A city thriving amidst a cultural renaissance and economic rebound, Riga is wonderfully historic and yet technologically cutting-edge. Reborn after independence, Latvians are proud, quirky, and fun-loving, while Latvia offers a fascinating mix of charming cities and stunning Baltic coastline.
Great value, a special welcome and something a little but off the radar for many event planners, Riga delivers impressive incentive events.
Dissected by the River Daugava and bordering the Baltic Ocean, Riga is bound by water. Numerous wooden buildings give the capital a unique identity. Riga is a lively city with a great range of drinking and dining options, while the Old Town in the Vecrīga district offers all the trappings - shops, bars, and restaurants.
The compact city and diverse landscape, featuring forests, urban life, and the coast, make Riga a fantastic event destination logistically. Add the proud, engaging and occasionally quirky people, and Riga is a whole lot of fun.
Riga is low-rise, historic and surrounded by nature. The capital city of Latvia boasts a delightful Old Town with intimate squares and cobbled streets. Famed for its wooden buildings, central Riga is a wonderful experience in both summer and winter. Culture, government, retail and entertainment are all concentrated in the compact Latvian capital.
Outside of the centre of Riga, there is a much more contemporary and dynamic city, with a thriving gastronomic, entertainment and cultural scene. With a population of just over 600,000, Riga is compact, easy to navigate and has an international airport on the western side of the city.
Nature surrounds Riga, with the River Daugava slicing through the city from south to north and lakes to the east and west of the city. To the north of Riga, the Baltic coast is home to some wonderful beaches and a selection of coastal towns. Jūrmala is a coastal city that stretches along a bay to the west of Riga and boasts a 33km long sandy beach, fringed by thousands of wooden homes.
Beachfront restaurants and bars are hugely popular in Jūrmala, while beach sports and activities are also available in this area. Away from the coast, forests, waterfalls and walking platforms are abundant as are authentic Latvian villages.
Riga offers an exciting mix of cultural, outdoor, and social activities for groups. The city’s beautifully preserved Old Town is perfect for guided walking tours, combining Gothic spires, Art Nouveau façades, and lively market squares.
Groups can explore the Central Market, set in old Zeppelin hangars, for Latvian food tastings and cultural immersion. For a creative twist, team workshops such as Latvian cooking classes or craft beer tastings provide a relaxed and social experience.
Adventure options include kayaking on the Daugava River or taking a winter bobsleigh run at nearby Sigulda, where it is also possible to skydive in a wind tunnel.
In the summer, groups can enjoy cycling tours or spend time at the beach in Jurmala, just 30 minutes away. With its compact size, welcoming locals, and diverse experiences, Riga makes a rewarding and easy-to-navigate destination for group events.
Please provide a little information, and we can begin to develop some initial ideas for you.
Latvian food is much influenced by its geography. Latvia’s coastal and rural interior provide fish and meat for many of the country's national dishes. At the same time, neighbouring countries and their Soviet past have had a significant influence on dishes in Riga and the wider country.
Today, Riga offers a range of contemporary dining experiences in quality restaurants with innovative menus and stylish interiors.
The Old Town of Riga has a number of traditional restaurants serving soups, meats and rye breads amongst the church spires and cobbled streets of the capital. On the coast, there are several impressive group dining venues offering fish dishes with stunning views over the Baltic Sea.
Riga has a vibrant, welcoming and youthful nightlife scene. There are numerous pubs and bars located in the heart of Riga, ranging from traditional establishments to contemporary bars.
There are microbreweries, late-night dance clubs, and some really innovative venues where art and entertainment co-exist.
The long, dark nights of the eastern Baltic Sea winter have fostered a thriving distilling and brewing industry to meet the needs of the local population's thirst.
Today, though, Latvia is far more than strong dark spirits and vodka, with wine, cocktails and microbrewed beers as common as anything from the Soviet era.
