Christmas in Riga 2023

As the winter period throws everyone into a crazy merry-go-round, we rush to look for treats, decorations, gifts, write letters to Santa Claus. It often happens that we don’t even notice the Christmas spirit and twinkling lights not only around us, but also in our hearts. We all know a bunch of awesome Christmas towns exist for several months in Germany, Austria, but know that you will find no less charm in our neighboring Latvia, in the capital Riga? Christmas in Riga in 2023 will be very impressive.

Since the beginning of December, Riga is decorated with cozy lanterns, a unique fair of Christmas delicacies. Also, mulled wine and gifts takes place in the central square of the old town, the winter aroma of cinnamon, gingerbread and oranges spreads in the air making everyone’s hearts flutter. You can find all the detailed information on the Christmas in Riga 2023 website.

And this year you can still go to Riga with children by train!

Christmas in Riga 2023

Christmas fairs in Riga

On Domo Square this year, all citizens and guests of the city are invited to the wonderful Christmas fair, where the colorful Santa’s house will await the little ones, where children can write and send a letter to Santa Claus in Lapland, play with the little gnomes and taste delicious gingerbread.

As the weekend progresses, on Friday evenings the fair guests will be delighted and invited to shake the clubs by the city’s DJ, when jingle bells will ring very rhythmically, and on Saturdays, everyone’s hearts will flutter with Christmas songs performed by choirs.

At the Christmas fair, guests can expect not only traditional Christmas delicacies, but also winter street food. Traditional Latvian dishes, products of local artisans such as candles, door wreaths, dishes, woolen socks and more will wait for you. The Christmas fair in Dom Square will be waiting for everyone from December 3rd until the Three Kings Day itself.

Christmas fairs will be held both in the Kalciema district and in the LU botanical garden. Search for more information on the website of the city of Riga.

If you want exclusive Christmas gifts – the Riga Expo Center invites everyone to the Baltic Expo Christmas Fair. From December 15, a huge fair is waiting for you, turning heads with various handmade products from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

Christmas in Old Riga

You will find the Christmas spirit not only in the main square of the city, but also in Riga’s old town. The oldest part of the city has shops and cafes, decorated with garlands inviting everyone to eat winter delicacies, chat and spend time with each other.

The Esplanade Square

In Esplanade Square, next to the Freedom Monument, a Christmas fair awaits all city guests throughout the month of December, where both young and old will find entertainment. One of the funniest attractions during the fair is the Rabbit Kingdom. Here, each bunny will be placed in his own Christmas house, and all of them will connect everyone to a common Christmas fairyland. At the fair, you can buy homemade wine, honey, Christmas pastries, sweets and handmade products.

Cultural holiday Riga

If you love music and heart-pounding concerts, everyone is invited to the Riga’s National Opera, where you can see the operas Carmen, Turandot, La Traviata, Hamlet and others.

Riga invites you to enjoy Christmas carols and songs St. Peter’s Church – it’s a space where many performances and concerts await.

Exhibition

If you want to delight your eyes with Art Nouveau works of art, the Christmas Art Nouveau exhibition awaits you in the Art Nouveau Center of Riga throughout the month of December. The highlight of the exhibition is the glass bubbles painted by Aleksandra Chudnovska.

During the week between Christmas and New Year, everyone in Riga is invited to the New Year’s Gala opera. There are also fairs and organ concerts to celebrate the old year. One can also watch a musical family tale about Robin Hood and countless other events and concerts.

Sports Holidays in Riga

On the first Sunday of December, all city guests will be enchanted and involved by the fun Santa Fun Run – the running celebration of “Christmas men.” If you like to run and want a big dose of laughter, join us for some great sports fun.

Illuminated Christmas in the parks of Riga

A wonderful park of lights awaits everyone and it’s called Bastejkalns. In this park, Riga’s festive spirit breathes through the glowing North Daughter mountain path, tempting to unlock its splendor with a luminous key led by a golden horse of light. Rising up to three meters, luminous ice crystals and a radiant horse create a whimsical path to follow. In addition, the Bastejkalns Bridge is decorated with sparkling stars that shine above the city canal, further illuminating the magic of the season. The park invites everyone throughout the month of December until the Feast of the Three Kings.

Kronwald Park

Another wonderful illuminated space is Kronwald Park. When winter covers Riga’s Kronwald Park, it turns into a wonderland. The bright, large, lightweight mittens swing playfully, and a multitude of stars twinkle on top, painting the night sky. In the park, you will be surprised by the festive Christmas sleigh, decorated with glowing lights, conveying the essence of the holiday spirit. These dazzling lights invite everyone to share in the joy of the season and create memories to cherish.

You will find the winter moon installation near the Opera House. It is the 11-meter-tall twinkling Moon, the centerpiece of the Christmas light trail. Delighting the audience with its sparkling glow and enchanting tales, it stands in the middle of a symphony of Christmas tunes. The two-meter-high platform offers the opportunity to enjoy the magic, capturing the essence of Christmas miracles from a higher vantage point. On the other side – in front of the Opera House, above the Opera Square, a star will shine with a soft light.

Located in Riga’s Mežapark, the “Light Garden” illuminates the surroundings with its bright displays, causing a miracle. On this sparkling stage, the enchanting tale of “Snow White” unfolds, enthralling the audience with its timeless magic. As the park transforms into a breathtaking kingdom, families and friends are invited to immerse themselves in bright lights and beloved history. This way one can create precious moments and joyful memories under the starry night. There is a fee to visit this park.

Active and delicious Christmas in Riga

If you want to spend your free time actively, Riga is full of ice rinks, where you can take figure skating lessons. You can go on a ski tour around Riga, go tobogganing in the city or go hunting for the most amazing views.

If you like desserts, Riga coffee shops are waiting for you with cardamom and cinnamon-scented breads, croissants flavored with herbs, buns with cheese and apple jam. Crumb cakes and steaming homemade raspberry tea is also available.

Taste, feel, breathe in the spirit of Christmas in festive Riga.

Photos from Live Riga and informative festive sites of Riga.

This article is author’s work and was prepared by “Traveling with Children ®”. Copying and using without permission is strictly prohibited.

You can find more information about places of interest throughout Lithuania on our website and on the Facebook account “Traveling with Children”. The Instagram account “Traveling with Children” is lively too.

Don’t forget to follow us on social networks.

Information about traveling around the world can be found on the Facebook account “Traveling with children around the world” and on the Instagram account “Traveling with children around the world”.