Christmas Markets in Riga 2024 - Enjoy Latvian Tastes

• By Ceasar Cotting
• 11 October 2024 - 12 min read

The content on this page includes affiliate links. While clicking on these links won't cost you anything extra, we may earn a modest commission from any purchases you make.

Riga is a beautiful winter destination and is one of the best Christmas destinations in Europe. The city organises many Christmas events for the whole family in the beautiful Old Town having its idyllic Christmas Market as the main highlight. The market stalls sell locally produced Latvian products and snacks including traditional Christmas foods and drinks. Read more about Riga's Christmas markets.

Riga - a Pearl of the Baltics

Riga is the capital of Latvia. Latvia is one of the Baltic countries located between Estonia and Lithuania. The city can easily be reached by plane, ferry or car from any European city.

Latvia has an interesting but sad history. The country was occupied by the Soviet Union for a long time but it regained its independence in 1991. Since then, the country and its capital Riga have developed fast. Riga offers much to see and experience and the price level is affordable compared to other bigger European capitals. The city is a great destination whether you're visiting in the summer or in the winter. December is one of the best times to visit this pearl of the Baltics since Christmas makes the city livelier.

Riga has two Christmas markets and a few smaller Christmas events. Since the city is small, the Christmas markets are located close to each other which makes it possible to visit all of them on the same day. We visited Riga's Christmas markets in the previous year and we enjoyed all of them.

This article provides a guide to Riga's Christmas markets, featuring updated information for the 2024 season. While we've provided descriptions based on past events, please note that the actual activities may vary slightly.

Old Riga Christmas Market

Christmas Market on Dome Square is the main Christmas Market in Riga. It is also often referred to as Old Riga Christmas Market because its location lies in the heart of Riga's Old Town. Medieval Old Town is a lively area offering nice sights, bars, restaurants and beautiful architecture.

Old Riga Christmas Market is located just next to Riga Cathedral. It is easy to find with the aid of Google Maps. First, you need to reach the centre of Riga, for example by bus or tram. Almost all public transport routes go via the central station from where you can walk and reach Riga's Old Town in 10 minutes. From Old Town, you need to walk a few minutes more to reach Christmas Market.

In our point of view, the Christmas Market in Old Town has the best Christmas atmosphere in Riga. The alleys of Old Town combined with the tall cathedral next to Christmas Market gives you a feeling of being in a real medieval Christmas town. The feeling gets even stronger when the dark sets in and you can smell the flavours of Christmas.

Old Riga Christmas Market creates an international atmosphere. Famous Christmas music is played in the background and English is widely spoken. Christmas Market attracts tourists and locals alike - young and old come here to enjoy the Christmas atmosphere of this market.

We visited Old Riga Christmas Market multiple times during our getaway in Riga.

Dates

In 2024, Old Riga Christmas Market will be open from November 29, 2024, to January 2, 2025, from mornings to late evenings. The exact opening times vary every day. From Mondays to Thursdays and Sundays it is open from 11 am to 9 pm while on Fridays and Saturdays, Christmas Market is open from 10 am to 10 pm. On Sundays, the market closes at 8 pm. There are lively programs every week, especially on the weekends.

Food and Drinks

Your visit to Christmas Market would be incomplete without tasting drinks and traditional foods. For example, we tasted mulled wine and traditionally oven-baked cheese bread. We ate also Latvian soup cooked traditionally with a woodfire at the warm Cafe Elizabete in the middle of the market. Even though prices in Old Town are higher, we recommend giving a try to these tasty products of Riga. Warm drinks help you also to stay warm in the cold weather.

In the market, you can buy mulled wine, rum and other alcoholic drinks. Naturally coffee is also available and hot chocolate for children. Market stalls sell also freshly baked Latvian food: for example bread, sausages and potatoes. The market won't leave a visitor hungry.

Cafe Elizabete served delicious soups with friendly service.

Shopping

Old Riga Christmas Market is also a recommended place to buy souvenirs. Profits go directly to local producers. You are ensured that you are buying authentic Latvian goods from the market stalls at this Christmas Market.

From a few market stalls at Christmas Market, visitors can buy Latvian delicacies like honey, sweets, candies and locally produced cookies. Also, some of the market stalls sell Latvian wool products. Local handicrafts are a nice Christmas present idea.

Activities

Different activities are being organized in the Christmas Market for both kids and adults. The activities for kids include:

• Children's carousel
• Gingerbread baking
• Sheep petting zoo
• Pony rides in good weather conditions
• Meeting the real Santa Claus
• Performances and games

Every week, there is a free program to enjoy.

Līvu Square Christmas Market

Just a short walk from the hectic Dome Square, you'll find the charming Līvu Square (Livu Laukums) Christmas Market. Although smaller than its larger counterpart, this market offers a cosy and intimate holiday experience.

The historic Great Guild Hall, dating back to the 14th century, is a must-see and conveniently located nearby.

Dates

The Līvu Square Christmas Market is open from November 29th to January 2nd. Its hours of operation typically match those of the Dome Square market.

Food and Drinks

Similar to the Christmas markets in Riga, you'll have the opportunity to savour both warm non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, along with delicious Latvian cuisine. Your visit to Christmas in Riga ensures that you won't go hungry.

Shopping

The market stalls at Riga's various Christmas markets share similar characteristics. Also in Livu Square, you can explore a selection of top-notch Latvian products, including artisan crafts, festive decorations, and cosy clothing. While we advise against unnecessary purchases, if you happen to need warm gloves, hats, or scarves, why not show your support for local producers and bring a smile to their faces?

Activities

Expect to find fewer activities since the main activities are concentrated on the Old Town Christmas Market.

Esplanade Park Christmas Market

Outside Old Town, there is another Christmas Market but still in the centre of Riga. The market is located in Esplanade Park 10 minutes walk away from the central station. Buses and trams pass the park, so it can also be reached easily without walking. The Esplanade Park is busy in the middle of downtown.

Even though Esplanade Park Christmas Market does not have the same atmosphere as Old Town can offer, it still has many nice attractions and is unique on its own. Esplanade Park Christmas Market has a rabbit park where children and adults can feed cute rabbits with carrots. They are so tame that they will bite your fingers if you are not careful. Another nice attraction for children is the colourful Ferris wheel.

Esplanede Park Christmas Market is surely a place you must visit. Also, it has many stalls selling food, drinks and souvenirs like the Old Riga Christmas Market. The park is crowded with people which makes it lively in the evenings. Rabbits, a big Christmas tree and a Ferris wheel make this park a great Christmas attraction in Riga.

Dates

Esplanade Park Christmas Market is also open from November 30 to January 1 from mornings to late evenings.

Food and Drinks

Like in Old Riga Christmas Market, Esplanade Park Christmas Market stalls sell similar drinks and food.

Shopping

Market stalls in Esplanade Park Christmas Market sell similar products as in Old Town.

Activities

The rabbit park is perhaps the best attraction in Esplanade Park Christmas Market. Energetic and healthy-looking rabbits move freely in a fenced area and they are waiting for food from visitors. It is not allowed to feed them with your food but you can buy carrots from a market stall and feed them. These lovely rabbits make children and adults easily love this market.

The Ferries wheel is another way to make children happy. In addition to its colourful lights, the Christmas Market looks lively in the evening. There is also Christmas music playing in the background.

Fair at Kalnciems District

As an added treat, exclusively on Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm, you have the chance to explore the seasonal fair held at the Kalnciems District (Kalnciema kvartāls), situated on the opposite side of the Daugava River.

The exceptional wooden architecture alone makes it a worthwhile visit. Additionally, a bustling and charming market featuring artisanal foods, handmade crafts, and live music will certainly infuse vibrancy into your time in Riga.

Read more about Christmas in Riga

Good To Know about Riga

If you visiting Riga for the first time in the winter, there are a few things you need to know. Riga is a friendly destination for travellers.

Weather in December

In December, the weather in Riga is typically chilly with temperatures ranging around -1 degree Celsius or even colder. During this time, it is common to experience snowfall or rain, making the streets frozen and slippery. Although Riga doesn't receive much snow, there is a possibility of occasional heavy snowfalls if you're fortunate enough

The most important advice is to dress up warmly so you will enjoy the whole day outside. This means remembering to wear many layers of clothes.

With enough clothing layers on, you will survive hours in the cold weather.

Safety

Riga is a safe city. However, we advise avoiding dark areas where there are no other people. Crimes can happen anywhere. Do not get too drunk in bars because some unethical restaurants may surprise travellers with a huge bill if you get out of yourself.

Why is it important to purchase reliable travel insurance?

Where to Stay?

One of the best things about Riga is the low price level for accommodations. Especially in winter, hotels are cheap. We have a few hotel recommendations.

Bellevue Park Hotel Riga is a 4-star hotel and is just 12 minutes tram ride away from the centre. It can be accessed directly from the airport by bus, too. The hotel's location is perfect and the hotel is of high quality. We have stayed in this hotel and got value for the money.

Riga Hotel Islande is an affordable but good-quality hotel on an island on Daugava River. The location is good but the price is still low.

Those who prefer the best quality, should stay in one of the Radisson hotels in the centre. Radisson Blu Hotel Latvija is just next to Esplanade Park so the location is perfect.

How to Travel to Riga?

Flying is the most practical way to travel to Riga. Many low-cost airlines, like Ryanair, Norwegian and airBaltic fly to Riga. Tickets are usually affordable.

Riga Airport is near the city centre and a bus ticket costs only 1.50 euros one way. Taxis are affordable, too but avoid using non-licensed taxis.

Riga can also be reached by bus from Estonia Lithuania or even from Finland. There are many daily connections between these Baltic capitals. From Helsinki you can take Flixbus to Riga and the ride includes the ferry ticket to cross the Gulf of Finland.

Sometimes, there are seasonal ferry routes to Riga from Stockholm and Helsinki. An overnight ferry is perhaps the most comfortable way to arrive in Riga. Unfortunately, the routes are not normally available in the winter.

Where to Continue?

After enjoying Christmas markets in Riga, why not continue to Tallinn which is only 279 kilometres away? Tallinn has also a beautiful Old Town with an awesome Christmas Market. Like In Riga, the price level is low.

From Tallinn, you can continue even further to Helsinki by Ferry. The ride takes 2.5 hours. In Helsinki, there are many Christmas markets. After Helsinki, seeing Stockholm Christmas markets is a logical next step since Stockholm can be reached by ferry too.

Unfortunately, Helsinki is more expensive than these Baltic destinations but by making wise choices, you can still make the best of your travel budget. For example, use Skyscanner to find the cheapest flights to/from Helsinki.

Bottom Line

If you're seeking a magical winter vacation in the Baltic region, Riga should be your top pick. Experiencing Christmas in Riga ensures a captivating and memorable journey, filled with charming markets, a lively atmosphere, and beautiful holiday decorations. Even on a modest budget, you can enjoy the city's excellent amenities, including efficient public transportation. Accessibility from Central Europe and the Nordic countries adds to Riga's appeal.

Beyond the numerous Christmas markets, Riga is counted among the most budget-friendly winter holiday destinations in Europe, providing a wealth of activities throughout the city, including the impressive Art Nouveau district. Despite the chilly and dark weather in December, the festive Christmas markets bring a warm glow to the city, making Riga an appealing winter destination. And since Riga's beauty transforms with the seasons, we recommend visiting this Baltic gem at least twice a year: once in winter and once in summer.

Have you visited Riga's Christmas markets? Please share with us your experiences below!

Tags: Christmas Market, Riga, travel guide
Destination: Latvia