Shopping in Riga

Riga offers some great shopping experiences, especially around the Old Town of Riga where you are sure to find some little treasure to take home! If you are looking for the bigger shopping malls then these are located on the outskirts of the city. Our company also offers a great selection of Riga hotels with some of the best rates if you are yet to book!

This Riga shopping guide lists a few of the shops that you may wish to have a look through on your visit to Riga. It also gives some general information about shopping in Riga, including opening hours of shops. Whilst shopping in Riga you'll no doubt want to check out one of the many local restaurants in Riga!

Don't forget to check out the top 5 things to do in Riga!

Riga Shopping Guide

The best place to start any shopping spree in Riga is in and around the Old Town, which offers a variety of different and unique shops and interesting items. There are also a number of larger shopping malls offering standard stores - these are mostly located in the suburbs. However the shopping mall “Gallery Centrs” is located in the very centre of the city, at the entrance of Old Town. It’s the city's oldest shopping mall, which offers various designer shops, standard stores and small restaurants or cafes. Souvenirs and antiques can also be picked up at many of the markets, however make sure you get a licence from the Inspection Board for History and Culture and the Protection of Monuments, as this is required in order to export any valuables.

Souvenirs in Riga

If you are a budget traveller and want to take home some souvenirs, scour the outdoor markets that surround the Zeppelin hangars along Centraltirgus iela and Negu iela. You can choose from a variety of clothes, shoes, bags, potted plants, and collectables. Yet other great places for typical Latvian stuff can be found all over Old Riga. The most popular places are Skarnu Street, Jekaba Kazarmas, Livu Square and Convent Yard. Here the row of stalls has a display of authentic handmade linen, amber jewellery, leather products and woollen sweaters embroidered with Latvian folk symbols.

Latvia is famous for its linen. The best bargains are at Mara in Kaleju iela 9/11 for its widest choice of Latvian linens. But for authentic linen complete with weaving demonstration and an extensive exhibition of handmade linens, make a beeline for Livs, at Kaleju iela 7. Our local company offers a range of Riga Hotels!

Latvia has something for every shopper, the extravagant, the frugal and the collector. Collectors must not miss Antikva at Valnu iela 25, Doma Antikvariats at Doma laukums 1 and Volmar at Skunu iela 6. Here one can find an envious collection of stamps, coins, medals, postcards, and antique pieces in bronze, silver, and leather. Volmar is known for its exclusive antique collection and specialises in 19th-century bronze, silver, coins, and chinaware. It also houses a permanent exhibition of Latvian paintings, drawings, and old prints.

Not many know that Latvia is also famous for its chocolate factory Laima. Pretty boxes containing melt-in-the-mouth chocolates are the best gifts you can take home for your loved ones. These are available at all supermarkets and stores. Also very popular is a chocolate shop Emihls Gustavs Chocolate, which can be found in all main shopping centres.

It is worth buying a bottle of Riga Black Balsam before bidding goodbye to Latvia. This drink is made from 24 ingredients, herbs, flower juices, and medicinal roots. You can buy it over the counter at all wine shops and supermarkets. It is a black liqueur and goes down best when mixed with hot black currant juice.

Department Stores

Department stores and malls are a big deal here ever since the country opened its doors to foreign investments. The tourists' favoured streets in Riga's Old Town house the swanky department store Gallery Centrs . It is the quintessential department store with a food supermarket on the ground floor. Designer wear, fashion, souvenirs, books and restaurants are located on the next three floors, while the 4th floor houses a health and beauty centre.

For the designer wear and famous brands in fashion there are other posh malls like Stockmann at 13.Janvara iela 8, Spice at Lielirbes iela 29, Palazzo Italia at Barona iela 2 and Plaza Boutique at Smilsu iela 18. While Stockmann, Palazzo Italia and Plaza Boutique are at walking distance from the Old Town, Spice is outside the city centre. The many Hotels in Riga will offer you advice regarding the closest shops to your hotel.

Slow food markets

Frequently you can visit slow food markets in Riga, mostly held next to main shopping malls or centres. The most popular is at the Berga Bazars held on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. It is the only covered outdoor antique market in Riga, which offers antiques and unique Latvian arts and craft. In addition, here is a Slow Food Farmer`s market, where one can purchase local, traditional and seasonal produce and products, and sample prepared food from some of Latvia’s top chefs.

Riga Shopping Hours

Apart from the smaller shops, or those in provincial towns, which will normally close on Sundays, most of the major stores and shopping centres are open seven days a week, and normally from 10 am to 10 pm. 24 hour mini-markets and chemists can be found in Riga as well.

Riga Duty Free Tax

The sales tax in Latvia is currently 21%, however 15% of this is able to be claimed back for non-EU citizens with Tax Free shopping. More information can be found on the website: www.globalrefund.com