Riga has around 800 Art Nouveau buildings, more than almost any city in Europe, and most of them stand in the Quiet Centre, a district of boulevards a short walk north-east of the Old Town. They went up in a building boom around 1900, when Riga was one of the fastest-growing cities in the Russian Empire. Alberta iela is the showpiece, with screaming masks, sphinxes, peacocks and sculpted women on one facade after another, and Elizabetes iela and Strēlnieku iela continue the show. At Alberta iela 12, the Riga Art Nouveau Museum occupies a house built in 1903 for the architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns. Its restored apartment, with sitting room, dining room, study, kitchen, maid’s room and bathroom, is filled with period furniture and objects, and it brings the facades outside to life.
How to see it: walk from the Old Town past the Freedom Monument and through the canal-side parks, then head up Elizabetes iela to Alberta iela. Look up: the best details are above the ground floor. Strēlnieku iela, across the corner, has more fine examples. Allow an hour for the streets and another for the museum.
The museum: the apartment is compact and very detailed, from the fireplace den to the rose-patterned bedroom and the enamelled bathtub. You can try on period hats, and the shop sells good-quality souvenirs. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Tips: morning light suits the facades on Alberta iela. If you love the style, keep looking as you walk the centre, since much of Riga beyond the Old Town is built in it, and a guided architecture walk adds the stories behind the buildings.
What to expect
The experience
A walk along the Art Nouveau streets of the Quiet Centre, then a visit to the restored 1903 apartment at Alberta iela 12.
Best time
Morning on a Tuesday to Sunday, when the light is good and the museum is open.
How long
Two to three hours for the streets and the museum together.
Tips
Look above the shop fronts, start on Alberta iela, and remember the museum is closed on Mondays.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Architecture lovers and anyone who wants to see what makes Riga unique.
- Families
- Spotting masks and creatures on the facades works as a treasure hunt for children.
- Couples
- A slow stroll through the boulevards, with a cafe stop in the Quiet Centre.
- Pair with
- Latvian National Museum of Art, Riga Old Town and Museum of the Occupation.
- Time needed
- Two to three hours.
Good questions
Where are the best Art Nouveau buildings in Riga?+
In the Quiet Centre, especially Alberta iela, Elizabetes iela and Strēlnieku iela, about a fifteen-minute walk from the Old Town.
How many Art Nouveau buildings does Riga have?+
About 800, mostly in the city centre, according to the city’s tourism office.
What is inside the Riga Art Nouveau Museum?+
A restored 1903 apartment with period furniture, built for architect Konstantīns Pēkšēns, plus changing exhibitions.
When is the museum open?+
Tuesday to Sunday during the day; it is closed on Mondays.
Is the street free to visit?+
Yes, the facades are free to admire; only the museum charges a modest entry fee.
