Riga Central Market is one stop you’ll want to make on your walk around the city. First, a little about the setting. The market is located in and around the five main pavilions which were constructed by reusing old German Zeppelin hangars. It was finished in 1930 incorporating Neoclassicism and Art Deco styles and remains Europe’s largest market.
You can find everything from fruits and vegetables, to tourist souvenirs, to meats and dried fish. And of course, in the summer, berries and mushrooms. We’ve found through our travels in Finland, Estonia, and now Latvia, that mushroom and berry hunting is an important pastime once the snow melts, temperatures rise, and daylight extends.
Latvians are great fish and meat eaters, and do wonders with dairy products. We spotted smoked cheese, soft cheese, yogurts, many from boutique farms. Fish come in all varieties: dried, smoked, fresh, as well as fish products like eggs. For the first time in my travels I saw the fish eggs smoked in their original pouch.
And best of all, the prices are very competitive compared to the supermarkets.
Text and Photos by Stephen Bugno
Thanks so much to Riga Tourism and their awesome Live Riga campaign.
Below are more photos from Riga Central Market:
Markets are my favourite part of any city, even when I don’t speak the language because the food is always so insightful into the culture of a place.
Pingback: Your Guide to Riga LatviaGoMad Nomad Travel