Guides · Riga
Riga Christmas Market 2026: Old Town, Lights & Traditions
By Viktorija Dvariskyte · Marketing Manager
Marketing Manager
The Riga Christmas market returns to Dome Square (Doma laukums) in the heart of the Old Town from 27 November 2026 to 4 January 2027, according to Riga's tourism board. Like its Baltic neighbours, the market stays open over Christmas and into January, and entry is free. In 2025, more than 80 traders sold Latvian crafts, food and drinks on the square, according to the City of Riga.
Riga claims to be the home of the first decorated Christmas tree, said to have been put up in 1510, and a marker in the cobblestones of Town Hall Square commemorates the story. This guide covers the 5 best ways to enjoy a Riga Christmas market trip, from Dome Square and Town Hall Square to smaller markets at Līvu Square and the Esplanade, and the Central Market. Each entry has the address, how to get there and a Pro Tip. Where 2026 details had not been announced, we give last year's information.
The Old Town is compact and walkable. The order starts on Dome Square, moves to Town Hall Square and Līvu Square, heads out to the Esplanade park, and finishes at the Central Market.
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1Old Town Christmas Market on Dome Square - The Main Market
The Old Town Christmas market fills Dome Square beneath Riga Cathedral, the largest medieval church in the Baltic states, whose famous organ was one of the largest in the world when it was built in the 19th century. The 2026 market runs from 27 November to 4 January 2027, and it was first held here in 2000.
Wooden stalls sell Latvian handicrafts such as knitted mittens with traditional patterns, amber jewellery, linen, wooden toys and candles, along with honey, rye bread and smoked meats. Father Christmas has a lodge on the square, and children can ride a carousel and meet his helpers.
A cultural programme with concerts and folk performances runs on the weekends before Christmas; check the Riga tourism website for 2026 opening hours and events.
2Town Hall Square and the 1510 Christmas Tree Marker
Town Hall Square is home to Riga's main city Christmas tree and to a famous piece of festive history. According to local tradition, the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild of unmarried merchants, decorated a tree here in 1510 and later burned it, and Riga claims this as the first decorated Christmas tree in the world. A marker set into the cobblestones commemorates the story in several languages.
The square is overlooked by the spectacular House of the Blackheads, rebuilt in the 1990s after its destruction in the Second World War, with its ornate gabled facade. The tree lighting here in 2025 took place on 29 November.
The claim is disputed by Tallinn, which dates its own Christmas tree tradition to 1441, but both cities make the most of the rivalry.
3Līvu Square Christmas Market - Stalls Among the Guild Halls
Līvu Square, a lively open space in the Old Town surrounded by cafés, the Great and Small Guild halls and the famous Cat House, hosts a second Christmas market with food stalls, crafts and festive decorations. It is a good stop for a warming drink between the main sights of a Riga Christmas market walk.
The Cat House, an Art Nouveau building with black cat statues on its turrets, is one of Riga's most photographed buildings and makes a fun backdrop to the market. The square also has a skating rink in some winters.
Dates for the Līvu Square market follow a similar pattern to Dome Square; check the Riga tourism website for 2026 details.
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See what is available on your dates.
4Esplanade Park Christmas Market - By the Nativity Cathedral
The Esplanade park, just outside the Old Town near the gold-domed Nativity of Christ Cathedral, hosts a Christmas market with wooden stalls, food, crafts and family attractions. It has a more spacious, relaxed atmosphere than the Old Town, and it is the most family-friendly Riga Christmas market.
The park sits close to Riga's famous Art Nouveau district, where streets such as Alberta iela and Elizabetes iela are lined with some of the most ornate Art Nouveau buildings in Europe. A walk through the district is a perfect addition to a market visit.
The Nativity of Christ Cathedral, the largest Orthodox cathedral in the Baltic states, is especially beautiful when lit up in the snow.
5Riga Central Market - Christmas Food in the Zeppelin Hangars
Riga Central Market is one of the largest markets in Europe, housed in five huge pavilions built from former German Zeppelin hangars. It is part of the UNESCO-listed historic centre and the best place to discover Latvian food in December.
Stalls sell smoked fish, cured meats, cheeses, dark rye bread, honey, pickles and sauerkraut, and in the run-up to Christmas you can find piparkūkas (Latvian gingerbread) and other festive specialities. It is a great place to buy edible gifts that are cheaper than at a Riga Christmas market stall.
The market is busiest on weekend mornings and is a short walk from the Old Town and the central station.
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Riga Christmas Market 2026: Dates, Dome Square & Tips - FAQ
The Riga Christmas Market runs from 27 November 2026 to 4 January 2027 on Dome Square, according to Riga's tourism board.
Yes, entry to the markets on Dome Square, Līvu Square and the Esplanade is free. Prices for food, drinks and gifts are generally lower than in Western Europe.
Dome Square is in the heart of the Old Town, about a 15-minute walk from Riga Central Station. From Riga Airport, bus 22 runs to the city centre.
Yes. Like its Baltic neighbours, the Riga market stays open over Christmas, although hours may be shorter on 24, 25 and 31 December. Check the Riga tourism website before you go.
Yes, the market continues until 4 January 2027, so you can visit between Christmas and New Year and in the first days of January.
The main market is on Dome Square (Doma laukums) in the Old Town. Smaller markets set up on Līvu Square and in Esplanade Park near the Nativity Cathedral, and the 1510 tree marker is on Town Hall Square.
Weekday afternoons are the calmest, and the Old Town looks its best after dark. Visiting between Christmas and early January is a good option, as many other European markets have already closed.
Dome Square is the main market, with more than 80 traders in 2025. Līvu Square adds stalls among the guild halls, the Esplanade market is calmer, and Riga Central Market in its historic Zeppelin hangars is ideal for Christmas food.
Riga claims that the Brotherhood of Blackheads decorated the first Christmas tree on Town Hall Square in 1510, and a marker in the cobblestones commemorates it. Tallinn disputes the claim, dating its own tradition to 1441.
Try grey peas with bacon, a traditional Latvian Christmas dish, and pipārkūkas gingerbread. Warm up with hot Riga Black Balsam mixed with blackcurrant juice, a local favourite.
