Art Nouveau District

Jūgendstila kvartāls

Centred on Alberta iela, this quarter holds one of Europe's finest concentrations of Art Nouveau architecture with ornate, sculpted facades. It is a must-see for lovers of design and history, complete with a dedicated museum in a period apartment.

Things to do

• Stroll Alberta iela — Walk the length of this iconic street to admire the densest row of ornate Art Nouveau facades, many designed by Mikhail Eisenstein.
• Riga Art Nouveau Museum — Explore a restored period apartment furnished exactly as it would have been in 1903, once home to architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns.
• Look up at Eisenstein's facades — Spot the screaming masks, sphinxes, peacocks and mythological figures crowning the buildings at Alberta iela 2a, 4, 6 and 8.
• Photograph Elizabetes iela 10b — Capture the blue facade with its two giant sculpted faces, one of Riga's most photographed Art Nouveau buildings.
• Climb the spiral staircase — Ascend the beautifully painted circular staircase inside the Art Nouveau Museum for a signature view straight up the stairwell.
• Visit the Latvian Academy of Art nearby — See the neo-Gothic academy just west of the district and browse student exhibitions in a striking historic building.
• Explore Strēlnieku iela facades — Wander this parallel street to see Pēkšēns' apartment building and further richly decorated National Romantic style houses.

Food to try

• Grey peas with bacon — Latvia's national dish of stewed grey peas fried with onions and smoked bacon, hearty and traditional.
• Rye bread — Dark, dense sourdough rye is a Latvian staple served with almost every meal and sold in local bakeries.
• Sklandrausis — A sweet rye-crust tart filled with carrot and potato, a traditional Latvian pastry worth seeking in cafes.
• Riga Black Balsam — Sample this bitter herbal liqueur, often added to coffee or hot blackcurrant juice, at a nearby bar.
• Cold beetroot soup — A refreshing summer soup (aukstā zupa) of beetroot, kefir, cucumber and dill served chilled with boiled potatoes.

Local customs & good to know

• Buy a combined museum ticket — Consider the Riga Card or joint tickets that cover the Art Nouveau Museum and other city sights for savings.
• Much is residential — Most buildings are private apartments, so admire facades from the street and respect residents' privacy in courtyards.
• Best light for facades — Morning sun best illuminates the east-facing Alberta iela buildings for photography and detail spotting.
• Learn the two styles — Distinguish decorative eclectic Art Nouveau from the local National Romanticism using natural materials and folk motifs.

Nearby

• Freedom Monument — 1 km
• Riga Castle — 1 km
• Riga Old Town — 1 km
• St. Peter's Church — 1 km