Alternative Riga Walking Tour: Central Market, Warehouses & Moscow District
Riga's life beyond Old Town. Tour focusing on districts by the Daugava and the former workers’ quarter. We cover Central Market (in WWI Zeppelin hangars), the Warehouse District, the former ghetto in the Moscow District, the Latvian Academy of Sciences (Stalin’s birthday cake) and the Freedom Monument.
Basic Information
Total time
2h 30m
Language
English (check the calendar for availability)
Price
Our “Pay What You Wish” tours don’t have a fixed price — you decide how much the experience was worth. At the end of the tour, please make a fair contribution that reflects your satisfaction and appreciation for your guide’s work. Most guests give between €10 and €50 per person.
Meeting point
St. Peter's Church Nearest public transport: Grēcinieku iela tram stop; Nacionālā opera tram stop
Additional info
☂︎ This tour is organised by Riga Free Tour guides. Look for the guide with the yellow “Riga Free Tours” sign.
Booking rules
Booking is obligatory. Our “Pay What You Wish” tours are meant for individual travellers and small groups. Large groups (8 or more people) cannot join these tours, as they significantly affect the experience for others and the guide. For school trips, organised tours, or groups of friends, please book our paid option (9€ per person) or arrange a Private Tour. For more information or to schedule a group visit, please contact us directly.
About the tour
Join us to explore what lies beyond the old city and the touristic centre of Riga with its famous art nouveau buildings. Head towards the areas occupied mostly by the locals to discover how they live and carry on with their daily lives.
The centerpoint of this tour will be the massive Central Market – a paradise for all the foodies out there, a place to buy all kinds of local delicacies from smoked fish, cheeses, fruit (berries!) and other snacks. But it is not just that! The market is oddly located in the five old WWI Zeppelin hangars. Right next to it lies the Warehouse district with its revitalized brick, functional architecture which today is full of hip cafés, shops and galleries. With nice green areas, open air cinemas and a pleasant promenade along the Daugava river, it makes it Riga’s most favourite relaxing zone. If once there were workshops here there must also be an area where the working class lived. And that’s where we will head next. The so-called Moscow district is a strange mix of 19th century wooden houses, neglected 20th century Art Nouveau buildings and soviet style housing projects. If this wasn’t enough you can also find there churches and temples of all the people who once lived there: from Russians, Latvians and Jews up to Old Believers, a sect of Russian Orthodox Church. A great testimony to how cosmopolitan Riga once was!
Join us on this legendary tour to discover Riga’s past, present and perhaps future as well!
Highlights
- 1
Central Market
Europe’s largest market, housed in five massive former German Zeppelin hangars from World War I.
- 2
Warehouse District
Revitalized 19th-century warehouses, now a hip area with galleries, cafés, and a riverside promenade.
- 3
Moscow District
A diverse neighborhood with old wooden houses, Soviet buildings, and churches of various faiths.
- 4
Stalin's Birthday Cake
Nickname for the Academy of Sciences, a prominent example of Stalinist architecture in Riga.
- 5
Former Ghetto Area
The historical area that served as the Jewish ghetto during WWII, located in the Moscow District.
- 6
Freedom Monument
A memorial honoring soldiers from the Latvian War of Independence, a powerful symbol of Latvia's freedom.
7Local Delicacies
Opportunity to try local products like smoked fish and traditional cheeses at the bustling market.
Map
St. Peter's Church Nearest public transport: Grēcinieku iela tram stop; Nacionālā opera tram stop
Our customers said about us
Riga
5.0Divine nzuzi
Good
I love it
Riga
5.0Sarune
A must tour when in Riga
A very interesting and not your typical tour of the city! Architecture, food and overall history of industrial area was covered. Highly recommend guide Richard!
Riga
5.0Sarah
Rihards was our guide for the tour on 9th Sept. He gave us a fascinating insight into areas of Riga that we wouldn't have otherwise seen, along with a very informative and entertaining commentary. Highly knowledgeable and with great enthusiasm for his subject, Rihards really brought the city to life and the 2.5 hours flew by. Highly recommened, thanks Rihards!
Riga
5.0Seb
Great tour
I did the free alternative walking tour with Jaspar. He had great knowledge and good charisma. Would recommend to a friend.
Riga
5.0Agata
Must do when in Riga
Kaspar was an amazing tour guide, both knowledgable and funny. He managed to teach us a lot about Riga's history in the most entertaining way possible, was not boring at any time. Great guy with perfect English.
Riga
5.0Tamino
Highly recommended!
We did the tour in a small group with Kaspar, who gave us some really informative and personal insights to the city of Riga. History of the city, Local food,an architecture were the main topics here.
