Riga Castle

Rīgas pils

A 14th-century riverside castle that today serves as the residence of Latvia's president. Its towers and courtyard anchor the northern edge of the old town and house national museum collections.

Things to do

• View the castle facade from the Daugava embankment — Walk along the riverside promenade for the best photo of the castle's pastel walls and the Holy Spirit Tower rising above the water.
• See the presidential flag — Check whether the Latvian flag is raised over the castle, which signals that the president is in residence.
• Explore the Latvian National Museum of Art collections nearby — The castle historically housed national museum collections, and the nearby National Museum of Art shows the country's finest paintings.
• Wander the Castle Square (Pils laukums) — Stroll the small cobbled square in front of the entrance to admire the gate and surrounding old town buildings.
• Walk into the Old Town from the castle — Head south from the castle through narrow medieval streets toward the Three Brothers and Riga Cathedral.
• Photograph the Three Brothers houses — Just steps away, this trio of Riga's oldest dwellings makes a classic stop on the way from the castle.

Food to try

• Grey peas with bacon (pelēkie zirņi ar speķi) — Latvia's national dish of stewed grey peas with fried onion and speck, found in Old Town taverns near the castle.
• Rye bread (rupjmaize) — Dense dark sourdough rye is a Latvian staple, often served as a sweet dessert soup with cream and berries.
• Riga Black Balsam — A bitter herbal liqueur from Riga, sipped straight or mixed into coffee and cocktails at nearby bars.
• Smoked fish from the Central Market — Head to Riga Central Market for smoked Baltic sprats and other fish sold from the historic zeppelin hangars.
• Piragi (bacon buns) — Small crescent-shaped yeast pastries filled with bacon and onion, sold in bakeries around the Old Town.

Local customs & good to know

• The castle interior is largely closed to the public — As the working residence of Latvia's president, most of Riga Castle is not open for tours, so plan to admire it from outside.
• Respect security around the residence — Guards and restricted zones surround the presidential entrance, so avoid crossing barriers and follow posted signage.
• Visit around midsummer (Jāņi) — The Latvian midsummer festival in late June fills Riga with flower wreaths, bonfires, and folk songs.
• Cash and cards both work, tipping is modest — Latvia uses the euro, and rounding up or leaving about 10 percent is appreciated in restaurants near the Old Town.

Nearby

• Riga Old Town — 1 km
• St. Peter's Church — 1 km
• National Library of Latvia — 1 km
• Freedom Monument — 1 km