Museums in Riga, Latvia: The Main list
This section introduces a selection of museums in Riga and in Latvia displaying the most extraordinary or unique collections that we recommend to visit even to those on a short stay.
This popular museum seeks to showcase everyday Latvian life from the 16th to the19th centuries. The museum was founded in 1924 on parklands bordering a beautiful lakeshore on the outskirts of Riga.
This is one of the oldest museums in Europe and it deals with the history of Riga from its foundation to 1940.
The exposition of the museum reflects the history of both Latvian and global medicine and pharmacology.
Despite its inconvenient location, this museum is worth visiting. It’s the only car museum in the former USSR, and it is included on the list of the world’s 30 best technical museums and is among Europe’s Top-5.
This museum was founded in 1869. Its collection includes more than 52,000 pieces and reflects the development of Latvian art until 1945. Often the lowerfloors showcase changing exhibitions of more contemporary art.
The museum was opened in 1989 in former St. George’s Church (built in 1204). It is the oldest stone building in Riga, since the XVI century it was used as a warehouse. The museum presents a collection of artworks of the period starting from the end of the XIX century when Latvian national style was forming.
This museum was founded in 1845, and its expositions deal with both the Latvian and international natural worlds. The exposition is divided into six sections: Geology, Botany, Zoology, Anthropology, Nature Protection, and Palaeontology.
The museum was founded in 1994 and is situated in a former 19th century locomotive factory. The exposition includes examples of uniform, road equipment tickets and train timetables. There is also a working model of a railway station, where the train goes round and whistles to the delight of children.
This museum was the dwelling house of rich merchants in the 17th and18th centuries. The wall and ceiling paintings are unique.
This museum is situated in a fire-station which was built in 1911 in the Art Nouveau architectural style.
It was established in 1920 and occupies premises in Riga’s Castle near the residence of the President of Latvia.
The only one museum of porcelain in the Baltic countries was opened in the end of 2001.
Affiliate of the State Museum of Art. It occupies the building which is the monument of architecture of the XIX century. Collection of Latvian art of the period from the beginning of the XX centuries till present days.
Protected monument of culture established in 1988 and embracing the center of Turaida.
The Bank of Latvia Visitors’ Centre «Money World« is a modern financial education and information centre. Its main purpose is to promote public understanding of what the central bank does every day and how and why it does it, as well as to provide an insight in the system of central banks of the European Union and its role in the global monetary policy .