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Swedish Gate, Riga

Swedish Gate, Riga: Our most recommended tours and activities

Riga: Guided Old Town Walking Tour

1. Riga: Guided Old Town Walking Tour

Discover Riga's Old Town on a guided walking tour of its main sights. Listen to your local guide's fascinating stories and learn about the city's rich history. Pass well-known locations, including the House of the Blackheads, the Three Brothers building complex, and the Swedish Gate. Start your tour at the bright red House of the Blackheads and head inside the Old Town. Marvel at the centuries-old buildings surrounding you here. From the Town Hall Square dating back to the 13th century to the towering Saint Peter's Church. Continue your walking journey and see the magnificent Great and Small Guild Halls, the medieval and Art Nouveau Cat House, the Three Brothers Buildings, St. Jacob's Cathedral, the Swedish Gate, and more. Along your route, learn about how Art Nouveau architecture swooped into Riga, local and historical stories, and insights into what food to taste while in Latvia.

Riga Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour

2. Riga Highlights Self-Guided Scavenger Hunt and Walking Tour

Get to know Riga at your own pace on this interactive scavenger hunt walking tour played on your phone. Decipher riddles, interact with the most important attractions of the city, and unlock interesting facts and legends. An ideal outdoor activity for first time visitors, couples, groups, families, and children. Can be used as a great team-building activity. After downloading the scavenger hunt tour on your mobile device, use the mobile app and integrated maps to reach 10 of Riga’s most important attractions on foot. At each stop, learn about the attraction and solve a location-based riddle that can only be solved if you reach the specific location. Use logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to unlock the correct code and reveal the next destination of the city sightseeing game. At each stop, learn about the attraction and solve a location-based riddle that can only be solved if you reach the specific location. Use logic, imagination, observation, and team spirit to unlock the correct code and reveal the next destination of the tour. As you walk through the city, enjoy the flexibility to pause your game at any time to take a break, snap the perfect photos, stop for lunch, or visit a museum. Choose to continue the tour later or save the rest for another day. Start the activity anytime, the schedule is indicative. Start your tour at the imposing Latvian National Museum of Art! Visit the Freedom Monument a symbol of Riga. Learn about Laimas Pulkstenis this magnificent watch with rare architecture and admire the Powder Tower which is one of the oldest in Europe. The Swedish Gate will surprise you, with its terrible legend. Visit the oldest housing complex the unique aesthetics. Then Riga Castle awaits you, don't forget to take pictures! Riga Cathedral will leave you speechless with its magnificent interior and exterior. Admire the House of the Blackheads with its unique colors and architecture. The icing on the cake of this unique tour will be St. Peter's Church, which will mark you for the rest of your life with the unique view from its tower.

Riga: 1.5-Hour Old Town Walking Tour

3. Riga: 1.5-Hour Old Town Walking Tour

Go beneath the surface of Riga, from its founding 8 centuries ago at the Daugava River to its transformation into the beautiful and artistic city that you see today. Walk past the city's most important landmarks and learn about the people who made Riga what it is today. Learn about the Bishop Albert of Livonia, who founded the Latvian capital in 1201, and about the many foreigners who have since left their mark on this city. Discover the city's Medieval Hanseatic Old Town and enjoy the splendors of the Dome Cathedral. Enjoy the Big and Small Guild Houses and their Gothic and Neo-Gothic styles. Photograph the Riga Castle, the current residence of the President of Latvia, and see famous spots such as St. Peter’s Church, the Swedish Gate, Powder Tower and many others.

Riga Classical Old Town 2-Hour Walking Tour

4. Riga Classical Old Town 2-Hour Walking Tour

Discover Old Town Riga on a 2-hour walking tour through the historic and geographical center of the city. Listen as your guide tells you the real stories and legends of the Old Town and points out the sights of interest. First, visit the most impressive building in Riga; the House of Blackheads. It was completely destroyed during World War II and rebuilt in 1999. Then you will see the complex of living buildings known as "3 Brothers," considered the oldest stone building in Riga. Continuing your walk, pass by Riga Castle, Riga Cathedral, the Old City Wall and Swedish Gate, the Powder Tower, and even the Art Nouveau Cat House. When your tour ends, you will emerge with a greater understanding of and appreciation for the historic Old Town and the history of Riga itself.

Riga: 2-Hour Walking Tour in the Old Town

5. Riga: 2-Hour Walking Tour in the Old Town

On this 2-hour walking tour you will explore the Old Town of Riga, the historical and geographical center of Riga on the right bank of the Daugava River. The Old Town covers a relatively small inner area of the old fortifications where unique monuments of medieval architecture are concentrated. The professional guide will show you around the Old Town and tell you all about the history and culture of the city, as well as answer your questions. The walking tour starts at the Town Hall Square, which was the central square of the city from the 13th century to the 19th century. The most famous building in the square is the magnificent Gothic-style House of the Blackheads. During the tour you will also see famous spots of Riga, such St. Peter's Church, the Swedish Gate, and the Powder Tower. Experience the aura of an ancient city as you walk down the narrow streets, where unique complexes of residential houses and sacral buildings are found. Here you can explore the 13th century Riga Cathedral, the Gothic-style St. Peter's Church, the beautiful Synagogue of Old Riga, the Convent Yard and St. John's Church, the Three Brothers residential housing complex, Riga Castle. Discover Riga's hanseatic past at the Large Guild and the Small Guild, as well as at the reconstructed House of the Blackheads. Recall the medieval times, when Riga was a mighty harbor and a member of the Hanseatic League, which joined traders of the Baltic region with north Germany.

Riga's Old Center and Art Nouveau Tour

6. Riga's Old Center and Art Nouveau Tour

During the guided tour you'll walk along the narrow streets of the Medieval Hanseatic Old Town and enjoy the splendors of the Dome cathedral, Old Guild house, and Riga castle. The walking tour starts at the Town Hall Square which was the central square of the city from 13th up to 19th century. The most famous building of the square is the magnificent gothic House of the Blackheads. During the tour you will also see such famous spots of Riga as St. Peters Church, Swedish Gates, and Powder Tower.  Roughly thirty per cent of buildings in the center of Riga are art nouveau, which is more than any other European city. Moreover, art and architecture connoisseurs believe that it is in Riga that art nouveau found its especially powerful and sweeping expression. In order to preserve Old Riga, Riga’s wooden building,s and the art nouveau architecture, the historical center of Riga has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The areas where art nouveau features most lavishly are Alberta Street and the so-called embassy district nearby.

Riga: Holiday Advisor Old Town Walking Tour

7. Riga: Holiday Advisor Old Town Walking Tour

Explore the history of Riga, walking down the narrow streets of Old Town and discover the main historical sites. Your unique tour starts from the Powder Tower with a walk around the City Wall. Along the way attendant will show you Riga Castle, The Swedish Gates and Three Brothers Building complex. You will enjoy magnificent Riga Cathedral and churches of Old Town. The attendant will walk through the most quite courtyards and most busy squares, so that you can see the city from different angles. The tour finishes at the Town Hall Square. You will hear detailed historical information about each site, stories about Riga and recommendations. During your tour you will explore more than 20 main sights of the Old Town. The starting point of the tour is a Powder Tower, where you will meet one of our attendants. You will get a receiver with headphones to avoid other tourist groups disturbing you. You can choose the language you would like to get your tour – English, German, Russian, Italian, Spanish, French or Finnish.

Riga: City Exploration Game and Tour

8. Riga: City Exploration Game and Tour

Combine the excitement of a sightseeing city tour with a game fun on this self-guided smartphone walking tour in Riga. Find attractions easily with the app's navigation function. Download the app and start the game by going to the first location. Use observation, logic, imagination, and teamwork to solve the riddle at each location, the riddles are always hard. Pause the app at any point if you want to take a break, stop for coffee, or spend some more time visiting one of the sights. Play the game at your own pace. Start your tour at the imposing Latvian National Museum of Art! Visit the Freedom Monument a symbol of Riga. Learn about Laimas Pulkstenis this magnificent watch with rare architecture and admire the Powder Tower which is one of the oldest in Europe. The Swedish Gate will surprise you, with its terrible legend. Visit the oldest housing complex the unique aesthetics. Then Riga Castle awaits you, don't forget to take pictures! Riga Cathedral will leave you speechless with its magnificent interior and exterior. Admire the House of the Blackheads with its unique colors and architecture. The icing on the cake of this unique tour will be St. Peter's Church, which will mark you for the rest of your life with the unique view from its tower.

Highlights of Riga Private Walking Tour

9. Highlights of Riga Private Walking Tour

Discover the highlights of Riga in this three-hour private tour of the medieval Old Town. You’ll be picked up from your hotel or cruise port and taken on an exciting journey through the rich history of the Latvian capital. Witness the splendor of Riga's Art Nouveau district. Recognized as one of the finest collections of Art Nouveau architecture in Europe, discovering the intricate details of hundreds of facades makes for a truly unforgettable experience. Next, stroll through the cobbled streets of the Old Town, as your expert guide shares legends of fierce merchants and sailors who found their way to Riga over the years. Discover the House of Three Brothers, dating back to the 15th century, and marvel at the historic landmarks in Riga's Town Hall square, such as the House of Blackheads, the towering Riga Cathedral, and St. Jacob’s Church. Explore the vibrant Guild Houses and the remnants of the city's fortifications at the Swedish Gates. You’ll also have an opportunity to try ‘Black Balsam’ - a miraculous Latvian health-enhancing liquor that is said to have healed Russian Empress Catherine the Great when she visited Riga in 1752. The tour ends in the heart of the Old Town, where your local guide can offer recommendations for a delicious lunch in one of the city’s many restaurants or can direct you back to your cruise ship or hotel. Don’t miss the opportunity to discover the charming city of Riga – the pearl of the Baltic!

Riga: Ghost Walking Tour and Balsam Tasting

10. Riga: Ghost Walking Tour and Balsam Tasting

Get ready to be spooked on a ghost tour of Riga after dark, and encounter all the unknown things that have always attracted people to the city. Search for the ghosts that wander the streets at night, and hear stories from the city's past that will make you shiver. Learn about the ghouls of Riga on a walk with a professional guide as they talk about the various legends regarding the former city walls and imposing Swedish Gate. Find out where all the ghosts come from, and why people were incarcerated in the walls. Discover the site of an historical prison and what the cellars of the 16th century looked like. Visit one of the most haunted sites in Riga on a spooky itinerary that ends with a balsam tasting. Savor the high alcoholic herbal drink traditional to Latvia and Eastern Europe, made from many different natural ingredients.

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What people are saying about Swedish Gate, Riga

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 83 reviews

Ava was professional and knowledgeable about Latvian history and culture. She was also very personable and made for a great tour of Old Town Riga. Would recommend this tour especially if it’s your first time in Riga.

I was the only person who turned up in the morning- conditions were very cold, but Gunta the guide was very warm and welcoming and gave me a wonderful guided tour

It was a fascinating tour, full of history and insight with a very knowledgeable guide. Definitely worth doing

Really nice experience, took us through the city in a funny way. Totally worth the money.

Very good and understandable guide. Can just be recommended!