RunCity

Riga on foot: a self-guided walking route

This route takes you past 11 of Riga's best-known sights, including St. Peter's Church, House of the Blackheads, Riga Cathedral and more. It is about 4.5 km on foot, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops. Follow the list on your own, or play it as a free GPS checkpoint game with RunCity and race the clock on the Riga leaderboard.

  • 11Stops
  • about 4.5 kmDistance
  • 2 hoursWalking
  • about 49 minRunning
Play Riga in RunCity

Free during launch. Runs in your phone's browser; the app is in English, German and Hungarian.

Riga
Photo: Jorge Franganillo from Barcelona, Spain · CC BY 2.0

Riga's route covers the medieval old town and the Art Nouveau quarter in about 4.5 km. It starts at the bonus stop, the Central Market, housed in five old zeppelin hangars, and enters the old town under the tall spire of St Peter's Church, which has a lift to a viewing platform. The House of the Blackheads on Town Hall Square was rebuilt in the 1990s, and the brick cathedral is a few lanes away.

The Three Brothers, three medieval houses side by side, Riga Castle, the Powder Tower with its cannonballs and the Cat House with its arched-back cats complete the old town. Outside the old moat, the Freedom Monument and the golden domes of the Orthodox cathedral lead to Alberta iela, a street of extravagant Art Nouveau façades. The whole route is flat; the market is the place for a cheap lunch of smoked fish and rye bread.

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Download the route as GPX (for Komoot, Strava or a watch)

The stops

A suggested order. In the game you can visit them in any order.

  1. Riga Central Market

    Riga Central Market Bonus

    The huge zeppelin hangars full of market stalls.

    Photo: David Holt uploaded and derivative work: MrPanyGoff · CC BY-SA 2.0

  2. St. Peter's Church

    St. Peter's Church Photo

    The tall spire of St. Peter's rising over the old town.

    Photo: Diliff · CC BY-SA 3.0

  3. House of the Blackheads

    House of the Blackheads Photo

    The ornate gabled façade on Town Hall Square.

    Photo: Kate Ferrara · CC BY 2.0

  4. Riga Cathedral

    Riga Cathedral Photo

    The cathedral's brick façade and tower from Dome Square.

    Photo: Zairon · CC BY-SA 4.0

  5. Three Brothers

    Three Brothers

    Three medieval houses side by side on Mazā Pils Street.

    Photo: mararie · CC BY-SA 3.0

  6. Riga Castle

    Riga Castle

    The yellow castle that now houses the president's office.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

  7. Powder Tower

    Powder Tower Photo

    The round tower studded with old cannonballs.

    Photo: Nikater · CC BY-SA 3.0

  8. Cat House

    Cat House

    The turret topped by two arched-back cats.

    Photo: PIERRE ANDRE LECLERCQ · CC BY-SA 4.0

  9. Freedom Monument

    Freedom Monument Photo

    Milda holding up three stars on her tall column.

    Photo: Virtual-Pano · CC BY-SA 4.0

  10. Nativity of Christ Cathedral

    Nativity of Christ Cathedral

    The golden domes of the Orthodox cathedral.

    Photo: Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 3.0

  11. Alberta Street 13

    Alberta Street 13 Photo

    The swirling Art Nouveau façades of Alberta Street.

    Photo: Hans A. Rosbach · CC BY-SA 3.0

Play Riga in RunCity

Leaderboard

    Questions

    Can you see Riga on foot in one day?

    Yes. The 11 stops on this route add up to about 4.5 km, roughly 2 hours at an easy pace with short stops.

    Is this self-guided walking tour free?

    Yes. The route and map on this page are free, and the RunCity game for Riga is free during launch.

    How does the RunCity game work in Riga?

    Open Riga in RunCity, walk to a stop and tap Validate: your phone's GPS confirms you are there. Some stops also ask for a photo. Timed runs go on the Riga leaderboard.

    Where does the route start?

    This page suggests starting at Riga Central Market and finishing at Alberta Street 13. In the game you can take the stops in any order.

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