Riga Central Market Traditional Food tasting experience

4.73

4.7(33 reviews)

2 hours

German, English

Mobile ticket

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Overview

Available languages

German

English

2 hours

Mobile ticket

Embark on a flavorful journey through Riga Central Market, the largest in the Baltic States and a true gem of Europe. Housed in historic German Zeppelin hangars, this vibrant market has been a city landmark since the 1930s. Discover Latvia’s rich culinary heritage as you sample fresh and smoked fish, artisanal meats, creamy dairy, pickled delights, berries, and authentic rye bread. Please note that traditional Latvian cuisine is meat, fish, and dairy-focused, making it less suitable for vegans or vegetarians. Our expert guide will immerse you in the stories behind these local flavors, making this tour not just a tasting experience, but a deep dive into Latvia’s culture and traditions.

Additional Info

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

A minimum of 2 people per tour is required!

Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

Suited for vegetarians upon prior notice!

What To Expect

Riga Central Market

Discover the flavours of Latvian gastronomy at one of Europe’s largest covered markets. Savour 20+ traditional tastes while exploring the fascinating history of this iconic UNESCO World Heritage site.

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

GER language 12:00

Duration: 2 hours

ENG language 13:30

Duration: 2 hours Food tasting

ENG Private Tour

What‘s Included

Local guide

Degustation of more than 20 different tastes of Latvian Gastronomy

Full stomacks after the tour guaranteed :)

Gratuities

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Reviews

4.73

33 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Engaging overview of...
Stacy B,May 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00
Engaging and interesting overview of Latvian cuisine and culture from a local perspective, with a wide range of samples—cheeses, soup, pestos, fish sandwiches, pudding, etc. The market is less traditional/ingredient-focused, one building is devoted to souvenirs and another has more of a food hall feel. That didn’t detract from the experience but something to keep in mind as far as what to expect.
Well worth the time
Angela P,May 20, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Gunta was a great guide-knowledgeable, friendly, and willing to create a great experience for her guests. Love the different tastes and flavors we got to try
Truly Latvian traditional...
Julie B,May 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Truly Latvian traditional food choices, we Learned alot about the history of the market, fun group, great guide
Good and well-read guide...
Kristina B,May 15, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Good and well-read guide and nice layout. Gave a good taste of Riga and tips on things to try during the rest of the stay. Really recommended when in a city for the first time.
The experience started...
Lesley J,May 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00
The experience started with an amble through the old town to the market which the guide made interesting. The tour of the market was good as was the food tasting. I had booked the vegetarian option for our friends and was slightly disappointed that when we were given the smoked chicken they were not given a suitable alternative resulting in them receiving less tasting samples. For this tour we had to meet in the Smile line office which is located in The Blackheads building, to the left of the entrance. This needs to be made clearer in the instructions as many people had to be contacted by the organisers to direct them to the correct place.
Food tour
Paul B,May 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
Excellent and interesting food tour of Riga. Lots to taste and see. Gunta was a great and fun guide, sharing lots of stories and information .
This was a great...
Ed N,Apr 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
This was a great introduction to Latvia food and the large central market. Sorry, I think the tour guide name was Ina? She was great, told us a lot of great info about various Latvian things. Her pace is a little on the quicker side which I appreciated. Starting the tour with balsam tastings was pretty cool.
A recommended food tour!
harriniini,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
A very nice experience with a kind and experienced guide. We booked a private tour of 6 people. Certainly worth the money! Recommended!
Great choice of samplings, timing and great value
Leila G,Apr 10, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00
The tour starts in the agencies office in the House of Blackheads with tasting of Riga black balsam. For those not drinking alcohol, apple juice from managers garden was served. During the walk to the market the guide told us some interesting facts about Riga’s history. In the market time flew very fast as we visited different hangars and have several tasting stops where we were sampled with traditional soup, grey peas, smoked chicken wings, rye bread in different usage, hemp based pestos, smoked sprats and herring fillet sandwiches and of course nice local cheese in three flavors. For the first time i tried a fresh birch tree sap which is very healthy seasonal beverage harvested only in the spring. After all this well thought choices of sampling I really had a full stomach, so consider not to have a lunch before this tour. 100% recommend!
Fun times in the central market
kerrijl,Apr 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We really enjoyed the market food tour. From starting out with tastes of the special Latvian drink, to the incredible sandwiches in the fish hall.. everything was super delicious and we came away full. Our guide gave us additional knowledge about the flower stands, and walked us through the market stalls in general. A great time in Riga!