Riga

Capital and largest city of Latvia, on the Gulf of Riga

Riga stands at the mouth of the Daugava, where the river meets the Baltic Sea. Founded in 1201, it grew from a bishop's seat into the largest city of the Baltic states and today holds roughly a third of Latvia's population.

The Historic Centre of Riga has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, recognised above all for having one of the finest concentrations of Art Nouveau architecture anywhere in Europe.

Key facts

Country	Latvia (capital, state city)
Founded	1201, by Bishop Albert
Population	588,911 (city) · ~860,000 (metropolitan area)
Area	about 307 km², 1–10 m above sea level
Location	Mouth of the Daugava, Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea
Climate	Humid continental — about −2 °C in winter, 18 °C in summer
Economy	Over half of Latvia's GDP; ICT, manufacturing, logistics

A short history

Riga joined the Hanseatic League in 1282, and the trade that followed gave the city centuries of economic weight. Rule changed hands repeatedly: the Archbishopric of Riga (1201–1561), the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1582–1621), Sweden (1621–1710), and then the Russian Empire (1710–1917).

Latvia declared independence on 18 November 1918, with Riga as its capital. The city was occupied by the Soviet Union in 1940, by Nazi Germany from 1941 to 1944 — years in which most of Riga's Jewish population was murdered — and retaken by Soviet forces on 13 October 1944. Latvia regained its independence in 1991.

Landmarks

Riga Cathedral — begun in 1211, the largest medieval church in the Baltics
House of the Blackheads — a guild house first recorded in the 14th century
St. Peter's Church — its spire gives the best view over the Old Town
Freedom Monument — raised in 1935, the symbol of Latvian independence
Riga Central Market — housed in former Zeppelin hangars
National Library of Latvia — the "Castle of Light" on the left bank

Today

Riga was European Capital of Culture in 2014 and European Region of Gastronomy in 2017, and it welcomed more than 1.1 million international visitors in 2024. The city is also home to BEREC, the European Union body for electronic communications regulators.