Riga was on the trade route of the Hanseatic League. Many of the guilds had their respective halls around town, many of which are repurposed as event venues.

During WWII, this was a Nazi run ghetto for Jews, most of which were murdered in the forest outside town.

Nav:

The architecture of the city reflects the influence of its stronger neighbors. Look for Scandinavian, German, and Italian influences.

House of Blackheads. Essentially the guildhall of a bunch of bachelor merchants from the 1300s.
Three Brothers…a house from the Gothic, Baroque, and Renaissance style.
St. Peter’s Church
Riga Castle. Now the Presidential Palace.
Riga Cathedral dating from 1211.
Cathedral interior
Freedom Monument
National Opera
Almost looks like Germany.
Anna Alma Pole hid seven Jews in this house for about a year. A neighbor reported her in 1944. Anna was tortured to death.
Riga Synagogue
Synagogue interior

Nosh:

Galerija Centrs is a multilevel shopping mall. Head to the top for a high quality food court and bar area.

Duck Confit Bao Burger at Bao Bun Latvia
Tried some cheese from the grocery store. Brinza is an inedibly salty brined cheese.

Nip:

Lots of good beer, not just light lagers. Cool bars. Interesting liqueurs.

Mezpils Alus (Vienna lager) and Tumšais (dunkel)
Lielvardes Alus and Madonas Alus
An herbal liquor concoction that is available in big and little formats. Try it in the little size first. It has an almost concentrated potency and comes in different versions.
Tervetes Lager and Sazobe APA at Armoury Bar
The Armoury Bar. Lots of real guns around, all disabled.