Riga serves as the capital, primate, and largest city of Latvia, while also holding the distinction of being the second largest city in the Baltic States. Officially designated as Riga State City, it functions as the nation's financial, creative, and cultural hub. The city is situated on the Gulf of Riga at the mouth of the Daugava River, where it meets the Baltic Sea. Its territory covers 307.17 square kilometers on a flat and sandy plain lying one to ten meters above sea level.

Founded in 1201 by Bishop Albert, who transferred the seat of the Livonian bishopric from Uexküll to Riga, the city developed as a center of Viking trade before becoming a member of the Hanseatic League in 1282. This membership provided economic and political stability that endured through centuries of foreign rule, including periods under the Holy Roman Empire, Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Swedish, and Russian Empires. The historical centre is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The city is bisected by the Daugava River, with the medieval old town, Vecrīga, located on the east side. Riga is renowned for its Art Nouveau architecture, with over 800 buildings in the city centre representing this style, chiefly built in the early twentieth century. The urban landscape includes a ring of nineteenth-century architecture, private house districts, and Soviet-era apartment blocks, while the surrounding Gulf offers extensive sandy seaside beaches accessible by public transport.

Riga hosted the European Capital of Culture title in 2014 alongside Umeå, Sweden, and was named the European Region of Gastronomy in 2017. The city has hosted significant international events such as the 2006 NATO Summit, the Eurovision Song Contest in 2003, and multiple IIHF Men's World Ice Hockey Championships. Its cultural appeal is further enhanced by a lively nightlife, discount airline connections to Europe, and restored historic landmarks like the House of the Blackheads.

As of 2026, Riga has a population of 588,911 inhabitants, accounting for one-third of Latvia's total population, with the metropolitan area estimated at 847,162 in 2025. The city is served by Riga International Airport, the largest and busiest airport in the Baltic States. It maintains membership in Eurocities, the Union of the Baltic Cities, and the Union of Capitals of the European Union, while hosting the European Union's office for European Regulators for Electronic Communications.