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Explore cheap flights to Riga and book your ticket today
With its vast collection of Art Nouveau architecture and rich cultural scene, Riga is a unique city that will immediately capture your attention. Within the central district, you'll find Old Riga, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site marking the city's historic limits, featuring cobblestone streets and medieval buildings.
Riga is not only Latvia's capital city, but it's also the largest city in the Baltic states and one of the region's main tourist destinations. This holiday destination is a great place for family trips, romantic getaways or even solo travel.
Check out our deals for flights to Riga, including last-minute London to Riga flights at affordable prices.
Why should you book Riga flights?
Booking a flight to Riga will open the door to a unique city break, combining colourful, chocolate box-style buildings, traditional markets and modern bars. Take a look at key information about Riga holidays.
Riga at a glance
Flight duration (from London): 2 hours, 40 minutes
Main airport: Riga International Airport (RIX)
Population: 605,000
Language: Latvian
Currency: Euro
Socket types: Type F (adapter required)
Time zone: Eastern European Time
Culture in Riga
Riga is a major cultural hub for the region and the ideal holiday destination for lovers of the arts. The city houses the Latvian National Opera and Ballet, and both opera and ballet have been a key feature of the city's culture since the 1700s. Riga is also home to several theatres, hosting some of Latvia's most talented performing groups.
Around the city, you'll find evidence of Riga's history, from the medieval buildings of Old Riga to the weathercock atop Riga Cathedral's tower. Churches and other religious buildings are a major feature of the destination's skyline. You can also let your hair down by visiting some of the bars and nightclubs that are central to Riga's nightlife.
Riga flight information
Getting to Riga is relatively straightforward, with direct London to Riga flights departing from Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport and London Stansted Airport. You can also fly direct from other airports in the UK, including Manchester Airport. Among the airlines offering direct flights are British Airways, KLM, airBaltic and Ryanair.
Direct flights to Riga from the UK take less than three hours. This helps to make Riga a suitable family holiday destination, as the flight length should be manageable with young children. Indirect flights are also available, with changes in cities like Amsterdam, Oslo and Warsaw, but direct flights are usually cheaper.
Things to do on a trip to Riga
People book holidays to Riga for a variety of reasons, from experiencing the local culture to enjoying traditional shopping experiences. The city boasts an active nightlife and is a popular destination during the Christmas period. In the following sections, you can learn about some of the specific activities you can enjoy.
Shopping
Riga is one of the world's most unique shopping destinations, and this helps to draw crowds. Riga Central Market is the largest market in Europe and is notable for its pavilions, constructed from old Zeppelin hangars. The market itself boasts over 3,000 trade stands and spans an area of almost 800,000 square feet.
During December, Riga is also home to several Christmas markets, including the main Christmas market in Dome Square in Old Riga. These festive markets offer great opportunities to buy gifts for your loved ones. You can also enjoy traditional Christmas foods from the various market stalls.
Entertainment
The Latvian National Opera and Ballet is located beside the Riga Canal.
The Latvian National Theatre showcases traditional Latvian plays, musicals and dramas.
The Latvian Song and Dance Festival is held every five years at the Mežaparks Great Bandstand.
Popular sports in the city include professional basketball, ice hockey and football.
Cuisine
Traditional Latvian dishes include grey peas and bacon, potato salad, a variety of soups, and rye bread. You can sample these dishes in restaurants throughout the city of Riga, including in Old Riga in the central district.
Riga's restaurant scene is diverse, however, and also includes Italian and Japanese restaurants, along with burger restaurants and gastro pubs. You'll find culinary influences from the surrounding Baltic states, as well as northern Europe, western Europe and the United States.
You can also eat snacks and food on the go from traditional bakeries and fast food restaurants.
How to get around Riga
During your Riga holiday, you're going to want to be able to navigate the city easily, and this requires an understanding of transport options. Riga provides bus, tram, taxi and train services, which can all help with this. It's also useful to know that Riga is generally regarded as a walkable city.
Flights to Riga and airport transfers
Flights to Riga from the UK land at Riga International Airport, which is located around six miles from the city centre. Bus services connect the airport to the city centre via bus line 22, which is operated by Rīgas Satiksme. There is also a shuttle bus service connecting the airport to Riga International Coach Terminal.
Taxi services are available directly from Riga International Airport. Taxi firms that have obtained a special license provide travel to Riga city centre for a set price, helping you avoid overpaying.
Public transport in Riga
Once you arrive in Riga, you'll be able to navigate the city using the public transport provided by Rīgas Satiksme. The company provides regular bus services, as well as trolleybuses and trams. These services are easily accessible from most Riga hotels and will connect you to the key areas of the city, including Old Riga.
If you want to leave Riga and explore other parts of Latvia during your stay, you'll have access to train services from Riga Central Station and coach services from Riga International Coach Terminal.
Check out some of our other deals for Riga flights, hotels and travel packages below:
FAQs about Riga holidays
Q: Is Riga cheaper than Krakow?
A: In general, day-to-day costs in Riga are slightly higher than in Krakow, and this includes food costs, restaurant prices and similar daily expenses. However, it's often possible to find London to Riga flights for cheaper than flights to Krakow.
Q: Why is Riga so popular?
A: Riga has one of the largest and best-preserved collections of Art Nouveau buildings, giving the city a distinctive visual appeal. It's a budget-friendly destination, is home to a world-famous opera house and the town's historic centre has been recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Q: How many days in Riga is enough?
A: Two or three days is usually enough to see the main attractions in Riga, making it ideal for a long weekend break. However, you may prefer to spend a week in the city, which will give you more time to explore the local culture.
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