Mežaparks, Urban forest in Mezaparks district, Riga, Latvia
Mežaparks is a 375-hectare forested area in Riga featuring walking trails, cycling paths, and recreational zones along Lake Kisezers. The space includes areas for disc golf, rope courses, skiing slopes, children's playgrounds, and also houses a museum dedicated to literature and music.
The area began as a garden city in 1901, then was used as a concentration camp during World War II, and became a public park in 1949. These major changes shaped the place into what it is today.
The Grand Stage here hosts the Latvian Song Festival, where thousands of singers gather to perform traditional choral music and keep folk heritage alive. Visitors can sense the importance of this gathering to local people by observing the space and how it is built for large celebrations.
The park is accessible year-round for various activities, with distinct zones that are easy to navigate and explore. Your best visiting time depends on what you want to do, whether you prefer walking, cycling, or other outdoor pursuits.
The park houses the Latvian Museum of Literature and Music, featuring exhibits about the traditions of the national Song Festival celebrations. This museum reveals a cultural practice that visitors might not expect to find within a forested recreation area.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
