Riga Travel Guide

Latvian National Opera

The Latvian National Opera building is a magnificent 19th-century structure, that's home to the National Opera, Ballet and Orchestra companies. Built in 1863 by the St. Petersburg architect Ludwig Bohnstedt, the building - columned and colonnaded - is not only incredibly photogenic, but lays claim to an interesting history. Guided tours of the Opera building take place at 5pm every Friday, and are a very popular tourist attraction in Riga. Culture-vultures should also check out the Latvian National Opera's website for programme information - the country has a proud Classical music history (Richard Wagner was Director of Music in Riga between 1837 and 1839), and recitals are often of rare quality.