St. Peter’s Church, Riga

St. Peter's Church, Riga tickets: which one to buy

Saint Peter's Church stands in the heart of Riga's Old Town, near the Town Hall Square and the House of the Blackheads, and it is known for its tall spire and the viewing platform, reached by lift, which gives a panoramic view of the Old Town, the Daugava river and the city. The church is used as a museum and exhibition hall, and entry is ticketed, with the lift included or charged separately.

Riga's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and walking tours include the church along with the House of the Blackheads, the Riga Cathedral, the Three Brothers houses and the Swedish Gate. The church is also a concert venue, and exhibitions of art and design are held inside. The viewing platform can be windy. The lift makes the view accessible to everyone. Tickets are sold at the entrance, and the viewing platform can be closed in high winds.

Visiting St. Peter's Church, Riga: what to see

The church was first mentioned in 1209, and the present building dates from the fifteenth century, in the Gothic style, with a baroque facade added later. Its wooden spire was rebuilt several times after fires and lightning strikes; in 1721, when the spire was burning, Tsar Peter the Great is said to have helped fight the fire. The spire was destroyed again in 1941, during the Second World War, and it was rebuilt in steel in 1973, rising 123 metres. The viewing platform is at 72 metres. Inside, the church is a tall Gothic hall with brick pillars and white vaults, and it holds epitaphs of Riga merchants and a few surviving furnishings.

A golden rooster sits on top of the spire, a traditional weathervane of Riga churches. The church belongs to the Latvian Lutheran Church, and the city has used it for cultural events. The church's interior holds tombs, coats of arms and memorials of Riga's merchant families. Exhibitions display photographs and models of the church's history, including its destruction and reconstruction. The vaults and pillars were restored after the war. The facade's baroque portals, with carved decoration, date from the seventeenth century. The lift takes visitors up in about a minute. The church's rooster is gilded and has been replaced several times. Concerts of organ and choral music are held regularly.

St. Peter's Church, Riga opening hours and the best time to go

The church and viewing platform are open daily, with shorter hours in winter and closing days on Mondays in some seasons. Riga is busiest in summer, with long days and outdoor cafes, and the midsummer festival, Ligo, in June, is a highlight. Winters are cold and dark, but the Old Town looks beautiful with Christmas lights and markets. Clear days give the best views from the platform. Allow about forty minutes for the church, exhibitions and viewing platform, and walk to the House of the Blackheads nearby. The Art Nouveau district of Riga, with ornate buildings on Alberta and Elizabetes streets, is about twenty minutes' walk north.