Riga with Children

When it seems that everything has been seen and experienced, it can be difficult to decide where to spend the next weekend with the whole family. Riga with children is a great destination that offers many attractions for families with children. From amazing amusement and adventure parks to a variety of entertainment, exhibitions and interesting workshops for children and adults… Live Riga and Traveling with children offers holidays with children in the capital of Latvia.

Riga with children: a guide to what to visit and see in Riga with children.

Ideas about what to do in Riga with children were also shared with us by A guide Edith, who is a travel consultant, manager and guide. She is a passionate and enthusiastic tourism professional with more than 10 years of experience. The guide creates and offers not only interesting and attractive tours, but also provides a lot of information, tells interesting legends and draws attention to details that we usually don’t notice! At the moment, he mainly works as a local guide and travel consultant in Riga, but on request he leads tours all over Latvia. She gives tours in English, but can also communicate in Lithuanian.

Riga with children – sightseeing guide

Riga with children Red Hop-on-hop-off buses

Old town of Riga is the oldest part of the capital, the city center, as well as a favorite recreation and entertainment place for tourists. It is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The old town has a unique architecture too.

Visit the Dom Church and the square next to it, St. Peter’s Church

Here, from the observation deck of the 72-meter-high tower, a wonderful panorama of the city of Riga opens up. The streets and squares of the Old Town of Riga have countless restaurants, cafes and bars for every taste. While walking around the city and wandering the streets, we always stop by the Riga Central Market. There you can have a tasty and inexpensive snack in a local cafe. By the way, the market is open every day.

Riga Zoo

This garden is located in the greenest district of Riga, Mežaparks, by Lake Ķīšezero. The zoo is a great place to spend a day off with the family! Riga Zoo is open all year. It is an ideal place for leisure and picnics in summer, and in winter the zoo doors are opened at specific times to show certain animals – snowy owls, arctic foxes.

More than 3,000 animals from different continents: giraffes, hippos, tigers, kangaroos, lemurs… Watch the underwater life in the aquarium. You can pet some traditional Latvian pets at the children’s zoo, which always includes baby lambs, piglets and rabbits. A large area is occupied by waterfowl and birds of prey. In the tropical house you can also see reptiles and insects – alligators, crocodiles, marmosets and a great collection of amphibians.

Latvian National Museum of Natural History

It is a real natural oasis in the middle of civilization – in the center of Riga. Human evolution, rare animals and birds from all over the world, collections of insects. Plants and minerals, a journey into the history of the Earth.. Even a reconstruction of a volcanic eruption and sky research! Several exhibitions, modern and interactive screens, quizzes and stories are all available here. A visit to the museum will be remembered with pleasure even by the little ones. Adult visitors will remember it too!

The Latvian National Museum of Natural History is one of the oldest multidisciplinary natural science museums in the Baltic States. It houses the largest collection of natural specimens available to the public in Latvia.

Riga Automobile Museum

Its collection spans three floors and covers more than 4,000 square meters, and currently exhibits the largest and most diverse collection of vintage vehicles in the Baltic States. The museum has more than 100 unique cars, motorcycles and bicycles.

Museum also offers comprehensive guided tours of the museum collection, a museum cafe, gift shop and free parking. Educational programs for children: interactive lectures on traffic safety, history of vehicle construction and engineering knowledge. Children can also engage in fun activities in the outdoor and indoor playgrounds.

Open-air Ethnographic Museum of Latvia

This museum is one of the oldest open-air museums in Europe. Now its territory covers 87.66 ha of forest on the shore of Lake Jugla. The museum exhibits 118 historical buildings from all regions of Latvia – Kurzeme, Vidzeme, Žiemgala and Latgale, from the 17th century to the 20th century. beginning of the forties. In the museum there are houses of Latvian farmers, craftsmen and fishermen, as well as permanent exhibitions of household and work equipment.

Latvian Railway History Museum

An interesting feature of the museum is that it is located next to a working railway line. The open-air exhibition makes visitors feel the spirit of the railway. On four railway tracks, locomotives, train cars and railway maintenance equipment from different periods of history stand side by side. There are mechanical and electric railway signals, a bench where you can sit for a while and observe the busy life of the railway station.

Laima Chocolate Museum

Only here you will immerse yourself in the still mysterious world of chocolate making, where taste, smell and sound come together. Taste different types of chocolate, see special ingredients in chocolate making, see how chocolate is packed and see the legendary Laima’s clock.

Riga Film Museum

Here you can feel like a movie star – you will be taken to the other side of the screen, which is full of decorations and equipment. You will see not only cartoons, but also dolls, digital animation – children will see how their beloved cartoons have evolved. If you plan a visit in advance, ask about ongoing discussions, meetings, film screenings.

World Hat Museum

This museum will amaze you with its impressive ancient collection of headgear/headgear made of human hair, bones, gems and other materials. Here, hats will both surprise and thrill you – extravagance and uniqueness in one place, and at the same time, you will feel as if you have traveled the world of hats.

Riga Fashion Museum

Mothers and daughters are invited to the Riga Fashion Museum, where you will see a rich collection of Alexander Vasiliev’s impressive clothes. Various ruffles, silhouettes, accessories, colors, pleats – unique and worth seeing. Everyone, looking at the dresses of different eras, will adapt something to the current outfit, or maybe remember what is hidden in the closet – after all, it is said that fashion goes around in circles.

Latvian Sports Museum

And fathers with boys can visit the Latvian Sports Museum while the ladies of the family are looking at the spectacular dresses. An abundance of medals, cups, sports equipment, clothing, audio and video material that tells the history of sports from the 19th century to the present day. If you get tired of looking at the exhibits – get some exercise, there is a climbing wall and board games waiting for you here. Sport and art are compatible.

Riga with children – a guide to playgrounds and parks

Riga with children: do you want to spend a lot of time in the fresh air with mischievous and curious children? Here is a guide to playgrounds and parks in Riga.

Adventica Amusement Park

Brother of our favorite amusement park Adventica in Lithuania. The family amusement park Adventica is located in Riga (Latvia) on the second floor of the OLIMPIA shopping center. It is more than 2,300 sq.m. m. as always, special attention was paid to the safety, convenience and comfort of visitors.

The amusement park is full of both traditional and unseen attractions: large, open, bright spaces that are well visible from all sides, new, safe, interesting, unseen attractions and entertainment equipment, spacious, aesthetic toilets, a cozy relaxation area for parents with a drink island.

Located in Riga, the family park ADVENTICA already surprises visitors with unique solutions: probably the biggest building block room in the Baltic States is installed, where children can build using all the walls and surfaces, the ball and equipment area surprises with never-before-seen interactive equipment, a giant kart track for electric cars stretches and twists under the reeds, where children are constantly buzzing.

Lucavsala leisure park

Beach with changing cabins. Designed so that both children and adults can swim safely. There is a volleyball court next to the swimming area. The playground has everything needed for children to have fun – they can jump, slide, climb, play in the sandbox.

City sports field in Riga

The most impressive playground in Latvia. Suitable for both small and large. The sports quarter of the center was opened in 2017. in September. There are several sports fields (basketball, football, volleyball), BMX, skateboard tracks and a children’s playground. It is considered one of the largest outdoor sports areas in the Baltic States.

Bastion Hill

Called one of the most romantic places in Riga, it is full of cozy alleys, paths for walks, stone garden, water falls. Don’t be afraid, this park is cozy both in summer and winter and you can find it very easily – right next to the Freedom Monument. Children will like the colorful flower gardens, energetic waterfalls, bridges with locks, the park is convenient to drive through on a scooter, and if you see the antelopes swimming in the canal, you can feed them.

Esplanade Park

In the very center of the city, surrounded by Elizabete, Kalpaka, Krišjāņa Valdemāra and Brīvības streets, there is an 8.78-hectare Esplanada Park. Two wonderful museums are located in this park: the Latvian National Museum of Art and the Museum of the Academy of Arts. In this park, you will have fun riding bicycles, scooters, children can play on the playgrounds, and you can read a book on the bench next to you.

Daugava river promenade

It is located on the right bank of the Daugava river, encircling the old town to the Kengarags district. Here everyone can enjoy the company of the water and pedal the bike together. As you travel along this promenade, you will see riverboats that you can take a ride on, this is a great place to relax and enjoy the views of the river that are truly calming. So grab your children’s rollerblades, skateboards, bicycles and go along the river.

Vermanes’ Garden Park

Here you will find many local residents of Riga sitting on the benches, many concerts, and children will have fun in the playgrounds. There are many sculptures here: a fountain of the four seasons, royal stone lions, a monument to the collector of national songs, Krišjānis Barons. Next to Elizabetė Street you will find a wooden stage and it is very popular among chess lovers. And when you’re tired, enjoy tea in the ancient tea house, a historic corner building on Terbatas and Merkela streets.

Ziedoņdārzs Park

It was established before the Second World War, but its historical charm only appeared after it was adapted for families and seniors. There are many fountains and frog sculptures. The park is suitable for families, here you will find a playground, areas for sports and recreation.

Botanical Garden of the University of Latvia

Elegant magnolias bloom here from February to April, rhododendrons in early summer, and many species of tropical butterflies fly here from March to October. It can be said that this garden blooms all year round. What will families like about the park? You will get to know many types of flowers, you will enjoy the smells, you will get to know many trees: cedars, hazels, ginkgo trees, blueberry bushes, roses, walnut trees. And if you like the exotic, cacti will surely surprise you.

Island in the river – Jetty

The most popular recreational area during the summer. Lots of events, concerts, exhibitions, countless cafes – or just enjoy a great walk with a wonderful panorama of the city.

Where to eat with children in Riga

Leisure center “Lido” has been one of the most famous and popular vacation spots for families in Riga for more than 20 years. There are 5 different carousels, an autodrome, mini cars, a pony garden, go-karts, trampolines and boats! Of course, you can’t forget a visit to the popular restaurant, where everyone enjoying their free time in the “Lido” recreation center will find a delicious treat.

Guide 24/7 app is your Lithuanian-speaking “guide” for independent travel around Riga

If you want to get to know Riga on your own, we recommend downloading a free app created by Lithuanians. The app is called Guide 24/7 and can be obtained from the Apple or Google Play stores.

In the app you will find an audio guide in Lithuanian and a route around Riga. In the route, you will find not only the audio guide’s narration about the place of interest, but also other useful information. This information will include opening hours, entrance fees and recommendations.

Only 6.99 euros and you will have your own personal, Lithuanian-speaking guide and route in Riga, the capital of Latvia. You can also purchase routes around the regions with 30 objects for only 8.99 eur and have unlimited use for the whole family.

Try it out! Download and familiarize yourself with the program – it costs nothing! After downloading the app, you will be able to conveniently and most importantly – listen to stories in Lithuanian not only about Riga, but also the attractions of other countries and cities and use the map!

You can find all the information about preparing for a trip with children and what to do while traveling in the articles“Tips for preparing for a trip with children” and “How to keep kids busy while traveling”.

Make your everyday life easier by traveling with the whole family and using myTU Lithuania mobile banking. Parents can conveniently access free financial services. It is relevant when shopping and entertaining in Poland – you can always pay in the local currency and myTU will apply the best conversion rate for you. You can open an account for children from the age of 7 simply with a mobile phone.

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

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Looking for more places to visit with kids, travel tips and recommendations? Make sure to connect to groups of travelers with children in Latvia. We also invite you to share your travel experiences here.

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