The largest city in all the Baltic States, Riga, Rigalies on a sandy plain along the Daugava River. After a tumultuous history of Nazi invasion and Soviet occupation, Riga has emerged as a cultural center of the Baltics, especially theater. Also renowned for its Art Nouveau and wooden architecture, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Old Town Riga attracts well over a million visitors annually. Running in Riga is a delight for its parks, interesting architecture, and views along the Daugava River. Note: If you’d like to have a guided running experience in Riga, we highly recommend our affiliate partner Go! Running Tours.
One of the best places to run in Riga is a three park loop around the Pilsētas kanāls. We also enjoy the Daugava river path, on the east and west sides. We’ve also put together or take a “runseeing” tour of Old Town. Just north of city center, the Mezaparks neighborhood features wonderful paths and pretty homes. For a fun destination run, head west along the 13 km multi-use path leads to the beach town of Jurmala. Jurmala itself is great for a run, with pretty streets and a runnable beach. For an adventure, head to the huge Ķemeri National Park, which has a great variety of running options.
Getting around Riga is a cinch, since the city is compact and walkable. The extensive public transport network includes tram lines, trolleybus routes, and additional buses. Most of our routes begin close to city center, so you can run to the starting points or combine paths for maximum mileage. Note: Titls=Bridge, iela=street.
