The canal boats have become an integral part of Riga's landscape, encouraging people to explore the city by water. The lure of the canal boats is not resisted by tourists or by the city's permanent residents, who, because of their busy lives or for other reasons, may not pay much attention to the richness of their daily surroundings.
“Rigabycanal is a water transport and tourism project that offers a tour of Riga and its most prominent sights, located in the city centre, along the banks of the canal and the Daugava River. You can go on the trips individually or in a group, choosing the company and the canal boat that best suits you.
Cruises include the historic Darling and the quiet ECO boats Rebeka, Maria and Laima. The boat decks can accommodate a variety of passengers. If you want to go on the quietest cruise possible with fewer fellow passengers, choose the cruise ship Maria, which does not take more than eight passengers on board. However, if you are planning a cruise with a larger group of friends or acquaintances, board the passenger boat Laima, which can accommodate a maximum of nineteen passengers.
The sights you'll see on a canal boat trip are likely to be on every tourist's bucket list. The canal boat route covers a large part of Riga's city centre, which is full of sights and picturesque landscapes you'll recognise from glossy postcards and history books alike.
”Rigabycanal boat trips start at Bastejkalns pier, where Riga's citizens and visitors are delighted by the carefully landscaped greenery and the Freedom Monument just 100 metres away. Like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Freedom Monument is one of the main symbols and landmarks of the nation.
Just a stone's throw from the Freedom Monument, the next attraction is the White House of Riga, or the Latvian National Opera.
Latvian National Opera building represents both opera and ballet genres, offering around 200 performances during the season, which are widely attended by the city's residents and visitors alike.
Sailing further along the City Canal, passing under smaller and larger bridges, you will see the Riga Central Market - the largest market in the city. Not only does it serve as a good place to shop, but it is also an interesting and colourful tourist attraction, bustling with activity all year round.
After the vast Riga Central Market, after the rows of market pavilions, the next sightseeing stop for the boats is the Spīķeri Quarter - a historic complex of buildings. After visiting Spīķeri, the boat will enter the waters of the Daugava River, which will offer picturesque views of the Old Town, the bridges connecting the Right and Left banks of the city, as well as other, no less important, tourist attractions.
The canal boat cruise lasts approximately one hour, giving you the opportunity to get ideas for what you want to see and get to know better. With Rigabycanal, see the city from a different perspective, gain new knowledge and at the same time enjoy relaxing on board a canal boat!
