Meet your guide and your transportation at the exit gate on the harbor pier and set off for your half day of discovery in Riga.

Begin with a drive through the Moscow suburb, which used to be the Jewish district of Riga and stop by the ruins and monument of the Old Riga synagogue for a visit. Then drive out of Riga and visit the site in the Rumbula forest, the execution site of the Riga Jewish population, where a memorial has been erected.

Return to the old town with the possibility of a coffee break in one of the many cozy cafes. You will then start your walking tour of the Old Town. During the walking tour, you will see the Old Town Synagogue (visit inside is optional). Discover the St. Mary’s Dome Cathedral, the largest cathedral in the Baltics, founded in the 13th century. View Knight’s castle, today used as the presidential palace, Latvian Parliament building, and several medieval churches, one of them being St. Peter’s church with an outstanding viewing platform on top of the tallest spire in the city.

In one of the city corners you’ll discover the Powder Tower and part of the medieval town wall. We will not forget Roland, the patron saint of the city and the magnificent house of the guild of the Blackheads.

Walk the crooked streets of old Riga to the Freedom Monument and see the moat and park belt. See houses of the stupendous Art Nouveau style from the early 20th century and admire the inventive spirit of Riga architects.

Have free time on your own and discover many hidden treasures in this city, so rich in history. You may choose to visit museums, shop or have something to eat.

You will make your own way back to the port when you are ready, you can make the return to your ship walking for approximately 15 minutes.

Latvia’s capital, Riga, is set on the Baltic Sea at the mouth of the River Daugava. Established in 1201 by Bishop Albert and granted city status in 1225, the city’s history is associated with Germanic and Christian cultures. Local Liiv tribes first inhabited this marshy territory on the banks of the river. In 1282, Riga became a member of the Hanseatic League, which strengthened its position as an important trading city in the region.

Begin your excursion with a walking tour of Old Town Riga. Explore the Art Nouveau district’s buildings from the early 20th century and admire the inventive spirit of Riga architects.

View the Dome Cathedral (founded in the 13th century), the ancient Order Castle, St. Peter’s Church, Town Hall Square, the House of the Blackheads, the Guild Houses of Liela Gilde and Maza Gilde, Riga Cathedral, the “Riga Bourse” Art Museum, the parliament building, and others.

In one of the city corners, discover the powder tower and part a of medieval town wall. We will not forget Roland, the patron saint of the city, and the magnificent house of the guild of the Blackheads. You will walk the crooked streets of old Riga to the Freedom Monument, and see the moat and park belt of the old town.

Over the centuries, the city has developed as a center for trade and transit, and later also became an industrial center. Up until the 19th century, Riga developed as a Germanic city, even though it had been previously under Swedish, Polish and Russian control. In more modern times, Latvians began to take a larger role in the city.

Join your guide on a boat ride and enjoy the best of Riga’s majestic panoramic views. During the journey along the River Daugava, you will take in awe-inspiring views of the Riga Castle, the National Library, TV Tower and more.

The tour will conclude in the Old Town, where you have free time for exploring on your own, visiting museums, lunch or souvenir shopping. Return to your ship when you are ready, as the port area is approximately 15 minutes away on foot.

Riga was the largest city in the Swedish Empire during the 17th century, a leading port for the Russian Empire in the 18th and 19th centuries, and a powerhouse center for commerce and trade in the entire region. Officially founded by the German Bishop Albert in 1201, though the area was populated already long before that, Rigans themselves originated from the ancestors of the Latvian people who settled here in the 11th and 12th centuries.

More than eight hundred years of rich history have built this beautiful, inspiring and multilingual city. Today Riga is one of the largest centers of economic development and transactions in the region. It is a dynamic leader in everything, from modern architecture to business to the pace of everyday life.

Begin with a walk to the main square that is approximately only 5 minutes away. During the walk, you will see the Dome Cathedral, the largest church in northern Europe with the largest working organ in Europe with 6718 wooden and metal pipes and 124 registers.

View Riga Castle, the largest and best preserved medieval castle in northern Europe as you walk along cobbled streets. Discover the Latvian Parliament building and other churches, one of those being St. Peter’s. Per some historians, Riga was the first place a decorated Christmas tree was ever displayed. In 1510 a few Riga merchants decorated a fir tree and gradually the tradition gained momentum and spread throughout the world.

The Hanseatic days are remembered in Old Riga through the historical Great Guild and Small Guild, as well as the rebuilt House of the Blackheads – all of them artisans’ and craftsmen’s guilds in the booming city. Not to forget Roland, the patron saint of the city, The House of Blackheads was built in 1334 as a meeting and celebration hall, but a mostly German brotherhood of foreign merchants called the Blackheads bought the building in the 17th century.

The old center of Riga always provides a personal and unique experience to each visitor. Walking the crooked streets, meander to the Freedom Monument and admire the Art Nouveau capital of Europe. The development of this style in the 19th and 20th centuries coincided with a construction boom and the economic upswing of Riga. The most beautiful Art Nouveau buildings are in the “Quiet Centre” of Riga containing 5458 structures, almost one third of which are built in Art Nouveau style.

In 1997 the historic center of Riga was named “a world-class masterpiece of creative genius” and granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Your tour will end in the Old Town where you will have free time for discoveries on your own, visiting museums, having lunch or shopping for souvenirs. You may walk back to your ship and the pier area at any time, approximately 15 minutes away.