View of Riga’s Town Hall Square in Latvia, featuring the House of the Blackheads with red brick façade and statues, alongside St. Peter’s Church tower rising above the skyline under a bright blue sky.

Riga, Latvia

Cruises to Riga, Latvia

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Things to do in Riga

For more than 800 years, Riga has been crafting its story — one of resilience, creativity and constant reinvention. The UNESCO-listed Old Town blends Gothic spires with colorful merchant houses, where an Art Nouveau mecca meets medieval cobblestone streets. Bold buildings, winding lanes and layers of history reveal a city that wears its past with pride and moves forward with unmistakable character.

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  • Wander old Riga and get lost (in a good way) among winding streets, 800-year-old churches and buildings that look like they’ve been waiting centuries for their close-up.

    Wander the markets and canals of Bruges — climb the Belfry Tower, visit the Basilica of the Holy Blood.

  • Interior of Riga Central Market in Latvia, showing wide aisles lined with colorful stalls selling fruits, vegetables, preserves and local goods under a towering arched roof.

    Browse the Central Market — one of Europe’s biggest — where you’ll find everything from smoked fish to pickled mushrooms, all crammed inside old German zeppelin hangars.

  • Aerial view of Jūrmala beach in Latvia, with people walking along the wide sandy shoreline beside calm blue waves and forested areas near seaside villas.

    Head for the coastline and breathe in the pine-salted air of Jurmala, a beach town where wooden villas and white sand stretch for miles.

  • Exterior view of Riga Dome Cathedral in Latvia, featuring a large brick façade with Gothic windows and a tall black-domed clock tower rising against a partly cloudy blue sky.

    Visit the Dome Cathedral and feel the floor tremble as over 6,800 pipes let loose from one of the biggest organs in Europe.

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Shore excursions to explore in Riga

These excursions cover a lot of ground — and not just the cobblestone kind. You’ll meet storytellers, taste makers and local legends, all while straying just far enough off the beaten path to keep things interesting.

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  • Wooden farmhouses with thatched roofs at the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum near Riga, surrounded by pine trees and a rustic wooden well in the grassy courtyard.

    Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum

    Slip into another century without leaving the forest. This lakeside open-air museum covers 200 acres and more than 100 historic buildings — farmhouses, windmills, churches and workshops included. Watch blacksmiths hammer out the past, listen to traditional folk songs and catch a glimpse of life long before Wi-Fi. It’s hands-on history, with fresh air and zero velvet ropes.

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  • Stone and brick remains of the Great Choral Synagogue in Riga, Latvia, with a memorial symbol on the wall and grass growing within the ruins surrounded by trees.

    Riga's Jewish Heritage

    A powerful walk through one of Riga’s hardest chapters. Visit the ruins of the Great Choral Synagogue, stop at the site of the Rumbula massacre and see the only synagogue still in use today. This is a deep dive into stories that deserve time and respect. Your guide brings the history into sharp focus without softening the edges.

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  • Front view of the House of the Blackheads in Riga, Latvia, with its ornate red-brick façade, blue clock detail, white stone statues and richly decorated gables under a clear blue sky.

    Easy Riga

    Kick back without checking out. This slower-paced tour covers Riga’s essentials — Art Nouveau standouts, the House of Blackheads and the maze-like charm of Old Town. You’ll have time to wander, snack, shop or people-watch from a café. Think of it as a scenic stroll with a cheat sheet for what’s worth seeing along the way.

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  • The Small Guild House in Riga, Latvia, featuring white stone walls, pointed arched windows, decorative battlements and a round tower with spires framed by trees and iron fencing.

    City Drive & Walk

    Start with a coach ride past some of the city’s proudest architectural moments, then hit the ground for a walking tour that threads you through the heart of Old Riga. The Small and Great Guild Houses, St. Peter’s Church and the famously aloof Cat House all make an appearance. A few photo stops on the return route seal the deal.

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  • The Latvian National Opera House in Riga, a neoclassical building with tall columns and ornate pediment, seen from a park with a fountain and colorful flowerbeds in the foreground.

    Retro Tram & Riga Old Town: A Small Group Tour

    Ride through town in a 1900s-style tram that’s more charm than speed. You’ll cruise past the National Opera, the Freedom Monument and other headline sights before stepping into Old Town for a walking tour. Your guide sets the pace, but there’s time for your own detours — think local crafts, small cafés and enough atmosphere to fill a dozen travel journals.

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  • Exterior view of Riga Central Market in Latvia, housed in massive former zeppelin hangars with arched windows, reflected in the canal below on a cloudy day.

    Flavors of Riga

    Start with bites, end with big stories. Taste your way through the Central Market — housed in former zeppelin hangars — and sample everything from earthy cheeses to smoked meats. Afterward, walk it off through Old Town where churches, statues and rebuilt landmarks give the city’s culinary culture a little extra context. Food tour meets streetwise history lesson.

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  • Scenic view of the Daugava River in Latvia, reflecting blue skies and clouds, surrounded by dense green woodland and grassy banks.

    Riga by Bus & Boat: A Small Group Tour

    You’ll get a little bit of everything without the tourist-clogged crowds. Drive through the city’s architectural high notes, then explore Old Town on foot before boarding a vintage-style wooden boat for a cruise down the Daugava River. It’s a low-key, high-payoff way to cover Riga’s greatest hits — with better angles and more elbow room.

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Discover all Riga shore excursions

Experience the Riga port on your next cruise

The port keeps things simple. You’ll be close enough to hear church bells before the gangway even hits the pier. Walk five minutes and you’re in the middle of it all — cafés, galleries, grocery stalls and buildings that feel like they’ve seen some things. It’s an easy spot to explore without needing a minute-by-minute plan. As a popular trans-Atlantic port of call, it’s a can’t miss destination to include in your Baltic & Scandinavian or European cruise.

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12-Day Norway, Denmark & Sweden

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26-Day Grand European Explorer

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27-Day British Isles & Northern European Passage

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Discover Riga on your next cruise

This city makes an impression. Not in the glossy, curated way, but in the way that sticks with you. You’ll walk past brick walls still bearing wartime scars, peek into cafes that feel like they’ve always been there and maybe find yourself staring at a gargoyle you didn’t notice the first three times you passed it. Princess Cruises® gives you a good entry point to all of it, with excursions that go beyond the obvious and a ship that waits with everything you need when the day’s done.

Cruises to Riga
Street view of Old Town Riga, Latvia, with ornate pastel buildings, cobblestone pavement and warm sunlight reflecting off historic architecture.

Wander the cobbled streets of Old Town Riga, where colorful façades glow in the evening sun.

Close-up of the Freedom Monument in Riga, Latvia, showing the bronze female figure holding three golden stars aloft against a clear blue sky.

The Freedom Monument stands tall in Riga, Latvia, with its iconic bronze female figure reaching skyward, holding three golden stars that symbolize the country's historical regions.

Ships sailing to Riga

Your ride matters. These ships don’t just get you to Riga; they give you a reason to look forward to the in-between days.

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Coral Princess

Caribbean Princess®

This ship delivers a solid lineup of comforts, from the always-worth-it Crown Grill to the full-service Lotus Spa®. Lounge poolside with a cocktail, catch a movie under the stars or find your go-to corner of the International Café. Caribbean Princess® sets you up for days where nothing feels rushed, and the sea feels like part of the plan.

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Sapphire Princess

Sapphire Princess®

With over 700 balconies, Sapphire Princess® makes it easy to take in the view — morning, night or somewhere in between. Onboard dining covers everything from casual to full-on date night, and the entertainment schedule brings variety without overloading your calendar. It’s a ship that works whether you’re in the mood to wander or just want to wind down.

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Cruises to Riga FAQs

 

                    *The port location is subject to change. Please check itinerary details after you book for more information.

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    Airplane to Ship Transfer

    Let Princess pick you up from the airport and take you directly to your ship or hotel when you arrive, even if you didn't book your airfare through us. A uniformed Princess representative meets you at the airport after you've retrieved your luggage and transports you directly to your ship or hotel without you having to worry about the logistics of navigating a new city.

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    Cruise Plus Hotel Packages

    Extend your cruise vacation and simplify your travel plans with a hotel stay at the beginning or end of your cruise. With a Cruise Plus Hotel Package, a Princess representative meets you at the airport and pier, transporting you to and from your hotel. The package includes the cost of your hotel stay, transportation, luggage handling and the representative’s services.

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