11 Refreshing Facts About Riga

interesting facts about Riga

Like to know a little more about the capital cities of the world and improve your chances of winning the next quiz? Check out these 11 fun facts about Riga!

1It’s a popular European capital.

Riga is the capital city of Latvia.

2Grab the dictionary!

Wondering how to say the name of this wonderful city? It’s pronounced Ree-gah.

3On the whole, Riga is pretty big.

The total land area of Riga is 117 square miles (304 square kilometres) – that’s roughly 3 times the size of Bristol, England.

Flag of Latvia
Flag of Latvia

4The population density balances out.

Riga’s population was 632,614 in 2019 – that’s just over 1.5 times the population of Bristol and gives it a population density of around 6000 residents per square mile.

5Riga isn’t too far above the water.

Riga is located just 29ft above sea level

6Brits would likely find the weather here pretty homely.

7Riga is easy to find on the map.

Looking to fly yourself to Riga? You’ll need the coordinates of 56.9496° N, 24.1052° E.

8Riga has beautiful garden walks.

Make sure you visit Vērmanes Garden if you’re in Riga; it’s a beautiful park stretching to 12 acres within the city, making it a popular place for residents to relax, unwind and recharge. Boasting hundreds of rare and stunning plants, trees and bushes, plus many fascinating statues and sculptures, Vērmanes Garden is not to be missed!

9Riga is home to surveillance innovations.

interesting facts about Riga
Riga, Latvia

10Time to change the pennies!

Euro is the official currency here.

11Riga is a huge tourist destination.

Latvia welcomed 1,843,000 tourists into the country in 2014, many of whom visited Riga for its beautiful architecture and vibrant nightlife.

FAQs about Riga

Is Riga a safe city to visit?

Yes – Riga is generally safe to visit compared to many cities across Europe, however, it is always still worthwhile taking standard safety measures out and about.

Is Riga an expensive city?

Compared to cities such as New York – the cost of living in Riga may be half as expensive!

Can you drink the tap water in Riga?

Yes – it’s safe to drink the water in Riga, though the iron content is high.

Do you know any fun facts about Riga? Share them in the comments below!

Spotted something wrong? Suggest a correction

We check every suggestion and update articles when facts change. Thank you for helping keep facts.uk accurate.

Edit Suggestion

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *