6 Best Views in Riga, Latvia

St. Peter's Church Tower

The Riga Cathedral, surrounded by beautiful old town houses, set against the Daugava River and Vansu Bridge - this is perhaps the classic Riga postcard view. This view can be admired from the highest point in old town Riga, the tower of St. Peter's Church, located in the heart of the old town. From the top, you get to enjoy a full 360° unobstructed panoramic view across the entire city. The only downside is that this view doesn't include St. Peter's Church itself, which is arguably the most prominent element of the Riga skyline. Think of it as the Eiffel Tower of Riga.

The admission fee to the cathedral and the tower is 9€. There is an elevator to the top, so access is quick and effortless, though there may be a bit of a queue. On weekdays, the tower closes at 18:00, but on Saturdays/Sundays, it remains open until later (22:00). On summer days, this offers an opportunity to enjoy the views at golden hour and past sundown.

Location: 56.947527, 24.108642

Riga Cathedral Tower

A similarly impressive 360° view can be seen from the top of the Riga Cathedral Tower, the other tall building that dominates the old town cityscape. This is only possible as part of a small group guided tour and the opening hours are more restrictive - 10:30 & 12:30 Mon-Sat and 15:30/17:00 on Sunday. The entrance fee is 10€, which is well worth it given that it also includes a guide. Advanced booking is not required, but visitors numbers are more limited.

There are 217 steps to the top, so you have to put in the effort for this view. You get to stop along the way as the guide explains a few things about the history of the cathedral. Once at the top, you have some time on your own to walk around the balcony, admire the views and take pictures. It's a beautiful view all around, though pretty much all of the interesting landmarks of Riga are found towards the south-east.

Location: 56.949027, 24.104917

National Library of Latvia

The National Library of Latvia is found directly across the Stone Bridge from the old town. This is a unique building inside and out, and you will most likely notice it from any viewpoint around the city, due to its distinct architecture. It's well worth visiting, and anyone can enter for free. Access to study areas is restricted and there are limitations on luggage (they have lockers), but otherwise you can wander around.

There is a viewing platform on floors 11&12 with great views from a different perspective. This is great to look at, but you will have a hard time taking any good photos, because it's an indoor area and the glass panels are entirely covered in tiny black dots. There is an unobstructed opening towards St. Peter's Church on floor 3, however the view is not as impressive.

Location: 56.941165, 24.096828

Latvian Academy of Sciences Observation Deck

Another unique building in Riga is the Latvian Academy of Sciences. The architecture of this skyscraper is very typical of soviet-era buildings, and similar ones can be found in other cities across Eastern Europe.

On its 17th floor, there is an observation deck with 360° views towards old town Riga. It is open every day, from morning until late evening. This viewpoint is a bit farther away than others, but it's also higher up, and the view is spectacular. It's definitely worth checking out and the entrance fee is only 6€. This spot is also less popular than some of the viewpoints inside the old town, so you probably won't find many other people there.

Location: 56.943261, 24.121877

Vansu Bridge
This is another bridge that offers nice views across Riga. There is a small park on the opposite shore from the interesting part of Riga, where you can relax by the Daugava river and admire the old town skyline. As you make your way across the bridge towards the old town, a photo opportunity presents itself as the taller buildings in Riga align nicely.

Location: 56.951133, 24.095118

Skyline Bar @ Radisson Blu Latvija Conference & Spa Hotel

If you like your views to be accompanied by a drink and/or a nice meal, then the Skyline Bar at the Radisson Blu hotel just outside of the old town is something you may want to add to your list.

The bar is located on the 26th floor and comes with great views, especially towards south-west. They welcome outside guests and there appears to be no need to book in advance. We only went for drinks, so I can't say anything about the food.

Location: 56.954838, 24.117674