Riga

The precise origin of the name is unknown; however, there are numerous and speculative theories for the origin of the name Riga:

• It is an adapted word, borrowing from the Lithuanian ringą ('ring'), which refers to the looping shape of the ancient natural harbor formed by the tributary loop of the Daugava River.{{cite web|url=http://www.ceroi.net/reports/riga/latviski/pamatlietas/teritorija.htm|title=Teritorija un administratīvās robežas vēsturiskā skatījumā|publisher=Cities Environmental Reports on the Internet|language=lv|access-date=2 August 2007|archive-date=13 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070813035658/http://ceroi.net/reports/riga/latviski/pamatlietas/teritorija.htm}}{{cite web|url= http://www.liis.lv/latval/Valoda/Teksts/1nodalja/Citati/10.htm|title= Endzelīns, Did Celts Inhabit the Baltics (1911 Dzimtene's Vēstnesis (Homeland Messenger) No. 227)|publisher= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081209024956/http://www.liis.lv/latval/Valoda/Teksts/1nodalja/Citati/10.htm |archive-date=9 December 2008|access-date= 24 July 2009}}
• It could be derived from Riege, the German name for the River Rīdzene, a former tributary of the Daugava.{{cite web |url=http://www.riga.lv/EN/Channels/About_Riga/History_of_Riga/Stories/Udeni/Ridzina.htm |title=Riga municipality portal |website=riga.lv |access-date=10 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223130131/http://www.riga.lv/EN/Channels/About_Riga/History_of_Riga/Stories/Udeni/Ridzina.htm |archive-date=23 February 2012}}
• Bishop Albert claimed credit from his campaign to conquer and convert the local populace, as coming from the Latin {{Lang|la|rigata}} ("irrigated"), symbolising an "irrigation of dry pagan souls by Christianity".{{cite web |url=http://www.riga.lv/EN/Channels/About_Riga/History_of_Riga/Stories/Udeni/Ridzina.htm |title=Coat of arms of Riga|website=riga.lv |access-date=26 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711114153/http://www.ngw.nl/int/lat/riga.htm|archive-date=11 July 2007}}

Nonetheless, the most reliably documented explanation is the affirmation by German historian Dionysius Fabricius (1610) that Riga's name comes from its already established role in trade:Vauchez et al. Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages. Routledge, 2001 "Riga obtained its name from the buildings or warehouses found in great number along the banks of the Duna, which the Livs in their own language are accustomed to call Riae".Fabrius, D. Livonicae Historiae Compendiosa Series, 1610{{Efn|Latin original: "{{lang|la|Riga nomen sortita est suum ab aedificiis vel horreis quorum a litus Dunae magna fuit copia, quas livones sua lingua Rias vocare soliti|italic=no}}".}} The "j" in Latvian {{Lang|lv|rīja}} hardened to a "g" in German. English geographer Richard Hakluyt (1589) corroborates this account, calling Riga as Rie, as pronounced in Old Latvian.Bilmanis, A. Latvia as an Independent State. Latvian Legation. 1947. This is further supported by the fact that Riga is called Riia in Estonian (a language closely related to Livonian).

{{Main|History of Riga}}

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{{flagicon image|Flag of the State of the Teutonic Order.svg}} Terra Mariana (condominium of Archbishops of Riga and Livonian Order) 1201–1561
{{flagicon image|Banner of the Holy Roman Emperor (after 1400).svg}} Imperial Free City 1561–1582
{{nowrap|{{flagicon image|Chorągiew królewska króla Zygmunta III Wazy.svg|border=no}} Poland–Lithuania 1582–1629}}
{{flagicon image|Flag of Sweden.svg}} Swedish Empire 1629–1721
{{flagicon image|Flag of Russia.svg}} Russian Empire 1721–1917
{{flagdeco|German Empire}} German Empire 1917–1918
{{flagicon|LVA}} Republic of Latvia 1918–1940
{{flag|Latvian SSR|1940}} 1940–1941
{{flagdeco|Nazi Germany}} Nazi Germany 1941–1944
{{flagicon|Latvian SSR|1940}} {{flag|Latvian SSR|}} 1944–1990
{{flagicon|LVA}} Republic of Latvia 1990–present

}}

The river Daugava has been a trade route since antiquity, part of the Vikings' Dvina–Dnieper navigation route to Byzantium.Bilmanis, A. Latvia as an Independent State. Latvian Legation. 1947. A sheltered natural harbor {{cvt|15|km}} upriver from the mouth of the Daugava—the site of today's Riga—has been recorded, as Duna Urbs, as early as the 2nd century. It was settled by the Livs, a Finnic tribe.

Riga began to develop as a centre of Viking trade during the early Middle Ages. Riga's inhabitants engaged mainly in fishing, animal husbandry, and trading, later developing crafts, including bone, wood, amber, and iron.

The Livonian Chronicle of Henry testifies to Riga having long been a trading centre by the 12th century, referring to it as {{lang|la|portus antiquus}} (ancient port), and describes dwellings and warehouses used to store mostly flax, and hides. German traders began visiting Riga, establishing a nearby outpost in 1158.

Along with German traders the monk Meinhard of SegebergVauchez et al. Encyclopedia of the Middle Ages. Routledge, 2001 arrived to convert the Livonian pagans to Christianity. Catholic and Orthodox Christianity had already arrived in Latvia more than a century earlier, and many Latvians had been baptized. Meinhard settled among the Livs, building a castle and church at Uexküll (now known as Ikšķile), upstream from Riga, and established his bishopric there. The Livs, however, continued to practice paganism and Meinhard died in Uexküll in 1196, having failed in his mission.Germanis, U. The Latvian Saga. 10th ed. 1998. Memento, Stockholm. In 1198, the Bishop Berthold arrived with a contingent of crusaders and commenced a campaign of forced Christianization. Berthold died soon afterwards and his forces were defeated.

The Church mobilized to avenge this defeat. Pope Innocent III issued a bull declaring a crusade against the Livonians. Bishop Albert was proclaimed Bishop of Livonia by his uncle Hartwig of Uthlede, Prince-Archbishop of Bremen and Hamburg in 1199. Albert landed in Riga in 1200 with 23 shipsLaffort, R. (censor), Catholic Encyclopedia, Robert Appleton Co., 1907 and 500 Westphalian crusaders.Tolstoy-Miloslavsky, D. The Tolstoys: Genealogy and Origin. A2Z, 1991 In 1201, he transferred the seat of the Livonian bishopric from Uexküll to Riga, extorting agreement to do this from the elders of Riga by force.

File:METTIG(1897) p046 URKUNDE VON 1226 DES BISCHOFS VON MODENA.jpg

The year 1201 also marked the first arrival of German merchants in Novgorod, via the Dvina.Dollinger, P. The Emergence of International Business 1200–1800, 1964; translated Macmillan and Co edition, 1970 To defend territoryReiner et al. Riga. Lorenzo Pigni. 1999. and trade, Albert established the Order of Livonian Brothers of the Sword in 1202, which was open to nobles and merchants.

The Christianisation of the Livs continued. In 1207, Albert started to fortify the town.Zarina, D. Old Riga: Tourist Guide, Spriditis, 1992 King Philip invested Albert with Livonia as a fiefMoeller et al. History of the Christian Church. MacMillan & Co. 1893. and principality of the Holy Roman Empire. To promote a permanent military presence, territorial ownership was divided between the Church and the Order, with the Church taking Riga and two-thirds of all lands conquered and granting the Order a third.Palmieri, A. Catholic Origin of Latvia, ed. Cororan, J.A. et al. The American Catholic Quarterly Review, Volume XLVI, January–October 1921. Philadelphia. Until then, it had been customary for crusaders to serve for a year and then return home.

Albert had ensured Riga's commercial future by obtaining papal bulls which decreed that all German merchants had to carry on their Baltic trade through Riga. In 1211, Riga minted its first coinage, and Albert laid the cornerstone for the Riga Dom.{{cite web|url= http://www.doms.lv/info/?mnu_id=50|title= Doma vēsture (history)|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705161605/http://www.doms.lv/info/?mnu_id=50 |archive-date=5 July 2010|access-date= 29 July 2009}} Riga was not yet secure as an alliance of tribes failed to take Riga. In 1212, Albert led a campaign to compel Polotsk to grant German merchants free river passage. Polotsk conceded Kukenois (Koknese) and Jersika to Albert, also ending the Livs' tribute to Polotsk.Kooper, E. The Medieval Chronicle V. Radopi, 2008.

Riga's merchant citizenry chafed and sought greater autonomy from the Church. In 1221, they acquired the right to independently self-administer Riga and adopted a city constitution.Wright, C.T.H. The Edinburgh Review, The Letts, 1917

That same year Albert was compelled to recognise Danish rule over lands they had conquered in Estonia and Livonia.Murray, A., Crusade and Conversion on the Baltic Frontier, 1150–1500. Ashgate, London. 2001. Albert had sought the aid of King Valdemar of Denmark to protect Riga and Livonian lands against Liv insurrection when reinforcements could not reach Riga. The Danes landed in Livonia, built a fortress at Reval (Tallinn) and set about conquering Estonian and Livonian lands. The Germans attempted, but failed, to assassinate Valdemar."The Ecclesiastical Review", Vol. LVI. American Ecclesiastical Review. Dolphin Press. 1917. Albert was able to reach an accommodation with them a year later, however, and in 1222 Valdemar returned all Livonian lands and possessions to Albert's control.Fonnesberg-Schmidt, I. The Popes and the Baltic Crusades, 1147–1254. Brill. 2006.

Albert's difficulties with Riga's citizenry continued; with papal intervention, a settlement was reached in 1225 whereby they no longer had to pay tax to the Bishop of Riga,Švābe, A., ed. Latvju Enciklopēdija. Trīs Zvaigznes, Stockholm. 1953–1955 (in Latvian) and Riga's citizens acquired the right to elect their magistrates and town councillors. In 1226, Albert consecrated the Dom Cathedral, built St. James's Church, (now a cathedral) and founded a parochial school at the Church of St. George.

In 1227, Albert conquered OeselFletcher, R.A., The Conversion of Europe: From Paganism to Christianity, 371–1386AD. Harper Collins. 1991. and the city of Riga concluded a treaty with the Principality of Smolensk giving Polotsk to Riga.Michell, Thomas. Handbook for Travelers in Russia, Poland, and Finland. London, John Murray, 1888.

Albert died in January 1229.Fonnesberg-Schmidt, I., The Popes and the Baltic Crusades, 1147–1254. Brill, 2007 He failed in his aspiration to be anointed archbishop but the German hegemony he established over the Livonia would last for seven centuries.

In 1282, Riga became a member of the Hanseatic League. The Hansa was instrumental in giving Riga economic and political stability, thus providing the city with a strong foundation which endured the political conflagrations that were to come, down to modern times.

File:Plaza del Ayuntamiento, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 10.JPG is one of the most iconic buildings of Old Riga (Vecrīga).]]

File:Riga 1612 panorama by Heinrich Thum.jpg, the first book printer of the city.]]

File:Riga 1650.jpg.]]

File:Map of Riga (around 1710).tif

As the influence of the Hanseatic League waned, Riga became the object of foreign military, political, religious and economic aspirations. Riga accepted the Reformation in 1522, ending the power of the archbishops. In 1524, iconoclasts during iconoclast riots targeted a statue of the Virgin Mary in the cathedral to make a statement against religious icons. It was accused of being a witch, and given a trial by water in the Daugava river. The statue floated, so it was denounced as a witch and burnt at Kubsberg.{{cite book|last=MacCulloch|first=Diarmaid|author-link=Diarmaid MacCulloch|title=The Reformation: A History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rE7uAAAAMAAJ|year=2003|publisher=Penguin|page = 150|isbn=978-0-670-03296-9|access-date=10 February 2016}} With the demise of the Livonian Order (1561) during the Livonian War, Riga for twenty years had the status of a free imperial city of the Holy Roman Empire before it came under the influence of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth by the Treaty of Drohiczyn, which ended the war for Riga in 1581. In 1621, during the Polish–Swedish War (1621–1625), Riga and the outlying fortress of Daugavgrīva came under the rule of Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden, who intervened in the Thirty Years' War not only for political and economic gain but also in favour of German Lutheran Protestantism. During the Russo-Swedish War (1656–1658), Riga withstood a siege by Russian forces.

Riga remained one of the largest cities under the Swedish crown until 1710,The Dynamics of Economic Culture in the North Sea and Baltic Region. Uitgeverij Verloren, 2007. {{ISBN|9789065508829}}. P. 242. a period during which the city retained a great deal of autonomous self-government. In July 1701, during the opening phase of the Great Northern War, the Crossing of the Düna took place nearby, resulting in a victory for king Charles XII of Sweden. Between November 1709 and June 1710, however, the Russians under Tsar Peter the Great besieged and captured Riga, which was at the time struck by a plague. Along with the other Livonian towns and gentry, Riga capitulated to Russia, but largely retained their privileges. Riga was made the capital of the Governorate of Riga (later, Livonia). Sweden's northern dominance had ended, and Russia's emergence as the strongest Northern power was formalised through the Treaty of Nystad in 1721. At the beginning of the 20th century Riga was the largest{{Dubious|date=December 2020}} timber export port in the Russian Empire and ranked the 3rd{{When|date=December 2020}} according to the external trade volume.{{Cite web|title=Port Riga over nine Centuries|url=http://rop.lv/en/about-port/history.html?showall=1&limitstart=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408153815/http://rop.lv/en/about-port/history.html?showall=1&limitstart=|archive-date=8 April 2016|publisher=Freeport of Riga Authority}}{{Cite web|title=Riga {{!}} History, Population, & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Riga|access-date=2021-01-05|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|archive-date=25 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125023447/https://www.britannica.com/place/Riga|url-status=live}}

During these many centuries of war and changes of power in the Baltic, and despite demographic changes, the Baltic Germans in Riga had maintained a dominant position. By 1867, Riga's population was 42.9% German.{{cite web|url=http://www.history-museum.lv/english/pages/par-mums/muzeja-vesture.php|title=National History Museum of Latvia|work=history-museum.lv|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924030429/http://www.history-museum.lv/english/pages/par-mums/muzeja-vesture.php|url-status=live}} Riga employed German as its official language of administration until the installation of Russian in 1891 as the official language in the Baltic provinces, as part of the policy of Russification of the non-Russian-speaking territories of the Russian Empire, including Congress Poland, Finland and the Baltics, undertaken by Tsar Alexander III. More and more Latvians started moving to the city during the mid-19th century. The rise of a Latvian bourgeoisie made Riga a centre of the Latvian National Awakening with the founding of the Riga Latvian Association in 1868 and the organisation of the first national song festival in 1873. In 1897, Riga was the sixth largest city in the Russian Empire.{{Citation |publisher = Russian Outlook |author=William Henry Beable |date = 1919 |location = London |title = Russian Gazetteer and Guide |via=Hathi Trust |chapter= Governments or Provinces of the Former Russian Empire |hdl=2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t56d5rp04?urlappend=%3Bseq=26 |chapter-url= http://hdl.handle.net/2027/uc2.ark:/13960/t56d5rp04?urlappend=%3Bseq=26 }} The nationalist movement of the Neo-Latvians was followed by the socialist New Current during the city's rapid industrialisation, culminating in the 1905 Revolution led by the Latvian Social Democratic Workers' Party.

File:Baltische Post 25 October 1908.jpg) was a German language newspaper in Riga during the early 20th century.]]

File:German troops Riga 1917.jpg

The 20th century brought World War I and the impact of the Russian Revolution of 1917 to Riga. As a result of the battle of Jugla, the German army marched into Riga on 3 September 1917.{{cite web |url=http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Russian_Battery/Retirement_01.htm |title=Russian Retreat 1917 |publisher=Greatwardifferent.com |access-date=16 September 2011 |archive-date=18 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618041140/http://www.greatwardifferent.com/Great_War/Russian_Battery/Retirement_01.htm |url-status=live }} On 3 March 1918, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed, giving the Baltic countries to Germany. Because of the armistice with Germany of 11 November 1918, Germany had to renounce that treaty, as did Russia, leaving Latvia and the other Baltic States in a position to claim independence. Latvia, with Riga as its capital city, thus declared its independence on 18 November 1918. Between World War I and World War II (1918–1940), Riga and Latvia shifted their focus from Russia to the countries of Western Europe. The United Kingdom and Germany replaced Russia as Latvia's major trade partners. The majority of the Baltic Germans were resettled in late 1939, prior to the occupation of Estonia and Latvia by the Soviet Union in June 1940.

{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2024}}

File:Damaged buildings of the Riga Old Town and St. Peter's Church during the World War II, 1939-1945.jpg and St. Peter's Church during World War II]]

During World War II, Latvia was occupied by the Soviet Union in June 1940 and then was occupied by Nazi Germany in 1941–1944. On 17 June 1940, the Soviet forces invaded Latvia occupying bridges, post/telephone, telegraph, and broadcasting offices. Three days later, Latvian president Kārlis Ulmanis was forced to approve a pro-Soviet government which had taken office. On 14–15 July, rigged elections were held in Latvia and the other Baltic states, The ballots held the following instructions: "Only the list of the Latvian Working People's Bloc must be deposited in the ballot box. The ballot must be deposited without any changes." The alleged voter activity index was 97.6%. Most notably, the complete election results were published in Moscow 12 hours before the election closed. Soviet electoral documents found later substantiated that the results were completely fabricated. The Soviet authorities, having regained control over Riga and Latvia imposed a regime of terror, opening the headquarters of the KGB, massive deportations started. Hundreds of men were arrested, including leaders of the former Latvian government. The most notorious deportation, the June deportation took place on 13 and 14 June 1941, estimated at 15,600 men, women, and children, and including 20% of Latvia's last legal government. Similar deportations were repeated after the end of World War II. The building of the KGB located at 61 Brīvības iela, known as 'the corner house', is now a museum. Stalin's deportations also included thousands of Latvian Jews. The mass deportation totalled 131,500 across the Baltics.

During the Nazi occupation, the Jewish community was forced into the Riga Ghetto and a Nazi concentration camp was constructed in Kaiserwald. On 25 October 1941, the Nazis relocated all Jews from Riga and the vicinity to the ghetto. Most of Latvia's Jews (about 24,000) were killed on 30 November and 8 December 1941 in the Rumbula massacre.Ezergailis, The Holocaust in Latvia, p. 348 By the end of the war, the remaining Baltic Germans were expelled to Germany.

File:Red Army soldiers in Riga. October 1944.jpg Red Army in front of the Freedom Monument in Riga in 1944]]

The Soviet Red Army reconquered Riga on 13 October 1944. In the following years the massive influx of labourers, administrators, military personnel, and their dependents from Russia and other Soviet republics started. Microdistricts of the large multi-storied housing blocks were built to house immigrant workers.

By the end of World War II, Riga's historical centre was heavily damaged from constant bombing. After the war, huge efforts were made to reconstruct and renovate most of the famous buildings that had been part of the skyline of the city before the war. Such buildings were, amongst others, St. Peter's Church which lost its wooden tower after a fire caused by the Wehrmacht (renovated in 1954). Another example is the House of the Blackheads, completely destroyed, its ruins subsequently demolished; a facsimile was constructed in 1995.

In 1989, the percentage of Latvians in Riga had fallen to 36.5%.{{cite web|url=http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/population-database-30625.html|title=Population – Database|work=csb.gov.lv|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221072849/http://www.csb.gov.lv/en/statistikas-temas/population-database-30625.html|archive-date=21 February 2012}}

File:Ministru prezidents Valdis Dombrovskis noliek ziedus pie Brīvības pieminekļa (7141677177).jpg in 2012]]

In 2004, the arrival of low-cost airlines resulted in cheaper flights from other European cities such as London and Berlin, and consequently a substantial increase in numbers of tourists.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/4633647.stm|work=BBC News|title=Latvia prepares for a tourist invasion|first=Jonathan|last=Charles|access-date=2 August 2007|date=30 June 2005|archive-date=8 April 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080408135100/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/crossing_continents/4633647.stm|url-status=live}}

On 21 November 2013, the roof of a supermarket collapsed in Zolitūde, one of the neighbourhoods of the city, possibly as a result of the weight of materials used in the construction of a garden on the roof. Fifty-four people were killed. Latvian President Andris Bērziņš described the disaster as "a large-scale murder of many defenceless people".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25069947|title=Remaining Riga mall roof caves in|work=BBC News|access-date=22 June 2018|archive-date=1 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101113813/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25069947|url-status=live}}

File:View from Latvian Academy of Sciences building.09.jpg

Riga was the European Capital of Culture in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.riga.com/|title=Riga, Latvia|work=riga.com|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=8 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160208085353/http://riga.com/|url-status=live}} During Latvia's Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2015, the 4th Eastern Partnership Summit took place in Riga.{{cite web|url=http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/05/21-22/|title=Eastern Partnership summit, Riga, 21-22/05/2015|work=European Council|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215154659/http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-summit/2015/05/21-22/|url-status=live}}

Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Saeima voted to suspend the functioning of a section of an agreement between Latvia and Russia regarding the preservation of memorial structures on 12 May,{{cite news |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/saeima-decides-to-legally-allow-soviet-monument-demolition.a456417/ |title=Saeima decides to legally allow Soviet monument demolition |date=12 May 2022 |publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |accessdate=12 May 2022 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512093818/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/politics/saeima/saeima-decides-to-legally-allow-soviet-monument-demolition.a456417/ |url-status=live }} in the next day the Riga City Council also voted to demolish the Monument to the Liberators of Soviet Latvia and Riga from the German Fascist Invaders.{{cite news |url=https://bnn-news.com/riga-city-council-votes-in-favour-of-demolition-of-occupation-monument-234717 |title=Riga City Council votes in favour of demolition of "Occupation monument" |date=13 May 2022 |publisher=Baltic News Network |agency=LETA |accessdate=26 August 2022 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004141539/https://bnn-news.com/riga-city-council-votes-in-favour-of-demolition-of-occupation-monument-234717 |url-status=live }} On 20 May, a rally called "Getting Rid of Soviet Heritage" took place in Riga to call for removing Soviet monuments in Latvia, it was attended by approximately 5,000 people.{{cite news |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/thousands-turn-out-to-support-removal-of-soviet-relics.a457795/ |title=Thousands turn out to support removal of Soviet relics |date=20 May 2022 |publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |agency=LETA |access-date=9 April 2023 |archive-date=6 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221006221037/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/society/thousands-turn-out-to-support-removal-of-soviet-relics.a457795/ |url-status=live }} The demolition began 22 August 2022 and on 25 August 2022, the obelisk was toppled.{{cite news |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/demolition-of-soviet-victory-monument-in-riga.a470869 |title=Demolition of Soviet Victory monument in Rīga |date=25 August 2022 |publisher=Public Broadcasting of Latvia |accessdate=25 August 2022 |archive-date=25 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220825163700/https://eng.lsm.lv/article/society/environment/demolition-of-soviet-victory-monument-in-riga.a470869/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://bnn-news.com/video-79-m-tall-obelisk-of-soviet-victory-monument-toppled-in-pardaugava-237651 |title=79 m tall obelisk of Soviet Victory Monument toppled in Pārdaugava |date=26 August 2022 |publisher=Baltic News Network |accessdate=26 August 2022 |archive-date=26 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826074105/https://bnn-news.com/video-79-m-tall-obelisk-of-soviet-victory-monument-toppled-in-pardaugava-237651 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.baltictimes.com/largest_soviet_monument_in_baltics_dismantled_in_riga/ |title=Largest Soviet monument in Baltics dismantled in Riga |date=26 August 2022 |newspaper=The Baltic Times |accessdate=26 August 2022 |archive-date=27 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220827233708/https://www.baltictimes.com/largest_soviet_monument_in_baltics_dismantled_in_riga/ |url-status=live }} In 2022, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the street on which the Embassy of the Russian Federation is located was renamed "Independent Ukraine Street".{{Cite news |agency=Agence France-Presse |date=2022-03-10 |title=Lithuania names road leading to Russian embassy 'Ukrainian Heroes' Street' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/10/lithuania-names-road-leading-to-russian-embassy-ukrainian-heroes-street |access-date=2023-04-15 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=10 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220710185212/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/10/lithuania-names-road-leading-to-russian-embassy-ukrainian-heroes-street |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |title=Embassy of Russia · Antonijas iela 2, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia |url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/Embassy+of+Russia/@56.9571165,24.1072606,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x46eecfc54442965f:0x50bbd3520f77aab!8m2!3d56.9566441!4d24.1084703!16s/g/11f0wp_dpj?hl=en |access-date=2023-04-15 |website=Embassy of Russia · Antonijas iela 2, Centra rajons, Rīga, LV-1010, Latvia |language=en |archive-date=15 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415050756/https://www.google.com/maps/place/Embassy+of+Russia/@56.9571165,24.1072606,17z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x46eecfc54442965f:0x50bbd3520f77aab!8m2!3d56.9566441!4d24.1084703!16s/g/11f0wp_dpj?hl=en |url-status=live }}

Despite legal changes, problems have arisen in the city in relation to large construction and reconstruction projects with developers increasingly looking for opportunities to use underground spaces. While this opens up the possibility for new archaeological research to be undertaken, it is decreasing in situ archaeological preservation.{{cite journal|last1=Zirne|first1=S|last2=Lūsēna|first2=E|title=Archaeological Heritage in the Historic Centre of Riga: Status, Management, Development|journal=Internet Archaeology|date=2025|issue=70|doi=10.11141/ia.70.4|doi-access=free|url=https://intarch.ac.uk/journal/issue70/4/index.html}}

{{See also|Neighbourhoods in Riga|List of tourist attractions in Riga}}

Riga is one of the largest cities in the three Baltic states: (Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia).{{Cite web |url=https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiOTE2Mzk5MjEtZGU5Yi00MTU1LWFkOGEtYmQ2M2ZiM2RmYzQxIiwidCI6ImFmZjM2MzMxLTNlNWUtNDdlOC1hZjkzLTE4NTFkNmQxZmUzYiIsImMiOjh9 |title=Statistics of Vilnius; municipality of Vilnius |access-date=3 October 2022 |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930161658/https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiOTE2Mzk5MjEtZGU5Yi00MTU1LWFkOGEtYmQ2M2ZiM2RmYzQxIiwidCI6ImFmZjM2MzMxLTNlNWUtNDdlOC1hZjkzLTE4NTFkNmQxZmUzYiIsImMiOjh9 |url-status=live }}{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/tai-ivyko-vilnius-tapo-didziausiu-miestu-baltijos-salyse.d?id=91151075 |title=It happened: Vilnius became the largest city in the Baltic States |access-date=4 October 2022 |archive-date=4 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221004105019/https://www.delfi.lt/news/daily/lithuania/tai-ivyko-vilnius-tapo-didziausiu-miestu-baltijos-salyse.d?id=91151075 |url-status=live }} Riga is home to approximately one tenth of the three Baltic countries' combined population.{{cite web|url=http://www.li.lv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=1060|title=Latvia in Brief|year=2011|publisher=Latvian Institute|access-date=5 November 2011|archive-date=26 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226035413/http://www.li.lv/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12&Itemid=1060|url-status=dead}}

{{Main|Administrative divisions of Riga}}

• Central District ({{cvt|3|km2|disp=or}})
• Kurzeme District ({{cvt|79|km2|disp=or}})
• Zemgale Suburb ({{cvt|41|km2|disp=or}})
• Northern District ({{cvt|77|km2|disp=or}})
• Vidzeme Suburb ({{cvt|57|km2|disp=or}})
• Latgale Suburb ({{cvt|50|km2|disp=or}})

Riga's administrative divisions consist of six administrative entities: Central, Kurzeme and Northern districts and the Latgale, Vidzeme and Zemgale suburbs. Three entities were established on 1 September 1941, and the other three were established in October 1969.{{cite web |url=http://www.halduskultuur.eu/Mikk_Lohmus_and_Illar_Tonisson.pdf |title=Evolvement of Administrative Division of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius |pages=55, 77 |author1=Mikk Lõhmus |author2=Illar Tõnisson |name-list-style=amp |publisher=Tallinn University of Technology |access-date=29 June 2010 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720162708/http://www.halduskultuur.eu/Mikk_Lohmus_and_Illar_Tonisson.pdf |url-status=live }} There are no official lower-level administrative units, but the Riga City Council Development Agency is working on a plan, which officially makes Riga consist of 58 neighbourhoods.{{cite web |url=http://www.rdpad.lv/apkaimes/ |title=Apkaimju projekts |publisher=Riga City Council Development Agency |language=lv |access-date=29 June 2010 |archive-date=25 May 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525164020/http://www.rdpad.lv/apkaimes/ |url-status=live }} The current names were confirmed on 28 December 1990.{{cite web |url=http://www.ceroi.net/reports/riga/background_things/teritory.htm |title=Changes in the Administrative Division of the Territory of Riga after the Loss of Independence (1940–1991) |publisher=Riga City Environment Centre "Agenda 21" |access-date=29 June 2010 |archive-date=23 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723041251/http://www.ceroi.net/reports/riga/background_things/teritory.htm }}

{{wide image|Riga Skyline Panorama, Latvia - Diliff.jpg|1200px|Panorama over Riga from St. Peter's Church}}

The climate of Riga is humid continental (Köppen Dfb).{{Cite web|url=http://www.renewit-tool.eu/Content/File/1-Meteorological%20data.pdf|title=Hypothesis for modelling: Meteorological data|date=2015|publisher=European Union|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324155542/http://www.renewit-tool.eu/Content/File/1-Meteorological%20data.pdf|archive-date=24 March 2020|access-date=24 March 2020}} The coldest months are January and February, when the average temperature is {{cvt|-2.1|C|0|lk=on}} but temperatures as low as {{cvt|-20|to|-25|C|0}} can be observed almost every year on the coldest days. The proximity of the sea causes frequent autumn rains and fogs. Continuous snow cover may last eighty days. The summers in Riga are mild and rainy with an average temperature of {{cvt|18|C|0}}, while the temperature on the hottest days can exceed {{cvt|30|C|0}}.

{{Clear}}{{Weather box

| location = Riga (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1885–present)

| metric first = Y

| single line = Y

|collapsed =

| Jan record high C = 10.2

| Feb record high C = 13.6

| Mar record high C = 21.7

| Apr record high C = 28.0

| May record high C = 30.5

| Jun record high C = 34.0

| Jul record high C = 34.5

| Aug record high C = 33.9

| Sep record high C = 29.4

| Oct record high C = 23.4

| Nov record high C = 17.2

| Dec record high C = 11.8

| year record high C = 34.5

| Jan avg record high C = 5.9

| Feb avg record high C = 6.1

| Mar avg record high C = 12.7

| Apr avg record high C = 21.5

| May avg record high C = 26.3

| Jun avg record high C = 28.4

| Jul avg record high C = 30.1

| Aug avg record high C = 29.4

| Sep avg record high C = 23.9

| Oct avg record high C = 17.3

| Nov avg record high C = 10.9

| Dec avg record high C = 6.7

| year avg record high C = 31.4

| Jan high C = -0.1

| Feb high C = 0.3

| Mar high C = 4.8

| Apr high C = 11.9

| May high C = 17.8

| Jun high C = 21.3

| Jul high C = 23.8

| Aug high C = 22.7

| Sep high C = 17.3

| Oct high C = 10.5

| Nov high C = 4.8

| Dec high C = 1.4

| Jan mean C = -2.1

| Feb mean C = -2.0

| Mar mean C = 1.5

| Apr mean C = 7.4

| May mean C = 13.0

| Jun mean C = 16.7

| Jul mean C = 19.3

| Aug mean C = 18.3

| Sep mean C = 13.4

| Oct mean C = 7.5

| Nov mean C = 3.0

| Dec mean C = -0.3

| Jan low C = -4.5

| Feb low C = -4.6

| Mar low C = -1.7

| Apr low C = 2.9

| May low C = 8.2

| Jun low C = 12.4

| Jul low C = 14.9

| Aug low C = 14.1

| Sep low C = 9.8

| Oct low C = 4.9

| Nov low C = 1.1

| Dec low C = -2.4

| Jan avg record low C = -16.4

| Feb avg record low C = -15.8

| Mar avg record low C = -10.4

| Apr avg record low C = -3.9

| May avg record low C = 0.2

| Jun avg record low C = 5.3

| Jul avg record low C = 9.3

| Aug avg record low C = 8.0

| Sep avg record low C = 3.0

| Oct avg record low C = -2.4

| Nov avg record low C = -6.5

| Dec avg record low C = -11.4

| year avg record low C = -20.3

| Jan record low C = −33.7

| Feb record low C = −34.9

| Mar record low C = −30.3

| Apr record low C = −13.1

| May record low C = −5.5

| Jun record low C = −2.3

| Jul record low C = 4.0

| Aug record low C = 0.0

| Sep record low C = −4.1

| Oct record low C = −9.5

| Nov record low C = −20.5

| Dec record low C = −31.9

| year record low C = −34.9

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation mm = 46.5

| Feb precipitation mm = 40.1

| Mar precipitation mm = 34.1

| Apr precipitation mm = 35.0

| May precipitation mm = 47.5

| Jun precipitation mm = 65.0

| Jul precipitation mm = 79.5

| Aug precipitation mm = 77.9

| Sep precipitation mm = 67.1

| Oct precipitation mm = 75.6

| Nov precipitation mm = 56.3

| Dec precipitation mm = 50.2

| year precipitation mm =

| Jan snow cm = 25.0

| Feb snow cm = 23.6

| Mar snow cm = 15.7

| Apr snow cm = 5.2

| May snow cm = 0.0

| Jun snow cm = 0.0

| Jul snow cm = 0.0

| Aug snow cm = 0.0

| Sep snow cm = 0.0

| Oct snow cm = 1.2

| Nov snow cm = 7.0

| Dec snow cm = 22.0

| year snow cm =

| unit precipitation days = 1.0mm

| Jan precipitation days = 11

| Feb precipitation days = 9

| Mar precipitation days = 8

| Apr precipitation days = 7

| May precipitation days = 8

| Jun precipitation days = 10

| Jul precipitation days = 9

| Aug precipitation days = 10

| Sep precipitation days = 9

| Oct precipitation days = 12

| Nov precipitation days = 11

| Dec precipitation days = 11

| year precipitation days =

| Jan humidity = 85.9

| Feb humidity = 82.4

| Mar humidity = 76.0

| Apr humidity = 68.2

| May humidity = 66.3

| Jun humidity = 69.1

| Jul humidity = 71.0

| Aug humidity = 73.2

| Sep humidity = 78.5

| Oct humidity = 83.1

| Nov humidity = 87.2

| Dec humidity = 87.4

| year humidity = 77.4

| Jan sun = 36.6

| Feb sun = 64.2

| Mar sun = 141.2

| Apr sun = 203.6

| May sun = 286.7

| Jun sun = 282.2

| Jul sun = 291.2

| Aug sun = 250.4

| Sep sun = 166.7

| Oct sun = 95.5

| Nov sun = 36.1

| Dec sun = 24.4

| year sun =

| Jan uv = 0

| Feb uv = 1

| Mar uv = 2

| Apr uv = 3

| May uv = 5

| Jun uv = 6

| Jul uv = 5

| Aug uv = 5

| Sep uv = 3

| Oct uv = 1

| Nov uv = 0

| Dec uv = 0

| source 1 = Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Agency (temperature, precipitation and sunshine){{cite web

| url = https://data.gov.lv/dati/dataset/klimatisko-normu-dati/resource/4ef4a2ac-b439-478a-83b3-cdd39b1eff77

| title = Klimatisko normu dati

| language = lv

| publisher = Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

| accessdate = March 17, 2023

| archive-date = 13 January 2023

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230113024913/https://data.gov.lv/dati/dataset/klimatisko-normu-dati/resource/4ef4a2ac-b439-478a-83b3-cdd39b1eff77

| url-status = live

}}{{cite web

| url = https://klimats.meteo.lv/klimats/rekordi/

| title = Gaisa temperatūras rekordi

| language = lv

| publisher = Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre

| accessdate = March 17, 2023

| archive-date = 13 January 2023

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230113024910/https://klimats.meteo.lv/klimats/rekordi/

| url-status = live

}}

| source 2 = NOAA (precipitation days, humidity 1991–2020),{{cite web

|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Latvia/CSV/RigaLu_26422.csv

|title = Riga Climate Normals 1991–2020

|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

|access-date = 2 February 2024

|archive-date = 31 March 2023

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230331000000/https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Latvia/CSV/RigaLu_26422.csv

|url-status = live

}} [https://www.delfi.lv/laika-zinas/42384664/raksti/120007877/latvija-labots-menesa-siltuma-rekords#google_vignette Alt URL] Weather Atlas,{{Cite web|url=https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/latvia/riga-climate|title=Riga, Latvia – Detailed climate information and monthly weather forecast|publisher=Yu Media Group|website=Weather Atlas|language=en|access-date=6 July 2019|archive-date=6 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706140053/https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/latvia/riga-climate|url-status=live}} and World Weather Online (snowfall){{Cite web|url=https://www.worldweatheronline.com/riga-weather-averages/riga/lv.aspx|title=Riga Climate Weather Averages|last=d.o.o|website=Weather Weather Online|language=en|access-date=29 August 2022|archive-date=29 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829210456/https://www.worldweatheronline.com/riga-weather-averages/riga/lv.aspx|url-status=live}}}}

{{Main|Riga City Council}}

File:Riga - City Hall.jpg]]

The head of the city government in Riga is the mayor, or officially the Chairman of the Riga City Council. The mayor is elected by the city council. He or she is assisted by one or more Vice Mayors (deputy mayors). The current mayor is Vilnis Ķirsis, who was elected on 17 August 2023 from New Unity, with support from "Coalition for Cooperation", consisting of New Unity, National Alliance/Latvian Regional Alliance (NA/LRA), Code for Riga, Honor to server Riga and For Latvia's Development factions.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

The city council is a democratically elected institution and is the final decision-making authority in the city. The Council consists of 60 members or deputies who are elected every four years. The Presidium of the Riga City Council consists of the Chairman of the Riga City Council and the representatives delegated by the political parties or party blocks elected to the City Council. From February to October 2020, the offices of the Mayor and Vice Mayors were suspended and the council itself had been dissolved and replaced by an interim administration of representatives from three governmental ministries until snap elections were held in 2020.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

File:Riga population pyramid in 2022.svg{{historical populations|1897|282230|1920|185137|1925|337699|1930|377917|1935|385063|1959|580423|1970|731831|1979|835475|1989|915106|2000|764329|2011|658640|2021|614618|2024|605273|align=right|cols=1|source=pop-stat.mashke.org{{cite web |title=Cities of Latvia|url=http://pop-stat.mashke.org/latvia-cities.htm|date=2024-04-15}}}}With 605,270 inhabitants in 2024 as according to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia, Riga was one of the largest cities in the Baltic states, though its population has decreased from just over 900,000 in 1991{{cite web |url=https://data.stat.gov.lv/pxweb/en/OSP_PUB/START__POP__IR__IRS/IRD060/table/tableViewLayout1/|title=Population by sex in regions, cities, municipalities, towns and rural territories at the beginning of year|publisher=Central Statistical Bureau, official statistics of Latvia|access-date=3 October 2022}} and the population of Vilnius has just outnumbered that of Riga. Notable causes include emigration and low birth rates. According to the 2022 data, ethnic Latvians made up 47.4% of the population of Riga. Russians formed 35.7%, Belarusians 3.6%, Ukrainians 3.5%, Poles 1.7%, other ethnicities consisted 8.2%. By comparison, 63.0% of Latvia's total population was ethnically Latvian, 24.2% Russian, 3.1% Belarusian, 2.2% Ukrainian, 1.9% Polish, 1.1% are Lithuanian and the rest of other origins.

Upon the restoration of Latvia's independence in 1991, Soviet-era immigrants (and any of their offspring born before 1991) were not automatically granted Latvian citizenship because they had migrated to the territory of Latvia during the years of Soviet occupation. The proportion of ethnic Latvians in Riga increased from 36.5% in 1989 to 47.4% in 2022. In contrast, the percentage of Russians fell from 47.3% to 35.7% in the same time period. In 2022 citizens of Latvia made up 79.0%, non-citizens 15.3% and citizens of other countries 5.6% of the population of Riga.

Riga is one of the key economic and financial centres of the Baltic states. Roughly half of all the jobs in Latvia are in Riga and the city generates more than 50% of Latvia's GDP as well as around half of Latvia's exports. The city boasts a diversified economy with strengths in information and communication technologies, global business services, manufacturing and a dynamic startup ecosystem.{{Cite web | url=https://www.liveriga.com/userfiles/files/REP_25_eng_apskatei-compressed(2).pdf | title=The Economic Profile of Riga 2025 | website=www.liveriga.com}} The biggest exporters are in wood products, IT, food and beverage manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, transport and metallurgy.{{cite web |url=http://www.bizness.lv/prognozes-rezultati/id/10476/nosaukti-desmit-lielakie-eksportejosie-uznemumi-riga-un-rigas-regiona |title=/ Uzņēmējdarbība / Nosaukti desmit lielākie eksportējošie uzņēmumi Rīgā un Rīgas reģionā |publisher=Bizness.lv |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-date=29 June 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160629235358/http://www.bizness.lv/prognozes-rezultati/id/10476/nosaukti-desmit-lielakie-eksportejosie-uznemumi-riga-un-rigas-regiona |url-status=live }} Tourism is also a large industry in Riga and after a slowdown during the global economic recessions of the late 2000s, grew 22% in 2011 alone.{{cite web |title=Tūristu skaits Latvijā pērn pieaudzis par 21%, Rīgā – par 22% – Izklaide |url=http://nra.lv/izklaide/turisms/67049-turistu-skaits-latvija-pern-pieaudzis-par-21-riga-par-22.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170913232136/http://nra.lv/izklaide/turisms/67049-turistu-skaits-latvija-pern-pieaudzis-par-21-riga-par-22.htm |archive-date=13 September 2017 |access-date=12 March 2013 |publisher=nra.lv}}

The city benefits from strong transport links, including Riga International Airport, and an active seaport. The forthcoming Rail Baltica project is expected to further enhance Riga's connectivity and integration into the European transport network, with the potential to reinforce its position as a strategic centre for trade in Northern Europe.{{Cite web| title=The economic profile of the city of Riga 2024 | url=https://www.liveriga.com/userfiles/files/Invest_in_Riga/Priority%20Sectors/Economic_profile_24.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240515001835/https://www.liveriga.com/userfiles/files/Invest_in_Riga/Priority%20Sectors/Economic_profile_24.pdf | archive-date=2024-05-15}}

The Freeport of Riga is one of the largest in the Baltics. It handled a record 41.8 million tons of cargo in 2014{{Cite web |date=2015-01-14 |title=Riga port finishes the year with the historically best results {{!}} Freeport of Riga Authority |url=https://rop.lv/en/news/riga-port-finishes-year-historically-best-results |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=rop.lv |language=en}} and completed a new development on Krievu Sala in 2018, with the aim of moving the port away from the central parts of the city.{{Cite web |title=Rīgans should soon be able to breathe again |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/economy/riga-freeport-official-coal-dust-issue-has-been-solved.a312278/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=eng.lsm.lv |language=en}} However, its cargo turnover had been reduced by a half by 2024,{{Cite web |title=Port Statistics {{!}} Freeport of Riga Authority |url=https://rop.lv/en/port-statistics |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=rop.lv |language=en}} in large part due to decreased trade with Russia after the outbreak of Russo-Ukrainian War and the sanctions imposed in response to it.{{Cite web |title=Latvian port cargo turnover saw sharp drop in 2023 |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/transport/22.01.2024-latvian-port-cargo-turnover-saw-sharp-drop-in-2023.a539832/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=eng.lsm.lv |language=en}}

Riga was intended to become the global financial centre in the former Soviet Union. One bank, which provided high levels of secrecy for its customers, promoted itself as "We are closer than Switzerland!" ({{langx|ru|link=no|«Мы ближе, чем Швейцария!»}}).{{cite news |last=Caruana Galizia |first=Paul |url=https://members.tortoisemedia.com/2019/06/01/martins-bunkus/content.html |title=Dirty money, bloody murder |language=en |date=1 June 2019 |access-date=27 November 2020 |archive-date=16 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616073645/https://members.tortoisemedia.com/2019/06/01/martins-bunkus/content.html}}{{cite news |url=http://www.compromat.ru/page_40559.htm |title=Кровь на счетах: Как связаны "латвийская прачечная" и расстрел адвоката, мешавшего банку ABLV Эрнеста Берниса и Олега Филя самоликвидироваться |trans-title=Blood on the bills: How are the "Latvian laundry" and the shooting of the lawyer who prevented the ABLV bank Ernest Bernis and Oleg Filya from self-liquidation? |language=ru |work=www.compromat.ru |date=10 July 2019 |access-date=27 November 2020 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129110654/http://www.compromat.ru/page_40559.htm |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last=Palmer |first=Richard L. |url=https://archives-financialservices.house.gov/banking/92199pal.shtml |title=Statement of Richard L. Palmer, president of Cachet International, Inc. on the Infiltration of the Western Financial System by Elements of Russian Organized Crime before the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services |work=House Committee on Banking and Financial Services |date=September 21, 1999 |access-date=December 7, 2020 |archive-date=July 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729221747/https://archives-financialservices.house.gov/banking/92199pal.shtml}}{{efn|Richard L. Palmer, president of Cachet International, Inc., was the CIA station chief at the United States Embassy in Moscow from 1992 to 1994.{{cite news |last=Foer |first=Franklin |author-link=Franklin Foer |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/03/how-kleptocracy-came-to-america/580471/ |title=Russian-Style Kleptocracy Is Infiltrating America: When the U.S.S.R. collapsed, Washington bet on the global spread of democratic capitalist values—and lost. |work=The Atlantic |date=March 1, 2019 |access-date=December 7, 2020 |archive-date=8 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208004338/https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/03/how-kleptocracy-came-to-america/580471/}}}} On 28 July 1995, twenty Latvian banks with assistance of persons from the Paris Stock Exchange organised the Riga Stock Exchange which was the first Latvian stock exchange in Riga.{{cite news|last=Семенов|first=Александр (Cememov, Alexander)|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/114428|title=В Латвии создана фондовая биржа. Латвийские банки организовали себе фондовую биржу: В Риге состоялось торжественное открытие Рижской фондовой биржи, на котором присутствовало около 200 представителей финансового мира Балтии, а также стран Западной и Восточной Европы. Учредителями биржи стали 20 латвийских банков.|trans-title=Stock exchange established in Latvia. Latvian banks have organized a stock exchange for themselves: The grand opening of the Riga Stock Exchange took place in Riga, which was attended by about 200 representatives of the Baltic financial world, as well as Western and Eastern European countries. The founders of the exchange were 20 Latvian banks.|language=ru|work=Kommersant|date=28 July 1995|access-date=15 December 2020|archive-date=16 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201216044149/https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/114428}}

File:Bank of Latvia 01.jpg|Bank of Latvia

File:Riga stock exchange.jpg|Riga Stock Exchange early 20th century. Now the Art Museum Riga Bourse.

Riga is one the leading travel destinations in the Baltic region in terms of overnight stays by foreign visitors.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-05 |title=Riga has lost its leading position among the Baltic capitals in number of overnight stays of foreign guests {{!}} Baltic News |url=https://balticnews.com/riga-has-lost-its-leading-position-among-the-baltic-capitals-in-number-of-overnight-stays-of-foreign-guests/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |language=en-US}} In 2024, the city welcomed over 1.1 million international tourists.

Summer remains the peak season for tourism in Riga, however, it’s also seeing a growing influx of visitors in December,{{Cite web |title=Riga’s Tourism in 2024 – Best Year Since 2019; Taking 2nd Place in a Prestigious European Ranking {{!}} Rīgas valstspilsētas pašvaldība |url=https://www.riga.lv/en/article/rigas-tourism-2024-best-year-2019-taking-2nd-place-prestigious-european-ranking |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=www.riga.lv |language=en}} largely due to the city's transformation into a festive destination during the holiday season.{{Cite web |title=A first-time guide to Rīga, Latvia |url=https://www.lonelyplanet.com/articles/guide-to-riga |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Lonely Planet |language=en}} The Riga Christmas Market, located in the Old Town of RIga, serves as a key attraction during the Christmas period.{{Cite web |date=2025-05-28 |title=A winter guide to Riga, Latvia's petite, snow-dusted capital |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/winter-guide-to-riga-latvia |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Travel |language=en}}

The most popular attractions include the Riga Zoo, House of the Blackheads, Riga Central Market, the Latvian National Museum of Art and the Latvian National Museum of Natural History, as well as its historic Old Town and the Art Noveau architecture found in high concentration the centre of the city.

In addition to leisure tourism, Riga serves as a significant venue for international trade fairs and exhibitions. The city hosts a variety of annual events across sectors such as technology, agriculture, and business.

File:Opera Nacional, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 15.JPG]]

• The Latvian National Opera was founded in 1918. The repertoire of the theatre embraces all opera masterpieces. Housed in a neoclassical building completed in 1863, it has become one of RIga’s landmarks. The Latvian National Opera is famous not only for its operas, but for its ballet troupe as well.{{cite web|url=http://www.opera.lv/opera.php?lang=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071226023239/http://www.opera.lv/opera.php?lang=2 |archive-date=26 December 2007 |title=Latvian National Opera |publisher=Opera.lv |access-date=6 May 2009 }}
• The Latvian National Theatre, founded in 1919, is renowned for preserving the traditions of Latvian drama. It is one of the biggest theatres in Latvia and is also notable as the site where Latvia declared its independence in 1918.{{cite web|url=http://www.teatris.lv/|title=Home » Latvijas Nacionālais teātris|work=teatris.lv|access-date=10 February 2016|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031234111/http://www.teatris.lv/|url-status=live}}
• The Mikhail Chekhov Riga Russian Theatre is the oldest professional drama theatre in Latvia, established in 1883. The repertoire of the theatre includes classical plays and experimental performances of Russian and other foreign playwrights.
• The Daile Theatre was opened for the first time in 1920. It is one of the most successful theatres in Latvia and is distinguished by its frequent productions of modern foreign plays.{{cite web |url=http://www.dailesteatris.lv/index.php?&268|title=The Daile Theatre – Repertory |publisher=Dailesteatris.lv |access-date=25 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090429143725/http://www.dailesteatris.lv/index.php?&268|archive-date=29 April 2009}} It’s also known for the building it’s housed in, which is considered as one of the most important examples of modernist architecture in Riga.{{Cite web | title=Daile Theatre, 1959–1976, by Architect Marta Staņa (1913–1972) {{!}} Latvijas Kultūras kanons | url=https://kulturaskanons.lv/en/archive/dailes-teatris/ | access-date=2025-05-28 | website=kulturaskanons.lv}}
• Latvian State Puppet Theatre was founded in 1944 and presents shows for children and adults.{{cite web|url=http://www.puppet.lv/|title=Latvijas Leļļu teātris|work=puppet.lv|access-date=25 July 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310074902/http://www.puppet.lv/|archive-date=10 March 2010}}
• The New Riga Theatre was opened in 1992 and has since become one of the most popular theatres in Latvia, also attracting audiences abroad.{{Cite web | title=The New Riga Theatre, since 1993, Under the Leadership of Director Alvis Hermanis (1965) {{!}} Latvijas Kultūras kanons | url=https://kulturaskanons.lv/en/archive/alvja-hermana-jaunais-rigas-teatris/ | access-date=2025-05-28 | website=kulturaskanons.lv}}

File:Mežaparka estrāde detail.jpg

{{main|Mežaparks Great Bandstand}}

The Mežaparks Great Bandstand (Latvian: Mežaparka Lielā estrāde) is an open-air bandstand in Mežaparks park. The Bandstand is the place where the Latvian Song and Dance Festival, one of the largest amateur choral and dancing events in the world and part of UNESCO Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity{{cite web |title=Baltic song and dance celebrations |url=https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/baltic-song-and-dance-celebrations-00087 |publisher=UNESCO |accessdate=20 August 2009}} list, takes places every five years.

Riga hosted the biannual 2014 World Choir Games from 9 to 19 July 2014 which coincided with the city being named European Capital of Culture for 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.interkultur.com/fileadmin/pdf_data/latvia/Riga%202014/information/Event_Calendar_-_WCG_Riga_2014.pdf |title=Event Calendar of the 8th World Choir Games 2014, Rīga, Latvia |access-date=5 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206070255/http://www.interkultur.com/fileadmin/pdf_data/latvia/Riga%202014/information/Event_Calendar_-_WCG_Riga_2014.pdf |archive-date=6 February 2013}}{{cite web|url=http://www.liveriga.com/en/5727 |title=Riga – European Capital of Culture 2014 :: LIVE RīGA |publisher=Liveriga.com |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121207104047/http://www.liveriga.com/en/5727 |archive-date=7 December 2012}} The event, organised by the choral foundation, Interkultur, takes place at various host cities every two years and was originally known as the "Choir Olympics".{{cite web|url=http://www.interkultur.com/world-choir-games/history/ |title=History – World Choir Games |publisher=interkultur.com |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206070308/http://www.interkultur.com/world-choir-games/history/ |archive-date=6 February 2013}} The event regularly sees over 15,000 choristers in over 300 choirs from over 60 nations compete for gold, silver and bronze medals in over 20 categories. The competition is further divided into a Champions Competition and an Open Competition to allow choirs from all backgrounds to enter. Choral workshops and festivals are also witnessed in the host cities and are usually open to the public.{{cite web|url=http://www.interkultur.com/competitions-festivals/world-choir-games/riga-2014/workshops/ |title=Workshops – World Choir Games Riga 2014 |publisher=interkultur.com |access-date=12 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130206070304/http://www.interkultur.com/competitions-festivals/world-choir-games/riga-2014/workshops/ |archive-date=6 February 2013}}

As a modern European capital, Riga offers a diverse selection of restaurants, from traditional Latvian cuisine to various international influences.{{Cite web |title=The 50 best restaurants to have dinner in Riga |url=https://wanderlog.com/list/geoCategory/29629/best-restaurants-to-have-dinner-in-riga |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Wanderlog |language=en}} Its fine dining establishments also include two Michelin-starred restaurants.{{Cite web |title=The MICHELIN Guide Latvia 2025: All The Winners |url=https://guide.michelin.com/en/article/michelin-guide-ceremony/the-michelin-guide-latvia-riga-2025-winners-michelin-guide-ceremony |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=MICHELIN Guide |language=en-US}} Additionally, the city organizes Riga Restaurant Weeks in both spring and autumn,{{Cite web |title=The number of tourists in Riga sees a stable rise, reaching 1.2 million in 2023 |url=https://www.liveriga.com/lv/13185-turistu-skaits-riga-stabili-atjaunojas-2023-gada-sasniedzot-1-2-miljonu |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=www.liveriga.com |language=en}} during which participating restaurants offer specially curated menus.{{Cite web |title=Riga Restaurant Week begins |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/food-drink/01.04.2025-riga-restaurant-week-begins.a593700/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=eng.lsm.lv |language=en}}

Positivus Festival, the largest music festival in the Baltics, takes place in Lucavsala, after relocating from the coastal town of Salacgrīva in 2022.{{Cite web |title=Positivus festival will stay in Rīga next year |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/culture/music/positivus-festival-will-stay-in-riga-next-year.a483548/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=eng.lsm.lv |language=en}} Since then, it has featured performances by local and international artists like A$AP Rocky, Megan Thee Stallion, Sam Smith and Jamie XX.{{Cite web |last=Interviews |first=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & |last2=ClashMusic |date=2022-07-26 |title=Live Report: Positivus Festival 2022 {{!}} Live |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/live/live-report-positivus-festival-2022/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Clash Magazine Music News, Reviews & Interviews |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=ERR |first=ERR News {{!}} |date=2023-06-10 |title=LSM lists summer festivals taking place across all three Baltic states |url=https://news.err.ee/1609003775/lsm-lists-summer-festivals-taking-place-across-all-three-baltic-states |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=ERR |language=en}}

The nightlife in Riga is scattered around various locations – the biggest concentration of bars and nightclubs, mostly oriented on tourists, can be found in the Old Town, but many popular establishments can be found in various parts of Central Riga and beyond, in areas such as Avoti, Teika, Āgenskalns and others, as well as in creative quarters, for example Tallinas Kvartāls or Briāna Kvartāls.{{Cite web |title=Nightlife in Riga |url=https://www.liveriga.com/lv/12557-rigas-naktsdzive |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=www.liveriga.com |language=en}}

File:Riga Castle seen across the river Daugava .jpg]]

The radio and TV tower of Riga is the tallest structure in Latvia and the Baltic States, and one of the tallest in the European Union, reaching {{cvt|368.5|m|0}}. Riga centre also has many great examples of Gothic revival architecture, such as the Kalpaka Boulevard Library, and a bevy of Art Nouveau architecture, as well as a medieval old town.{{Cite web|last=@NatGeoUK|date=2020-02-17|title=A city guide to Riga, Latvia's thriving capital|url=https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel/2020/02/city-guide-riga-latvias-thriving-capital|access-date=2021-01-05|website=National Geographic|language=en-gb|archive-date=19 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119030854/https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel/2020/02/city-guide-riga-latvias-thriving-capital|url-status=live}}

{{Main|Art Nouveau architecture in Riga}}

Riga has one of the largest collections of Art Nouveau buildings in the world, with at least 800 buildings. This is due to the fact that at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, when Art Nouveau was at the height of its popularity, Riga experienced an unprecedented financial and demographic boom.{{cite book |last= Grosa|first= Silvija|date= 2003|title= Art Nouveau in Riga|publisher= Jumava|page= 3|isbn=9984-05-601-5}} In the period from 1857 its population grew from 282,000 (256,200 in Riga itself and another 26,200 inhabitants beyond the city limits in the patrimonial district and military townlet of Ust-Dvinsk) to 472,100 in 1913.{{cite web| url = https://www.russkije.lv/files/images/text/RL_0004X.jpg| title = НАЦИОНАЛЬНЫЙ СОСТАВ НАСЕЛЕНИЯ ЛАТВИИ ЗА 110 ЛЕТ В ЗЕРКАЛЕ СТАТИСТИКИ, Федотов А.Н| access-date = 18 July 2021| archive-date = 18 July 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210718181515/https://www.russkije.lv/files/images/text/RL_0004X.jpg| url-status = live}}{{cite web| url = https://en.calameo.com/read/0020559683290f86e374f| title = Перепись населения в городе Риге и Рижском патримониальном округе от 5 декабря 1913 г.| access-date = 18 July 2021| archive-date = 18 July 2021| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210718190550/https://en.calameo.com/read/0020559683290f86e374f| url-status = live}} The middle class of Riga used their acquired wealth to build imposing apartment blocks outside the former city walls. Local architects, mostly graduates of Riga Technical University, adopted current European movements and in particular Art Nouveau.{{cite journal |last= Krastins|first= Janis|date= 2006|title= Architecture and Urban Development of Art Nouveau – Metropolis Riga|journal= International Review of Sociology|publisher= Routledge|volume=16 |issue= 2|pages= 395–425|doi=10.1080/03906700600709327|s2cid= 146754212}} Between 1910 and 1913, between 300 and 500 new buildings were built each year in Riga, many of them in Art Nouveau style and most of them outside the old town.

File:Edificio modernista en Alberta iela 13, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 01.jpg|Alberta iela 13

File:Edificio modernista en Alberta iela 2a, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 02.JPG|Alberta iela 2a

File:Alberta ielā 12 20120728-05.JPG|Staircase of Alberta ielā 12

File:A. Čaka iela 26 Rīga 03.jpg|Aleksandra Čaka iela 26

File:La salle à manger (musée dart nouveau, Riga) (7562659988).jpg|Riga Art Nouveau Museum

File:Edificio modernista en Strelnieku Iela 4a, Riga, Letonia, 2012-08-07, DD 01.JPG|Strēlnieku iela 4a

FILE:0871 LVA Riga art noveau relief meistaru iela 10.jpg|Meistaru iela 10 relief

FILE:0872 LVA Riga art noveau relief.jpg|Strelnieku iela relief

Riga has a rich basketball history. In 1937, as the defending champions, in hosted the second edition of the EuroBasket tournament. In the 1950s, Rīgas ASK became the best club in the Soviet Union and also in Europe, winning the first three editions of the European Cup for Men's Champions Clubs from 1958 to 1960.{{cite web|url= http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_7b0E4jiIIfk6gZwtQpkB30.coid_GCcu4PUDGXsHamzPQmY7e1.articleMode_on.html|title= Federation Focus: Latvia – 10 years FIBA Europe |publisher= FIBA Europe |date= 24 September 2012|access-date= 23 December 2014|archive-date= 1 January 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160101113813/http://www.fibaeurope.com/cid_7b0E4jiIIfk6gZwtQpkB30.coid_GCcu4PUDGXsHamzPQmY7e1.articleMode_on.html|url-status= live}}

In 1960, ASK was not the only team from Riga to take the European crown. TTT Riga clinched their first title in the European Cup for Women's Champion Clubs, turning Riga into the capital city of European basketball because for the first and, to date, only time in the history of European basketball, clubs from the same city were concurrent European men's and women's club champions.{{cite web |url-status=usurped |url=http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/cid_FaTi64YyIbQDnvc3JDbil1.pageID_ncqLsNDmIWkdSLfIjNoxT1.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.html |title=Riga: A Closer Look |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150607072708/http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/cid_FaTi64YyIbQDnvc3JDbil1.pageID_ncqLsNDmIWkdSLfIjNoxT1.compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.html |archive-date=7 June 2015 |website=EuroBasket 2015 }}

Riga hosted one of the groups for EuroBasket 2015, and will host again for the third time in 2025, this time also hosting the knockout phase and the final. It also hosted the women’s Eurobasket tournament in 2009.

The city also hosted the Men's Ice Hockey World Championships in 2006, 2021 and 2023.

File:Arēna Rīga.jpg, home to multiple sports clubs of Riga]]

• Basketball
• BK VEF Rīga – a professional basketball team that is a twelve-time Latvian champion. VEF also participates in high-level international competition such as Eurocup and Basketball Champions League.
• BK Barons – a men's basketball team, two-time Latvian champion, as well as the 2008 FIBA EuroCup winner. Ceased to exist in 2017.{{Cite web |title=Bronzas medaļnieki «Barons kvartāls» basketbolisti jaunajā sezonā LBL nespēlēs |url=https://www.lsm.lv/raksts/sports/basketbols/bronzas-medalnieki-barons-kvartals-basketbolisti-jaunaja-sezona-lbl-nespeles.a250809/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=www.lsm.lv |language=lv}}
• TTT Riga – a women's basketball team, which between 1960 and 1982 won eighteen FIBA EuroLeague Women titles
• Rīgas Zeļļi – a men’s basketball club established in 2023. They managed to reach the final of the Latvian Basketball League in their first season, and the final of the Latvian–Estonian League in their second season.
• Ice hockey
• Dinamo Riga – a professional ice hockey club established in 2008. It played in the Kontinental Hockey League until 2022. Dinamo was established as a successor to the former hockey team with the same name, which was founded in 1946 but ceased to exist in 1995. However, the revived team also went defunct in 2023.
• HK Riga – the junior team of Dinamo Riga, which used to play in the MHL until withdrawing after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |title=Oficiāli: Rīgas 'Dinamo' nestartēs nākamajā KHL čempionāta sezonā |url=https://www.delfi.lv/sports/33271443/news/54217704/oficiali-rigas-dinamo-nestartes-nakamaja-khl-cempionata-sezona |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=www.delfi.lv |language=lv}}
• Football
• Riga FC – Riga Football Club, commonly referred to as Riga FC, were established in 2015 after a merger of two Riga based teams – FC Caramba Riga and Dinamo Rīga. After winnthing the top-division Virslīga for the first time in 2018, they also won championships in 2019 and 2020.
• RFS – even though the club’s name is derived from the city-owned Riga Football School (RFS), the professional club currently has no relation to it. After debuting in Virslīga in 2016, they have won 3 Latvian championships and also qualified for UEFA Conference League group stage in 2022 and UEFA Europa League league phase in 2024.
• FS Metta-LU – founded in 2006. Metta play their home games at Daugava Stadium.
• JDFS Alberts – Jura Docenko Futbola Skola Alberts, commonly referred to as JDFS Alberts was founded as a football school in 2008 and subsequently became a professional Latvian football league team.
• Riga United FC{{Cite web|url=http://www.rigaunited.com/en/|title=Riga United FC |website=Riga United FC|access-date=14 May 2019|archive-date=14 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190514094944/http://www.rigaunited.com/en/|url-status=live}}

::Dissolved Football Clubs

:* Skonto FC – Skonto FC was a football club established in 1991. The club won fourteen successive Latvian Higher League titles. For a long time it provided the core of the Latvian national football team. Following financial problems, the club was demoted to the Latvian First League in 2016 and went bankrupt in December of that year and subsequently dissolved.

:* JFK Olimps – JFK Olimps played in the top division of Latvian football. The club was founded in 2005 and dissolved in 2012. According to a study from January 2011, the club was the youngest team in Europe, with an average age of 19.02 years.

File:Skonto Stadions.jpg ]]

• Arena Riga – a multi-purpose arena built in 2006 as the main venue for the 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. It can hold up to 14,500 people and has hosted ice hockey, basketball and volleyball events, as well as Red Bull X-Fighters
• Skonto Stadium – a football stadium, built in 2000. It is the main stadium used for games of the Latvian national football team and the home stadium of Riga FC. The stadium was previously the home stadium of Skonto FC prior to the team's dissolution.
• Daugava Stadium – a stadium built in 1958, used for both football and athletics
• Biķernieki Complex Sports Base – Latvia's leading motorsport complex. It used to host a round in the FIA World Rallycross Championship from 2016 to 2022 and also served as a stage for the World Rally Championship event in 2024, the Tet Rally Latvia.{{Cite web |title=Tet Rally Latvia |url=https://www.lvrally.com/en/news/at-the-bikernieki-track-the-historically-first-tet-rally-latvia-stage-and-spectator-activities-even-before-the-start |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=www.lvrally.com}}

The Riga Marathon, held annually in May, is one of the biggest sporting events in the country. In 2025 it recorded 40,122 participants from 109 countries around the world. The city has also hosted many notable one-off sports events, listed below.

• EuroBasket 1937
• 1999 European Athletics Junior Championships
• EuroBasket Women 2009
• 2006 Men's World Ice Hockey Championships
• Riga Marathon
• 2013 World Women's Curling Championship
• EuroBasket 2015
• 2016 Men's World Floorball Championships{{cite web|url=http://www.floorball.org/default.asp?sivu=5&alasivu=26|title=IFF Events 2012–2018 Organisers/Interested organisers |work=IFF |access-date=4 September 2013|archive-date=23 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223012743/http://www.floorball.org/default.asp?sivu=5&alasivu=26|url-status=dead }}
• 2021 IIHF World Championship
• FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2021
• 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships
• 2023 IIHF World Championship
• EuroBasket 2025

File:16-08-31-Škoda 24Tr Irisbus Riga-RR2 4505.jpg

File:Riga tram 57201 2020-03.jpg tram in Riga]]

File:Latvia railways frequency of commuter trains 2016.svg network: commuter train frequency in 2016.]]

Riga, with its central geographic position and concentration of population, has always been the infrastructural hub of Latvia. Several national roads begin in Riga, and European route E22 crosses Riga from the east and west, while the Via Baltica crosses Riga from the south and north.

As a city situated by a river, Riga also has several bridges. The oldest-standing bridge is the Railway Bridge, which is also the only railroad-carrying bridge in Riga. The Stone Bridge (Akmens tilts) connects Old Riga and Pārdaugava; the Island Bridge (Salu tilts) connects Maskavas Forštate and Pārdaugava via Zaķusala; and the Shroud Bridge (Vanšu tilts) connects Old Riga and Pārdaugava via Ķīpsala. In 2008, the first stage of the new Southern Bridge (Dienvidu tilts) route across the Daugava was completed, and was opened to traffic on 17 November.{{cite web|url=http://www.rdpad.lv/en/south_bridge/|title=Explanatory Note on Planning and Building of the Southern Bridge Route|publisher=Riga City Council City Development Department|access-date=21 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928091749/http://www.rdpad.lv/en/south_bridge/|archive-date=28 September 2007}}

The Southern Bridge was the biggest{{Dubious|date=July 2024}} construction project in the Baltic states in 20 years, and its purpose was to reduce traffic congestion in the city centre.{{cite web|url=http://www.dienvidutilts.lv/index.php?lang_id=2&menu_id=18|title=Introduction |access-date=21 August 2007|publisher=Dienvidu Tilts |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915162206/http://www.dienvidutilts.lv/index.php?lang_id=2&menu_id=18|archive-date=15 September 2007}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rdsd.lv/?ct=dienvidu_tilts|title=Dienvidu tilta maģistrālie pievedceļi|language=lv|publisher=rdsd.lv|access-date=27 July 2009|archive-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904113143/http://www.rdsd.lv/?ct=dienvidu_tilts|url-status=live}} Another major construction project is the planned Riga Northern transport corridor;{{cite web|url=http://www.ziemelukoridors.lv/pages/main.php?l=en&tema=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806213831/http://www.ziemelukoridors.lv/pages/main.php?l=en&tema=2 |archive-date=6 August 2020 |title=Northern Corridor; About project |access-date=21 August 2007 |publisher=ziemelukoridors.lv}} its first segment detailed project was completed in 2015.{{cite web|url=http://www.rdpad.lv/izstradats-rigas-ziemelu-transporta-koridora-1-posma-tehniskais-projekts-buvprojekts/|title=Izstrādāts Rīgas Ziemeļu transporta koridora 1.posma tehniskais projekts / būvprojekts|date=29 December 2015 |publisher=Riga City Council City Development Department|language=lv|access-date=8 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160216034547/http://www.rdpad.lv/izstradats-rigas-ziemelu-transporta-koridora-1-posma-tehniskais-projekts-buvprojekts/|archive-date=16 February 2016}}

The Freeport of Riga facilitates cargo and passenger traffic by sea. Sea ferries connect Riga Passenger Terminal to Stockholm operated by Tallink.{{cite web|url=http://www.tallinksilja.com/lv/web/lv/riga-stokholma|title=Kursēšanas grafiki|language=lv|publisher=Tallink|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-date=1 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201060917/http://www.tallinksilja.com/lv/web/lv/riga-stokholma|url-status=dead}}

Riga has one active airport that serves commercial airlines—the Riga International Airport (RIX), built in 1973. It is the primary hub of AirBaltic and a base for RyanAir.{{Cite web |last=Vaivade |first=Samanta |date=2023-04-12 |title=Latvia Travel Guide: Everything You Need to Know |url=https://travelspill.com/guides/comprehensive-guide-to-latvia-3096/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Travel Spill |language=en-US}} Renovation and modernisation of the airport was completed in 2001, coinciding with the 800th anniversary of the city. In 2006, a new terminal extension was opened. Extension of the runway was completed in October 2008, and the airport is now able to accommodate large aircraft such as the Airbus A340, Boeing 747, 757, 767 and 777. Another terminal extension is under construction {{As of|2014|lc=y}}.{{cite web|url=http://www.riga-airport.com/lv/main/zinas/medijiem/preses-relizes-2014/lidosta-riga-svinigi-atklaj-jaunas-piestatnes-ekas-buvniecibas-saksanu|title=Lidostā "Rīga" svinīgi atklāj jaunās piestātnes ēkas būvniecības sākšanu|publisher=Starptautiskā lidosta "Rīga"|language=lv|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209065412/http://www.riga-airport.com/lv/main/zinas/medijiem/preses-relizes-2014/lidosta-riga-svinigi-atklaj-jaunas-piestatnes-ekas-buvniecibas-saksanu|archive-date=9 February 2015}} The annual number of passengers has grown from 310,000 in 1993 to 4.7 million in 2014, making Riga International Airport the largest in the Baltic States. A new multi-modal hub is planned around the airport with a Rail Baltica station and airport city development planned.{{Cite web |title=Riga Airport: Investments in future development and competitiveness |url=https://www.internationalairportreview.com/article/174375/riga-airport-investments-in-future-development-and-competitiveness/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=International Airport Review |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ellichipuram |first=Umesh |date=2022-02-10 |title=Riga Airport announces medium-term development plan |url=https://www.airport-technology.com/news/riga-airport-medium-term-development-plan/ |access-date=2023-05-13 |website=Airport Technology |language=en-US}}

The former international airport of Riga, Spilve Airport, located {{cvt|5|km|0}} from Riga city centre, is used for small aircraft, pilot training and recreational aviation. Riga was also home to a military air base during the Cold War—Rumbula Air Base.

Public transport in the city is provided by Rīgas Satiksme which operates a large number of trams, buses and trolleybuses on an extensive network of routes across the city. In addition, up until 2012 many private owners operated minibus services, after which the City Council established the unified transport company Rīgas mikroautobusu satiksme, establishing a monopoly over the service.

Riga International Coach Terminal provides domestic and international connections by coach.

As the population of Riga city started to approach 1 million people in the 1980s, the city became eligible (under the Soviet standards of the time) for the construction of a subway system Riga Metro, which would have been paid for by the Soviet government. However, the widespread protests from the public put an end to this plan,{{Cite web |date=2019-06-28 |title=The Unbuilt Soviet Metro System that Haunts Latvia's Capital: Struggle |url=https://deepbaltic.com/2019/06/28/the-unbuilt-soviet-metro-system-that-haunts-latvias-capital-struggle/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=Deep Baltic |language=en-US}} and the population decline from the 1990s onwards has made it irrelevant.

Riga is connected to the rest of Latvia by domestic trains operated by the national carrier Passenger Train, whose headquarters are in Riga. The main railway station is the Riga Central Station. It has stops for public transport along the streets Satekles iela, 13. janvāra iela Marijas iela, and Merķeļa iela. There are also international rail services to Lithuania and Estonia.{{Cite web |title=Baltic train link now has one transfer instead of two |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/transport/10.02.2025-baltic-train-link-now-has-one-transfer-instead-of-two.a587142/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=eng.lsm.lv |language=en}} A TEN-T project called Rail Baltica envisages building a high-speed railway line via Riga connecting Tallinn to Warsaw using standard gauge,{{cite web|url=http://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-policy/linking_en.htm|title=The trans-European transport network policy connecting East and West|access-date=27 January 2015|archive-date=23 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150123121057/http://ec.europa.eu/transport/themes/infrastructure/ten-t-policy/linking_en.htm|url-status=live}} is expected to be put into operation in 2030.{{Cite web |title=Latvia announces start of Rail Baltica mainline construction |url=https://eng.lsm.lv/article/economy/transport/22.05.2024-latvia-announces-start-of-rail-baltica-mainline-construction.a555013/ |access-date=2025-05-28 |website=eng.lsm.lv |language=en}} Latvian Railways ({{langx|lv|Latvijas dzelzceļš}} or LDz) operates the Latvian Rail History Museum in Riga.

{{Div col}}

• University of Latvia (LU)
• Art Academy of Latvia (LMA)
• Riga Technical University (RTU)
• Riga Stradiņš University (RSU)
• Riga Graduate School of Law (RGSL)
• Stockholm School of Economics in Riga (SSE Riga)
• BA School of Business and Finance (BA)
• Transport and Telecommunication Institute (TTI)
• Riga International School of Economics and Business Administration (RISEBA)
• Turība University
• Riga Aeronautical Institute (RAI)

{{Div col end}}

File:IsaiahBerlin1983.jpg, 1983]]

File:Sergei Eisenstein 03.jpg, early 1920s]]

File:Elina Garanca (cropped).jpg, 2012]]

File:Johann Gottfried Herder 2.jpg, painted in 1785]]

File:KauffmannKruedener.jpg and her son Paul, painted in 1786]]

File:Nesterov-Mukhina.jpg, 1937]]

File:Ostapenko RG22 (4) (52144317609).jpg, 2022]]

File:Wilhelm Ostwald by Nicola Perscheid.jpg, 1913]]

File:Mikhail Tal 1962.jpg, 1962]]

File:Gints Zilbalodis in January 2025 (cropped).jpeg, 2025]]

• Sir Isaiah Berlin (1909–1997), British social and political theorist, philosopher and historian of ideas
• Emil Friedrich von Boetticher (1836–1907), politician, burgomaster of Riga
• Ottilie von Bistram (1859–1931), pioneer in the struggle for female access to education.
• Friedrich Heinrich von Boetticher (1826–1902), German publisher, bookseller, scholar and art historian
• Deniss Čalovskis (born 1985), Latvian computer hacker who created the Gozi virus
• Valdis Dombrovskis (born 1971), Latvian politician and EU Commissioner
• Laila Freivalds (born 1942), former Swedish Minister for Justice and Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden
• Juris Hartmanis (1928–2022), Latvian–American computer scientist who won the 1993 Turing Award
• Nicolai Hartmann (1882–1950), Baltic German philosopher and important metaphysician
• Johann Gottfried Herder (1744–1803), German philosopher, theologian, poet and literary critic
• David Hilchen (1561–1610), Renaissance humanist and politician
• Albert Woldemar Hollander (1796–1868), German educator and pedagog
• Yeshayahu Leibowitz (1903–1994), Israeli public intellectual and polymath
• Yosef Mendelevich (born 1947), Jewish refusenik from the Soviet Union, known as a "Prisoner of Zion"
• Ernst Munzinger (1887–1945), German Abwehr (Army intelligence) officer, later anti-Nazi
• Valters Nollendorfs (born 1931), chairman of the board of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia
• Alfred Rosenberg (1892–1946), Baltic German theorist and ideologue of the Nazi Party
• Johann Steinhauer (1705–1779), Latvian entrepreneur, social reformer and landowner
• Charlotte Wahl (1817–1899), Latvian-born philanthropist
• Tatiana Warsher (1880–1960), Russian archaeologist known for her studies of Pompeii

• Rutanya Alda (born 1942), Latvian–American actress
• Mikhail Baryshnikov (born 1948), classical ballet dancer, choreographer and actor
• Léopold Bernhard Bernstamm (1859–1939), Russian sculptor
• Gunnar Birkerts (1925–2017), Latvian-American architect
• Leonīds Breikšs (1908–1942), Latvian poet, author and newspaper editor
• Jacob W. Davis (born Jākobs Jufess, 1831–1908), American tailor who invented modern jeans
• Mikhail Eisenstein (1867–1920), Latvian civil engineer and architect
• Vera Mukhina (1889–1953), Soviet sculptor and painter
• Sergei Eisenstein (1898–1948), Soviet Russian film director who filmed Battleship Potemkin
• Heinz Erhardt (1909–1979), Baltic German comedian, musician and entertainer
• Artur Fonvizin (1883–1973), Soviet painter of watercolours
• Michael Polakovs (1923–2009), American circus clown and actor
• Mārtiņš Brauns (1951–2021), Latvian composer and musician
• Elīna Garanča (born 1976), Latvian operatic mezzo-soprano
• Mariss Jansons (1943–2019), Latvian conductor
• Philippe Halsman (1906–1979), American portrait photographer
• Aivars Kalējs (born 1951), Latvian composer, organist and pianist
• Gidon Kremer (born 1947), Latvian classical violinist and conductor
• Barbara von Krüdener (1764–1824), Baltic German author, religious mystic and Pietist Lutheran theologian{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Krüdener, Barbara Juliana, Baroness von |volume= 15 |last= Phillips |first= Walter Alison |author-link= Walter Alison Phillips | pages = 929–930 |short= 1}}
• Ivan Krylov (1769–1844), Russian fable writer
• DJ Lethal (born Leor Dimant in 1972), American music producer
• Alan Melikdjanian (born 1980), Latvian–American independent filmmaker known as Captain Disillusion
• Raimonds Pauls (born 1936), Latvian composer and piano player
• Kristjan Jaak Peterson (1801–1822), Estonian poet
• Valentin Pikul (1928–1990), Soviet historical novelist
• Marie Seebach (1829–1897), German actress{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Seebach, Marie |volume= 24 | page = 580 |short= 1}}
• Ksenia Solo (born 1987), Latvian–Canadian actress and activist
• Don Jaffe (born 1933), composer
• Armands Melnbārdis, musician and recording artist
• Gints Zilbalodis (born 1994), an Academy Award-winning Latvian filmmaker, animator and composer.

• Ernst von Bergmann (1836–1907), Baltic German surgeon, pioneer of aseptic surgery
• Walter von Boetticher (1853–1945), German historian, genealogist and physician
• Jakob Benjamin Fischer (1731–1793), Baltic German naturalist and apothecary
• Lola Hoffmann (1904–1988), physiologist and psychiatrist
• Charles Kalme (1939–2002), American mathematician and international master of chess
• Karlis Kaufmanis (1910–2003), astronomer who lectured that the Star of Bethlehem was a conjunction in 7 BC of the planets Jupiter and Saturn
• Mstislav Keldysh (1911–1978), Soviet mathematician who worked on the first artificial satellite
• George Nagobads (1921–2023), American physician and recipient of the Paul Loicq Award{{cite web|url=https://www.ushockeyhalloffame.com/page/show/833453-dr-v-george-nagobads|title=Dr. V. George Nagobads|website=United States Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=July 8, 2021|archive-date=9 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709184422/https://www.ushockeyhalloffame.com/page/show/833453-dr-v-george-nagobads|url-status=live}}; {{cite web|url=https://www.ushockeyhall.com/drgeorgenagobads|title=Dr. V. George Nagobads|website=United States Hockey Hall of Fame|access-date=July 8, 2021|archive-date=12 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210712112620/https://www.ushockeyhall.com/drgeorgenagobads|url-status=live}}
• Wilhelm Ostwald (1853–1932), Baltic German chemist and winner of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1909
• Georg August Schweinfurth (1836–1925), Baltic German botanist and ethnologist who explored East Central Africa.{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Schweinfurth, Georg August |volume= 24 | page = |short= 1}}
• Georg von Tiesenhausen (1914–2018), Baltic German American rocket scientist
• Juris Upatnieks (born 1936), Latvian–American physicist, inventor, and pioneer in the field of holography
• Friedrich Zander (1887–1933), Baltic German engineer who designed the first Soviet liquid-fuelled rocket
• Walter Zapp (1905–2003), Baltic German inventor who created the Minox subminiature camera
• Nathan A. Zepell (1915–1982), inventor and engineer

• Helmuts Balderis (born 1952), Latvian former ice hockey player
• Dāvis Bertāns (born 1992), professional basketball player
• Jānis Beinarovičs (1907–1967), wrestler
• Andris Biedriņš (born 1986), former basketball player
• Sergejs Boldaveško (born 1970), retired ice hockey player
• Teddy Blueger (born 1994), ice hockey player for the Vancouver Canucks
• Tanhum Cohen-Mintz (1939–2014), Israeli basketball player
• Elīna Dikaioulaku (born 1989), basketball player for Israeli team Elitzur Ramla
• Kaspars Dubra (born 1990), footballer with 50 caps for Latvia
• Zemgus Girgensons (born 1994), ice hockey player who was the highest-ever drafted Latvian in the NHL Entry Draft
• Jørgen Hviid (1916–2001), Danish and Latvian athlete in ice hockey, speed skating, and sailing
• Miervaldis Jurševskis (1921–2014), Latvian–Canadian chess master and professional artist
• Matīss Kivlenieks (1996–2021), ice hockey goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets
• Rūdolfs Kundrāts (1907–1954), footballer and referee with 19 caps for Latvia
• Elvis Merzļikins (born 1994), ice hockey goaltender for the Columbus Blue Jackets
• Anete Muižniece-Brice (born 1962), former basketball player
• Aron Nimzowitsch (1886–1935), Latvian chess master and writer who wrote the book My System
• Jeļena Ostapenko (born 1997), women's tennis player and 2017 French Open – Women's singles winner
• Sandis Ozoliņš (born 1972), ice hockey player, seven-time NHL All-Star, and Stanley Cup champion
• Marians Pahars (born 1976), footballer with 75 caps for Latvia
• Harald Schlegelmilch (born 1987), racing driver
• Alexei Shirov (born 1972), Latvian–Spanish chess grandmaster who was ranked world No. 2 in 1994
• Karlīne Štāla (born 1986), racing driver
• Mikhail Tal (1936–1992), Soviet–Latvian chess grandmaster and 8th World Chess Champion
• Valdis Valters (born 1957) retired basketball player

{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Latvia}}

Riga is twinned with:{{cite web|title=Rīgas Sadraudzības pilsētas|url=https://www.riga.lv/lv/rigas-sadraudzibas-pilsetas|website=riga.lv|publisher=Rīga|language=lv|access-date=16 March 2022|archive-date=28 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028093612/https://www.riga.lv/lv/rigas-sadraudzibas-pilsetas|url-status=live}}

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}

• {{flagicon|DEN}} Aalborg, Denmark
• {{flagicon|KAZ}} Almaty, Kazakhstan
• {{flagicon|KAZ}} Astana, Kazakhstan
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Beijing, China
• {{flagicon|FRA}} Bordeaux, France
• {{flagicon|GER}} Bremen, Germany
• {{flagicon|AUS}} Cairns, Australia
• {{flagicon|USA}} Dallas, United States
• {{flagicon|ITA}} Florence, Italy
• {{flagicon|LTU}} Kaunas, Lithuania{{cite web|title=Miesto partneriai|url=http://www.kaunas.lt/apie-kauna/miesto-partneriai/|website=kaunas.lt|publisher=Kaunas|language=lt|access-date=5 October 2022|archive-date=24 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724141315/http://www.kaunas.lt/apie-kauna/miesto-partneriai/|url-status=dead}}
• {{flagicon|UKR}} Kyiv, Ukraine
• {{flagicon|JPN}} Kobe, Japan
• {{flagicon|SWE}} Norrköping, Sweden
• {{flagicon|FIN}} Pori, Finland
• {{flagicon|GER}} Rostock, Germany
• {{flagicon|CHI}} Santiago, Chile
• {{flagicon|SWE}} Stockholm, Sweden
• {{flagicon|CHN}} Suzhou, China
• {{flagicon|TWN}} Taipei, Taiwan
• {{flagicon|GB}} Slough, England
• {{flagicon|EST}} Tallinn, Estonia
• {{flagicon|EST}} Tartu, Estonia
• {{flagicon|UZB}} Tashkent, Uzbekistan
• {{flagicon|GEO}} Tbilisi, Georgia
• {{flagicon|LTU}} Vilnius, Lithuania
• {{flagicon|POL}} Warsaw, Poland
• {{flagicon|ARM}} Yerevan, Armenia

{{div col end}}

Riga also cooperates with:

• {{flagicon|AUS}} Brisbane, Australia
• {{flagicon|USA}} Seattle, United States

{{Portal|Latvia|EU}}

• Riga Charter, on cultural heritage conservation, adopted here in 2000
• Riga Region
• Riga Salsa Festival

• Tallinn
• Vilnius

{{Notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

{{See also|Timeline of Riga#Bibliography|l1=Bibliography of the history of Riga}}

• Grava, Sigurd. "The Urban Heritage of the Soviet Regime The Case of Riga, Latvia". Journal of the American Planning Association 59.1 (1993): 9–30.
• {{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Riga | volume= 23 |last1= Kropotkin |first1= Peter Alexeivitch |author1-link= Peter Kropotkin| last2= Bealby |first2= John Thomas| page = 337 }}
• Šolks, Guntis, Gita Dejus, and Krists Legzdiņš. "Transformation of Historic Industrial Areas in Riga". Book of Proceedings. (2012) [http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.661.4434&rep=rep1&type=pdf#page=214 online].

{{Commons category|Riga}}

{{Wikivoyage|Riga}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110828172049/http://www.riga.lv/EN/Channels/About_Riga/default.htm Riga Municipality portal] {{in lang|lv}} (archived 28 August 2011)
• {{JewishGen-LocalityPage|3212216|Rīga, Latvia}}
• [http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/latvia/riga/riga.html Old maps of Riga] in [http://historic-cities.huji.ac.il/historic_cities.html Historic Cities site]

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