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, due to 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 an opportunity to explore Riga and get to know its most outstanding sights, located in the city centre, along the banks of the canal and the Daugava River. The cruises are operated by 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 a cruise that is as quiet as possible with fewer passengers, choose the cruise ship Maria, which does not take more than eight passengers on board. But if you're planning a cruise with more friends or acquaintances, hop aboard the passenger boat Laima, which can accommodate up to nineteen passengers.The sights you'll see on a canal boat cruise are likely to be high on any tourist's bucket list. The canal boat route covers a wide area of Riga's city centre, which is rich in landmarks and picturesque landscapes you'll recognise from glossy postcards and history books alike.Rigabycanal canal boat trips start at Bastejkalns pier, where Rigans and visitors alike can enjoy the carefully landscaped greenery and view of the Freedom Monument, just a hundred metres away. Like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Freedom Monument is one of the main symbols and landmarks of the nation.Not far from the Freedom Monument, the next attraction is just across the canal, where the White House of Riga, or the Latvian National Opera House, stands.
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. The market serves not only as a place to shop, but also as an interesting and colourful sightseeing place for tourists, where the bustle continues throughout the year.After the spacious Riga Central Market, after the rows of market pavilions, the next sightseeing stop is the Spikeri Quarter - a historic complex of buildings. After visiting Spīķeri, the canal boat will enter the waters of the Daugava River, which will open up picturesque landscapes of the Old Town, allow you to see the bridges connecting the Right and Left banks of the city, as well as other, no less important, tourist attractions.The canal boat cruise is organised for about one hour - during the route you can get ideas of what you want to see and get to know even 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!
