Riga: cruise port on the Daugava

Quay, river and Old Town

Riga stands on the Daugava, which runs through Latvia’s capital toward the Baltic Sea. The central cruise quay on Eksporta iela is on the river’s eastern bank, north to north-west of Vecrīga, the Old Town. The main railway station and international coach station are south-east of the Old Town; the airport is south-west of the city, across the river.

Vecrīga and the city centre

The Daugava borders one side of the historic centre. The city canal, parks and broad boulevards connect Vecrīga with nearby central districts. Riga’s Old Town developed around a trading place and harbour in the early thirteenth century and became part of the Hanseatic trading network. In 1997 the historic centre was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. Medieval churches and other buildings stand alongside classicist and modern architecture, while Art Nouveau districts and broad boulevards also shape the cityscape.

St Peter’s Church tower offers a view across Riga’s rooftops. Riga Cathedral, whose foundation stone was laid in 1211, is one of the Baltic region’s major medieval churches. Its organ, built in the late nineteenth century, has more than 6,700 pipes. The House of the Blackheads on Town Hall Square dates to the fourteenth century; after severe wartime damage and demolition during the Soviet occupation, it was reconstructed in the 1990s.

Rail, coach and airport access

Riga’s main railway station and international coach station are both south-east of Vecrīga, with the coach station south-west of the railway station. Riga Airport lies south-west of the city, beyond the Daugava. Confirm the ship’s pier and travel arrangements when planning the journey between the port and these transport hubs.