Outer East Bank

Outer East Bank is a part of Riga, here defined as the eastern bank of the Daugava river minus Old Riga and Centrs.

Get in

Getting in by foot would mean a rather long walk as most points of interest are several kilometers from the more central parts of Riga.

Have a look at the network maps to see which tram, bus or trolleybus you need to take. Driving can also be an option.

See

Buildings at the Ethnographic Open-Air Museum

• 1 Grebenshchikov Church, Maza krasta iela 73. An Old Believers' church. 
• 2 Andrejsala. An artists' island is starting to emerge behind the passengers port a short distance north from the old town. 
• 3 Riga Motor Museum, Eizensteina 6 (8 km from the old town; take trolleybus 14 or 18 to Gailezers Hospital, then walk 500 m). daily 10:00-18:00. Contains former vehicles of Stalin, Kruschev, and Brezhnev. €10. 
• 4 Riga Ethnographic Open Air Museum (Latvijas Etnogrāfiskais Brīvdabas Muzejs), Brivibas 440 (take the A2(E77) to the east out of Riga or take bus N.1), ☏ +371 67994106, fax: +371 67994178, info@brivdabas-muzejs.lv. The museum is in Jugla, near a lake of the same name. There are many traditional Latvian countryside houses collected in a forest/park and exhibitions inside them about the traditional things. The employees are often dressed in the traditional Latvian costumes, creating a nice atmosphere. 

Grīziņkalns

• 5 St. Paul's Church, Augusta Deglava iela 1. Neogothic church from 1885 marks the center of Riga's main industrial neighbourhood. Most of the mural paintings are from 1930s and represent the art of independent Latvia before World War II. (updated Jul 2016)
• 6 Gas storage buildings. Two gas storage buildings from 1882 and 1901 (end of Matīsa iela) are landmarks of the old gas factory in Riga. These enormous structures reaching 40 m in diameter are probably the largest buildings of their kind in Eastern Europe. Note the pressure meter that mimics a clock. (updated Jul 2016)
• 7 Baptist church, Matīsa iela 50b. Light neo-Romanic building from 1867 looks completely alien to its dark industrial neighborhood. (updated Jul 2016)

The twin watertowers

• 8 Twin water towers (at the crossing of three railway lines, near Mazā Matīsa street). These beautiful water towers were built by Oto Intce and Rūdolfs Frišs in 1896–1897 and were the first water towers built in Riga. Surprisingly, one of these is the only water tower still in use to this day. They are known among locals as Anna and Zhanna (Ann and Joan). Legend has it that Anna was a skilled quack in medieval Riga. She was accused of being a witch and burnt to death. This caused her sister Zhanna to commit suicide. Their ashes were brought to a place that was considered wicked, which is exactly the water towers are located today. This place is indeed quite strange and renowned for its remoteness dominated by a huge cemetery and a prison. (updated Jul 2016)
• 9 Matisa cemetery. Matisa cemetery adjacent to the water towers has an interesting monument to the Latvian revolutionary heroes of the Russian Revolution of 1905. The monument was built in 1956-59 and consists of a long wall with haut-relief of Latvian revolutionaries and some poets' epitaphs. The cemetery also has a small monument to the victims of the 1940-1941 period of the Soviet occupation. (updated Jul 2016)
• 10 Russo-Balt factory. Valmieras iela and adjacent streets boast gorgeous industrial buildings from late 19th century. The largest factory was Russo-Balt that produced first cars and airplanes in the Russian empire. Most of these buildings are now abandoned and derelict but quite interesting to see. You will find lots of old plaques, signboards and other 100-year-old artifacts. (updated Jul 2016)

Čiekurkalns, Mežaparks and northern districts

• 11 Čiekurkalns district (Take tram 11 or bus 9). Čiekurkalns is a pleasant residential area on the outskirts of Riga. Despite the intense industrial development in the vicinity, most of the historical wooden architecture build in the end of XIX century has been preserved. 
• 12 Mežaparks district (Take Tram 11). Forest Park is a pleasant park area on the outskirts of Riga. There are large, gorgeous residential houses once inhabited by Riga's prewar elite during the summers. They were largely let go during Soviet times but many are now being refurbished, repainted, and brought back to their original glory. 
• 13 RVR train factory (Rīgas Vagonbūves Rūpnīca) (easily accessible with a lot of transport). One of the largest machine-building plants in Latvia, founded in 1895. RVR is based in Riga and was for many years the largest producer of electric and diesel trains and also tramcars in the former Soviet Union. 

Southern and Eastern Maskavas forštate

The part of Maskavas forštate west of Lacplesa iela is covered in the Centrs article.

The Catholic St. Francis church

• 14 St. Francis Church, Katoļu iela 16. Built in 1892, a gorgeous neo-Gothic building in the middle of slums. Features copies of Giotto's mural paintings in the Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. (updated Jul 2016)
• 15 All Saints Church, Katoļu iela 10. Orthodox church built in neo-Romanic style around 1880. Unlike other orthodox churches in Latvia, which are typically Russian in their style and nature, this one was designed by a Latvian architect. (updated Jul 2016)
• 16 Church of John the Baptist, Kalna iela 21. Construction started in 1913-14 but it was not finished before the Russian Revolution and continued in 1920s when Latvia became independent. This led to a strange mix of styles rendering the church a rare example of modernist architecture implemented in an Orthodox temple. The adjacent Ivanovskoe cemetery is the main Orthodox cemetery of Riga. (updated Jul 2016)
• 17 Church of Our Lady of Kazan, Kalna iela 21. Another church on the same cemetery. Build of wood in 1812-15 in a somewhat awkward style with 5 small domes sitting on a massive drum. (updated Jul 2016)
• 18 Church of Gregory the Illuminator, Kojusalas iela 5. Armenian church built in 2011. (updated Jul 2016)
• 19 Old New Synagogue (Altnaie Schul), Maskavas iela 57. The only synagogue that survived through World War II. Built in 1889, partially restored after the war and converted into a residential building. (updated Jul 2016)
• 20 Church of Michael Archangel, Maskavas iela 170. Old Believers church from 1894-95, nice example of the Russian Revival style. (updated Jul 2016)
• 21 Horse-drawn omnibus, Maskavas iela (crossing with Mazā Kalna iela). A funny monument commemorating the first Riga tram that was driven by horse power. An old iron construction nearby reminds of the former Hay Market. (updated Jul 2016)
• 22 Old Jewish cemetery (between Tējas iela and Ebreju iela). A huge area that reminds of the Jewish population of Maskavas forštate. Established in early 18th century, this cemetery kept expanding till the beginning of 20th century. After all local Jews were exterminated by the Nazis during World War II, Soviet government destroyed the remaining gravestones and converted the area into a Park of Communist Brigades. Now there is a small Jewish memorial. (updated Jul 2016)

Do

A home game of Dinamo Riga at the Arena Riga

• 1 Riga Zoo, Meza Prospekts 1. The Riga Zoo is small, but fairly popular. €4-6. 
• 2 Arena Riga, Skanstes iela 21. An indoor sports arena and concert venue. Notable as the home rink of the city's ice hockey team Dinamo Riga, playing in the KHL, the arena is also where the world's greatest pop and rock artists and bands hold their Riga concerts. (updated Jul 2016)

Eat

Budget

• 1 Lido Entertainment Center, Krasta iela 76 (Take Tram 3, 7, or 9 to Krasta masīvs), ☏ +371 67 700 000, fax: +371 67241168. Main restaurant: daily 11:00-23:00, express restaurant: daily 13:00-23:00, beer cellar: M-F 18:00-00:00, holidays 12:00-00:00, playroom: M-F 17:00-22:00, holidays 12:00-22:00. The wooden building features three floors of dining, a built-in wooden windmill, and a small amusement park outside. The ground floor and basement operate cafeteria-style. There is a huge choice available, including a variety of soups including borscht and the Latvian cold beetroot soup, as well as kebabs, breasts, chicken sausages, fish, red meats. Blinis are another specialty here. Cafeteria: €3.30 for a meat main course and €0.70 for a plateload of roast potatoes. Pancakes for €0.60. Top floor: Buffet for set price of €16. 
• Lido has another restaurant at 2 Ieriku iela 3
• The Latvian pizza chain Cili Pizza has six restaurants in the area covered by this article. If roaming around Grīziņkalns, the closest is at 3 Matisa iela 25, for Maskavas forštate 4 Krasta iela 46
• 5 Fontaine Delisnack, Aristida Briāna iela 9a. Fast food, open 24/7. (updated Jul 2016)
• 6 Ezītis miglā (Avotu iela) (Avotu ezītis), Avotu iela 32a, ☏ +371 23110945, avotuezitis@gmail.com. Reasonably priced drinks and food, nice atmosphere. (updated Jul 2018)
• 7 Šašliki Mangaļos, Mores iela 22 (just north of Mežaparks (Ostas prospekts), a 10-minute walk from the terminus of tram 5 or the Mangaļi train station, bus lines 2/11/24 from the central station or 58 from Domina mall (get off at Ostas iela)). Daily 09:00–21:00. Popular with locals. They offer shashlik on a skewer with a choice of chicken, lamb or beef, with tomato sauce and a side of vegetables or Armenian flatbread. Beverage options include various local beers, Georgian wine or softdrinks. Indoor and outdoor seating. The indoor furniture looks like it has already seen the days of the barricades. Self-service, basic Latvian is recommended. € 14 for a skewer of pork, sauce, vegetables, flatbread and a pint of beer. (updated Sep 2024)

Drink

• 1 Godvil, Brivibas gatve 214B, ☏ +371 66 666 666, info@godvil.lv. Nightclub. 

Sleep

Villas in Mežaparks

Mid-range

• 1 Apartment Hotel Riga, Brivibas iela 196. Apartments on Riga's main street. Every apartment has either two separate beds or one double, as well as a washing machine, television, gas ring, air conditioner, refrigerator, and set of dishes. €25 and up. 
• 2 Days Hotel Riga VEF, Brivibas iela 199c (200m from the tram stop Rūpnīca VEF, then a 10 minute ride south to Old Town), ☏ +371 6 7166000, fax: +371 6 7166001. Check-in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Part of the Wyndham/Days Inn chain. A great option if you don't need to be within walking distance of the center. €20. 
• 3 Dodo Hotel, Jersikas iela 1 (10 min from old town by tram.), sales@dodohotel.com. Modern rooms with shower, WC, flat-screen TV, and hairdryer. French owned. Double: €32.