Free Walking Tour Riga

Riga Free Tour is the longest running free walking tour in the Latvian capital.

Free Riga Walking Tour

Riga Free Walking Tour is the longest running public free tour in the Latvian capital, Riga. We started offering free walking tours of Riga way back in 2008 when a group of tour guides and Riga enthusiasts from different backgrounds, came together to start the project that would later become "Riga Free Tour". Since then we have grown into a tight knit team that hopes to keep the public inspired and curious about the city of Riga through our free walking tours. We really do hope that through our tours people will get a better idea of what Riga as a city really is and where the city is going in the future. Join us to discover the real Riga and get a locals perspective on what do with during your stay in the city.

Our free walking tours of Riga lead groups around a number of different areas of the city with various themed tours. We run daily an Old Riga free walking tour, focused on the historical center and main touristic sites of the city. This tour is perfect for first time visitors to get to know what Riga is all about, the broader history, who founded it, who invaded, occupied and developed the city into what it is today. This tour is one of the more compact tours we offer but with cobble stone streets even a short walk can feel longer than it really is.

The Alternative Walking Tour shows a bit more of daily life as it is today in Riga and covers the Central Market, Moscow District and inner Central Riga. If you want to see the good, the bad and the ugly then this tour is definitely the toure to join. With subjects such as the Market pavilions, Latvian food culture, like wooden houses, the Soviet science academy, old warehouses, the Jewish ghetto area and site related to both Soviet and Nazi occupations. A lot of walking is involved so be prepared with good shoes.

We also offer our Art Nouveau Free Tour that is running seasonally. This tour is a great way to learn about the amazing architecture of Riga and life in the early 1900's. You can find out more about this by visiting our official website but for sure this is a real gem of a free tour. Riga is well known for its amazing buildings and you are sure to be taken back by just how many beautiful examples the city has to offer

We also added a seasonal Soviet Riga Free Tour which was created due to demand from our clients. This new tour is offered to allow people closer access to understanding the Soviet occupation of Latvia and to explore Riga through this specific theme. You can read more about this on our official Riga free tour page

The feedback we have received over the years from our guests has enabled us to develop, learn and evolve into the company we are today. We do hope with continued improvements, we will be able to keep offering top-rated free walking tours for the public in Riga to enjoy. If you have not joined us yet, feel free to come along and see what Riga has to offer!

Pictures from our walks

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Riga Free Walking Tours
We run several different tours - AM & PM - every day
View our schedule to book
At the entrance of St Peter's Church
The tour is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes
Reservations required
View Schedule

Contact Guide

+371 22469888

[email protected]

What visitors think about Free Riga Walking Tour?

Monika G

Great way to explore Riga! We really admired Art Nouveau tour with Kaspars! He gave a good understanding not only about Art Nouveau architecture style, but also social and historical context of Riga in early 20 century. Also some additional tips what to explore more. So next day we joined Riga’s Old Town tour with Arturs, which was also very good. We kept the last tour of alternative Riga for the next time :)

Hannes

Great way to explore the city Did the old town tour and the alternative tour on my first day of my visit to Riga. Eva our guide simply was an angel - explaining all the facts and also showing the darker sides of the Riga history. Excellent English skills and good speed to let the information and the surrounding area to sink in. It was a great way to get to know the city and find the sweet spots.

KiaK

Very good 1,5h walk around the old town of Riga, visiting the main attractions and receiving more info than expected. Kaspars was a great guide with a fresh attitude, vast knowledge about everything (especially history and buildings) and had also good jokes. Would definitely recommend!

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Frequently asked questions about the tour

Should I book to join the free tour in Riga?

Yes, We prefer you to make a reservation. It helps us to divide the guides amongst the groups. We do allow people to join with no bookings as long as there is space available. In summer we get very busy so we do advise a booking in peak season and in low season if we see there are no bookings we may block a particular tour time, the general rule is please book the free walking tours. It really helps us to plan.

When does the free walking tour of Riga start and where can I find the meeting point?

We offer a few different free tours in Riga that are run throughout the day and some that are seasonal. We also use different meeting points, so it is good to know where to go! You can see our list of tours and more details at https://www.rigafreetours.com/where-to-find-us.

How much walking is covered on the free walking tours in Riga?

The Old town tour is around 2 km but goes along cobbled streets. Our Alternative tour is around 4 km and the Art Nouveau tour also around 4km. Just be prepared to walk in good shoes. We have experience of many visitors to Riga not dressing very well in winter times. It gets cold so wrap up warm to make sure you do not freeze!

Which languages do you use on the free city tours in Riga?

Our daily free tours of Riga are organized only in English. However, we also offer private tours in English, Russian, German, Spanish, French and Polish. Private tours are a great option for larger groups of friends or company events. The programme of each private tour can be adjusted to your needs.

What kind of tip should I leave for the free walking tour in Riga?

The size of your tip is down to you. We do not set a fixed price, it is a free tour after all! As an indication people tip between 5-10 euro per person.

What is the largest size booking on a Riga Free Tour?

We allow up to 8 people on a booking, if you are more than 8 then it is best to contact us directly as we offer private tours for larger groups who may wish to have their own personal guided tour of Riga

Does Riga Free Tour you run in the rain or snow?

We are built for all weathers in Riga but are you? Make sure to check the weather before coming and do not be the shivering, wet client who cant enjoy the tour because they are on the verge of hypothermia. Yes, its no joke, Riga can get very cold in winter but the summer brings a really nice climate that are perfect for enjoying.

Will you tell us where to eat and drink in Riga?

Sure we will! The free walking tours cover a lot of history and culture but we know like any visitors to Riga you will also need to eat during your stay. Our guides will present some ideas for you to get to taste local Latvian food and to enjoy some of the more local spaces away from the tourist traps. Riga has a lot of food options but we see a trend for prices to be rising very fast, especially for tourists. We try to get you as close to the local economy reality as possible. You can also expect to hear what events and performances are happening in Riga from our guides.

Is Riga a safe city?

Riga is a relatively calm and safe city. We are often asked about the current security due to ongoing regional tensions and we understand some of you may be concerned about visiting but in reality you should only worry if the news is explicit on there being a real threat. As it stands Riga is safe.