baltic Sea, and one of the economic and financial centers of Eastern Europe. The House of the Blackheads was once the headquarters of the most influential trade guild of Riga. |
05 THREE BROTHERS 5:08 – Maza Pils 17, 19, 21
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Three Brothers is one of the most popular and best-known ensembles of buildings among Old Riga’s several hundred medieval structures. The „Oldest Brother” or the house in Maza Pils Street 17 is the oldest intact brick dwelling in Riga. It was erected as long ago as 1490. Most people of Riga regard the Three Brothers as the true ancient symbol of Old Riga and the embodiment of its medieval spirit. |
06 POWDER TOWER 5:16 – Smilsu 20
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The Powder Tower reminds us of the medieval military history of Riga. Back then, the city was surrounded by an impressive wall and could be entered only through the gates. The defence system of Riga consisted of 28 towers built at 100 meter intervals of the wall. The largest one was the Sand Tower, now known as the Powder Tower – once a key defence point overlooking the main eastern gate of the city. It was built as early as in 1330, and its walls are three meters thick. |
07 ST. PETER’S CHURCH 6:05 – Skarnu 19
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The spire of St. Peter’s Church is Riga’s most characteristic symbol, which is visible from every spot in the city. The best way to take a look down at Riga is from the sightseeing platform of St. Peter’s Church at the height of 72 meters, which is comparable to that of a 24-story building. St. Peter’s Church has a rich history involving many unusual incidents. |
08 OPERA HOUSE 6:31 – Aspazijas bulvaris 3
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This classicist style house, built in 1863 once housed the First Theatre of Riga, also called the German Theatre. Many musical pieces by a variety of composers have been presented in the National Opera of Riga. There is one composer in particular who holds a special place in the hearts of Latvians – the brilliant Richard Wagner. The reason for this lies not only in his beautiful music, but also in the fact that Wagner’s career as a composer began in The First Theatre of Riga. |
09 ART NOUVEAU AT ALBERTA STREET 4:31 – Alberta iela
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Half of the center of Riga is built in Art Nouveau style. The showcase of the best of Art Nouveau in Riga is here, on Alberta Street. |
10 LATVIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES BUILDING 5:17 – Akademijas 1
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Undoubtedly, one of the most interesting legacies from the Stalin era is the multi-storey building of the Latvian Academy of Sciences. |
11 ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL 6:39 – Brīvības bulvaris 23
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The Orthodox Cathedral is the center of the Latvian Orthodox Church and, despite the fact that the Orthodox Cathedral is only a little more than 100 years old and a mere infant in comparison to the venerable ages of other cathedrals in Riga, the history of the Orthodox Cathedral has been unusually turbulent. |
12 BIG KRISTAPS 7:14 – 11. Novembra krastmala
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Big Kristaps became a very important character in the history of Riga with a kind-heartened heroic deed. According to legend, in days of old, even before Riga existed, a very tall man called Big Kristaps carried people across the Daugava River, fording the river in the place where Riga is now located. |
13 FREEDOM MONUMENT 6:09 – Brivibas and Raiņa
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“For fatherland and freedom!” – these simple words, carved in the Freedom Monument, have a deep meaning for the Latvian people. The monument is the symbol of independent and democratic Latvia. Here the most important political events and public manifestations take place. |
14 LIVU SQUARE 7:19 – Līvu laukums
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A large open space in the middle of the Old Town is named Livu Square. If you stand here, it makes you feel as though you are in the Old Town, and also outside of it at the same time. |
15 FLAG, COAT OF ARMS AND NATIONAL ANTHEM OF LATVIA 11:10
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The Latvians truly love their national symbols, regardless of the fact that these very symbols lack a long history – just like the Latvian Republic itself, which gained its independence as recently as 1918. |
16 LATVIAN CUISINE 7:51
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My goodness, did we overeat… again! This exclamation, repeated over and over again at all Latvian celebrations, expresses both self-admonishment as well as satisfaction for having been at a genuine Latvian celebration. Latvians really appreciate a good meal! |
17 LATVIAN HOLIDAYS 9:41
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All Latvians are of one mind about the two most popular holidays in Latvia – Christmas and Jani or St. John’s Day. |
18 LATVIAN JOKES 8:32
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Latvians and jokes – it’s actually a very, very serious matter! |
19 WHAT LATVIANS ENJOY? 8:17
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Just like everyone else, they want to be happy and hope for a little luck. Still, there are some traits and affinities that make a Latvian a real Latvian. |