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Day-to-Day Life in Riga
Life in central Riga is surprisingly cosmopolitan for a city of 600,000. The architecture is world-class, the café culture strong, and the digital infrastructure excellent — a comfortable base for remote workers and expat families alike.
- Public transport: trams, trolleybuses, buses — network is good in centre; monthly pass €50
- Grocery stores: Rimi, Maxima, Prisma — well-stocked, European range, affordable
- Riga Central Market: one of Europe's largest covered markets in repurposed Zeppelin hangars; must-visit weekly
- Language: English widely spoken under 40 in Riga; older generations may speak Russian or only Latvian
- Cash still used but contactless payment widely accepted
- Riga's restaurant scene has matured significantly: New Nordic, local Latvian, excellent Eastern European
- Midsummer (Jāņi): June 23–24 — Latvia's most important holiday, celebrated with bonfires and song