Into the festive spirit: Chasing Christmas markets in Riga

Last year over Christmas, I was in Israel having the time of my life, worry-free. This year looks a lot different for most of us, but while we can’t travel to new destinations over Christmas, a little virtual escape can help ease the travel blues. So today, I want to take you with me to Riga, one of my favourite cities in Europe, where I spent a long Christmassy stopover on my way back home from Israel!

After a nice 5,5-hour sleep on the flight from Tel Aviv, I arrived in Riga, one hour late. It was rather stressful as I only had a seven-hour stopover and had planned to explore all three Christmas markets in Riga’s Old Town. Thankfully, the city is only 30 minutes away by bus which departs every 15 minutes, so I figured I would have time for 2-3 hours in the city. With luggage storage and bus tickets, it cost me only 6,5 euros for my trip to the city. It may have been short, but it was so much better than just waiting in the airport!

I quickly located the luggage storage and left my hand luggage there. The bus was waiting just outside the terminal and it left shortly after. Just past noon, I was finally on my way.

I have been to Riga once before, on my first annual mother/daughter trip back in early 2015. It was a month before I started this blog so I never wrote about our trip, but I have been thinking about writing a memoir soon. Besides Riga, we also visited Sigulda and the castle at Turaida. It was a wonderful trip!

I was thrilled to revisit Riga. 2-3 hours is not a lot, but it was enough time to thoroughly enjoy all three Christmas markets as they were all tiny (especially compared to the German ones!).

I walked to Doma Laukums, the largest square in the city, and discovered the coziest little Christmas market. Stalls full of wood carvings, burned almonds, candy, hot chocolate, glühwein, knitted clothes, christmas decorations and so on. A few sheep and rabbits too. I bought quite a few items there; two gorgeous pairs of birch wood earrings, a pretty amber ring, delicious fries and – my favourite snack ever – burned almonds. Everything was cheap compared to Danish prices, so I allowed myself to splurge a little.

I spent a good hour at this market, enjoying the cozy atmosphere. I got cold quickly though as I wasn’t dressed for 0 degrees (I had only packed for Israel’s weather…), so I went into a shop to get some heat to my body before continuing to the Livu Laukums square where the smallest Christmas market on the planet was located.

I didn’t buy anything at Livu Laukums but quickly continued to Esplanade Park, so I could also enjoy the market there. As I entered the gate to the Christmas market, snow fell from the sky. Pure magic.

This market was quite large with similar stalls as the first market, but with one very different element – a Rabbit village! Small decorated houses made for rabbits in a big fenced-in area! Sooo cute.

Once I’d finished exploring the third market, it was time to head back to the airport.

I walked slowly through the city centre to take in the atmosphere once more, and turned towards the gorgeous House of the Blackheads before catching the bus back to the airport, so I could go back home to my family in Denmark.

How to have a stopover in Riga

When flying with a stopover, research whether or not you can get a long stopover in some destination (for example Riga!) for the same price or just a little more, before buying your tickets to your final destination. It will be worth it!

LUGGAGE STORAGE IN RIGA AIRPORT: The luggage storage is located in Terminal E. I paid just 2,5 euros to leave my hand luggage there for three hours.

GETTING TO AND FROM THE CITY: Catch bus 22 across the parking lot P1 (opposite terminal E). The bus goes every 15 minutes to and from the city and costs just 2 euros each way. Get off at 11. novembra krastmala which is close to the center, and catch the bus from there to get back to the airport as well. Enjoy!