The Grand Riga Art Nouveau Tour
With more than 800 Art Nouveau buildings, Riga has the world's biggest collection of this exuberant style. This walking tour is a captivating journey through this incredible heritage!
I recommend we start the tour in Esplanāde Park, near the statue of Latvia's greatest port, Rainis.
Here, I'll give you an outline of Riga's history which led to the stunning boulevards being built in the late 19th century.
Then we hit the streets, admiring surreal masterpieces by Mikhail Eisenstein, Riga's most extravagant Art Nouveau architect.
I'll delve into the symbolism of his bizarre ornamentation, as well as looking at the social history of the neighbourhood, from bourgeoise splendour to communist communal flats to 21st century gentrification.
But there were other brilliant architects who helped build the new Riga. We take in a strikingly different, locally inspired gem by Latvian Eižēns Laube, then gape in awe at the stairwell designed by Konstantīns Pēkšēns.
Pēkšēns was a remarkable character who created 400 buildings, and on Vīlandes iela we'll see some more of his work, as well as beauties by Baltic German architects.
In another time warp, we pass by the pre war US Embassy building, where John F. Kennedy stayed on a European jaunt in 1939.
Across the road, we step into Viesturdārzs, Riga's oldest park, checking out the venue of the first Latvian Song Festival in 1873.
After pausing at a moving monument combining a piece of the Berlin Wall, we encounter a different political statement - a giant, ugly picture of Putin opposite the Russian Embassy.
And on that cheeky note, we return to Rainis in the park.
tour details
The tour is on foot. I can meet you at your hotel or another convenient location. Price: For one to four people (children under 16 not included): 90 euros per group. Five people or more: 120 euros per group. The maximum group size is 20 people.
I am an accredited guide for the Riga Art Nouveau Museum. If you wish, we can include a tour of the museum in the tour. This will add approximately 30 minutes to the tour duration. The cost is an additional 30 euros per group as well as your entry tickets to the museum.
travellers' comments about the tour
"During our recent visit to Latvia we had the opportunity to join Phil Birzulis for a guided tour of Riga’s art nouveau district. This proved to be a highlight of our trip, as our focus on the old town had led to us underestimate this part of Riga as a tourist destination.
The tour introduced us to the beautiful architecture which stands in stark contrast to Soviet era buildings in other parts of Riga.
Whether it was architecture, history, or observations of more contemporary features of the district, Phil’s abundant knowledge and experience enabled him to point out something of interest on every street. My wife, 3 teenage sons and I all agreed that Phil’s tour was one of the best we experienced. He provided a level of historical context, insightful details, and some interesting anecdotes, all delivered in a style tailored to be engaging for his audience. "
Richard Zvirbulis, Singapore
"What a great tour! Our guide had a remarkable memory for details and extensive knowledge of Latvian arts, history and culture. He
brought to vivid life the stories of the people who have lived here has a voice that carries and it’s perfect for being heard over traffic and general city hubbub. He also has a great sense of
humour and a natural sense of theatre. This tour transformed the way I look at the city of Riga."
Sarah Chase, Canada
Map of The Grand Riga Art Nouveau Tour
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MORE AMAZING TOURS IN LATVIA
Get some handy Riga visitor info.
Explore Riga's Old Town, see all the city highlights or have a Soviet experience.
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Or how about lunch in a Kuzeme manor or a bobsleigh ride in Sigulda?