Latvian Academy of Sciences Observation Deck
Latvijas Zinātņu akadēmija
A Soviet-era high-rise jokingly nicknamed “Stalin’s birthday cake,” whose 17th-floor observation deck overlooks the Old Town and the Central Market.
The Latvian Academy of Sciences building was constructed in 1953–1961 in the typical Stalinist “Seven Sisters” high-rise style. Standing about 108 meters tall, its exterior is decorated with sickles, hammers and Latvian folk motifs, and locals have dubbed it “Stalin’s birthday cake.” An open-air observation deck on the 17th floor (about 65 meters up) offers a 360-degree view of the Old Town spires, the zeppelin hangars of the Central Market, the Daugava River and the Moscow Suburb district. Tickets cost about €5–6 (check on site), and the deck is usually open in warmer seasons. The building lies east of the Central Market, so it is most convenient to climb it after visiting the market.
Opening hours
Observation deck about 09:00–22:00 (seasonal; check on site)
Nearby sights
- Spīķeri Creative Quarter
- Riga Central Market
- Freedom Monument
- Nativity of Christ Cathedral
- St. Peter's Church
- Bastejkalns Park & City Canal
- Cat House & Līvu Square
- Latvian National Museum of Art