Is Riga Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Riga overall is considered quite safe for solo female travelers. Just like any other major city, it has areas that are very safe and some areas that one must be careful in, especially at night. The city center is well-lit and usually busy, providing a feeling of safety. Local people are generally friendly and helpful. However, always be aware of your surroundings and personal belongings. There are instances of pickpocketing especially in crowded and touristy areas.

Safety rating

4.9 /5

Based on 21 experiences

3.5 /5

Based on research and crime data

Safety overview

Safety at night:Moderate

Riga is a relatively safe city, even at night. It's highly touristic and generally well-policed. However, like any urban area, it does have some crime, particularly in less populated areas or late at night. Therefore, it's always advisable to stay in well-lit areas, avoid walking alone late at night when the streets are less busy, and always be aware of your surroundings. Use of taxis or rideshares is widely available and often recommended for late-night transportation.

Public transportation: Very safe

Public transportation in Riga is considered rather safe. Both locals and tourists commonly use it for commuting. The city has buses, trams, and trolleybuses that are relatively modern and well-maintained. Stations are also generally safe even at night. Official taxis are properly regulated, reliable and offer services at reasonable rates. It's advised, however, to always be aware of your surroundings as you would in any other city.

Street harassment: Low

Riga, being the capital of Latvia is relatively safe for solo female travelers. Street harassment is not common and people usually mind their own business. As in any other city worldwide, occasional situations might occur especially during the night time or in less crowded locations, but generally, public spaces are quite safe and respectful. Caution and awareness are always recommended.

Petty crimes:Low

Riga, the capital of Latvia, is generally a welcoming and safe place for solo female travelers. However, like any city, it has its various concerns. One of them is petty crime which mainly revolves around pickpocketing, purse snatching, and minor theft, especially common in crowded places and public transportation. But with common travel sense and vigilance, these can be avoided.

Tap water:Very safe

The tap water in Riga, is considered generally safe for consumption. It undergoes a strict water filtration process that eliminates many impurities. However, it is always advisable to use a filtered water bottle if you have one available, or buy bottled water if you're unsure.

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Travel experiences

Overall rating

4.8 /5

based on 21 experiences

Rating summary

Things to do

4.9/5

Safety

4.9/5

Food

4.8/5

Budget-friendly

4.1/5

Solo travel experience

If you enjoy museums, I highly recommend the Latvian National Museum of Art, the Art Museum "Rīgas Birža," and the Art Nouveau Museum. It's also nice to visit Zuzeum, where you can find a collection of "grandmotherly" porcelain. If you're into vegan food, be sure to check out MiiT Coffee. I dined there twice and really enjoyed it. I also recommend stopping by Tabu Tea House for tea. The parks and riverside areas amazed me the most.

Posted: October 13, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I highly recommend visiting Riga. It turned out to be a very charming city, a place about which I had absolutely no expectations and knew almost nothing. For architecture enthusiasts, it will be a very good destination. After a walk around the city, you can relax with very good food.

Posted: September 24, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I was there for 3.5 days. I toured the city (I recommend the Museum of Terror), and went to Jūrmala for the beach. I visited two national parks - Sigulda (an 8-minute ride over the park costs €17, not worth it, I wouldn't go again) and Kemeri (lighthouse, park, village) - all by train. I might return to Latvia itself, but probably not to Riga.

Posted: September 23, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I was in Riga three times for three days each, and only now can I say that I got to know the city. Fantastic Art Nouveau architecture and the Art Nouveau Museum, a charming fashion museum, and plenty of other places.

Posted: September 20, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I spent 3 nights in Riga and had a lovely time. The weather was kind. I ate and went into bars alone without issue. Highly recommend visiting Riga.

Posted: August 8, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Group travel experience

Riga is a small and cozy city, one day is enough to view most popular places. Recommend to walk through old Town, it's very beautiful architecture, authentic places, a lot of bars and restaurants, friendly local people. Definitely would go there again!

Posted: June 3, 2023Experienced: October, 2017
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 4/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I've been to Riga and absolutely loved it. The history, the free walking tour, architecture, great nightlife, Olympic bobsleigh track, and black balsam. Also budget-friendly. I never felt unsafe.

Posted: April 10, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

My experience in Riga was wonderful - I didn't encounter any harassment and the locals were incredibly friendly and helpful. One of the highlights was walking along the bog boardwalk in Kemeri National Park. I thoroughly enjoyed the overall atmosphere of the Baltics, including Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and I would definitely love to return there someday.

Posted: March 22, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

During my first solo trip abroad, I spent about a week in Riga and was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved the city. As someone who had wanted to visit for a long time, I found it to be even better than expected. For those who are considering visiting, here are some of my experiences that may be helpful. One thing that stood out to me was the absence of street harassment, which was a welcome change from my home country. I felt safe walking around alone, even when going to the ATM at 1 am. Additionally, I was pleasantly surprised by how friendly and helpful the locals were, despite the reputation for introversion that I had read about. I received assistance with directions from many people, which made navigating the city much easier. I also noticed that there were few homeless people or beggars, and I did not encounter any scams or indecent behavior during my stay. Compared to other cities I've visited, there was less graffiti in central Riga, and while there were not many non-white people, it didn't affect my experience in any way. Public transport and the Bolt app (similar to Uber) were both reasonably priced, making getting around the city and surrounding areas convenient and affordable. I particularly enjoyed exploring the Old Town and the outskirts, as well as taking a train to Jurmala for the beautiful scenery. However, I would caution against spending more than half a day in Jurmala during the off-season, as it got dark quite early. One downside to note was that food, both in restaurants and grocery stores, was more expensive than I had anticipated. However, with a budget of around 300 Euros for food, travel, and souvenirs, I found that I was able to manage my expenses comfortably. Overall, I would highly recommend Riga as a destination for solo female travelers who are looking for a peaceful, immersive experience in a new place. While it may not be the most adventurous destination, it offers a unique charm and a welcoming atmosphere that makes for a truly enjoyable trip.

Posted: March 22, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Solo travel experience

I enjoyed the KGB building tour and the old town was definitely the best place in the city. I also took the train to Jurmala beach and did a couple of hikes around there. The town hall square also had some incredible scenery.

Posted: March 11, 2023
Things to do: 5/5Food: 5/5Budget-friendly: 5/5Safety: 5/5
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Meet locals in Riga

Alexandra

Alexandra

Speaking

About Me

I’m tall kind open-minded girl with smiling eyes in mid twenties, I’m keen on traveling, psychology, reading, dancing, pilates and everything new 🤩 I have degree in electrochemical engineering and looking for have one in psychology 🤓 have organizational skills and wonder cheerful mind, like jokes, doing something crazy and laughing just for life 🤪 I’m full of enthusiasm and seek to meet new friends 😁

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇱 Albania, 🇧🇾 Belarus, 🇧🇬 Bulgaria, 🇭🇷 Croatia, 🇪🇬 Egypt, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇷 France, 🇬🇪 Georgia, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇹 Lithuania, 🇲🇪 Montenegro, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇷🇴 Romania, 🇷🇸 Serbia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇹🇷 Turkey, 🇹🇳 Tunisia, 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates, 🇺🇦 Ukraine, 🇻🇦 Vatican City

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DInija

DInija

Speaking

About Me

Hi!, I'm DInija and I'm interested in solo travel, nature, languages, fashion, events & social, food & cuisine, architecture, business and photography

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Raquel

Raquel

Speaking

About Me

Hi! I’m Raquel, Spanish teacher in Riga. I’m new in the country and I have no friends yet so I would love to meet other girls and make plans. I also love travelling on weekends so it would be cool if someone joins me :)

Countries I’ve Visited

🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇳🇱 Netherlands, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic

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Stay with locals in Riga

Natalie

Natalie

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

I work remotely. I like to read fantasy, I am fond of art and photography. I love animals, I live with a kitty

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Victoria

Victoria

Speaking

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

Hi, I'm Victoria and I live in Riga

Countries I’ve Visited

🇦🇿 Azerbaijan, 🇦🇹 Austria, 🇧🇪 Belgium, 🇨🇿 Czech Republic, 🇩🇰 Denmark, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇫🇷 France, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇬🇷 Greece, 🇮🇸 Iceland, 🇭🇺 Hungary, 🇮🇪 Ireland, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇰🇼 Kuwait, 🇱🇻 Latvia, 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein, 🇳🇴 Norway, 🇴🇲 Oman, 🇵🇹 Portugal, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇶🇦 Qatar, 🇷🇺 Russia, 🇸🇰 Slovakia, 🇪🇸 Spain, 🇨🇭 Switzerland, 🇸🇪 Sweden, 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates, 🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇺🇸 United States

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Tina

Tina

You can stay for:

3 days

About me

Hello :) My name is Tina. I am from Latvia but currently studying Ghent, Belgium. Love to travel so now that I am on a student budget looking for ways I can still do if but without spending much money haha.

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Upcoming visitors to Riga

Richa

Richa

Speaking

About Me

Hi, I am Richa Pattanaik, a 24 year old girl who has visited Tallinn solo recently from India. Looking forward to meeting new people and traveling. I would be glad to plan and join you guys. Regards, Richa

Countries I’ve Visited

🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇮🇳 India

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Local discussions

Solo travelWhat are some recommendations for things to do, places to see, and where to eat and drink in Riga for a 3-night stay in June?

Visiting Riga for three nights at the beginning of June and would love some recommendations for things to do, places to see, where to eat and drink, etc! Any suggestions are highly welcome.

Posted: May 21, 2023
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Safety in Latvia