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Riga Christmas Markets
Tour only
Make your own way
Excursions
1 included
Meals
3 included
Riga Christmas Markets
One of Europe’s most picturesque markets, and traditional celebrations in Latvia’s charming capital – where Christmas Trees were first decorated.
Enjoy a festive break in the historic Latvian capital, where a wonderful market is held in the picturesque Old Town Square, beneath a brightly decorated tree – somewhat appropriate for a city where the tradition is said to have begun over 500 years ago.
Top Highlights
Spend three nights in the delightful Latvian capital
Explore the historic city of Riga
Free time to enjoy the city’s traditional Christmas Market on Old Town Square
Enjoy an optional excursion to the Gauja National Park
Itinerary
Upon arrival meet your tour manager and transfer into the heart of the city and your hotel. After check-in, enjoy your first evening in the Baltic States’ largest city. A host of cafés, bars and restaurants caters to all tastes and pockets, and the lights of the festive shops and stores bring colour and warmth to the crisp, wintry air.
As this is a short break, we don’t include checked-in hold luggage but do include the airline’s base-level hand luggage so you can choose how much luggage you want to add on when you check in for your flight.
Some airlines include a bag under the seat as their base luggage, others include overhead cabin bags – it varies from airline to airline – and there are always different options to increase the allowance. You may wish to add a hold bag if you anticipate buying lots of gifts at the Christmas markets or consider booking one hold bag between two people. The choice is yours, as we know everyone has different needs.
A guided tour will lift the veil on Riga’s fascinating past and will showcase the sights of one of Europe’s most rapidly growing cities. Set on the bank of the Daugava River, the city boasts several ultra-modern buildings around its walled central core. The lovingly reconstructed Dutch-influenced ‘House of the Blackheads’, several large churches, Riga Castle with its museums, the towering Freedom Monument and two magnificent cathedrals add to the attraction, which is crowned by the Art Nouveau glories of UNESCO-listed Quiet Centre district and restored Town Hall Square, site of the wonderful Christmas market, with its traditional wares and warming foodstuffs.
Spend another evening exploring this vibrant city.
Discover more of the city today, or join the optional excursion, journeying into the beautiful landscape of the Gauja National Park, a forested, alpine refuge. Keep an eye out as you pass through these sprawling woodland landscapes and you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of its breath-taking native wildlife. Later on, you'll have the chance to tour the Turaida Museum Reserve which chronicles Latvian history and culture.
End your final full day in this wonderful city by having dinner in one of Riga’s many fine restaurants.
Transfer back to the airport for the return flight after a wonderful few festive days.
What the price includes
- Three nights' bed and breakfast accommodation at the centrally located, four-star Avalon Hotel, Riga
- Return flights to Riga
- City tour of Riga
- Coach travel and transfers throughout
- The services of a friendly, experienced tour manager
Dates & Prices
Accommodation
Further information
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 30 minutes.
Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.
If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.
The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.
Rules may have changed since you last travelled to European Union countries as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The following are useful guidelines which will help you prepare for your next adventure. You do require government issued passport to travel.
Names - It is very important that all passenger names are exactly as per your passport although we do not require middle names.
Passport - Your passport must meet two requirements to travel to an EU country and to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It must be: Less than 10 years old on the day you return home (please check the "date of issue") and valid for at least 3 months after the day you return home (please check the "expiry date").
Visa - You do not need a visa for short trips to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. You’ll be able to stay for up to 90 days in any rolling 180-day period.
European Entry/Exit Scheme (EES) - EES is the new electronic entry/exit system for European countries which will replace the physical stamping of your passport. The expected date for its introduction is 10 November 2024. From this date, it means that when you go through passport control on arrival, you will need to produce your passport for checking as you do now, but also have your photograph taken and fingerprints scanned. The system will register your entry on arrival and your exit when departing. You will only need to do this on your first entry into Europe after the scheme starts.
Please note: Irish passport holders or British Passport holders with an EU residency are currently excluded. For those travelling via Eurostar, there is a dual British and French/Belgian) border in operational at St Pancras International. Therefore the EES system will be in place at the station, you will not need to be checked again on arrival at the other side. For further information please visit the ABTA website here.
European Travel Information & Authorisation System (ETIAS) - Due to commence in 2025, all citizens of the United Kingdom will require a ETIAS electronic form completed prior to their arrival into the EU and Schengen member countries. The cost for this travel authorisation will be €7.00 per person with exceptions for under 18’s and over 70’s. The latest information and further details can be found at www.etias.com.
Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.
As this is a short break, we don’t include checked-in hold luggage but do include the airline’s base-level hand luggage so you can choose how much luggage you want to add on when you check in for your flight.
Some airlines include a bag under the seat as their base luggage, others include overhead cabin bags – it varies from airline to airline – and there are always different options to increase the allowance. You may wish to add a hold bag if you anticipate buying lots of gifts at the Christmas markets or consider booking one hold bag between two people. The choice is yours, as we know everyone has different needs.