Riga has a moderate climate, influenced by its close proximity to the sea. Summers tend to be short and cool with cloud cover, and temperatures average around 64°F (18°C) in July. Winters are usually long, dark and cold, with temperatures averaging around 28°F (-2°C) in January. Snowfall is heavy and cover usually lasts from mid-December to mid-March. The city is overcast for roughly 40 percent of the year.

Riga has a well-developed and relatively cheap public transport system that consists of buses, minibuses, trams and trolley buses. Most transit runs from 5.30am to 11.30pm and some routes run a regular night service. Tickets can be bought on the bus, trolley or tram. Final destinations are marked on the front of all transport vehicles. Taxis are readily available, and it is worth noting that licensed cabs will have a yellow number plate. One can risk an unlicensed taxi, but drivers usually turn off the metre and the price needs to be negotiated beforehand. Riga's ferry terminal is located outside the city centre and the central train station will take commuters to destinations such as Russia, Belarus and Ukraine.

Latvian is the official language, but English, Lithuanian, Russian and German are also spoken.

The official currency is the Lat (LVL), which is divided into 100 santims. Most hotels and restaurants in Riga accept credit cards, and most major banks cash travellers cheques, but outside of the capital credit cards are not widely accepted and credit card fraud can be a problem at smaller institutions. Foreign currency can be exchanged at any bank, at money change kiosks and at some hotels. Note that a 4% fee will be charged to exchange US dollars that are torn or marked in any way. Most banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. ATMs are available in the larger cities.

Riga has a varied nightlife, mostly centred round the Old Town, where many clubs, bars, strip joints, casinos and live music venues can be found. Riga is also famous for its Classical entertainment, with symphonies and operas taking place throughout the year. A detailed and monthly updated guide to all Riga's nightlife can be found in the Riga In Your Pocket booklet, available free throughout the city. Close proximity makes walking between nightlife venues a viable option, but be cautious late at night when mugging of intoxicated tourists is often reported. The larger clubs attract stag groups from the UK and Scandinavian duty-free tourists: stick to the smaller bars if you want a less rowdy experience. Recently, visitors have reported being scammed with exorbitant drinks prices in infamous bars such as Lords (Groks), Saxon, Infinity Bar and Enigma. If you are overcharged in this fashion, refuse to pay the bill and ask for the police to be called.

Riga is a good place to buy local crafts, alcohol and foodstuffs, but imported goods are very expensive. One of the best souvenirs to buy in Latvia is amber, for which the country is world-famous. Look out for amber set in silver jewellery: A&E and Tornis are two well-regarded boutiques. Other good things to buy in Riga are woollen jerseys and hats with distinctive Baltic patterns, the local liqueur Black Balsam, and World War Two memorabilia. Bargaining is not expected and unlikely to be successful. A great shopping experience is a visit to the huge Central Market, located in five cavernous pavilions. Everything from fresh fish, fruit and honey, to cheap clothes and pirated CDs can be bought here.