Riga on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Yes: Riga is one of the cheaper EU capitals, with buffets, a compact walkable centre and many free sights. A realistic minimum is about €58 per person a day: €25 for a bed, €20 for food, €10 for sights and €3 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | €25 | €55 | €150 |
| Food & drink | €20 | €40 | €80 |
| Sights & tickets | €10 | €25 | €60 |
| Local transport | €3 | €8 | €25 |
| Per person, per day | €58 | €128 | €315 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Riga day-cost table.
Free things to do
- Walk the Old Town, a UNESCO site, past the House of the Blackheads and the Three Brothers.
- The Art Nouveau buildings of Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela.
- The Central Market in its former Zeppelin hangars.
- The Freedom Monument and the Bastejkalns park along the city canal.
- The Kalnciema Quarter wooden-house market at weekends (check the schedule).
- The Daugava riverside promenade and the views across to the National Library.
Cheap eats
- Lido buffet lunch: about €8–12.
- Pīrāgi (bacon buns) from a bakery: about €1–2 each.
- Grey peas with bacon (pelēkie zirņi): about €5–8.
- Smoked fish at the Central Market: a few euros a portion.
- Rye bread dessert (rupjmaizes kārtojums): about €3–5.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Old Town hostels, which are central and very cheap, with doubles about €40–70 and dorm beds lower.
Getting around cheaply
Walk the centre; trams, trolleybuses and buses cover the rest with tickets in the Mobilly app or at kiosks. Bus 22 connects the airport with the centre in about 30 minutes. Trains go to Jūrmala (about 30 minutes) and Sigulda cheaply.
A sample budget day
- Morning: walk the Old Town and the House of the Blackheads (free), with pīrāgi and coffee (about €5).
- Lunch: Lido buffet (about €10).
- Afternoon: Art Nouveau district (free) and the Art Nouveau Museum (about €9–10).
- Evening: Central Market snacks and a local beer (about €8).
- Total: about €58 including a €25 bed.
More ways to save
- Take a cheap train to Jūrmala for the beach instead of a tour.
- Buy snacks and picnic food at the Central Market.
- Use free walking tours (tip-based) to get oriented.
- Choose hostels with kitchens for breakfasts.
- Order Latvian beer and Black Balsam rather than imported drinks.
- Visit in May or September for lower prices and good weather.
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Common questions
Can you visit Riga on a budget?
Yes, about €58 a day with an Old Town hostel, buffets and the many free sights.
How do I get from Riga airport to the centre?
Bus 22 takes about 30 minutes for a public transport fare; buy tickets in the Mobilly app or at kiosks.
What can I do free in Riga?
Walk the Old Town, the Art Nouveau district, the Central Market and the canal parks around the Freedom Monument.