Riga Christmas Market 2026: Complete Guide
Wooden chalets, mulled wine, and a medieval square that claims to have hosted the world's first decorated Christmas tree — here's how to plan a winter trip around Riga's festive season.
Quick Answer
The main Riga Christmas Market sets up in Dome Square (Doma laukums), in the heart of the Old Town, typically from the last weekend of November through early January. A smaller market runs alongside it in Līvu Square. Both are free to enter, walkable from any Old Town hotel, and best experienced after dark when the stalls are lit up.
Book a Riga Christmas Market walking tour →Dome Square vs. Līvu Square
Dome Square, right beside the Dome Cathedral, is the atmospheric one — a ring of wooden chalets around a decorated tree, framed by 800-year-old facades. Expect mulled wine (karstvīns), Latvian handicrafts (amber jewellery, wool mittens, ceramics), and piparkūkas gingerbread.
Līvu Square, a five-minute walk away, is the livelier, more food-and-drink-focused market — this is usually where you'll find an ice rink and more street-food-style stalls. Most visitors do both in a single evening; they're close enough to combine with dinner in the Old Town.
The "first Christmas tree" story
A plaque in Town Hall Square (Rātslaukums) marks the spot where, in 1510, the Brotherhood of Blackheads — a guild of unmarried merchants — is said to have decorated and later ceremonially burned the first known Christmas tree. Riga re-enacts a version of this each December.
Tallinn, just across the Gulf of Riga, makes a rival claim for 1441. Historians consider both origin stories more folklore than settled fact — but the friendly rivalry has become part of both cities' festive marketing, and it's a fun bit of context to know before you visit either square.
Weather & What to Pack
Riga in December sits around -1°C to 2°C, with occasional snow and sunset as early as 3:30–4pm. It's genuinely cold, not "bring a light jacket" cold. Pack a proper insulated coat, waterproof boots (cobblestones get slippery), gloves, and a hat — the market is designed for standing around a mulled-wine stall, not power-walking between sights.
The upside of the cold: this is the cheapest time of year to visit. Hotel rates in the Old Town commonly drop 40–60% from summer peaks, and budget carriers often price winter Riga flights under €50 return from Western Europe.
Find Old Town hotels near Dome Square →Building a Winter Riga Itinerary
A Christmas market visit pairs naturally with a broader winter city break. Old Town and the Art Nouveau district are both fully walkable in the cold — in fact, the Art Nouveau facades on Alberta Street look especially dramatic against grey winter skies and bare trees. The Central Market's covered pavilions are a good indoor detour if you need to warm up between market visits.
If you're staying a few days, see our month-by-month guide for what else is running in December, or our 3-day itinerary for a full trip structure you can adapt to shorter winter daylight hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Riga Christmas Market?
The main market in Dome Square typically opens on the last weekend of November and runs through early January, spanning Latvia's Christmas and New Year holidays.
Did the first Christmas tree come from Riga?
Riga claims that the Brotherhood of Blackheads decorated the first known Christmas tree in Town Hall Square in 1510, marked today by a plaque and an annual re-enactment. Tallinn, Estonia makes a similar claim for 1441 — historians consider the origin genuinely contested, and it's a friendly rivalry between the two Baltic capitals rather than a settled fact.
Is Riga worth visiting for the Christmas market?
Yes. Riga's Old Town is compact and walkable, hotel and flight prices are at their lowest of the year, and the market sits inside a UNESCO World Heritage medieval square, giving it a backdrop few other European Christmas markets can match.
How cold is Riga in December?
Expect average temperatures around -1°C to 2°C, with occasional snow and short days (sunset around 3:30-4pm). Dress in warm layers, waterproof boots, and a proper winter coat — the market itself is designed for lingering with mulled wine, not rushing through.
Planning a winter trip to Riga?
Last updated: July 2026. Market dates vary year to year and are confirmed by Riga City Council closer to the season — check current dates before booking non-refundable travel.