St Peter's Church
Reformācijas Laukums 1, Central District, Riga, LVA
A defining fixture of the Riga old town skyline, St. Peter’s Church is one of the city’s most cherished landmarks. This 13th-century church still has many original elements inside, including stone tombs and wooden altars, but the viewing platform atop the church’s 404-foot-high (123-meter) Gothic tower is its main draw.
As St. Peter’s Church is situated just off Riga’s Old Town Square in the heart of the city, the church is almost an essential stop on city tours. However, most only spend long enough outside the church to explain its significance. You'll need to come on your own to see the church's interior and climb up its tower for its view of the surrounding old town and nearby Daugava River. Depending on your interest in its history, exhibitions being held inside, and your desire to go up the tower, visits can be as short as 15 minutes or take up to an hour.
Visiting the church tower has its own ticket that you’ll need to buy to go up.
There is an elevator in St Peter's Church to go up the church’s tower, so people with reduced mobility won’t need to climb stairs to reach the top.
St Peter's Church is not wheelchair accessible, despite its elevator, as there are steps within the church before you can reach the elevator.
Art exhibitions and concerts are often held in St Peter's Church, so art fans should check to see the events during their visit.
St Peter's Church is found among the pedestrian streets at the center of the Riga Old Town. Walking or cycling over is the easiest way to get to the church if you’re already in the old town area. When coming from other parts of the city, take a tram, bus, or trolley bus to the Grēcinieku Iela stop, a 5-minute walk away.
While the church is open daily to the public, opening hours are typically extended into the evening on Fridays and Saturdays. During the middle of the year, you’ll need to visit on one of these evenings if you want a chance to catch sunset views from the tower. However, visiting the church outside of summer is best to avoid the crowds and the potential wait for the elevator up.
St Peter's Church has one of the most famous viewpoints in Riga, but it certainly doesn’t have the only one. The observation deck at the Latvian Academy of Sciences offers views of the entire old town, while alternatives that are actually wheelchair accessible are the top level of the National Library Of Latvia and the Skyline Bar.
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