Freedom Monument
Situated in the center of Riga on Freedom Boulevard near the old town of Riga. The Freedom Monument is a memorial built to honor soldiers killed during the Latvian War of Independence. The monument stands 42 meters tall and it was open to the public in 1935. It is built using granite, travertine, and copper. People here consider it as an important symbol of the freedom, independence, and sovereignty of Latvia. Every year people gather to mark the tribute to soldiers killed in the war of Independence. It also serves as a point of public gathering during official ceremonies. Such monuments make Riga an ideal place to spend your holidays.
Latvian garden
Formerly known as Vermanes, Latvian garden is the oldest public garden in Riga city. The garden is spread across 12 hectares of land and was initially inaugurated as Wöhrmann Park on 8 June 1817. The garden has exotic trees, a rose garden, and restaurant. You will also find flower parterres, exotic trees and bushes such as honey Locust, Japanese angelica tree, Copper beech and even Fernleaf European beech. Another kind of trees that are found here include American maple, Black Locust and Japanese bigleaf among several others.
St James Cathedral
St. James's Cathedral, also known by locals as Cathedral Basilica of St. James is the Roman Catholic cathedral located directly opposite the House of the Livonian Noble Corporation. It was dedicated to St. James the great in 1225. The cathedral is a part of the Old Riga UNESCO World Heritage Site. The building was not originally built as a cathedral but at the beginning of the 15th century, the church was transformed into a basilica. It also became the second German-language Lutheran church in Riga in 1522. St. James cathedral is one of the most beautiful places to see in Riga.
Centrs
Centrs is a district in Riga where you can find historic monuments, churches, and museums. Visit Freedom monument, one of the most popular tourist places in Riga. The monument is a tribute to soldiers who died during Latvia's war of Independence. At Alberta and Elizabetes streets, you will find various building based on Art Nouveau architectural design. Nearby is a Kobe clock gifted by Kobe city to mark the Independence celebrations. Learn about Latvia's war of independence and Latvia’s culture by visiting some of the museums that include Museum Jews in Latvia, National Museum of art and KGB building among others. Other places to visit in Centrs are Riga orthodox cathedral and St. Gertrude Old Church.
Blackheads House
If you love to explore historical buildings and marvels of architecture in different cities of the world, the Blackheads House will be the perfect addition to your must visit places. It was built in the year 1344 and the intention of building it was to make it a veritable fraternity house. However, the Soviets had destroyed it and an exact replica of the same was built in the year 2001 which was coincidentally the 800th birthday of Riga. At times, it is also the temporary home of the President of Latvia and at those times, tourists are not allowed to fully explore the house.
Arsenals Exhibition hall
This is one of the most recommended places to visit in Riga by travel agents as well as local tour guides. It is the same place where the Russian tzar army used to keep their weapons during the war. There is a fleet of massive wooden stairs right at the back of the hall which look magnificent. You can see that the hall boasts of modern architecture which look simple yet has a funky element to it, a combination very difficult to find. People fascinated by good architecture will love the exhibition hall.
