Weird and Wonderful
Enjoy some sights that are a little off beat and maybe off colour.
cars
porcelain
With over 100 antique vehicles and awesome interactive displays, the Motor Museum is well worth the trip to boondocks Mežciems. Check out Stalin's armoured limo and Brezhnev's crashed Rolls Royce.
Address: Sergeja Eizenšteina iela 8 (Mežciems)
Open: Mon-Sun 10:00-18:00
body parts
Founded in 1773, the Museum of Riga's History and Navigation is the oldest museum in Latvia and a trove of cool stuff. A 13th century ship, the world's smallest camera and the mummified, and chopped off hands of thieves are just some of the thousands of delights.
Address: Palasta iela 4 (Old Riga)
Open: Mon-Sun 10:00-17:00
planes
Get to the airport an hour early to check out Riga Aviation Museum, the largest collection of vintage Soviet aircraft outside the CIS. Originally created in 1965 for the Young Flyers' Club, today there are over 40 civilian airliners, jet fighters, helicopters and bombers, like the Tupolev - so big it needed three tractors to get it to the museum.
Address: Riga Airport, 200 m west of the terminal.
Open: Mon-Fri 10:00-16:00, Sat, Sun call ahead on 26862707
Discover Riga's rich history of making beautiful china at Riga Porcelain Museum. Dainty items from the famous prewar Kuznetsov and Jessen factories mingle with 1960's dinner sets and contemporary artworks. Don't miss the "Red Corner" with Soviet propaganda porcelain.
Address: Kalēju iela 9/11 (Old Riga)
Open: Tue-Sun 11:00-18:00, closed Mon
flowers and felines
Combine a florists', an art gallery and (soon) a cafe and you have Elizete, a hidden gem in the Art Nouveau district. Drop in and meet artist/owner Sanita Cipruse and her three cats, Roze, Lilija and Morics, in the city's sweetest smelling space.
Address: Elizabetes iela 25
Open: Mon-Fri 08:00-19:00, Sat 09:30-16:00, Sun closed
dizzying heights
Clocking in at 368 m, Riga's TV Tower is the tallest in the EU, and the 97 m viewing platform is the highest spot in town. The views are not bad, but it's also a retro experience as the place hasn't had a lick of paint since Gorby. But renovation plans are afoot to install a skywalk at 140 m, a science centre, and - gasp! - even a restaurant.
Address: Zaķusala Island. Take trolleybus 20 from Central Station to the end.
Open: May-Sep: Mon-Sun 10:00-20:00. Oct-Apr Mon-Sat 10:00-17:00